Things to do with £3000

[mercrocker]

Last time I was in this position (actually with 3.5K) was nine years ago. Can't remember how the money came about but it was "spare" cash. I had always wanted a camper van so I did loads of research and scoured the country looking at every option. Of course I bloody didn't - I found one in the next village on Auto Trader.

 

It could do with three grand spending on it again now but if I suddenly had that spare again I would probably throw it at the Cowley. Or buy a Cadillac.

[eddyramrod]

I had 3k spare once....

I never regretted my choice...

 

[Inspector Morose]

Just out of curiosity, Ian, how much of a restoration would you get if you were to spend the lot on the Dolly? i.e all the welding? new paint? new panels? 

 

Just curious.

[chaseracer]

Just out of curiosity, Ian, how much of a restoration would you get if you were to spend the lot on the Dolly? i.e all the welding? new paint? new panels? 

 

Just curious.

 

Oh dear.

 

[dollywobbler]

To be honest, I'd need to spend at least £3500 for a half decent body refurb*, or £4000 for a new bodyshell and then a bit more for prep and paint. 

 

* If I stripped the body down completely and shipped the body off to someone with SKILLS.

[Lacquer Peel]

New Tata Nano is just over £3k, fly to India, drive it home, write about it, sell story. Profit*.

 

*My idea of motoring journalist rates is highly inflated.

[mouseflakes]

Below, the answer is staring you right in the face (and simultaneously punching you hard in the eyeballs).

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-SSANGYONG-KYRON-2-0-XED-SX-DIESEL-AUTO-BLACK-4X4-/231790422497

 

[AnthonyG]

Its a boring answer, but I'd get the 2Cv fixed (or at least the bodywork done). I got the impression it's a car you'll keep for the rest of your life and you sounded genuinely gutted when you took it off the road for perhaps the last time...

 

Slightly less boring answer is, as you mentioned, spend £1500 on fettling the Dyane and the XM and the rest on a maxi adventure*.

 

 

 

 

 

*this does not require an actual Austin Maxi. 

[beko1987]

Any bodily good 2cvs with knackered whatever else for under £3k?

 

Can lhd ones be converted to rhd easily? Could add in the fun* of a road trip too, sure someone will lend you an a frame around here

[meshking]

I think you'd need full bulkhead, with toeboard and shelf. It's not beyond the impossible, but if you're going that far may as well rebuild the existing shell. That area is about the most complicated on the shell.

 

Sadly the days of good bodies with knackered chassis are long gone. If it were my 3k, and I genuinely had no other use for it (including pension and savings) I'd be investing in some kit and be trying my hand at the work on the dyane first. Then, assuming it all went well, I'd embark on the 2cv.

 

Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk

[forddeliveryboy]

Wonder what the story is with this one? https://www.gumtree.com/p/citroen/1982-original-citroen-2cv-price-drop-quick-sale-no-time-wasters-/1138225577

 

If this is rot-free and mechanically sweet, then I'd be having a long hard think. What's yours worth as is I wonder? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C688124

 

Something as original as possible is always good. Plus you might be surprised at how much better they go on the proper chassis.

 

There still seem to be solid, good cars for reasonable money about - here's one which probably went for not so much over 2k - well-maintained, very solid and useable order. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1986-CITROEN-2-CV6-SPECIAL-WHITE-/281859706599?hash=item41a025cee7%3Ag%3AhzgAAOSwMTZWSM7l&nma=true&si=6lhm5UdEiIbNwPHzvwf%252BaBEAsTM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[warren t claim]

The way 2CV prices are going if you don't fix it you'll probably never own another.

[dollywobbler]

Hmmm. I reckon £2000 would get me a Del Boy Reliant and some paint...

[hairnet]

http://www.mobile.bg/pcgi/mobile.cgi?topmenu=1&act=4&adv=11448393494504963&slink=bvtiol

 

ask alex if OMGBULGDELIVERY AVAILABLE

 

 

http://www.mobile.bg/pcgi/mobile.cgi?topmenu=1&act=4&adv=11349686179215766&slink=bvtiol

 

[meshking]

 

 

Wonder what the story is with this one? https://www.gumtree.com/p/citroen/1982-original-citroen-2cv-price-drop-quick-sale-no-time-wasters-/1138225577

 

 

Wow, that's a lovely one! Seems to be realistically priced too, having watched prices on 2cvs, I can't help but think that this is the private sale price point.

[forddeliveryboy]

It's probably got a chassis which isn't perfect, but way too good to warrant chucking. So the trader decides to do the decent thing and sell it for very sensible money to a more discerning buyer - the OMGHAZ2BGALV brigade will stay well clear, throwing their savings at the less salubrious end of the 2cv trade which offers shiny everything in an attempt to disguise the shagged-out machines sometimes sold.

 

Like any older Cit, would need checking by someone who has a good eye for them. Cars with original chassis and v low mileage from the late 80s are the ones to avoid like the plague, since it wasn't just the structure which was made from cheaper grade metals. Something with 100k+ and an earlier build is well worth a look.

[Alan_Green]

£3K plus what's left of the old one gets you this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281781142848?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Then look after it.

[hairnet]

Saw first o e of those in the wild yesterday

 

Every other one has been a high spec one

[John F]

Isn't it time you bought another early Discovery / Range Rover, Ian?

[dollywobbler]

I'm done with Land Rovers. I love them, but the upkeep is just too much! I don't want to spend more time tinkering with a vehicle than driving it. I suspect the XM wouldn't still be on the fleet if it had gone through a 'tricky' phase. As it happens, it has been very good. So far...

 

I doubt I'd lose much on one of these though! As long as it didn't just rust away first...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-K-NISSAN-PATROL-4X4-4-2-GR-SLX-5DR-/381481570806

[dave21478]

The way 2CV prices are going if you don't fix it you'll probably never own another.

This.

 

In a few years time you will be looking at 5k+ for something decent and rotten shit for anything less. There will always be the odd bargain available but you can guarantee that the day you have cash to buy one is three days after Quentin Whatshisface announces they are the next big investment and suddenly the bargains are gone.

 

 

I honestly dont know what I would do with 3k for a car. Probably something dumb like buying a bottom of the market Discovery 3.

[forddeliveryboy]

When a 2cv is right (sweet engine, sound structure) they're truly great cars. Thing is, I don't think more than 1 in 10 is, after years of general garages messing them up then some specialists turning them into something quite horrid to drive (flimsy chassis, worn/badly rebuilt engines). With most cars, not being set-up or rebuilt spot on doesn't really matter and is usually not noticed by many but with a 2cv it's all or nothing - one which isn't right is a thing from hell.

 

If someone said you've got to choose just one car which you must keep for the rest of your days, a Dyane would be one of the very small number on the short list. All the benefits of a duck but faster, roomier and made better. And they're cheaper, too.

[eddyramrod]

As many people have already said, I think you currently own the last two air-cooled Citroens you will be able to afford.  You should get them both fixed up, Dyane first as it'll probably cost less to do (but what do I know?) then go through the Dolly bit by bit, applying as many coats of patience as possible.

[HH-R]

205 GTi.

[dollywobbler]

Some of you will be pleased to learn that I've just booked the Dyane in for surgery. My reasoning is that it'll be a sod to sell in its current state, so whether I keep it long term or not, I need that rusty lower windscreen panel replacing. I still need to get a set of barrels and pistons, but the racing scene is looking like helping me out on that one. Bodywork scheduled for March, so I've got plenty of time to actually get it running again...

 

It'll be a shame not to have the 2CV on the road for its 30th birthday in April, but I reckon I won't be able to afford its more involved rebuild until later in the year. ICCCR may now be off as there's a family gathering I need to attend a few weeks before in France. Can't afford two trips across the Channel, and family comes first. 

[chaseracer]

Dyanes FTW, Ian... 

[barrett]

Sounds alright

 

Http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/903091765.htm?ca=12_s

[dollywobbler]

Sounds alright

 

Http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/903091765.htm?ca=12_s

 

As much as I love the looks and details of the really early Ami, I'm afraid I must demand the extra power and reliability of an M28 engine.

[barrett]

I don't understand that, there's nothing wrong with the early engine and it will still barrel along at 75mph. How fast do you need to go? Otherwise, stick any old late 2cv engine in, but I would maintain that with proper care and regular oil changes an early engine will go on for just as long

[dollywobbler]

22bhp is rather feeble, and I'd far rather have an engine that actually had an external oil filter. Not that easy to fit a later one as you need to start buggering about with the bulkhead. The M4 engine has a number of deficiencies though - otherwise, why would they go to the trouble of entirely redesigning it for the same capacity?

 

Anyway, Ami plans on hold for now, for the Dyane is the immediate priority.