MGB GT - Mission finally complete! Phew.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Rather than looking at rubbish like this, see if you can borrow 3 grand, and buy a really good example for 5/6k. Long ownership, photographic resto work, bearded MGOC owner  - the sort of MGB you want to buy, not the shit your budget dictates. I'd rather pay Lloyds back 100 quid a month or whatever and have a really good car than spunk £2500 on a shitbox that will fold up in the event of a mild shunt.

 

I'm with the Reverend on this one. A really good example is bound to provide you with a few years of enjoyable motoring, and when you become bored of it you can sell it on for a modest profit (as their prices keep appreciating).

 

A bad example will provide no more than 12 months of frustration, followed by a modest loss.

 

The Autoshite way is, of course, to buy a full restoration project and spend every weekend for the next couple of years undoing bodges, fabricating and welding panels. But it doesn't sound like this is what you're currently looking for...

[SiC]

It's like this:

 

 

A rotten MGB is utter shit.

The arse will drop out of it at the first sign of winter, and it'll be worth fuck all.

 

Rather than looking at rubbish like this, see if you can borrow 3 grand, and buy a really good example for 5/6k. Long ownership, photographic resto work, bearded MGOC owner - the sort of MGB you want to buy, not the shit your budget dictates. I'd rather pay Lloyds back 100 quid a month or whatever and have a really good car than spunk £2500 on a shitbox that will fold up in the event of a mild shunt.

I've pretty much conceded to myself that a bargain/cheap MGB is a fucked MG. As most moderns aren't dangerously rusty and have had so many years of bodging, I can get away with buying a cheap example and then easily fixing it. Especially as I generally pick moderns with broken electronics. A complete different mindset.

 

Anyway I've been told/reminded by the wife that I'm only allowed 3 cars maximum and just because one is a classic, I can't make up exemptions...

 

Realistically the car that will have to go is the Smart. Much as I don't want to, it makes far more sense selling that than the Laguna. Easier to sell, worth more and roundabout the right time of year to sell. What this means is that I can throw more money in the pot. I may also have to placate the missus by buying her some shiny of her own (she keeps badgering me about an eternity ring)...

 

This will give me a budget of around 3.5k to 4k. I don't really want to spend too much more. I can, but shouldn't! There are some reasonably looking ones around that mark.

 

Is anyone on here interest in my Smart Roadster?

[Eddie Honda]

Anyway I've been told/reminded by the wife that I'm only allowed 3 cars maximum and just because one is a classic, I can't make up exemptions...

I do it all the time:

 

"I didn't buy it, it was given to me"

"It's a van"

"It's a motorcycle"

"Look, it's not a car, it's a tricycle"

"It's not a car, it's quality used spares"

"It's cheaper than hiring a car"

"I needed a car to get to the tip and I'm not insured on my dad's vehicle"

"The car in the drive isn't mine, it's Junkman's and he's just visiting"

[twosmoke300]

Or buy a 700 quid mx5 with a fresh ticket , use it for a year and poke it in for an mot . If its aint too bad then repeat for another year eventually selling it to the drift / trackday / kit car crew.

[Mally]

So its buy the first one, which is not the best, but cheap and looks good going down the road.

It did actually pass quite a few of Triple Rich's tests. Which surprised me

Buy one such as the Rev suggests, which looks good and has had work done.

Or as you now suggest the halfway mark.

Halfway can fall in either camp.

I'd still go with the first one given your budget. It will do the 1,500 miles you are likely to do in 12 months, and leave spare for the eternity ring

Take it back to the same MOT place and either keep it another 12 month or sell it and lose maybe 2 grand.

.........Or learn to weld.

Bearing in mind that my sons a welder so its easy for me to say.

[Mally]

Or buy a 700 quid mx5 with a fresh ticket , use it for a year and poke it in for an mot . If its aint too bad then repeat for another year eventually selling it to the drift / trackday / kit car crew.

 

But hes done the MX5 thing.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Just buy one. As said already if you buy the best one you can afford there's a reasonably good chance you'll not lose money on it as long as you at least maintain its condition...

 

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

[Shandylegs]

Agree with most of the other comments on the orange one. It's a sub £1k car that's had 'the trade' treatment. 

 

I like to try and keep to the following:

- Never buy a classic from 'the trade'. If it's cheap, it's cheap for a reason. A trader will always try to maximise profit, it's their living!

- Personally, I'm also not a fan of buying from owners clubs. 'Beards' tend to have a over inflated view of their pride and joy.

- My best buys have all been private sales e.g. someone who has lost interest, had a bereavement (obvs tread carefully on these and don't take the piss!) or just fancies a change of car. Ebay is your friend as well as some of the other mainstream sites, which can be good hunting grounds.

- Be objective in terms of price. Any MG/classic at the cheaper end of the scale will have faults. You've done your research, sought views, so should be going to view with your eyes open. 

- Don't rush. Sit tight, but stay alert and if something looks good get in there quickly. The MG market is one of the biggest so there are plenty out there.

 

Sit tight and provided you don't mind a bit of travelling to view, I'd expect a good rb car will turn up in-budget (circa £3k).

[Sigmund Fraud]

Plenty of sensible advice on this thread, so it's high time someone made a controversial statement :

 

Why not keep the Roadster ? It's rarer than a 'B, far more interesting, nicer to drive, more practical, and you have the right skills to fix all its common problems !

[Guest Hooli]

This is AS, if its practical, interesting, nice to drive & fixable then it has no place here!

[twosmoke300]

But hes done the MX5 thing.

Ahh didnt see that , and mgb is gonna be sorely lacking as a driving experience then.

[andy18s]

.

[andy18s]

Soz if it's a repost,just seen this up for sale

[SiC]

Plenty of sensible advice on this thread, so it's high time someone made a controversial statement :

 

Why not keep the Roadster ? It's rarer than a 'B, far more interesting, nicer to drive, more practical, and you have the right skills to fix all its common problems !

It would have been an impulse buy that I have been saved from!

 

I like the Smart but I don't love the Smart. Out of the mix of keys, I generally cba to grab them and go for a drive in it. When I do go drive it and get out after, I'm still buzzing. I guess a love & hate relationship. I mostly bought it out of curiosity and something to fiddle with I guess.

 

I've had a fascination with the MGB for a long time. It could be one of those times when "you shouldn't meet your hero". However I need to do it. I might love it and keep it for years or hate it and shift it on again. Possibly why I'm mentally not too disposed in paying to much for one.

 

But at the same time I'd annoy me buying one, spending a lot of work to get it how I like it and then having it rot to pieces because it was a shit one.

 

Now I know this one is shit, I'm trying to chill out a bit and try avoiding the "I've finally decided I want one and so I want it now" mentality. Quite hard when you have a bit of an obsessive nature.

[SiC]

Another little idea I had was to rent one from one of these classic car rental companies for a day or two. Get to properly experience what they're like then and if I really like them.

[Crusty Sills]

"I've had a fascination with the MGB for a long time. It could be one of those times when "you shouldn't meet your hero". However I need to do it."

 

 

I always wanted a Beetle when I was at school, I loved them.

Then when I was an apprentice mechanic I drove one around to and from our 2 garages for MOT.

It was shit. Bouncy, uncomfortable and noisy. It put me of wanting one.

I was 18 at the time and didn't look at one in the same light again.

Some 10 years later after my mum died I started looking, liking and wanting again. So I bought one to turn round in a year.

After a 6 year restoration it's been done a couple of years.

It's still a shit car, bouncy, uncomfortable and noisy but it's shiny and the little fucker has worked it's way under my skin.

 

Sometimes meeting your heroes can be a let down but you still watch their films, matches and take an interest.

And they are still heroes!

[DeeJay]

Ask for a solo test drive in the red MG, to a pre-booked MOT at an independent garage and see if it should pass this year never mind next year.

[sierraman]

The one on Facebook sounds a better plan. He'd probably take £1000 on it.

[BavarianRetro]

Don't buy and MGBGT expecting it to appreciate. If you don't lose money, well and good, but GT prices are up and down all the time.

 

You really shouldn't be able to buy a 1960s sports GT as pretty as a chrome bumper BGT for £2000.

[SiC]

Given I plan to use it and not garage it, plus their likely hood to rust, I think I'll be lucky to not have it worth scrap value in a year or two.

[SiC]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702262700515?atmobcid=soc3

 

1 owner from new. Wow.

[Guest Hooli]

Soz if it's a repost,just seen this up for sale

 

That looks great, it's a good job I've not moved yet as I'd have drive space to do something daft...

[Pete-M]

I had a rubber bumper B GT. It was bloody awful.

[Guest Hooli]

I tried to buy a MGB years ago but couldn't afford a decent one, so had many happy years with a Midget. Still fancy a larger version though.

[djimbob]

Have you driven anything like this before?

 

Definitely hire one if you can, or get a decent test drive  - they do not behave like modernz, and can be very stressful, especially if running badly (which they often are due to reasons etc).

 

You may fucking hate it, I drove many similar back in the day, and nowadays would not honestly want one myself other than a drive ornament, I just don't see the point in making life hard for yourself unnecessarily

[sierraman]

Using it everyday might wear thin when it won't start because it's a bit damp this morning or something's broke. I know all old cars can be like this, I'm saying it might become a chore if you rely on it daily.

[Rocket88]

Even well sorted a well sorted MGB isn't a great car. Unless they've had the lever arms ripped off, and had suspension fitted that actually works, they handle like a drunk steering a shopping trolley. Engines are gutsy, but don't like revving, fast they ain't.............

[Mally]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702262700515?atmobcid=soc3

 

1 owner from new. Wow.

 

Seat needs repair, bonnet shuts not perfect..........OK I'm scraping the barrel a bit. Oh it's not got headrests either.

Had my seat sewn at a Biker rally £3.

 

I found the acceleration acceptable and top speed fantastic.

Didn't like being at the side of an HGV on the motorway though. Was never sure he could see me.

 

Have a test drive in the first one, nothing to lose.

[cort16]

This goes back to my old point ignorance is bliss. Someone will likely buy that red mgb and drive around happy as pig in shit for a the next 6 months totally oblivious to the rot or various issues it likely has.  They'll likely sell it in December or wait until next year and put it in for an mot, which it will probably pass then they'll sell it for near what they paid for it.

But now you've asked, read up on it etc and the weight of MGB owner ship has been passed onto  you'll now spend months trying to find the perfect one and eventually go off the idea or spend twice as much and end up with one worse than the red one.

[Six-cylinder]

Another little idea I had was to rent one from one of these classic car rental companies for a day or two. Get to properly experience what they're like then and if I really like them.

 

You are welcome to come and give my BGT a good poke and prod and take it for an extended drive if you want to get closer to one without pressure. 

 

It is a bit of a tired old thing but I still enjoy it.