Consolidating 3 into 1.... Amazon?

[Fabergé Greggs]

Sometimes I think about thinning the fleet down to just one motor. I don’t commute by car but I do very occasionally have drive in London for shopping and stuff. Mostly I use a car for high days and holidays, weekend trips to the beech, and trips up to Scotland from London to visit the family..

 

Currently I have the Daf which satisfies the need for some 70’s style and simplicity. It’s also great for zooming around London but doesn’t feel like the ideal motorway weapon.. I do completely love it and would defo regret selling for anything other than THE ONE.

 

Then there’s the purple MX5 current WBOD. Feels great to drive but in conjunction with my balding hair makes me want to drive with a paper bag on my head..

 

The X1/9 I love dearly but I’d consider selling it to put towards something really special..

 

So, the replacement for all of them would have to live outside all year, be pretty easy to fix myself, feel safe and secure on the motorway in the depths of winter, yet be fun for those summer days.. I don’t think anything later than the 70’s would cut it.

 

I keep coming back to the Volvo Amazon. I reckon I could almost afford one if I consolidated.. early 140’s look nice too. Obvs they’re thirsty but it would feel so good..

 

Thoughts? Other options?

[Mally]

Sell both the X's buy an Amazon.

Roffle the Daf, buy a ticket and win it back. Sorted

[Fabergé Greggs]

Other things I consider: Dolomites. Not quite special enough

Triumph 2000: yup, would, though not amazon levels of would

Dyane/ami: high levels of want though not motorway proof.

Renault 4: same as above

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What about the 164 on the eBay tat thread? Failing that an RO80 or Scimitar or Silver Shadow or,or.....

My god man, the world and eBay is your lobster!

Range Rover before it's too late would my choice if shopping with your criteria, don't know how old your budget( whatever it is) would stretch too , but it'll be worth more next week however old or new you buy!

[eddyramrod]

MX5 for long-distance, with a hardtop.

X1/9 for shorter pleasure trips.

Roffle DAF.

Job jobbed.

 

 

 

If you haven't quite got the cash for a hardtop for the Mazda, the proceeds of the Roffle should see you right.

[Fabergé Greggs]

I ran a Scimitar SE5A for a while. I imagined that it would be perfect in every way. I liked the torque and the noise but just couldn’t get on with it in many ways.

 

I’m not really into the funny noses of 164’s. RO80’s are obviously class but surely parts aren’t great for running one all the time?

[barrett]

Yeah, an Amazon does seem like it would be the perfect jack-of-all-trades car and I'd be happy to only have one of those instead of loads of broken/semi-broken cars. You still see daily-driver Amazons fairly regularly which is quite impressive given the youngest must be almost 50 years old by now.

 

Don't discount an Ami for motorway driving though, they'll cruise all day at 70 and can be hammered to within an inch of their life without any complaint. An Eight would be the cheapest and most usable, and easiest to find in rhd. I think an Amazon is probably a better bet, though.

[eddyramrod]

How much would you want to spend?  Would your budget run to something from Detroit?  The older the better, obvs, and don't forget you can get them with engines that aren't guzzly V8s, I've owned several.

[Fabergé Greggs]

MX5 for long-distance, with a hardtop.

X1/9 for shorter pleasure trips.

Roffle DAF.

Job jobbed.

 

 

 

If you haven't quite got the cash for a hardtop for the Mazda, the proceeds of the Roffle should see you right.

Only way I’m getting rid of the Daf is for THE ONE.

[danthecapriman]

Amazon or a 140 would be my choice. Out of the two I'd go for the 140, they're bigger, harder and have the bigger version of the indestructible Volvo engine.

They both can rust though so rust proofing is still a must. Though admittedly it's not 70's Ford or Vauxhall levels or rot! They are a quality car those old Volvo's.

 

What about a Saab? A 99 would be an equally capable car...

[JeeExEll]

BMW 2002 ?

Earlier round-tail-light one on standard steelies with hubcaps.

 

Are we deffo sticking to the 70s?

[hpi_matrix]

BMW E28 to new?

[Fabergé Greggs]

All good suggestions, I was thinking about a 2002- love them but they seem to be even more expensive than an amazon and not quite as lush.

 

99 I’ve really wanted in the past, but not so much anymore for some reason unless turbo’d which I could never afford. Wrong wheel drive partly.

 

E28’s are nice. My dad had one which was very gold and wafty, but just a bit too new for me I think.

 

I’ve had a w123 before so that’s off the list probably. I’d love a w115 but I assume out of my price range.

 

Open to Detroit- never considered that before. Talk to me!

 

Say the budget was £4K maybe?

[chaseracer]

Dyane/ami: high levels of want though not motorway proof.

 

Disagree.

 

[Fabergé Greggs]

Check out this japester getting in all the pictures.

 

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C927119

 

Maybe I should just get the Daf motorway proof..

[barrett]

Thinking man's Amazon:

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C901028

 

Good club support, rugged, fast, reliable, good looking and I can collect it for you

[Fabergé Greggs]

Thinking man's Amazon:

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C901028

 

Good club support, rugged, fast, reliable, good looking and I can collect it for you

Jesus Christ now you’re talking. Thats worth any amount of breakdowns by the M74 in the rain.

 

Really? Could I use it all the time? Parts etc?

[barrett]

Check out this japester getting in all the pictures.

 

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C927119

 

Maybe I should just get the Daf motorway proof..

 

That's the trouble with buying a Citroen, you have to deal with people like that*

 

 

*Except when I bought a Citroen off you, obis

[danthecapriman]

That Borgward is lovely!

It'd fuck it up royally using that regularly, especially through winter though.

[Tamworthbay]

P6? Nice ones are around Amazon money. Gorgeous place to be.....

[Fabergé Greggs]

P6? Nice ones are around Amazon money. Gorgeous place to be.....

Yup, P6’s are ace. Their complexity what with brakes etc scares me.

[hairnet]

That Borgward is lovely!

It'd fuck it up royally using that regularly, especially through winter though.

WAAAANT*considers sacking off half paid nz holiday to buy odd german tat

[hairnet]

mot free tax free cc exempt (?)

 

not likely to see another evar (SETH YOU WHAT?)

 

JFDI

[JeeExEll]

With 70s cars you now have to look at what's actually still around these days so choices are slightly limited.

 

Common sense would allow slight 80s seepage through, especially if it's to be a daily driver.

 

[Tamworthbay]

Yup, P6’s are ace. Their complexity what with brakes etc scares me.

I have never owned one but have done most things whilst helping a mate. I would be lying if I said the brakes were as easy as a “normal” set up but they aren’t as horrendous as you would think. They also seem very reliable on my mates so after a complete refurb when he got the car a few years back we haven’t touched them since. The interiors are truly sumptuous and I think they are my favourite of all in fact. I will have one one day.

[eddyramrod]

Open to Detroit- never considered that before. Talk to me!

 

Say the budget was £4K maybe?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222705352539?ul_noapp=true

 

Something like this is what I was thinking of, but your budget could easily get you something a bit older; perhaps a Chevy or Pontiac of the same family as Kojak's Buick.  Just a thought...

[Ghosty]

It sounds like you’d really like a 740, age aside.

[Wack]

Having had a few MX5s over the years you won't find anything that's more fun for the money / reliable, 4k would get you into a Mk3 which have a much better roof than the Mk1 & 2 so you don't need the hard top , mine is 12 years old , looks and drives like new and has modern AC, heated leather seats and Bose stereo which sounds great.

 

I find myself doing my best to avoid all major roads whenever I go out in it

 

A hat / not giving a shit cures the baldness problem though I will admit to feeling a bit of a tit when I parked with the drivers side tight against a curb so I was going uphill getting out of a lowered car in a sort of a sprawl onto the pavement involving hands and knees, won't be doing that again

 

If you're considering buying any convertible November is the month for max haggling potential 

[Junkman]

I would be lying if I said the brakes were as easy as a “normal” set up but they aren’t as horrendous as you would think.

 

True. They vastly exceed all the horrendousness an uninitiated could possibly imagine.

Considering the stated requirement profile, I must strongly dehort P6 ownership.

On the other hand, is life with the blandness of an Amazon worth striving for?

Not for me, I'm afraid.

Sitting in London traffic with a P6 is a delightfully nerve wrecking experience.

[mk2_craig]

How about that Renner 30 V6 auto recently advertised on here? An impeccably reliable and rust free proposition.