The antidote to old age

[Justin Case]

This topic has come to my mind partly as a reaction to the comments made especially in the crossover thread about relatives who are only a few years older than my good self seeking the automotive equivalent of a tartan Thermos flask Having retired fairly recently, I am still wafting around in the same vehicle that I had when I was a member of the working classes, but now I have more freedom. Contemplating my own mortality, the best known quote of Hunter S Thompson now resonates more strongly than ever:

 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

 

It doesn't look as if the default choice of Honda Jazz is going to even remotely fit the bill, so your suggestions for more interesting transport from A to B, or perhaps in my case Y to Z would be welcomed. Basic criteria are: cylinders, the more the merrier, petrol, ideally room for two adults and two small persons, also ideally  a roof that opens, 20 years old means cheap classic insurance and not too catastrophic VED.

 

A budget of £11k would avoid the fear that that sum would be swallowed up in nursing home fees in 20 years time (many of our generation have seen this happen to elderly relatives) I would prefer a balance of £10k car and £1k Emergency Repair fund rather than the other way round, but I would be interested and hopefully amused to see what you come up with

 

Edit: the three affordable generations of Mercedes SL and the XJS fall at the 2 +2 hurdle.

[The_Equalizer]

No doubt everyone will punt the ideas based on what they know so I'm going to get the ball rolling with a Merc CLK but the 430. Good ones can be found for £5k,they are fast enough, handle well, come as a drophead, come with four usable seats, no problem for parts and on the verge of being 20 years old. Just watch for rusty wings and only go for ones with solid history.

[eddyramrod]

Something American.  Pretty-much anything!  Convertibles ran all the way into the 70s and if you've seen any Hollywood movie you know they are the literal embodiment of the HST quote.  Your budget should get you something rather nice, with a rumbling V8.

[Bucketeer]

I was gonna suggest American too.

Or a 944 convertible.

[John F]

A Maserati Quattroporte would be well within budget, as would a wide selection of top-end Mercedes and BMWs. If you want something sportier you might still find a Porsche 928 for less than £10k, although you might have to be patient for the right one to come up.

[skattrd]

XK8 Jag might fit the bill, aren't they XJS underneath, so it has some shite credentials.

Not really shite or old enough for classic policy, but  AMG clk55, they do floppy top as well. Insurance shouldn't be too horrendous for older peeps who live in sensible areas.

 

Otherwise Mr_Buckets suggestion of 944 cab would fit the boxes, but only 4 cylinders.

[Mally]

Being more selfish than you I bought an Harley.

It's long gone now and I'm still here.

Well worth it though.

Buy what you feel is right for you and you won't regret it.

[castros_bro]

Eleventy thooosand pooods?  There's loads of stuff which is interesting like Singer Vogue which are almost 100bhp and have "normal" gearboxes/brakes/etc.Or Sunbeam Rapier convertibles etc.   If I had £11k to spare I'd get a Peugeot 106 1.5D and spend the change on a semi derelict house in Portugal,  spend time growing tomatoes, olives, oranges whilst laying in a hammock with a cold beer (98 euro cents a liter) then riding the old moped to a river for a spot of fishing or some offroad motorbike fest. (Oh!  I did)

 

 

[somewhatfoolish]

The shiniest SAAB 900 floppytop.

[Matty]

Really good manta gte for about 7 grand. That'll make anyone feel like a teenager. Still miss mine (sad face)

[lesapandre]

Mercedes W124 E class convertible? 

[anonymous user]

Scimitar convertible, with hardtop for winter

[anonymous user]

Or a V8 Land Rover 90

[davehedgehog31]

The answer to all "What Car" queries... the Rover R8, in this case a convertible. 

 

Also one of my favourite YouTube clips;

 

[Mr A Lawrence]

i just want to know at what age do i start to wear a shirt and tie with a nice jumper and some suit trousers every day

[cort16]

Early to mid 90’s sl500. They’re long great and can still be had for decent money . There’s also decent parts availability and other than electrical issues are reasonably reliable .

[Guest Hooli]

i just want to know at what age do i start to wear a shirt and tie with a nice jumper and some suit trousers every day

 

 

You'll have plenty of time to decide when you are due to do that as you stand outside the paper shop for an hour before it opens every morning.

[jonny69]

It sounds a little to me like it might be time to experience an old Jag...

[John F]

Why is an XJ-S off the cards? They're a 2+2 (not the convertible though, unfortunately... make the kids walk), and should be within budget for a fettled one.

 

Also, there's the option of TWELVE cylinders. TWELVE.

 

Like this 66,000 mile one, for a smidge above £8k...

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-JAGUAR-XJS-CONVERTIBLE-V12-5-3-66K-GENUINE-MILES-LOTS-OF-HISTORY/273335993674?hash=item3fa418454a:g:61sAAOSwgTJbK17t

[davehedgehog31]

You can fit as many as 77 grandkids in the back of this drop top;

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Open-top-double-deck-bus/123237000848?hash=item1cb17f6690:g:YhwAAOSw2j9bL4E9

 

[John F]

Alternatively, be the coolest grandad that ever lived:

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/alvis-stalwart/183306834490?hash=item2aadf0523a:g:4I4AAOSwbb9bO6Sx

 

8 cylinders, 6.5 litres. Lots of room in the back for kids.

 

(hopefully there'll be plenty of money left in the pot for a restoration...)

[garethj]

And visits to the lake will never be more fun

[Justin Case]

 Thanks for all your suggestions, even if they haven't yet had an individual 'like'. I had thought about CLK and Saab but most are too new, but the Yank Tank and Sunbeam Rapier ideas sound worth looking at seriously The bus isn't as daft as it seems as I was offered  a VAL 70 by a friend yesterday at £12k,  with room for another 51 grandchildren, in beautiful condition and with reasonably priced storage

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/25560907365/

 

 

i just want to know at what age do i start to wear a shirt and tie with a nice jumper and some suit trousers every day

Never! Even my old man didn't, although perhaps my grandad did My generation were more defined by this, remember it was made nearly half a century ago

 

 

Unfortunatelly I cannot see Mrs C on the pillion of Captain America though

[castros_bro]

 Thanks for all your suggestions, even if they haven't yet had an individual 'like'. I had thought about CLK and Saab but most are too new, but the Yank Tank and Sunbeam Rapier ideas sound worth looking at seriously The bus isn't as daft as it seems as I was offered  a VAL 70 by a friend yesterday at £12k,  with room for another 51 grandchildren, in beautiful condition and with reasonably priced storage

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/25560907365/

 

 

Never! Even my old man didn't, although perhaps my grandad did My generation were more defined by this, remember it was made nearly half a century ago

 

 

Unfortunatelly I cannot see Mrs C on the pillion of Captain America though

 

 

That's good as "my generation" would expect her to have her own £6k Harley.

[Justin Case]

I was just checking the Byrds link to see that it was working OK, when it was obscured by an advert for a will-writing service Are they trying to tell me something

[Kringle]

Alfa 166 v6? Pretty ballsy and doesn't make people think you own a "Parker pen just for enquiring"

 

Actually the antidote to old age is whatever is the most stupid option. Maybe even dangerous. Anyone know of a cut N shut Max Powah escort for sale?

[Bren]

Monaro. Modern but with old skool running gear that can be serviced on your drive without the fear of being taken to the cleaners by a specialist.

 

You should get one because I can't.

[andy18s]

Really good manta gte for about 7 grand. That'll make anyone feel like a teenager. Still miss mine (sad face)

Better still make sure it's had an XE or a LET dropped in for proper rwd giggles

If Opel had done that whilst the car was still in production they would have sold gazillions of the things!

[barefoot]

944 Convertibles are very, very fragile and are written off for the most minor of teeny tiny bumpettes.

[bezzabsa]

I'm sorry But this wins

Under £2k.........

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/213620669291014/?ref=feed_rhc