Opinions please

[scooters]

Mrs Scooters came out with an amazing statement on Sunday....as we pulled into the 'pick your own fruit' place west of Edinburgh on Sunday morning in the Torsten supplied 2002 silver Renner Scenic she pipes up:

"I never thought I would say this but I feel a bit anonymous driving the Scenic, yes, it is practical but it's very boring and I feel like everyone else"

 

and last night:

 

"How long are you going to keep the Yugo for...at the end of the day it sort of works out as a free car....maybe you should get something for the weekend later in the year, if you are going to keep the Yugo then you could have a classy toy ?"

 

I nearly choked on me apple!

 

the choices are:

1/ a smark 3 SJ6 - ideally a Daimler Sovereign or maybe a Double Six - comfort, style, space for the family, wonderful things but expensove on the gas

 

2/ a Reliant Scimitar SE6a - I prefer the Essex engine - not so comfortable, not as much space - silly lap belts in the rear but I go week at the knees when I hear the snarl from the stainless twin exhausts - but expenisve on the gas

 

3/ A V8 Rover P6 - never owned one, I have the two above but te Mrs - quite likes them and they have that 70's awesomness about them...also decent space, practicality, well supported, sound V8 engine but expensive on the fuel...

 

as I am going to save up some cash rather than doing the usual Scooters get pissed on ebay and buy blind approach I want to get this one right...my heart and head say Jag/Daimler but the Rover does appeal as I have yet to own one...and the Scimitar- well, I have always loved them

 

opinions?

[Guest]

P6 V8 Every time Allthough the 4 cylinder ones are still good.

[ashmicro]

What he said. The P6 is a true work of engineering.

[tonedepear]

How boring. P6. If for no other reason than you've already had the others, so why go back?

[dollywobbler]

XJ6 will be the most costly on fuel. 20mpg will be a struggle. Lovely cars to drive though.

 

Scimitar is ok, and with overdrive, you might nudge 30mpg. The other two definitely won't. I'd like to try an SE6 to see how it compares with the 5. Practical-ish, but I found having to squeeze down into mine a bit of a pain.

 

Rover P6B. The potential for complete financial meltdown is quite enormous. I should know - it's happened to me twice. They are amazing cars, with superb engineering as has been said. However, they rot in all manner of nasty ways. I did once manage 26mpg in mine, but 20 was the norm. Didn't find the 2000SC any better on fuel because it needed ragging to move at a decent lick. 2200TC offers V8 pace, but allied to V8 thirst. I'd rather have an SD1.

 

I'm going to suggest a Dolomite. Do you really need something big? They're still great value and pretty good on fuel (well, compared to the above!).

[cort16]

Get a nice series 1 SD1. Lovely retro looks, nice interior and not bad to drive. The 2600 isn't that much slower than the carb'd v8's but it'd do 25+mpg. They're also considerably cheaper to buy than the v8's and parts prices are decent.

[scooters]

XJ6 will be the most costly on fuel. 20mpg will be a struggle. Lovely cars to drive though.

 

Scimitar is ok, and with overdrive, you might nudge 30mpg. The other two definitely won't. I'd like to try an SE6 to see how it compares with the 5. Practical-ish, but I found having to squeeze down into mine a bit of a pain.

 

Rover P6B. The potential for complete financial meltdown is quite enormous. I should know - it's happened to me twice. They are amazing cars, with superb engineering as has been said. However, they rot in all manner of nasty ways. I did once manage 26mpg in mine, but 20 was the norm. Didn't find the 2000SC any better on fuel because it needed ragging to move at a decent lick. 2200TC offers V8 pace, but allied to V8 thirst. I'd rather have an SD1.

 

I'm going to suggest a Dolomite. Do you really need something big? They're still great value and pretty good on fuel (well, compared to the above!).

 

 

...really want a big car for the weekends - witht he yugo in daily use fuel consumption isn't a huge issue but potential running costs could be.

 

Dollys I have considered but not really what I am after and having had an 1875 one and wrestled with the flippin weak water pump seal replacement I'm not a fan..

 

Tunedeaper -haven't come across you before so you probably don't know that Ive owned a lot of cars over the years - a lot and out of the ones I have owned, the Daimler and the Scimitar are the British ones I like the most. I'm looking to sink 5 grand into this when I make the decision so it has to be spot on whatever I am going for

[tonedepear]

Tunedeaper -haven't come across you before so you probably don't know that Ive owned a lot of cars over the years - a lot and out of the ones I have owned, the Daimler and the Scimitar are the British ones I like the most. I'm looking to sink 5 grand into this when I make the decision so it has to be spot on whatever I am going for

 

I assume most people on here have owned a good few motors, I just always favour something I've never owned over something I've already had - partly cos I aim to one day have owned one of everything(!), and partly cos if I'm buying something cos I liked the last one, the new one invariably doesn't measure up.

 

Mind you, it'd be a very rare thing for me to be spending 5 bags on anything so my usual rules probably don't apply!

 

(And my "how boring" wasn't aimed at your choices, just at everyone saying P6!)

 

- tone

[garethj]

I’d recommend doing the pissed on ebay thing, it’s much more interesting and not necessarily worse.

 

I think that tracking down a non-terminally-rusty XJ6 will take forever.

A Scimitar could be a laugh if you’re good with earth wires (speaks the owner of two fibreglass cars)

A Rover is nice but I think by the time they got the V8 the front end was a bit ugly. And they’re all autos which isn’t always a good thing.

 

A gentleman of your fine social standing should consider a proper gentleman’s motor car, perhaps a Humber Imperial rather than one of those frivolous machines you mentioned.

[trigger]

A P6 V8 is also something I'd like one day, i test drove one last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself behind the wheel, Sadly the rest of the bodywork was crap but for £5k you should get one of the best for that.

 

The Jag would also be on my bucket list, again I've driven a few but the best was a F plate Sovereign V12, The quality just oozed out of it as i waffed along.

 

For £5k you'd get a decent Dolly Sprint for that or a SD1 Vitesse V8 or even a nice Mk1 Granada 3.0 Ghia.

[Rocket88]

If you can find one, a P6 with a 5 speed manual conversion. The standard four speed jobbie is not really up to the job. They do rot, but they are out there, and if you buy the "right" one". they are lovely. Scimitar is nice but a bit agricultural, and prone to electrical unpleasantness. Jag the best drive, but will be a festering money pit, S3 4.2 probably the best, but prices for good ones are going up sharply.

£5K P6 / Jag, and a mint Scimitar

[trigger]

A Rover is nice but I think by the time they got the V8 the front end was a bit ugly. And they’re all autos which isn’t always a good thing.

 

Not if you buy a 3500S Mr. Gareth

[Rocket88]

I’d recommend doing the pissed on ebay thing, it’s much more interesting and not necessarily worse.

 

I think that tracking down a non-terminally-rusty XJ6 will take forever.

A Scimitar could be a laugh if you’re good with earth wires (speaks the owner of two fibreglass cars)

A Rover is nice but I think by the time they got the V8 the front end was a bit ugly. And they’re all autos which isn’t always a good thing.

 

Err no to the above, although the manuals are fragile

 

 

 

A gentleman of your fine social standing should consider a proper gentleman’s motor car, perhaps a Humber Imperial rather than one of those frivolous machines you mentioned.

[dollywobbler]

Good call Colc. A Humber Super Snipe would be amazing!

[Lord Sterling]

Forget all that, buy a Standard 10.

[Rocket88]

Humbers are nice, but a bit of a wallowy old barge, and the 6 pot ones are epically thirsy [worse than the others mentioned!] You could also consider a Westminster / Wolseley / Princess [not 4 litre one though] or even a P5B [6 pot ones are out there for £5k] Volvo 164 3 litre, fintail Mercs are just about affordable [nice to drive]

[stuboy]

rover for me

[scooters]

Tunedeaper -haven't come across you before so you probably don't know that Ive owned a lot of cars over the years - a lot and out of the ones I have owned, the Daimler and the Scimitar are the British ones I like the most. I'm looking to sink 5 grand into this when I make the decision so it has to be spot on whatever I am going for

 

I assume most people on here have owned a good few motors, I just always favour something I've never owned over something I've already had - partly cos I aim to one day have owned one of everything(!), and partly cos if I'm buying something cos I liked the last one, the new one invariably doesn't measure up.

 

Mind you, it'd be a very rare thing for me to be spending 5 bags on anything so my usual rules probably don't apply!

 

(And my "how boring" wasn't aimed at your choices, just at everyone saying P6!)

 

- tone

 

 

lol...cheers tone...I've never spent 5 grand on any type of car but am under pressure to stabilise my shite activities...I think Mrs S may have reliased how much I have spunked on cars over the years....ulp

[Angrydicky]

Horsey Horseless.

[Justin Case]

I am very tempted by this, but at present I just haven't anywhere to keep it. For anyone else in your part of the world, Herefordshire would be a bit of a trek, but for you it would be just another epic road trip

 

 

http://classiccars.brightwells.com/view ... hp?id=2446

[Cheggers]

How about a Triumph 2500 S/PI - I know I'm biased as a 2000 owner, but they're big, comfy, wafty and nice to look at

[John F]

Buy the Scimitar. You want it.

[wuvvum]

I’d recommend doing the pissed on ebay thing, it’s much more interesting and not necessarily worse.

This.

 

Out of the three you've mentioned, though, I'd choose a P6 V8 - had one and loved driving it even though it was rather rotten, but as others have said for your budget you should be able to get a minter. Would also be worth considering a Mk1 Triumph 2500 - nearly as quick, better on fuel, handle just as well and manual ones (usually with overdrive) are a lot more common than manual 3500s. If you fancy a big Humber you could do a lot worse than a late Hawk - performance is quite adequate, they are less nose-heavy than the big sixes, surprisingly good on fuel (I was getting about 27mpg out of mine) and if you get one with overdrive they'll cruise at 75 as happily as most modern cars.

[trigger]

What about one of these?, I'm not sure how good of one you could get for £5k but I'd love to own one, If this doesn't say British class then nothing does.

 

1969 Rover 3.5 Litre P5B by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[Guest]

P5 or P6 is WELL Trigger. Buy yes, you should. Hmmm.

[barrett]

There is a buyers guide for those in one of the recent C&SCs. They reckon a nice P5B is £15k which made me slightly depressed. I can't understand them being three times the value of the nicest P6 but whatever....

 

I have no idea on the values of these things, but would £5k stretch to a series 1 or 2 XJ6?

[tonedepear]

P5

 

GR9 for being Harold Wilson. £15 grand, mind?

[Rocket88]

There is a buyers guide for those in one of the recent C&SCs. They reckon a nice P5B is £15k which made me slightly depressed. I can't understand them being three times the value of the nicest P6 but whatever....

 

I have no idea on the values of these things, but would £5k stretch to a series 1 or 2 XJ6?

 

Series 1, probably not, series 2 yes, but they are the duffers of the XJ6 range. Series 3 is a better car

[cort16]

For 5k you should get a nice manual twin plenum vitesse SD1 or for less money and more retroness this cracking and seriously rare SD1 3500 v8-S. Sa-weet.

Get rid of the rubbing strips, the chrome trim and re-paint the bumpers black and it'll be stock as a rock.

 

http://www.roversd1club.net/carsforsale/current1.asp

 

Like this

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I've voted for the Daimler. It's shite enough that you can't even say that you own a jaaaaaaag and looks retro but less classic-y than the other choices.

 

However, this is Autoshite and, with that kind of budget, you'd be mad not to consider a nice Tagora SX.