Hi Will,

Thanks for the reply. Minis' were my first love but Wifey has dismissed them out of hand as "too small"! :(

Loads of people on here are suggesting the MX5 and the Honda S200. I'll certainly take a look. Cheers

Almost everyone will say Mazda MX5 for sports car, and a good car it is too, your budget will get one with the steel folding roof though i'm not sure how much luggage room is available with the roof folded...

It's exactly the same as with the roof up - it folds into a different compartment behind the seats.

Mine's a 2011 SportTech (2.0 engine, 6 speed box, 17" wheels). I've owned it from new, with the aim that it gradually becomes my practical classic car. All going to plan so far.

Edited to add costs so far. A new set of tyres. Professional rustproofing at 12 months old. A SmartTop module. Gearbox and diff oil changes. Servicing. Still on original brakes, though I did change the brake fluid a couple of times.

Edited by Will deBeast on 27/02/2020 at 21:01

I am a little confused by this,

We're not sure that the practicalities of entering and exiting a small low car with 'old' seats would be a good thing at our age. Although not yet ancient, we're not getting any younger

While i quite understand the fact that getting into, and more importantly, out of, a low seat could be difficult, i fail to see how a getting out of a low seat in a young car will be any easier to get out of than a low seat in an old car?. A newer car will most likely have a more comfortable seat to spend time in, but that is a seperate issue.

Before you decide on anything, i'd strongly suggest trying for size some sporty cars of the type you are considering, to see how you feel about the issue of getting in and out of a low seat.

As GB points out, classic cars can be very expensive unless you are a capable home mechanic with a garage (and that is ignoring whether or not you have a garage nearby who were able to deal with a classic car). So unless that is the case, i'd suggest something younger and less maintenence intensive.

Hi,

Certainly intend to try as many cars as we can get to. Unfortunately there's not too many classic dealers near us and even less likely to have the particular cars we might be considering. Definitely getting the impression from the majority on this forum that the classics are best avoided anyway. I can find my way around an old engine/car but to be honest I really don't see myself having the time to do tons of work.

Interested as to why you refer to the TT as "a coffin"

Sorry this response was supposed to be to "gordonbennet"

Edited by Ken Flint on 28/02/2020 at 20:01

Hi,

Certainly intend to try as many cars as we can get to. Unfortunately there's not too many classic dealers near us and even less likely to have the particular cars we might be considering. Definitely getting the impression from the majority on this forum that the classics are best avoided anyway. I can find my way around an old engine/car but to be honest I really don't see myself having the time to do tons of work.

Interested as to why you refer to the TT as "a coffin"

Sorry this response was supposed to be to "gordonbennet"

Hi,

Certainly intend to try as many cars as we can get to. Unfortunately there's not too many classic dealers near us and even less likely to have the particular cars we might be considering. Definitely getting the impression from the majority on this forum that the classics are best avoided anyway. I can find my way around an old engine/car but to be honest I really don't see myself having the time to do tons of work.

Interested as to why you refer to the TT as "a coffin"

Sorry this response was supposed to be to "gordonbennet"

Hi Avant, Thanks for the reply. Some really interesting points you make there. Really appreciate you taking the time and effort to respond. Cheers

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Been blown away by the quality and quantity of responses on here. The SLK was on my radar but I'd be at a loss to know which model, there seems to be be so many.

MX5 certainly seems to come out on top here though. Cheers

Been there, had a classic car itch and over six years had firstly an MGBGT, then a Frogeye Sprite ( uncomfortable, slow of course , people cut you up ) then finally an MGF. On reflection it was fun it’s a great way to socialise through the clubs and car shows. A downside is that other drivers have little consideration for old cars and will think nothing of cutting you up not realising that your brakes aren’t as good as theirs. I wouldn’t buy a classic unless you’re handy with the spanners. Remember you’re thinking of going back in time with cars as they used to be- think of adjusting points, rust and more rust, car refuses to start in the morning, no A/C, yep the good old days.

Now our fun car is an old Mercedes CLK 320 coupe, had it six years now, the longest I’ve had a car. Very relaxing to be in, stylish and cheap as chips to buy and run. Every now and then I see a peach of one for sale at around 2k.

Edited by johncyprus on 28/02/2020 at 10:58

There are some fundamental questions you need to ask yourself:

• Do you like the idea of a classic - perhaps your parents (or you) had one. It has the potential to bring back memories and emotions. But 30-60 year old cars will frequently go wrong and rust,. By comparison with anything sold in the last 10 years, it will seem unbelivably slow and poorly equipped. Absolutely nothing wrong with this so long as you know what it entails.
• Is it the idea of open top motoring - fun for the summer. If you have access to other cars, new or old fun car is fine - you are not reliant on it starting every time. Do you actually want the performance of a sports car - together with (probably) lower seats and firmer suspension.
• Newer cars could make more sense - meets current expectations, tends towards reliability, economy, safety kit, electric windows, aircon etc.

For comfort and entry/exit you could consider more modern alternatives - Mini, Volvo, Saab, BMW 3 series, Audi A4 etc. Reasonable to good performance depending on spec. Occasional 4 seater if needed. Saab aside good spares availibility. Bread and butter for many independent garages. Plenty to choose from at £7-10k and 5-10 years old.

Interested as to why you refer to the TT as "a coffin"

Well, the original TT did not have a rear spoiler, to preserve the purity of the original lines. Unfortunately, it was discovered that at high speed the rear of the car suffered from destabilising lift (there were accidents, and fatalities). The TT was hastily redesigned to include a rear spoiler for more aerodynamic stability plus some electronic nannies to help control the car if it did get out of shape (i think the original cars sold up to that point were recalled to have the modifications). Actually though, i believe GB was referring to the fact that the TT has very shallow glass and a very dark interior, leading to the feeling you are in a coffin.

Just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to respond to my thread. I've been blown away by the quantity and quality of the responses. I'm sorry I can't reply to you all personally.

You've all definitely helped me clarify my thoughts and I've got a bit of further looking around to do. Thanks one and all

We could probably help more, or at least offer more suggestions, were you to clarify what you want out of the car, how you would be driving it, etc. You have mentioned a couple of cars, including a "small Lotus", which i assume to be the Elise?. Would you be thinking about the Lotus for its driving dynamics, or just for its looks?. Because if you are not al that bothered about 'driving the doors off the car' and more interested in a nice cruise, something a bit less overtly sporting would probably be more enjoyable, certainly on a longer journey.

The coffin moniker was from SWMBO, she hated the thing.

I used to drive car transporters for a living, its an odd job and gives you a completely different outlook on cars, different things impress and please, it's probably why we've ended up with a Landcruiser and Forester, vehicles which don't really appeal to most car buyers.

I found TT's the most horrible confining car to be in, high doors you just peer over through those narrow windows, when you look out as you must doing that job to see where the wheels are due to the shallow windows its impossible to get your head out enough to see the wheels, this effects very few vehicles ever made (apart from armoured Range Rovers the windows of which don't open) all in all TT is a most unpleasant vehicle to be in for both SWMBO and i for different reasons, though i know others like them, each to their own.

Good left field suggestion the Lexus SC430, what wasn't a particularly pretty car when launched in my eyes has matured nicely, very high quality car, i'd definately have a look at one of those...going back to my previous work Toyota/Lexus QC, both UK production and import side, set high standards.

Nice car. Always liked the styling, but I'm really looking for a convertible.