Hi all, I've been away for months and now back to the backroom :-) Having had the QX as the main car for a long while and the car just refuse to die to give me an excuse to change, I am now looking for a second car as my main car while my girlfriend takes custody of my QX.
My main concern is low/no depreciation, reliability and reasonably maintenance (~£1-1.5k p.a.). What's come to mine is an mid-80s Porsche 911 coupe for £6-8k. What's there to look for on these cars other than in the c-by-c breakdown? My main worry is that everything will be welded/rusted together on a 20 year-old car and, as I will be working on the car myself, I will be blow-touching when comes to replacing parts. I don't like to work with heat as I don't have such equipment and considered too dangerous for home use.
Any other ideas? Or would anyone put out my stupid idea? Or should I get a 2001 year-old Ford Cougar for £4k instead?
Many thanks, Gazza
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Older Merc SLKs are still quite attractive and seem to hold value well I think...
But then I would also be tempted with a Cougar so I don't know how much my opinion is worth! :-)
Blue
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Given that you'd struggle to find a mint condition Mondeo ST24 on a 2001 plate for £4k, I'd find it very, very unlikely that you'd get a decent Cougar of similar vintage for this sort of money! Even a 99 might be pushing it.
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Cougars are cheap, deeply unloved. But he wants a sports car not a cougar!
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Cougars are cheap, deeply unloved. But he wants a sports car not a cougar!
Actually, he did ask if he should get a Cougar instead. Even despite the fact they are unloved, even trade price on a 2001 X 2.5 Cougar with 60k on the clock is just under £5k.
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How about a classic car? 5-8k gets all sorts of interesting things like TR6s, vitesses, jensen interceptors, jaguar xjs, scimitars. Mostly easy to work on, usually cheap to look after and if you go for pre 1972 no road tax. If you go for a rebuilt one then rust shouldn't much of an issue for a good while.
Alternatively I'd be looking at another japanese sports car eg 200/300sx or older mazda rx7 (definitely classic). Perhaps a Fiat X1/9? According to this month's practical performance car lotus elises can be had for 8k. Most modern cars are galvanised so rust shouldn't be so much of a problem. Not sure how sporty a mazda mx5 is but early ones of those used to stay around the £5k mark for ever.
teabelly
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How about a Mazda MX5?? You should be able to get a good '98 or '99 Mk2 model for about 5-6k. Obviously it won't match the Porker for performance, but it would beat a four-cylinder Cougar and would give a V6 Cougar a run for its money. MX5s are pretty easy for DIY maintenance too (so I'm told).
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There is no such thing as a cheap 911. A mid -80's model for 6-8k might easily cost you the same again in running costs over a couple of years. Access to work on them isnt brilliant - much easier if you have a lift (for preference) or pit.
some service parts (brakes, etc) are reasonable enough from the specialists (try porschApart or berlyn services) but some stuff is just very expensive.
oil leaks, which may or may not be an issue, heat exchangers, leaking rear windows.
There are lots of accident damaged/cheaply repaired cars about. If you must, then buy the crawford buyers guide and adrian streathers owners guide. workshop manuals crop un on ebay in (pirated) cd form regularly.
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Many thanks to all the reply, especially Mark who has put out the idea of an old 911. MX5 is no good as it would not fit a 28" hard-suitcase (essential for my job if I have to stay at an away client for a week; I have tried out the MX5 as it was available as a lease car for £150 p.m. all inc. except petrol with my firm).
I am only considering a 2 2 or a large boot seriously, to carry a suitcase, a hand-carry bag and a laptop bag.
Also, no British Leyland, wankel engine, etc. due to reliability issues as I drive around 20k p.a - 10k business mileage and 10k personal.
Actually, it sounds like my 10 year-old Nissan QX may fit the bill just fine ...... doh!!
(For those who knew I was expecting the MB W126, it is due to be given to me in September - by then I would have to decide which large car to keep)
Many thanks, Gazza
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Just been through the same loop. Got rid of Alfa 156 JTD as its cost me £ 2,500+ this year. I do 36K a year therefore needed something I can work on myself (which I couldn't on the Alfa).
Ended up with a Porsche but a 944 2.5 Lux 87. Cost me £2,550 and have booked it in to have cambelts etc done, which'll be around £ 300ish. Could have done them myself but don't have the time at the mo, also its only every 30-40K so not a big issue.
Plenty around, your budget would get an excellent one. Had it for just over a week, changed oils etc for £50 of bits from local factor. Shed loads of stuff around new from various specialists such as German & Swedish, Berlyn etc. Now done a 1000 miles and loving it, also 30mpg+
CBCB on here is lacking in detail & accuracy as it does on other cars, but plenty of info on web.
Jim
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Gazza,
why a 28" HARD suitcase ? I ran a 911/964C4 for 3 years/50K miles, a soft bag was essential. The 944 sounds a better bet, I know people who have swapped from 911 ->944 because of the added practicality and better running costs. Plus easier to drive and enjoy. Likely to be a much better bet on your budget, I would always keep a good chunk of cash in reserve on a sports car, just to cover the posibility of problems. what sort of mileage are you looking at doing ?
Personally I am not convinced that there are depreciation free cars out there. I would rather look at the fun/£ ratio including running costs and insurance and then see what the cheapest I could get away with would be. I know a bloke that swears that lotus excel or esprit is the way to go, no idea what they cost to run though.
Mark
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Don't laugh but how about a Ford Capri with 2.8i engine. Or even better a TVR with same engine.
I saw a TVR the other day, £7k for a 1990 with 40,000 miles and in lovely condition. Mind you, not the sort of car I would want to do 20,000 miles a year in though.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Gazza - The money you mention would buy you an M-reg VW Corrado VR6 or Storm. Very fast,well built,(by Karmann),large boot and hatchback practicality.
Servicing and parts are not cheap but less than Porsche!
Regards DougB.
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