Well, I've thought long and hard and I'm still stumped.

Let me give you the history - I have a company car (A4 diesel) which handily frees up some dosh for a fun car for high/holy days. Previously filling this coveted garage slot has been:

Zetec Striker
Mini Clubman Turbo
Various bikes (engined variety)
Classic Beetle
Mx5
200sx S13
VW Scirocco

What next? current available budget is 4k. But I do have a tidy MX5 as well which can stay or be sold for more funds. The only remit is it MUST be fun, and I must be proud to own it. Other than that, I really am open to suggestions. I like working on my cars, although I can't weld (but could learn). Garage is fairly small 16ft by 10ft, so it can't be a giant barge.

Me and Luego snr race a Clio 172 in a local sprint championship, so it doesn't need to be track focused, i can get those thrills elsewhere.

What say you LCB collective? what fun car have you loved the most and why? am I asking a pointless question, and should buy another kit car?

hmmmmmm.

Skyline?

quote:

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Originally posted by tomprescott
Skyline?

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1982 PORSCHE 928 S Manual UK RHD low mileage new MOT and tax | eBay

I had an automatic S4 years ago, it could spin the wheels up to 80mph

They are galvanised bodies with lots of aluminium panels so nice and light and are really really fast, mine could hit the rev limiter in all gears, the only noise at 170mph is wind!

This will only go up, they are great to work on as everything is high quality so anodised bolts and parts are surprisingly cheap.

Did I say they are fast, also go around bends on rails as standard adjustable coil overs, gearbox on the back axle.



Spend the balance on decent wheels off a later one.

[Edited on 30/4/13 by mark chandler]

quote:

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Originally posted by mark chandler
1982 PORSCHE 928 S Manual UK RHD low mileage new MOT and tax | eBay

I had an automatic S4 years ago, it could spin the wheels up to 80mph

They are galvanised bodies with lots of aluminium panels so nice and light and are really really fast, mine could hit the rev limiter in all gears, the only noise at 170mph is wind!

This will only go up, they are great to work on as everything is high quality so anodised bolts and parts are surprisingly cheap.

Did I say they are fast, also go around bends on rails as standard adjustable coil overs, gearbox on the back axle.



Spend the balance on decent wheels off a later one.

[Edited on 30/4/13 by mark chandler]

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gtm spyder or libra? ok i'm biased but they are a great kit car, thats practical enough to be used a bit more often than a seven

I had a 928, brilliant cars untill they go wrong!

Had a 'simple' wiring fault on mine, £765 to cure!!

How about a little single seater?

GTM Lybra - lovely, but rarely see them for that kind of money, unless I'm looking in the wrong place....

Single seater - would love one, but I want it to be road legal - think summer blasts and the odd show etc....

well you wouldnt need the MXF if you had a spyder?

i do know that a member on here but a libra that required a bit of recomissioning for that kind of money.
they do crop up

paul

You've not had a Mini - what about a Hornet or Riley Elf and a trip to Goodwood?

You've also not scratched any sort of Landy itch.

You could just stretch to TVR Chim if you sell the mx, or 4k could see you in a S2 or S3 depending on condition, the v6 still sounds lovely.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/s-series/tvr-s1-5-1989/1264625


[Edited on 30/4/13 by mikeb]

No more Minis! That thing was a friggin nightmare.

Not a big landy fan - much more into road machines.

quote:

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Originally posted by mikeb
You could just stretch to TVR Chim if you sell the mx, or 4k could see you in a S2 or S3 depending on condition, the v6 still sounds lovely.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/s-series/tvr-s1-5-1989/1264625


[Edited on 30/4/13 by mikeb]

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You see a few project chim's pop up for that money but they are rare.
The S is pretty reliable, look at the red one on piston heads its had a full body of resto.
Its sierra bits underneath so as long as the chassis is good, the're pretty reliable.

What are they like to drive?

it does look nice i must admit.

quote:

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Originally posted by Norfolkluegojnr

quote:

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Originally posted by mikeb
You could just stretch to TVR Chim if you sell the mx, or 4k could see you in a S2 or S3 depending on condition, the v6 still sounds lovely.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/s-series/tvr-s1-5-1989/1264625


[Edited on 30/4/13 by mikeb]

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LOVE TVR's, but always been worried about the reliability issues.

do Chimaeras ever get down to 5k? if so thats an option, but I guess i'd be looking at a snotter.

S series are nice. will add that to the list.

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Thanks Jed, only just realised how local you are!

Going to measure up the garage to see if it'll fit when i get home.

They are nice to drive, the engine is torquey rather than peaky hi rev power.
I liked mine it was always an event taking it out. If the red one is pumping out 183 bhp it really won't be that much slower than your average Chim 400, a lot of those go through the roller struggling to make 200 if they haven't been maintained to well.
Just don't buy one that hasn't had it chassis sorted.

Thanks Mike,

Sounds like a possible winner. Need to do some research now.

Other than outriggers rusting, anything to look out for?

I would look at Lotus Elan M100, massivley underated and very reliable if looked after properley

Quite like the elan.

Key things on the S are:

- chassis, outriggers, seat belt mounts, fuel tank cradle (easy to swap as it bolts in).
- rear trailing arms can rot through as its an open ended cylinder
- radiator, often need a recore (replacements are difficult to find)
- orginal front indicator lens are like hens teath! (otherd can be modified to fit.)
- there are a couple of electrical connectors that are commone failures (yellow connector to steering column is common)
- heater matrix is a pitter to get to if it leaks or packs up.
- slow electric windows.
- roof shouldn't leak, new seals are available for the targa panels if they do (fit chimera back stays for the fold down bit they look load nicer)
- I think the 2.9 efi has twin airflow meters that can sometimes be problematic (easy and cheap to replace)

Models withe the driving lamps build into the lower corners of the bonnet look more modern and nicer but are a bit harder to find.

I had thought about the Elan previously, but it seems the non-turbo is a bit underpowered (similar to the MX5) and its FWD - not a no, but not blown away for the price.

Thanks for the TVR info, if it'll fit in the garage I may be back in touch

......Honda S2000!

Like an MX5, but different!
Can pootle around like a granny all day long, surprisingly comfy, >30mpg, reliable as a swiss watch, airbags, electric windows, AC, etc.
However, turns completely manic if you just hold the throttle down for a few seconds in a low gear (or a high gear, on a track....).

You could easily afford it too......

Just a thought!

Adam

Just to add to Mike's list, check that the door hinges aren't worn and the doors drooping at the rear. Also check the trailing arm mountings and the tube that the are fixed to.

Other than that they are a fun car and fitted into my 9' x 18' shed with plenty of space at the end for a bench and standing room.

You'll find the Elan very boring. It was always an Asian run-about with a Lotus badge. Very uninspiring compared to an Elise. Now there's a possibility for you. Series 1 Elise is getting affordable, and they're great fun.
I'm on my second Elise. Had the first one for 18 months, then sold it for the same price I paid. I've attended many shows with friends from the kit car club, and the Lotus always attracts as much, if not more, attention as the other cars.

[Edited on 30/4/13 by FazerBob]

quote:

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Originally posted by FazerBob
You'll find the Elan very boring. It was always an Asian run-about with a Lotus badge. Very uninspiring compared to an Elise. Now there's a possibility for you. Series 1 Elise is getting affordable, and they're great fun.
I'm on my second Elise. Had the first one for 18 months, then sold it for the same price I paid. I've attended many shows with friends from the kit car club, and the Lotus always attracts as much, if not more, attention as the other cars.

[Edited on 30/4/13 by FazerBob]

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You might be pushing it now for a good one, but a few years ago me and my brother looked into getting an XJS and in 2008 you could pick one up for £500 with tax and MOT, and you had a few to choose from at that prive point. Wonderful Straight 6 engines or the mighty V12 and such a cool car.

What about an American Sports Car? A couple of Grand will get you a Camaro or a Firebird, and a bit more will get you a 'vette. I don't know what sort of car you'd get and you'd be on the wrong side (Unless you want to go curb crawling).

RX7 FD

No Alfa Romeos's yet? - you could get a spider if you like convertables.
Regards
Hugh

Put a V6 in the MX5?

That did cross my mind

944 turbo without a shadow of a doubt

Turbo lairyness, cool looks, awesome handling (as 928, same config), even four seats and a bloomin' big boot for those weekends away! I'd have one in a shot if I could bring myself to sell my XR2 (sad that isn't it, a rusty old ford getting in the way of porsche ownership).

Seen plenty go on ebay for less than your budget.

quote:

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Originally posted by FASTdan
944 turbo without a shadow of a doubt

Turbo lairyness, cool looks, awesome handling (as 928, same config), even four seats and a bloomin' big boot for those weekends away! I'd have one in a shot if I could bring myself to sell my XR2 (sad that isn't it, a rusty old ford getting in the way of porsche ownership).

Seen plenty go on ebay for less than your budget.

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I've only had 924's and they were always very reasonable - as you say, just VW/Audi prices really. Of course there's going to be odd ball bits that are sky high prices but thats to be expected. Even then there's plenty being broken so most stuff can be sourced second hand. I think if your handy with a spanner and confident to take most stuff on then they can be run reasonably economically, especially if its only a weekend car (ie you can afford to have it off the road for a few months worst case whilst you source stuff).

I found parts to be no more expensive than other cars on my 928, what I did find was the quality was much higher and plenty being broken with a limited resell market kept the price down.... They do not go mechanically wrong really.

The electrics are overly complicated, the fuel injection a PITA but you can always replace with an aftermarket system today if it fails badly.