Brendan Hughes

Can't afford my Caterham, not for another year or three.

Would like to buy a cheap RWD light runabout that I can practice sliding in - never done it before, always valued my cars too highly.

The smaller the better, to save wear on tyres etc. MX5 might be nice, but doubt I can get one that cheap, and have heard that the handling is not so predictable.

Cheapy kit-cars like my old Dutton are out as they don't exist over here. Also forget old Brit faves like MG-B for same reason.

Any thoughts?

drb5

iTrader: (4)

what about an old bmw 323-325? heard they're good for having some fun in?

carl

Mk1 MR2
Nissan S12 Silvia or S13 200SX
There's a 2.2 litre engined Opel Manta for sale here for £600!

IanWatson

I'm 110% with DJB - old BMW E30 straight 6 is what you need, ideally a 325i.

I've sold my Scoob to free up some cash for starting a business, just bought a 205 GTi 1.9, but if the other half hadn't had a say I'd have gone for another 325i Touring - no nasty traction control, far better steering feel than a Scoob, simple progressive sideways fun and will last like an Aga if you keep and treat it well.

For a grand you'll be getting an old car (obviously) but you don't want massive running costs - that's when the build quality really counts. This means Jap/German and I reckon your average 325i saloon will have been looked after better and driven easier than the Jap equivalents (MR2, 200SX) and I'd take a dour black leather Bimmer interior than a plastic Supra TT!

In addition to this you'll have more to choose from (although my knowledge of the Portugese 2nd car market isn't what it should be ) therefore a better chance of getting the right car.

Keep us posted!

Dracoro

Westfield? Pretty much the same as a caterham in the whole scheme of things.

LanciaChris

alfa 75 twin spark.

igratton

Classic Opel Manta...

check out this beaut.

If you buy it tell gee_fin he owes me a bear or two



http://wscc.ggr.net/cgi-bin/BB/ikonb...ST;f=9;t=11129

Retro good fun.

Ian.

Brendan Hughes

Hmmm, ta for those thoughts. I was also thinking Jap/German for the same reason, but wasn't thinking of saloons! Aren't they a bit heavy? Or is it that they have so little safety equipment 15 yrs ago that they are the same weight as a modern roadster? I wanted to slide it at 30mph not 80!

Trouble is there's no such thing as a cheap car here, even my 1987 Fiat Panda imitation was £250! It wouldn't be £50 in the UK!

V-techland

Quote

"I'm 110% with DJB - old BMW E30 straight 6 is what you need, ideally a 325i."

There is no ideally about - it will have to be no less than a 325i sport if you want it to 'go 'round' or DRIFT properly, as these are the only models with Limited Slip Differential's (LSD's)

You will struggle to get one of these for a grand + if it is this cheap the mileage will be plutonic and probably not very reliable!!

Good luck with your search - For a £1000 i'd go for a tidy Silvia Turbo or Supra MK1 or 2

The ultimate would be a Toyota Corolla Twin Cam EB86 Coupe, as these are what the drift club boys use to get their RWD wings Probably need £2k upowards though

Have fun

Dapster

Mark 1 Ford Escort - as per any rally driving training school you would go to. Cheap isn't the word - easy to work on, and you're not going to worry about ding-ing it.

I see the BMW as a car you'd get if you also need to use it as a car for the rest of the time. If you want fun only, then I can't see you going wrong with the 'Scort.

Brendan Hughes

Here's a selection from our "Exchange and Mart" online, not much to choose from, but it gives you an idea of prices out here. Currency exchanger here. I think you can get an E30 M3 for a bit less than £6300 in the UK?


BMW 323, 1984, 85.000 kms, like new. €2.600

BMW M3, 1988, cinza prata, 1 dono, ABS, CB, FC, PM, DA, pneus novos, FE, muito bom estado. €8.999 negociáveis.

Escort , 1981, aprovado. Bom p/ troca. Lisboa. [Is this a Mk II? No price given. Know the Kent engine inside out after having my Dutton for 4 years!]

200 SX, 1996 €9.500.

200 SX Turbo , 171 cv, 2P., 1991, 114.000 km, gasolina, preto, AL, AE, AI, CAT, DA, EE, FC, INSP até 09/04, JLL, RE, VE, VRA, turbo Mitsubishi. €7.000

MX 5, RED, 1991. €8.750,00

carl

Or maybe an AE86 Toyota Corolla?

StevieG

Ford Sierra, used one of these on a skidpan a few years back - easy to get the tail out at low speed.......

NACRO

Brendan come back to the UK and pick up a left hooker- you can get them for peanuts. Then just matriculate (?not sure about the spelling) it in Portugal.

I have friends and family in the Algarve who have done just that. Even when you add on the price of a day trip from Dover>Calais, petrol etc it works out miles cheaper.

A friend recently paid €700 for an old Renault 5 in Portugal- you would have to pay someone else to take it away in the UK. I guess folk in Portugal get more out of their cars than folk in the UK.

As far as the car goes I'd go the 325 route as well. Loads of them about, good build quality and lots of fun. 170bhp I think.

V-techland

Sorry Carl - thats the one AE86

Brendan Hughes

NACRO, problem with importing and matriculating is you have to pay an import tax based on engine size. Few of my friends have done it and ends up being no cheaper than buying a model here.

This might have stopped in the last year, I heard whispers, but not sure. Totally illegal under EU law (free movement of goods/ personal possessions) but they carry on with it all the same, so I'm told.

NACRO

I think if you can prove that you owned it prior to bringing it in you don't have to pay the tax now. At least that's what I was told over a boozy dinner. Of course I imagine that officals in Lisbon would want more €€€€€, I mean "proof" than those in the Algarve.

carl

I wasn't being sarky -- I assumed you'd meant another one.

V-techland

Thats ok - I was just agreeing thats what they are called, and they are awesome!!!

cletterridge

http://www.benerridge.freeserve.co.uk/mymr2.htm

Be careful though, lot of lemons about at that money....

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Is that Poor Boy sat in his Spitfire on that thread, bloody hell that guy gets around !

marty_t3

For a grand it has to be an S13 200sx. Without a doubt, the best cheap drift car around. The AE86 is every bit as good but costs more to buy. The rx-7 turbo comes close but the rotary motor isn't as easy to get fixed.

But then again..... i'm a bit biased

Olly

Capri 2.8i.

Can see it now, crashing through some cardboard boxes sideways through some Portugese market stall.