Jamesemt

I'm going to finally buy something old for the garage, late 80s/early 90s. The idea being to learn how to use a spanner. I've only ever done servicing (on my Ibiza) and the like before.

I always fancied a Renault 5 Turbo, but the engines look to be severely cramped for someone inexperienced. I used to have a 205 Gti which I got/helped a local garage to convert to mi16 so they are relatively familiar to me.

Plan is to buy something I can go to meets/something with a strong scene, but I'm not over keen on VWs...

I've narrowed it down to:

205 1.9
Escort RS Turbo
Fiesta RS Turbo
R5 GT
Possibly Clio 16v

I don't mind buying lots of problems (they're all old...). Which is going to be easiest/cheapest to return to 'couple of years old' condition? Budget is £2k max

Cheers

saints_forever

205 gti all the way. I had one and loved it. All older car are easy to learn from though as everything is so open and accessible

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

MX-5 Mk1 (NA Series).

Fantom

I am biased...............but:

Andy RB5

The real problem with working on old cars is seized and corroded nuts and bolts, nothing more frustrating than rounding off a knackered bolt when trying to get at something!

craigybaby

iTrader: (8)

rs turbo fiesta or escort gets my vote the cvh is such a easy engine to work on

urban

iTrader: (1)

+1


I had both a 1.6 & a 1.9

ScoobyJawa

205

got 2 myself at the mo!!

BOB.T

Tricky one! I'd argue that the Fords would be better to fix mechanically and the parts more readily available but the body work would be more likely to be crap! The French stuff will have better bodywork but more likely have mechanical or electrical faults. I'd also wager you'd need to speed more on tools for French cars...

Good luck and post up whatever you get!

robj2502

I like the 205 but finding one is that isnt a rusty wreck is actually quite difficult now (more so a 1.9 which is the car to have) plus the torsion bar rear suspension is a pain to work on once they get a little tired and havent been touched in years!!
In actual fact finding any small hatch from the 80's or 90's that isnt a rusty wreck is a difficult thing!! and most of them have some kind of image problem!! I was into peugeot 106's in a big way and spent a silly amount of money on my 106 mk2 rallye but the dreaded tin worm was finding its way into the chassis rails, inner wings and boot seams and thats were the money ends up going.

so where does that leave you??

well there is the mk1 clio 172 as someone has mentioned above although I dont think the cam belt can be done without specialist locking tools and is a £600ish job at a specialist (the locking tools cost a small fortune by the way and even if you have them its not a simple job!!) and I have started to see the odd mk2 clio 172 cup dip into your budget range which is a fantastic car.

There are a few fords which in general have simple mechanicals and there are plenty of them around ie: the ford puma (excellent handling car and is a hoot to drive although it has rust problems around the rear arches) the mk4 fiesta zetec s (these have a big following and quite a strong owners club) the focus ST170 (very understated but has a good spec for the money)

there are a few Jap cars the mx5 as mentioned above, the integra type r (older cars have just started to dip into your budget and these have a strong owners scene and simple mechanicals)

errr guess thats about it but if I think of anymore I will add them later

brendy76

iTrader: (6)

awww a 2.0 nova on that list would have been my choice...but it isnt on there.. cue the sad face
I had one and the parts were so easy to work with inc replacing heads etc.

robj2502

but there just isnt any around any more!! agreed they are a very simple car mechanicly though

vindaloo

A 306 XSi or a diseasal

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

I would avoid the fiesta like the plague. If you buy one that needs work, it will be rotten. The only ones left seem to be completely restored or total basket cases. Very little in between.

Oldun

Honda Civic

Sy5

iTrader: (6)

R5gtt. I loved working on my old one.....every week!

Easy access once the pipe work is out of the way.

Myles

iTrader: (40)

5L of Plusgas/Eezit will sort that.

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

how about an astra gte16v mk2? proper rare car and fetch good money when mint too

vauxhalls are easy to work on aswell as the majority of parts from other models are a straight fit

maybe a mk2 golf gti aswell

nizmo80

iTrader: (2)

RS turbo

still like the old fords LOL

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Thats exactly what i was gonna say or anything really with a (x)20xe brilliant motors i found , took proper abuse and loved it!

Paucatuman

Not a hot hatch by any stretch of the imagination but a good call.

Traditional layout and plenty of room under the bonnet. A properly nice car to have some fun with and learn to drive rear wheel drive with as well.

99mrbe

iTrader: (1)

If I was you I would stay away from French cars there a nightmare!
German cars are ok but you'll fill find out forking out a lot of money for special to type tools!
Jap cars are how I self learnt most of my knowledge! Knowing what I know now I would personal say a Honda! Basic tools, very cheap parts, simple engineering

4u2nv2

early mk3 astra gsi c20xe. or you could get a cheap early scoob. after having most the hot hatchs of the late 80s early 90s scoob all the way.

4u2nv2

scooby drivers flash and wave one and another randemly. you dont get that with 205s and beat up rs tubs.

fez the plodder

I'd go for a mk1 or mk2 golf gti old school classic then down the 205 route;-) 16v golf mmm !

Springs

iTrader: (4)

something like a 205 / 306 / 106(if you can drive them)

all the early french cars are easy to work on

nickwrxstiV2

mk2 Ford XR2?

If you were feeling confident you could put a 2.0 16v Zetec engine in it. Carb it up or even turbo it after a while!

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

how about a 309 gti?

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

If you want to be rebuilding engines and stuff I'd go the RS Turbo route. They are very easy to rebuild.

A 205 gti is not an engine you want to be messing with for fun, cylinder liners etc.

It is, as someone above said, swings and roundabouts. Peugeot will have better bodywork but aren't that spanner friendly, even back when they were relatively new I can remember struggling with things like torsion bars sticking and stuff.

I would have said an Escort series 1 RS Turbo would be a good thing but you'd get nothing other than a pile of rust or a ringer for £2k.

I'd rather have a renault 5 gt turbo if I was going french, a very basic engine.

MK1 Golf Gti is a good car and easy to work on but as you don't like vw's..

toneh

iTrader: (1)

Rs turbo easy to work on and good for parts , if the body is a bit of a dog it'll give you chance to brush up on you're welding and bodywork skills
You don't see many mint ones knocking about these days