I'm not a mechanic, but I want to learn.

I missed out on driving $hitters when I was younger, so there is no harm in starting now!! ;)

What would be a fun car to tinker with or learn the basics with?

Budget: £500-1000

I'm not talking about engine swaps, etc! But ideally something that can be done up cheaply and sold for the next tinkery car!! ;) :D

An old Mini (i.e. pre-injection / catalyst) is a good start -- not too many other cars as basic as that. Doesn't take up space on the driveway either :)

Problem is that many of the old tinkery cars are now "classics" with inflated prices. In the case of Lotus Europas, this is a good thing. They're THE most 'orrible car EVER to work on. The engine is completely inaccessible.

Cheers BB.

Any models of Minis that are must haves or best avoided?

I guess a late-ish Cooper (before J-reg & cats) would be good??

What sort of mini can be had for £500-1000?

[Edited by Andy Tang - 12/22/2003 3:11:43 PM]

mk2 escort is also a good choice :)

A capri would be good ........god I still love those cars

Due to rust I personally wouldn't touch a mini with a bargepole. I have stripped a fair few mini's in my time (Brother has raced them for 11 years) and they are always much worse than you could have anticipated once you get the carpets out.

Get something that is modern enough to have decent anti corrosion protection as the bodywork is the part which will really cost you.

I know you have had one before but if I was looking at a £500-£1000 car I would be looking at a Mark 2 Golf GTi.

Unless you have got a nice big, warm garage I personally wouldn't bother as you will get bored of laying under a filthy, dirty car in the rain shearing off rusted on bolts left right and center.

[Edited by JoeyDeacon - 12/22/2003 3:18:02 PM]

A VW Beetle. Europarts make them dead cheap to do up. There is nothing to tricky about an air cooled engine.

They are classics so will not lose money when done up. They are incredibley cheap to insure and road tax is free.

I reconditioned my 911 years ago. Didn't want to stuff it so got an old VW engine for £10 to take apart first to see where everything was. :D

Dead simple. Easy to take the engines and gearboxes out.

How bout an old Primera eGT, can find 'em for as little as £500 nowdays & have a great chassis

Cars on the list:

Mk1 Escort because my dad had one, but they are too expensive
Mk1 Golf GTI, but parts are getting too rare/expensive
Beetle as I never did the Beetle thing when I was 17! :o
MGB but they are complete rust traps with the rear box sections
Mini, sounds like fun, but I'm sure would be a nightmare! :o

hmmmm...

Beetle.... maybe! :)

You should watch wheeler dealers on Sky as they have to buy and do up a car for under a grand.

So far I have seen them choose a MK1 Golf GTi, Capri 1.6 (Rusty heap), B reg Saab 900 Turbo (My choice), Mini (Even more rusty heap, needed a complete respray).

Watch this and if that isn't enough to put you off then go for it!

205 XS, good fun :)

Andy, Charade GTti is perfect, just what you want. Easily tunable for lots of power to make it quicker than your old Scoob. Enginesd are very strong and sound great, 3 cylinder throb.

Drop me an email if you need any help or advice.

Plenty for sale on www.gttioc.co.uk


AllanB

a mk 1 or mk 2 Escort would be a good choice, as parts are cheap and readily available and the mechanics are pretty simple. But as mentioned above, rust would be a major issue with either. If you want to learn how to weld then fine, but if not steer clear.
A Porsche 924 should be available within your budget, and parts can be bought very cheaply. I don't know whether they were galvanised or not - if so you shouldnt have too many problems with bodywork. If you can stretch to a 944 then even better, but probably a bit more than you want to spend.

Steve

Mark 1 & 2 escort 2 doors have got very expensive now :eek:

I learned on a Triumph Spitfire. Easy to get at everything. Order Herald parts for half the price though. They come out of the same bin. :)

What about one of the lower end of the market 205 gtis. Would probably need work on it so should be ripe for learning :)

Plenty of people on here to help as well (not me, I know nothing :D)

205s are a very good choice. My mate bought 2 for £350 and found stacks for less than £250 each. Just buy two and make one good one. He now races his one in a one make series.

Still reckon a Charade GTti would be good fun though !

AllanB

I learnt most of the basics with my Moris Minor and can recommend them as fun to work on due to huge amounts of space around the engine etc. They are also a hoot to drive - lorries flash you in when you overtake them, hand pull starter or crank handle, manual pump windscreen washer, foot operated dip switch, semaphore indicators, no seatbelts and "fart" sound overrun etc. The Moggie has the "A" series engine same as the mini so is cheap and reliable. If not interested in that try the cars my brothers did up which were a MG Midget ("A" series engine again) or the Beetle (difficult engine work but still loads of parts at reasonable prices). You can do most of the work yourself on any of these cars with a limited knowledge but will the failsafe that there are numerous parts, the cars are reliable and there are plenty of places that can help you out if you get stuck.

Andy,

Had this exact same convesation with the mrs at 1am this morning.....

My how the winter nights just fly by! ;)

Rich :)

Astra GTE 16V 156bhp as standard
Vauxhalls are easy and cheap to work on, loads of spare parts in Breakers yards. Cheap power increases can be had. Second hand set of twin webbers and some ap rod bolts and you have a flyer that will rev to 7.5k. add a set of 'Koni's' and it will leave a Scoob in the twistys ;)

[Edited by STi VII - 12/22/2003 6:01:26 PM]

Allan,

I think you have encompassed the things I want from a tinkering car!

Small, lightweight, cheap-ish and modifications available! ;)

How much would a roadworthy Charade be then?? :)

Drop me a mail if you know someone who is selling one at sensible money! :)

Toyota Corolla GTi-16 - it's a 1.6 twin cam 16 valve model that loves to be revved out to 7750rpm, these cars are bullet proof, and so much fun as a lot of people on this forum would tell you, as they've had them before ther scoobs. These cars come with 130bhp as standard (1990 - onwards), and are so much fun acceleration is 0-60 in 8.0 seconds, they come with electric windows/sunroof/mirrors and central locking, power steering etc, the ride is superb in these cars, and they surprise a lot of people with their responsive acceleration, and above all this they are fappin economical and reliable as hell. They also look like a early classic scoob from the front, the dash layout is superb, post a message on this forum asking people what they think of them i'm sure you'll get a lot of responses, my mate is atually selling a mint G'reg one, I can put you in touch with him if you want, t_gt@yahoo.com

[Edited by Falski_GT - 12/22/2003 9:32:59 PM]

forgot to add they are small, light, cheap-ish, and modifications available ;)

[Edited by Falski_GT - 12/22/2003 9:31:51 PM]

Personally I would go with the Golf GTi.

Earlier this year I needed a smoker. Currently doing up a property, so something to haul tools and debris around. Also something to dump outside the pub and not be worried about collecting it till Monday if I had a hangover on Sunday.

Came across a G plate 8v for no money, 100% original down to its steelie wheels. Never painted, all panels original. Slightly scabby wheels and rear valance but that's all.

Problem is it needs no tinkering whatsoever, the bloody thing runs and drives like new.

Good Golfs still feel modern and tight, with punchy motors and sweet handling. The scene is still big, with loads of tune up parts and dirt cheap OE bits from places like Euro Car Parts and German & Swedish.

Cut me in half and I've got 205GTi written through me, but the 205 can be a piglet to work on, and not an easy driver in town (but special down the lanes). Golf is easier, and a better all rounder.

I've had a few Mk2 Golfs before, but I doubt I'll buy another!

The Golf is a very reliable, sturdy workhouse, but it lacked the get up and go that I love about fast cars!

Even a Pug 306 XSi felt quicker than a mk2 8v and on paper that shouldn't be the case!

I think a turbo Japanese hatch, is probably the way forward for me! I'm missing the turbo kick! :(

Rule out Mini's as well!!! :o

Just saw the 'Wheeler Dealer' on it and it looks like a nightmare as I don't know how to weld!

Allan, all the cars on the GTti Owners Page seem to be selling for twice my budget! :(

Don't rule out the Corolla Andy, It's not a turbo but gives a RS Turbo a good run for it's money. What do you think about these??

How about a seriesII or III Land Rover?

As basic as they come, plenty of cheap spares. All that's required to tinker is a bit of muscle and armoured knuckles ;)

Just make sure the chassis is good - unless you want to try out welding too!

Andy YHM.

Be patient as I think something may come up if the one I've mailed you about isn't inline with what you want.


AllanB

see someone has mention the best bang for buck!

Astra GTE 16v is a stormer of a cheap car.

Believe they have same bhp/tonne as a uk scoob??(the 215bhp one)


well they have around 160/tonne or so as there engines are known for showing a little more than standard.