Easy to work on car for a few hundred quid?
I'm looking for a relatively cheap car (anything up to £1k).
I preferably want one that is easy to work on, and cheap for bits. This is just a car for my son and I to mess about with and hopefully learn some mechanics on the way. The extent of my mechanical experience so far is a few oil changes on a Mk IV Cortina, helping with a Head Gasket change on an XR3i, and changing brake pads on a Morris Marina! The most recent of these was probably 15 years ago! I did attempt to change the oil on a Saab 9000 Carlsson the other year, but had to give up as I couldn't raise the car enough to get good access to the sump plug! Anyway, I'd love something interesting, perhaps even a cheap classic, though the main criterion are easy to work / availability of parts, and vaguely fun to own/drive. So far I've been looking at a huge range of cars (not knowing which are pigs to work on, and which are a joy). Looked at MR2's, Celica's, Rover 600's, Rover 800's, Omegas, Big Beemers, Granada's, Marinas, Audi Coupe's, Audi 100's, Austin 1800 (Landcrab), Ford Probe's, 80's Fords, Saab 900/9000 etc etc. I'd love something like a Jag XJS or one of the big saloons, but expect them to be aweful to work on and hugely expensive. Any suggestions? Any in my list above to avoid? |
Go and buy an old kit car that someone has already built from, say, a Vauxhaul. I had a Dutton that was Escort I/II based, but not sure how many parts are available now.
Loads of fun to drive, and frequently goes wrong, but easy enough to work on. Tip - buy a cheap 100 box of surgical gloves, far better than swarfega or barrier cream. And buy a 100 box of plasters for your knuckles :) |
I've been working on a VW polo coupe 1990. Easy to work on and I picked mine up for well under £100.
Stick to simple small engines which are more old skool. Another tip is WD-40 can be your best friend before undoing any old bolts give it a blast with it and leave it for a bit, it will decrease the chances of shearing a old bolt. :freak3: |
old vauxhall easy to work on and parts are cheap and easy to get hold of
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Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
(Post 6657521)
Go and buy an old kit car that someone has already built from, say, a Vauxhaul. I had a Dutton that was Escort I/II based, but not sure how many parts are available now.
Tip - buy a cheap 100 box of surgical gloves, far better than swarfega or barrier cream. And buy a 100 box of plasters for your knuckles :) I've been working on a VW polo coupe 1990. Easy to work on and I picked mine up for well under £100. Other cars I forgot to list that I'd like are Merc 500 SE, Scimitar SS1. I've seen someone on here buy a few big old Mercs for pennies that are still running. Was that Unclebuck? |
No, Fatherpierre - wrong relation :lol1:
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Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
(Post 6657745)
No, Fatherpierre - wrong relation :lol1:
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BTW, I'd imagine that anything from mid-80s back has too few spares, and anything from early 90s on has too complicated electrics - so good luck :)
Land-Rover strikes me as an interesting suggestion though - but not sure if you'll ever find one so cheap. |
I believe even old landrovers hold their values well.
I would suggest something like an old fiesta, vauxhall, polo etc, not sure how old he is, but if he's around 15-17 chances are he's going to want to drive it when he passes his test, so is insurance a consideration? |
I would go for something with a more modern engine, will stand him in good stead being able to fault a MAF failure :norty:
1991 - 1992 Pug 205? |
Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
(Post 6658059)
BTW, I'd imagine that anything from mid-80s back has too few spares, and anything from early 90s on has too complicated electrics - so good luck :)
Land-Rover strikes me as an interesting suggestion though - but not sure if you'll ever find one so cheap. You can pick up series 3 for very little money best bet is the 2.25 petrol rather than the 2.25 diesel unit. Parts are cheap and easy to come by. Even better get a pre 72 and it's all tax free! :norty: I picked my series 2 up for £250 chassis is good but needs a little attention in places. Dont look much at the moment but it will in time. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...verseries2.jpg |
Originally Posted by fabiavrs
(Post 6658137)
it will cost you abit to replace it (£900-1000 for a defend/90 new chassis plus fitting).
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vaux corsa? cheap and plenty of parts/specialists for supply! could always look for doing the 2.0 xe engine conversion in time to??
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1990 205 XS would be a good buy. Most are still in good condition, 1.4 engine is easy to work on.
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I'd say an old but common classic would be good. Simple engines, no difficult electrics (or hydraulics) but one with a following and thus parts and expertise. I learned a bit from working on an old Morris Minor that belonged to a mate - I had a Mini at the time and the Minor was pure joy to work on in comparison. Huge engine bay! I could open the bonnet and understand what everything was, a very far cry from a modern car.
Maybe I'm just living in the past! old cars do break all the time too... Scimitar could be a good idea I reckon. Might cost too much though, unless you fancy working on the shell too. |
Hows about an 1992 K BMW 318 Coupe. Black with Black Leather. Alloys, Radio stereo, MOT April,
needs a little tidying. £800. (leaves £200 to play with) |
I have a 1995 1.4 escort 85k miles, excellent engine/transmission, body normal for a 12 year old car. mot till sept tax till 03/07. drivers seat tatty at back, I think someone tried to replace seat lever cable!! Yours for £300.00.
Dave |
Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
(Post 6658152)
Hey, he wanted to learn about mechanics :D
:thumb: |
honda crx or ef shape civic.
the crx is a fun drive and there is plenty of parts available and they can be bought very cheap.if you get a 16v(or 16v civic) then you can play around with front end changes aswell to the vtec front end. |
Renault 19 16 valve :)
Took mine to bits many a time using a crappy woolworths socket set. |
mk2 golf, parts are all over the place, cheap, and quality
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Don't fancy a 3 series or a mid 90's Escort, though thanks for the suggestions.
I'd forgotton about Corrado's - there are some now for under a grand - I'm watching a few on Ebay to see what they go for. THere's a lovely looking '93 BMW 740 on Pistonheads. Definately like that, but not sure at all on cost of parts / repairs. |
For a 740 you don't need a mechanic, you need an electronic engineer.
TBH if you barely know how to change the oil, do yourself a favour and stick to 4-cyl engines. Another very practical advantage is to go for a big/medium car with a small engine, so you have more space in the engine bay for access. Sierra 1.6? A final thought - anything truly British, you may want to check whether the manufacturers used metric or imperial size nuts. It's a pain having to buy two sets of spanners, allen keys, tap and dies, etc. (I assume other makes don't have that problem.) |
Got a 1992 Rover 216GTi Twin Cam... Its got a Honda Engine & Box in it, which is both very reliable and very easy to work on. Bonuses are that its not actually slow and there are no H/Gasket worries either. :)
Cheers, Grant |
Head gasket went in my old Rover 216 with the Honda engine :(
Was a good car and engine before that though :) |
A mx3 escort xr3i the time you will spend fixing it you will be a full on grease monkey after 6 months, There also easy to work on.
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