The one that got away - cars you wish you'd bought
12 July 2012, 12:25 AM
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The one that got away - cars you wish you'd bought
Saw an XK 150 Jag on the road today and it made me think back to 1986 when I bought my frst proper car. I paid £4500 for a Golf GTI Mk1 Campaign 1.8 in black..... but that same weekend I went to a Jag show and saw a grey Jag XK150 DHC for sale for £4500. It had had a body restoration but the engine and interior were in need of a bit of TLC although it was running well enough.
For a few hours I thought about it and then decided the Golf was a better bet..... LOL! Oh how wrong was I, the XK would have been worth between £50K and £150K today
So what is the one car you saw and wish you had bought?
For a few hours I thought about it and then decided the Golf was a better bet..... LOL! Oh how wrong was I, the XK would have been worth between £50K and £150K today
So what is the one car you saw and wish you had bought?
12 July 2012, 06:24 AM
#2
Well for me it was a Reliant Scimitar GTC. I kind of wished i had got the rag top bug earlier, and it would have lasted the years, and as it turns out would have kept its market value.
I was looking back in 1985 when you could get a good one for about 4500 quid and i didnt have a lot of cash, paying first mortgage etc.
What did i buy? i bought a Vauxhall cavalier sports hatch for 3500 out of a dodgy Glasgow dealer. It impressed me no end when it ran out of petrol on the test drive and he cranked it up on the pavement using the starter motor.
Anyway lasted me well and used to see it in Glasgow many years after i got rid of it. (I had her for 4 years RUS 900W) The wife nearly had our kid in it, which she has never forgotten or forgiven me for - ran short of petrol in Inveraray and had to wait all night for the petrol station to open.
I was looking back in 1985 when you could get a good one for about 4500 quid and i didnt have a lot of cash, paying first mortgage etc.
What did i buy? i bought a Vauxhall cavalier sports hatch for 3500 out of a dodgy Glasgow dealer. It impressed me no end when it ran out of petrol on the test drive and he cranked it up on the pavement using the starter motor.
Anyway lasted me well and used to see it in Glasgow many years after i got rid of it. (I had her for 4 years RUS 900W) The wife nearly had our kid in it, which she has never forgotten or forgiven me for - ran short of petrol in Inveraray and had to wait all night for the petrol station to open.
12 July 2012, 08:16 AM
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I was looking at a fully restored TR6 about 20 years ago for £5k but I was too young to get classic car insurance so didn't buy it - how I wish I'd had a garage back then.
I have always fancied one of these though
I have always fancied one of these though
12 July 2012, 08:26 AM
#5
I missed a Jensen interceptor at a local garage when I had just bought my new XR3i 25 years ago and it was only £7500 lot of money then when I was skint
The other car I wanted was a Renault 15 (look it up interesting car in the 70s ) for £250 but I was only 16 at the time and we had nowhere to store it untill I passed my test
The other car I wanted was a Renault 15 (look it up interesting car in the 70s ) for £250 but I was only 16 at the time and we had nowhere to store it untill I passed my test
12 July 2012, 08:36 AM
#6
Nearly bought a tatty (but origional and easily tidyable) chevette HS in 2002 for £1500.
came with a spare short engine that on its own today is worth nearly that!
Instead did the sensible thing and bought a 94 saab 900 turbo ..... wasnt sucha sensible choice now though.
came with a spare short engine that on its own today is worth nearly that!
Instead did the sensible thing and bought a 94 saab 900 turbo ..... wasnt sucha sensible choice now though.
12 July 2012, 08:49 AM
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Talking about the one that got away. I never let my mum forget about her selling her Mk2 Escort to get a scooter.
I keep reminder her of how expensive they are these days.
I keep reminder her of how expensive they are these days.
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12 July 2012, 09:17 AM
#8
1987 and just about to take my test. Phoned a guy selling a 1275gt mini( the car i really wanted)...He said he had people veiwing the car there and then so i left a tel number to call me back if they didnt buy it. No call came so i left a deposit on a MK1 Golf. The day i picked the Golf up the guy with the Mini calls to say the people had pulled out the deal....I was gutted! Even more so because a mate ended up buying it.!
Last edited by jayallen; 12 July 2012 at 09:18 AM.
12 July 2012, 10:11 AM
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Neighbour offered my his Lotus sunbeam for a grand about 20 years ago. I was mint, but at the time it looked dated so I passed - went and got a MK1 Golf gti campaign instead, which was a minter also. No regrets though really, I loved that golf!
12 July 2012, 10:36 AM
#12
Could have had one of these: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&...,r:0,s:0,i:100
and yes, it's the RS1800, the one for sale already had the twin 45DCOE Webbers on, but I bottled it as I heard they were prone to fail, and expensive to repair.
I almost bought this too: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?num=1...,r:0,s:0,i:136
Admittedly, it was a replica, and only 2-wd, but had a 500 bhp Cossie lump in it........
and yes, it's the RS1800, the one for sale already had the twin 45DCOE Webbers on, but I bottled it as I heard they were prone to fail, and expensive to repair.
I almost bought this too: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?num=1...,r:0,s:0,i:136
Admittedly, it was a replica, and only 2-wd, but had a 500 bhp Cossie lump in it........
12 July 2012, 01:12 PM
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I have 2.....
Late eighties I decided against a Toyota Corolla GT AE86 from a Main dealer because the rear diff had a whine - later to discover 'they all did that' and it was perfect.
In 2003 I test drove an E30 M3 in black. Had a little bit of lacquer peeling on one door but otherwise looked fine. Was put off by that paint defect! Cost at the time......£4500! Cost now....may be add £10k to that
On the upside, I did buy a last of the line Integrale Evo instead
Rgds, Ade
Late eighties I decided against a Toyota Corolla GT AE86 from a Main dealer because the rear diff had a whine - later to discover 'they all did that' and it was perfect.
In 2003 I test drove an E30 M3 in black. Had a little bit of lacquer peeling on one door but otherwise looked fine. Was put off by that paint defect! Cost at the time......£4500! Cost now....may be add £10k to that
On the upside, I did buy a last of the line Integrale Evo instead Rgds, Ade
Last edited by ASJ; 12 July 2012 at 06:19 PM. Reason: k
12 July 2012, 07:50 PM
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12 July 2012, 09:53 PM
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Back in 2000 I had just bought an M3 Evo cab for £24k, a few months later my mate was selling his 993 Turbo 4WD for approx £35k. He would probably have sold it to me for less, but I could'nt be arsed to sell the M3 and find the difference.
Now the M3 is probably worth £5k and the 993 Turbo 4 over £50k!!!!!!
Please excuse my nobber cousin in the middle of the pic, being a ***!!
Now the M3 is probably worth £5k and the 993 Turbo 4 over £50k!!!!!!
Please excuse my nobber cousin in the middle of the pic, being a ***!!
Last edited by rickya; 12 July 2012 at 09:56 PM.
12 July 2012, 10:08 PM
#25
There was also a cheap VX220 on a forecout that was looking forlorn for quite some time, right price and at the time when they were still pretty new and nobody except true petrolheads was interested in them because of the badge.
At the time I was happy with having four doors and a boot, so just passed it by everyday on my way to work until it eventually went.
I also let a Lotus Elan +2 130/5 slip pass me before I had the chance to put an offer in...not as desirable as a Elan FHC/DHC, but a hell of alot more sensibly prices and alot useable (i.e there is legroom in it). Now they typically fetch double what that one sold for.
At the time I was happy with having four doors and a boot, so just passed it by everyday on my way to work until it eventually went.
I also let a Lotus Elan +2 130/5 slip pass me before I had the chance to put an offer in...not as desirable as a Elan FHC/DHC, but a hell of alot more sensibly prices and alot useable (i.e there is legroom in it). Now they typically fetch double what that one sold for.
Last edited by ALi-B; 12 July 2012 at 10:11 PM.
12 July 2012, 10:15 PM
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I always wanted a escort cosworth I had a sapphire cosworth and that was fun and twice as much to run that my classic I got now .also wanted a Astra gte 16v and a manta gte as well
12 July 2012, 10:21 PM
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Would have to be an Integrale Evolution. Went across to Walkers years ago and you could pick up a decent Evo for £12k.
Then in 2003 a mate in works son-in-law was selling his 16 valver, it was mint (was kept in a dehumidifier garage) and he was more of a polisher than a driver! He was after £4.5k with an EVO number plate, apparently it sold for £3.5k in the end. Still regret not going for it!
Then in 2003 a mate in works son-in-law was selling his 16 valver, it was mint (was kept in a dehumidifier garage) and he was more of a polisher than a driver! He was after £4.5k with an EVO number plate, apparently it sold for £3.5k in the end. Still regret not going for it!
