Retro cars - suggestions and advice

[Redron]

Forget the car and buy a Honda C90, millions of people can’t be wrong....
On second thoughts, good ones are going for over 2k now !

I read an article in the motorcycle press recently about reliving your youth and buying an old motorcycle to restore/ride. The consensus was, don’t do it ! Crap engines, crap brakes, and of course, rust....!

 

[Leon103]

Older cars cost more to insure

 

[Dexter101]

Older cars cost more to insure

Depends on what car it is and also there is classic car insurance available for any car over 25 years old which can (depending on circumstances) be very cheap.

 

[VW911]

My (nearly 40 year old) VW is only about £150 to insure fully comp. under classic insurance.
That is with an uprated Porsche 2.7L 911 engine...

 

[Sandimas]

Lancia Delta HF Turbo for me, always wanted one, still do.

I see lots of people saying this and I always think: why ????? I worked for Lancia in the early 80s and the showroom was pushing out Deltas that were already rusting from new.

 

[terrym]

I read an article in the motorcycle press recently about reliving your youth and buying an old motorcycle to restore/ride. The consensus was, don’t do it ! Crap engines, crap brakes, and of course, rust....!

Thats the advice I received when I wanted to return to biking some years back. Do you want to spend your time fixing oil leaks, and trying to keep it on the road, or do you just want to ride it. Having remembered what it was like first time round I chose the latter, and I'm glad I did. And the point about crap brakes is well made.

 

[Saisonator]

I see lots of people saying this and I always think: why ????? I worked for Lancia in the early 80s and the showroom was pushing out Deltas that were already rusting from new.

Really, I've never met another person who wants one. But then I don't really mix much with petrol heads.

 

[Gunge]

Forget the car and buy a Honda C90, millions of people can’t be wrong....
On second thoughts, good ones are going for over 2k now !

I read an article in the motorcycle press recently about reliving your youth and buying an old motorcycle to restore/ride. The consensus was, don’t do it ! Crap engines, crap brakes, and of course, rust....!

Lol my FJ1200 is 29 years old and as good as new. But then I have the wherewithall to maintain it fastidiously. 1000-mile oil and filter changes and everything else. Fully comp insurance - £78 a year! And the same engine is still being made and fitted to the XJR series, so must still have something going for it. No rust...!

 

[Clint]

...gunge keeps his bike in the bedroom....

 

[Gunge]

...gunge keeps his bike in the bedroom....

Not quite, but it did once occupy the living room and the engine the coffee table whilst stripped to the last nut and bolt for full renovation! The missus couldn't have cared less, bless her.

 

[MartinHaworth]

2 years ago, my old reliable VAG sdi engined fabia died at around 200K.

I had just changed jobs at the time, and it just didn't seem like the right time to shell out several grand.

I found a 1993 skoda favorit, 1 owner fsh 19K miles for ��£500.

Put 10K on it so far, averages 40-45 mpg, haven't spent a penny on maintenance.....

I love not giving a **** about it - I'l happily lob 250kg of firewood in the back and not worry about odd scrapes and scuffs.

Really works for me. I call it my 'skip'.

Cheers

Martin

 

[Ken L]

High volume cars are boring but used parts are easy to find and cheap. Corola, Escort, Astra, Vectra etc.
The BMW3 series is in the same category.

For retro chic without budget limitations, check out the Mitsuoka range.

 

[RLGMIlson]

Austin maestro way better than the lancia although parts for lancia are very cheap and easy to come by

 

[Saisonator]

Austin maestro way better than the lancia although parts for lancia are very cheap and easy to come by

The Maestro was a piece of **** much like the Allegro before it. The Lancia Delta was I champion rally car for several years and even now the Delta HF Turbo has respectable performance and very good road holding. The Integrale is very collectible and goes for big money. The Maestro is not even worth mentioning in the same breath.
I just wondered how the Lancia parts are cheap and easy to come by? It was never a very common car in this country?

 

[Gunge]

Wasn't the Maestro the car that talked to you? Y'know, when you went to try starting it and it told you to "***k off"?

 

[Saisonator]

Lancia Delta is is still a great looking motor, Maestro we'll see for yourself.

 

[RLGMIlson]

The maestro is like a hatch back / tourer version of the lancia

 

[robbym123]

Volvo S60 d5 is worth looking at, the d5 engine is renowned for going on for ever. When I was looking for mine I saw one for sale with 660,000 miles on it. 6 cambelt changes and 46 services. It was still on original engine/gearbox.

You see loads for sale with 200,000+ miles. Mine cost in the OP's ball park, has done 17,000 miles in the last 7 months in my ownership. Will happily do a 500 mile round trip at 80-90mph. Comfy as they come, doesn't do corners, but who cares!.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Not exactly retro Corsa C are a good car they have a cam chain instead of belt so as long as oil changes have been done regularly you don't need to worry about when the cam belt was last changed on other cars they are also cheap to run. (1.0 12v and 1.2 16v are chain cam.)

 

[terrym]

I'm now back with VW. These are not perfect but the build quality compared to the Vauxhall is chalk and cheese.



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