Recommend a Classic.

fatboypee

Chaps,

My wife is insisting she wants a top-down classic car for her 40th, some way off yet (3 years), but this is a perpetual conversation and as such its got me thinking of what I can afford to get her. I'm not a great mechanic, nor do i have the desire of a doer-upp-er so any ideas what to buy for 5-6 k

Thinking

MG Midget
Triumph Spitfire

Maybe MG BGT (no top down o'course)

Any other recommendations ? My ideal would be triumph TR4a / 6 ??

Cheers

Fatboy..

Blue850

Mazda MX5, not a classic , but very reliable and you should get a good one for your budget and in 3 years time the first of them will be almost 20 years old.

fatboypee

Blue850 wrote:

Mazda MX5, not a classic , but very reliable and you should get a good one for your budget and in 3 years time the first of them will be almost 20 years old.

mmmm was looking at them on AutoTrader, a 1990 with 36k on it, 1.8...mmmm nice mota...

Spit62500

I totally agree - the MX5 has to be number one on your list - it'll top the list in terms of reliability, safety and comfort, insurance as a main car and resistance to theft. Its one thing to buy a classic for yourself - its another thing entirely to buy one for someone else - what you'll see a minor flaws will often be bigger problems in their eyes. It's effectively a classic in that its got a cult following and major support from parts suppliers outside the main dealer network. You still need to make sure that you buy a good one (like any car). The other cars that you mention will all need frequent maintenance and maybe repair. Its a fact of life with older cars which often weren't that reliable when new. You might be lucky with a classic but more often than not they'll take a while to get them where you want them in terms of reliability and that involves time, money and skill.

ds20prefecture

I agree with MX5 recommendation. BUT, if your wife wants to avail of all of the low costs of classic motoring you have got to look over 30 years old.
How about:

Peugeot 204/304 Convertible


Citroen 2cv


Lancia Beta Spider

mustang 69

for 5-6k try soft top
Triumph Vitesse (v6) or Herald
Vw Beetle
Morris 1000
Or any old classic and fit a Webasto roof:)

Also the TR7 which you could get in a targa top for around 1000to2500euro,
if you dont mind the door stop shape.

markeymark

How about a Fiat X19 - if you can get one without rust!!

Alfasudcrazy

Its got to be a Mazda MX5. Women won't appreciate the 'character' of a heavy to steer british classic.

The Mazda will make her happy - and its an easy car for a woman to drive.

If she did not think that was nice id try and get her a nice Mk I Golf Gti Cabrio - another womans dream car.:)

RobAMerc

6 K would have this.

Sorry pics wont attach properly.

But its a very nice 304s Cabriolet (like the one above) - 1975 in good nick.

pm me for pics if you like.

Rob

fatboypee

Thanks for the suggestion, I'd say on balance I'll be looking towards the mx-5, nice shiney example from the UK....... 1.8.....

My choice of not-so-classic would be the Astra GTE convertible, total womans car that a fatboy like me could occasionally enjoy.... ah well, the mx 5 it is then ...

Cheers

Fatboy..

Eric318

Go for a MGB, a bit on the expensive side to buy, but the support network and the spares availability are second to none.