This weeks Classic Irish bargains that I'm not buying

oceanman

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/toyota-starlet-1990-1-0-new-nct/25091416

unkel

oceanman wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/toyota-starlet-1990-1-0-new-nct/25091416

Looks tidy for the money. I always wonder though, if you are going to buy a classic car and avail of the €56 per year vintage tax, no matter how big the engine is, why on earth would you pick a 1.0l car?

oceanman

unkel wrote: »

Looks tidy for the money. I always wonder though, if you are going to buy a classic car and avail of the €56 per year vintage tax, no matter how big the engine is, why on earth would you pick a 1.0l car?

probably for simplicity of maintenance and cheap parts.

CoBo55

oceanman wrote: »

probably for simplicity of maintenance and cheap parts.

Neither of which is true in the case of a Starlet, they're a pig to work on and parts prices are certainly not cheap. Been there, not going there again:pac:

oceanman

CoBo55 wrote: »

Neither of which is true in the case of a Starlet, they're a pig to work on and parts prices are certainly not cheap. Been there, not going there again:pac:

You obviously never worked on anything very complex if you find a starlet hard...

zetecescort

a bit like the Micra a few posts back any buyer would have a nostalgic connection to the model rather than looking for performance

Duke O Smiley

There is something appealing (IMO) about the prospect of something like a Micra, Starlet, Polo etc on classic tax that can be insured and maintained for a pittance, biennial NCT now for added appeal. If you’ve got the space, you just leave it in a corner for probably 50 weeks of the year or whatever, spend about €150 keeping the legalities in order, and it’s ready to use whenever you might need it.

In 2018 I bought a 1990 657cc Suzuki Alto from a breakers yard with a full years NCT for €150. It was a total shed, but it ran well and I would argue that it was cheaper to keep and run for the 15 months I had it than paying DART fares five days a week for the same length of time. Four brand new Firestone tyres cost €80, a timing belt and water pump kit was €50, it never took more than about €25 to fill the tank, and at the time I think Autoline added it to my policy for something like €60. It was an awesome little car too, a lot of fun to throw around.

I sold it to a member here in 2019 and he still has it AFAIK, and I’m sure it’s still providing stellar (and cheap!) service as ever.

Of course, this only works if the car itself can be bought cheap. Not even I would pay €2500 for a Starlet!

The day I bought it



Always put to good use

CoBo55

oceanman wrote: »

You obviously never worked on anything very complex if you find a starlet hard...

They aren't as easy as you're portraying and parts are definitely not cheap. Something like a MK1 Punto would fit your criteria.
Lot of smart alecs here this evening... Nothing new I suppose.

RobAMerc

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

There is something appealing (IMO) about the prospect of something like a Micra, Starlet, Polo etc on classic tax that can be insured and maintained for a pittance, biennial NCT now for added appeal. If you’ve got the space, you just leave it in a corner for probably 50 weeks of the year or whatever, spend about €150 keeping the legalities in order, and it’s ready to use whenever you might need it.

I agree Duke, but the Starlet and Micra are just the most characterless cars you could image - the Alto at least has that tiny engine which is willing to spin the nuts off itself to just keep up with traffic etc. I drove a Yaris auto once my Mum was considering, it left me totally cold. She bought a Punto Selecta instead (which despite the horror stories :rolleyes: gave 0 trouble) and it was just a much nicer car to be in.

oceanman

CoBo55 wrote: »

They aren't as easy as you're portraying and parts are definitely not cheap. Something like a MK1 Punto would fit your criteria.
Lot of smart alecs here this evening... Nothing new I suppose.

if you find a starlet hard to work on maybe classics are not your thing, and when you say parts are not cheap....compared to what exactly?

CoBo55

oceanman wrote: »

if you find a starlet hard to work on maybe classics are not your thing, and when you say parts are not cheap....compared to what exactly?

A Starlet never was and never will be A Classic. I never said I found it hard to work on, what I said was is that there's this misconception that an aul starlet can be kept on the road for feck all and you'd have the clutch changed before your breakfast, no you won't. Yes they'll drone on forever but when something goes wrong they aren't as easy to work on as you'd think. Compared to a Fiesta, Punto and even the dreaded Micra, parts are more expensive and dealer specific. The 94 xli I was looking after was dealer only for the fanbelt, the auto factors had two types listed neither of which fitted, I had to give Boggans 3 times the price of auto factors belt, and wait over a week to get it. Auto factor drive was wrong, blue print one was wrong, Boggans again...

Duke O Smiley

RobAMerc wrote: »

I agree Duke, but the Starlet and Micra are just the most characterless cars you could image - the Alto at least has that tiny engine which is willing to spin the nuts off itself to just keep up with traffic etc. I drove a Yaris auto once my Mum was considering, it left me totally cold. She bought a Punto Selecta instead (which despite the horror stories :rolleyes: gave 0 trouble) and it was just a much nicer car to be in.

Ah, to be fair, driving a thirty four old Micra in modern day traffic can be an event. I’ve had plenty of Starlets, Micras, Cinquecentos etc and they can be enjoyed. However, I do agree that nostalgia is probably the reason that most people buy and keep them.

Tzardine

CoBo55 wrote: »

A Starlet never was and never will be A Classic....

I disagree. I think every car will eventually be a classic. Every car has its enthusiasts, and while I would have no interest in a Starlet, I am very fond of Fiestas, and many people would also say they will never be classics.

Believe it or not, in 30 years there will be people that are into classic Dacia Sanderos. Its just the way it is. Each to their own.

SmartinMartin

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

You're feeding that springer too well if she's bringing back sticks like that.

kindalen

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/citroen-bx-gti/27005352

Claims to have owned it a few years. Motor Tax shows it changing ownership on 2/11/2020.

Think was up for sale for a lot less, anyone remember how much?

Duke O Smiley

kindalen wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/citroen-bx-gti/27005352

Claims to have owned it a few years. Motor Tax shows it changing ownership on 2/11/2020.

Think was up for sale for a lot less, anyone remember how much?

He has owned it for a few years, I know that for sure. It was advertised about a year or so ago but not for a whole lot cheaper than it is now.

KevRossi

kindalen wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/citroen-bx-gti/27005352

Claims to have owned it a few years. Motor Tax shows it changing ownership on 2/11/2020.

Think was up for sale for a lot less, anyone remember how much?

It was on sale about 5 years ago for €1500. I wanted it, but was abroad and couldn't get back to look at it. Took a while to sell at that price too. No idea if it needed work or not.

Duke O Smiley

I think the fact that it’s an 8v does it’s desirability no favours.

unkel

Still pretty decent value for money though isn't it? By all means a nice classic car in my book. Also has a valid NCT, which seems to be the exception rather than the rule these days.

SmartinMartin

I remember it well because I was thinking of buying it. It was on for €3950 about 2.5 years ago.

unkel

Price increase is par for the course now it has the €56 tax. Nice classic car for the money.

Duke O Smiley

unkel wrote: »

Still pretty decent value for money though isn't it? By all means a nice classic car in my book. Also has a valid NCT, which seems to be the exception rather than the rule these days.

I agree, it’s a lovely car and not something you’ll see w lot of on these shores. Would I have one over an equivalent 8v Golf GTI in similar condition, I’m not sure, but I’m guessing there’s a lot of people out there who’ll dismiss it on account of being a Citroen.

unkel

ba_barabus had one (not a GTi) and seems to know these cars well, hopefully he'll come on here to comment.

Duke O Smiley

Ba sold his BX to the guy currently selling the GTI!

KevRossi

I checked some emails I sent a mate around the time of the sale. It was on sale in 2013, for around €1250, then dropped to €950. One person I wanted to look over the car for me was in Oz, I was trying to get someone to look at it, but he was too far away.

No idea how much work it needed, can't remmeber if it was NCT'd, but it left a good impression on me. Total bargain if it was OK.

It was up a few years later for around €3K, now over €5K. Worth a shot I guess, but there's a very small market here for them.

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

I agree, it’s a lovely car and not something you’ll see w lot of on these shores. Would I have one over an equivalent 8v Golf GTI in similar condition, I’m not sure, but I’m guessing there’s a lot of people out there who’ll dismiss it on account of being a Citroen.

I think the BX Gti regularly won tests against other cars around that time in various magazines, so can't have been too bad.

I love it, but I'm not buying it.

Beltby

I'm sure they have the same engine as the Peugeot 205 1.9 gti.

RobAMerc

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

I think the fact that it’s an 8v does it’s desirability no favours.

Beltby wrote: »

I'm sure they have the same engine as the Peugeot 205 1.9 gti.

I think thats where all the 16v ones went - into 205gti

I think thats a lovely car and seems decent value and a sure rarity. Having only ever once driven a BX which understeered so awfully I got out to see what was wrong with it, I dont know what brand of saucery Citroen would have had to perform to make it handle anything like a 'GTI' though !

con747

1985 Flat Front Saab 900 €2300 https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/all-original-1985-flat-front-saab-900/26455511
Looks good value if it checks out.

unkel

Looks lovely and very cheap. Love that dark green colour. On brit plates though and no MOT...

KevRossi

And a sagging headliner. Nice car all the same.