First Timer Classic Car

Slipshaney · 21-07-2013 11:01pm #1

Looking to invest in a classic...no experience whatsoever but want a convertible, not too pricey and easy to maintain. Have seen a few mg midgets but hear they can be troublesome. Any suggestions?

kev1.3s · 21-07-2013 11:40pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

Looking to invest in a classic...no experience whatsoever but want a convertible, not too pricey and easy to maintain. Have seen a few mg midgets but hear they can be troublesome. Any suggestions?

Ill be first in with the generic answer to this question, Mazda mx5.

Agricola · 22-07-2013 1:37am

Yeah Id second the MX5. If you want a convertible but dont want to be fiddling under the bonnet all the time, steer clear of the obvious British classics.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 9:17am

thanks for that - i was tempted by the older cars with the cheap tax and insurance...but literally want a car to drive, and not be taking to garage all the time...

Red Kev · 22-07-2013 11:17am

If you want no hassle then look for a late 80's early 90's car. As above the MX-5 is an excellent suggestion, you can also consider:

VW Golf MK 1 (later ones are the better ones)
SAAB 900
BMW E30 (get one that's been well maintained and serviced)
Peugeot 205
Fiat Barchetta
Alfa GTV Spider

To be honest I'd put a Morris Minor Convertible up there too, very reliable, easy and cheap to fix but they are "slow and steady" so not to everybody's taste.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 11:19am

good list there- thanks for that, i do like the Mazda...but tax and insurance is another ~1k per year I guess

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 11:21am

does the mazda have an automatic/manual roof? or does it depend on the year?

oceanman · 22-07-2013 1:00pm

all the mazda mx5s have the manual roof, except for the very latest ones. if your looking for cheap tax better of sticking to pre 80s cars.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 1:03pm

Thanks for that - another question - since the car would only be used in the summer months, do I need to pay tax for a full year? seeing as the car will be idle for 3/4 of the year!? I know there was a change in legislation recently

MidlandsM · 22-07-2013 1:10pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

thanks for that - i was tempted by the older cars with the cheap tax and insurance...but literally want a car to drive, and not be taking to garage all the time...

ok, so you want a reliable cheap to run, cheap to insure and cheap to tax classic then............a hard spot to hit.........but how about this then.......

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-beat-convertible/5317473

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 2:38pm

thanks for that - i do like the look of the mazda mx5 though...though i know the tax/insurance would be hefty compared to the honda

MidlandsM · 22-07-2013 3:39pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

thanks for that - i do like the look of the mazda mx5 though...though i know the tax/insurance would be hefty compared to the honda

yeah, thats why I recommended the honda to you....and they are a little bit rare now, also consider a suzuki cappuccino

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVXZvjOc5-2WjA1D_UkkwQEDRVAgj7rCkWlTjW1vAyh6PxIDFzFA

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVXZvjOc5-2WjA1D_UkkwQEDRVAgj7rCkWlTjW1vAyh6PxIDFzFA

re; the tax on the mx-5, no real issue if you just tax it for 3 or 6 months of the year for the summer

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 3:51pm

thanks for that - would i need to declare if off the road for rest of year? and i guess i would have to insurance for 12 months

MidlandsM · 22-07-2013 4:01pm

yeah, just declare it off the road.......no hassles.

if you get classic insurance, it'll be cheap anyways - and no big massive expence having it insured all year round.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 4:11pm

thats a good point - could do the same with insurance? i.e. get it for only 6 months per year...

MidlandsM · 22-07-2013 4:19pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

thats a good point - could do the same with insurance? i.e. get it for only 6 months per year...

no, you can only insure it for 12 months, but it's relatively cheap for a classic policy, in comparison to a normal policy.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 4:22pm

true - id have to go for something 30 years plus so...

MidlandsM · 22-07-2013 6:59pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

true - id have to go for something 30 years plus so...

not necessarily, a lot of cars can be insured as classics from 20 years old onwards

wandatowell · 22-07-2013 8:24pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

not necessarily, a lot of cars can be insured as classics from 20 years old onwards

whats the criteria for a car becoming eligible for classic tax/ins?

Red Kev · 22-07-2013 9:53pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

thats a good point - could do the same with insurance? i.e. get it for only 6 months per year...

You can cancel a policy after 6 months and get the balance back minus a fee, or just tell the insurance company it's off the road for a few months and suspend the insurance for that length of time, although as other posters have said classic car insurance is cheap.

Slipshaney · 22-07-2013 10:54pm

Thanks again. If I went for an mx5, 91 or 92, would that qualify for classic?

Kenny Logins · 22-07-2013 10:57pm

Slipshaney wrote: »

Thanks again. If I went for an mx5, 91 or 92, would that qualify for classic?

Up to the insurer.

hoodie6029 · 22-07-2013 11:36pm

The insurance will be useful in the off the road months if it's stolen or catches fire (touches wood)

Slipshaney · 23-07-2013 4:20pm

just called an insurance company there, and they said the minimum age the car can be is 25 years

Any other crowds do it for 20 years?

MidlandsM · 23-07-2013 4:43pm

first ireland

Kenny Logins · 23-07-2013 5:45pm

MidlandsM wrote: »

first ireland

They told me they only cover classic cars on classic policies, not old Japanese cars. :P

fezzer · 25-07-2013 1:53pm

Give Carole Nash a call. have my 92 mx5 import on a classic policy with them.

Dades · 25-07-2013 3:55pm

In case it was missed, you'll need a regular policy on a second car to get a classic policy.

First Timer Classic Car

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