Cheap motoring with "classics"

JQ.

pgilc1 wrote: »

Just bought a 1989 MX5 for £690. Near bullet proof mechanicals and a hoot to drive.

This ^^^^^

My MX5 is 16 years old, has proved more reliable than the brand new BMW I had a few years ago, costs pennies to run and gets thrashed round a track every couple of months - it's spending the day going round Oulton Park in 2 weeks time. And it's not rotting away, although it has been Waxoiled and Dinitrolled in the past. It's insured on a fully comp classic insurance policy, business mileage included and gets used every day - winter and summer.

SteveJW

1996 Mazda 323f 1,500cc, purchased when six years old for £1,500.
Drive around 3,000 miles a year

Repairs
Set of front brake pads
Rear exhaust box (twice)
Cambelt (twice due to age)
Oil and filter every two years
Battery
Welding (first time last year new sill)

Only time ever failed to start when battery failed
In 2010 it stood outside near Manchester Airport during the November cold spell for three weeks, on return over a foot of snow on top, it had been that cold even a can of coke in the car had frozen and exploded. Started first time

Never failed an MOT or had any advisories, I check it over before test

I think thats cheap motoring

devizes18193

whats the best place for classic car insurance , my 19 year old is saving up for his 1st car and is looking to save some pennies .

Joe_Horner

devizes18193 wrote: »

whats the best place for classic car insurance , my 19 year old is saving up for his 1st car and is looking to save some pennies .

Like any other car, it depends on the car and driver. If he's looking at cars that have an Owners Club then the clubs often have deals with certain insurers that give good value for money (not always the cheapest though) and will often cover drivers that other companies don't want.

As a young driver it's worth putting his details through the usual comparison sites - some of the specialist insurers have started making policies available through those (Lancaster for instance). Apart from that, if the car's likely to be over 15 - 20 years old, get a copy of Practical Classics (or similar) magazine and phone round the specialists who advertise in there. Many of them insist on over 21 or over 25 if you go to their websites but can still quote for younger drivers if you phone them.

mikey72

it's getting harder to find insurers for young drivers on classic policies.
Footman James did one for my 17 yeat old, as her only car, in her name.
I beleive they don't offer cover anymore, but it's worth a call to see if that has changed.
http://www.msminsurance.co.uk/ currently insure her as a named driver on my policy, (at 18 now) they were the only one that offered cover, and it wasn't as mine, (or her) only car.

Shoshannah

My two cents worth...

I drive a banger - I use it for the daily commute, I use it for my work and it makes regular long journeys across the country. It does approx 15,000 miles a year without problems.

Pros

• Cheap to buy - picked up mine for £350.

• Easy to maintain; I service mine myself and the car is technically very simple.

• When it comes to reliability, this particular individual is SOLID. Only failed to start once (flat battery), never broken down except when it had a bit of dirt in the carb (easily fixed within a couple of minutes).

• Owners club a great source of advice and parts.

• More environmentally friendly than buying a new car every couple of years, on the basis that most CO2 production occurs during manufacture (as we are often told).

Cons

• Rust. No getting away from that one.

• Security leaves a lot to be desired - the car I had before this one (same make and model) was stolen.

• Takes a long time to defrost in the winter (no quick clear screen).

When it comes to fuel, I get about 350-400 miles per tank (60L) on long journeys, and less around town. So it's not great on fuel. This is a 1.8 carb'd engine.
Insurance - I pay approx £450 for TPF&T. That's for 26 year old female with 8 years NCB and no convictions.
Tax on this is £215 per year.
Sailed through its MOT at the end of the last year with no advisories.


I still find this cheaper than paying out for a brand new car, and find it a lot more interesting than another silver Ford Focus, but that's just my opinion.


My banger:

CKhalvashi

Bought Lexus no.5 today, after promising I wouldn’t!

Bit of an impulse purchase, as I’ve always fancied a convertible one. Only problem may be that the girls reckon the back seats are too small, which quite possibly means I’m driving it into London every day (Suddenly, fuel-wise, this doesn’t seem such a good idea) :mad:

Will put photos up in the week at some point, but at £7k for an ’02’ plate SC430 model (Cheaper than a new-ish Merc E-Class Cab/BMW 6 series cab, and much better), with just 41k miles, it’s an absolute bargain! I just wish it was diesel with 27.6 average MPG

cb1979

Ford Sierria Sapphire the last good car Ford made,had a couple myself,a very nice drive and easy to work on

A Ford is probably the best make for a Classic car,a few British Leyland were mentioned in earlier posts,they were not very good back in the day,thats why Leyland disappeared

mikey72

cb1979 wrote: »

Ford Sierria Sapphire the last good car Ford made,had a couple myself,a very nice drive and easy to work on

A Ford is probably the best make for a Classic car,a few British Leyland were mentioned in earlier posts,they were not very good back in the day,thats why Leyland disappeared

I thought it was national pride.
We're proud to say anything is better than british.



(I thought it was down to unions mainly, if they wouldn't make them, they couldn't sell them)

Owain_Moneysaver

pgilc1 wrote: »

Chassis rot is a big problem.

Panel rust isn't :-)

And you can buy a shiny new chassis in 2.5mm British steel for just over £1000.