How far do I have to go back?

WellKnownSid

Richard53 wrote: »

Don't want: computer management

Would this be the computer management that minimises low-speed torque (bearings), prevents over-fuelling (ring/bore wear), stops your car going out of 'tune' every 3,000 miles and means engines last 250,000 miles rather than giving trouble at 50,000?

Richard53 wrote: »

CanBUS

The same technology that eliminates half the wiring in a car, and can be used to diagnose faults centrally at any back-street garage using cheap hand-held equipment?

Richard53 wrote: »

design that needs front wheel arches off to change a spark plug

Don't buy a BMW with a dodgy starter motor

Richard53 wrote: »

ambient lighting, nagging by bleeps or disembodied voice, anything over-complicated.

I've owned several cars from the 80s and early 90's with stop-start technology, i.e. they stopped ever time you approached a T-junction... Way before its time...

The big problem you have with older cars is that you'll invariably need to fix them yourself or find a 'old style' mechanic who can keep them on song. If your mechanic has only ever read about a K-jetronic system in a book, then they won't have the skills or (gauges) required.

Currently owning cars from each of the four decades myself, I would say don't confuse 'simple' with 'easy and cheap to fix'. Hard hot starting on, say, my 1980's Stuttgart saloon can be 20 different things - vacuum, temp sensors, wiring, injector leakage, ignition, accumulator, state of engine tune, etc, etc - and quite probably all of them to some degree. The actual-fault-tipping-the-system-over-the-edge is extremely hard to pinpoint when everything is pretty-much out of spec (but the gauges help). Cue parts of varying availability and price, until things are running better.

Conversely on my late 90's Gothenburg estate, any problems are invariably preceded by a warning light, a five minute diagnostic and the right replacement part at first go (helped by the systems being current knowledge)

westwood68

W123-W124 Merc. As above front wings do rust but that's about all and they are cheap to get.

Mine started on the button in the depths of winter (diesel) with 363000 miles on it. Never missed a beat and I only moved on because I fancied a change

WTFH

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Agreed, but the OP's question is more couched at avoiding the clever stuff than satisfying the mundane.

Except he has given us the reason for wanting to make the change in his last sentence:

Richard53 wrote: »

(To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the Mondy, but it's bland like a refrigerator, and I'm looking for something that will be more engaging to own.)

The other alternate, which satisfies all his requirements is a Landrover Defender. The proper ones have very little by way of electronics or complex stuff. They are easy to maintain. But they are maybe not the most comfortable day-to-day car.

Basically, if he wants something that is not a "bland eurobox", but is "engaging to own", then rather than looking at bland eurobox makers, look at enthusiast cars - Alfa and Landrover fall into those categories.

paddedjohn

One of the best cars of the 80's I had was a Granada 2.8 Ghia X, also had a few nice Jags but they were all thirsty as hell. I had a Sierra Ghia X on a g plate which was both comfortable and economical.

colino

Wasn't the 2.8 the Cologne engine that Ford abandoned cam chains and cam belts and went to gear drive instead? Great idea until they changed the original camwheels from steel to fibre resin to reduce noise! Granadas and Capris of the era were fast in a straight line, but reversed easily into hedges on corners or the gearwheels stripped and they went bang.

Horizon81

Corolla AE86 from the 80's ticks most of your boxes.

http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/toyota/corolla-ae86/

AndyPK

Jag XJ but probably too big and thirsty for you.

colino

The XJ of that era was the XJ40. Rusty, unreliable, horrendously expensive parts and the gimmicky electronic dash that you had to slap the dashboard to see what speed you were doing. Not one of jags finest.

AndyPK

I was think more of an x300.

In budget and reliable.

AdrianC

The sweet spot to me always appears to be around late '80s, early '90s. Just late enough that you're getting simple electronic injection and ignition, with nice easy fault code reading.

Before then - much more rot prone, more need for "mechanical" maintenance (carbs, points).
After then - much more electronics.

Ah, I did love my Saab 900 T16.