Advice on downsizing car!

LandyAndy

NBLondon wrote: »

There were a few aftermarket companies (Costello comes to mind) who would shove the V8 (from a P6) into a B roadster under an MGC bonnet. Or go for the RV8 of the early 90s (updated B bodyshell with Range Rover 3.9 V8). In both cases - the question is do the guns fit across the boot.

OK - for exciting classic options and boot space - Reliant Scimitar GTE or if you up the budget a bit - Lynx Eventer

You don't need an MGC bonnet to accompany the V8. It fits fine under the standard bonnet as in the factory produced MGB GT V8.

The 'C' bonnet was to accommodate the extra height of the 'C' series 6cyl engine.

I did drive a standard MGB once. Horrible sluggish thing. My TR6 was much nicer.

silverwhistle

I've got a Hyundai i20 which at my age is cheap to insure and at a pinch can carry 5, can get pallets in the back with the seat down and carry me to the Alps if I need it. Touch wood it's needed only routine maintenance and a new battery. I check the oil more often than you though..

Herzlos

NBLondon wrote: »

If you like the Mondeo - downsize to a Focus? (Boring answer I know) Driving wise they feel quite similar.

The Focus is pretty big these days, so might be better just going down to the Fiesta which is the size a Focus used to be.

DigForVictory

Have I told you lately that I love this board for the vehement opinions & the glorious senses of humour? Plus the solid advice?!

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Skoda Fabia (or the estate version if you want a larger boot). VW engineering at a cheaper price point. A good choice of engine sizes to pick from, one of which should meet your motorway requirement.

I recently went with my nephew to help him buy a Fabia, he's 6'7 tall so can confirm there is plenty of legroom (although not for the person behind him), plus it was pretty reasonable to insure....for a newly qualified driver.

The young do run to Tall. (I don't.) However, legroom is one of those things that you can't retrofit legally (as I understand it) so I'll be taking my tapemeasure to a Skoda dealer amongst others!

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Furthermore, SU carburettors are relatively easy to keep in tune, but you'd need to learn about timing and points gaps as they're likely to need attention more frequently than at the annual service. And to check the oil level regularly as wear in the bores and valve guides is a thing on these so they consume oil.

Look, one of the main reasons I'm looking at cars is I Am Not Good At Checking Oil (for starters...). I suspect blithely ignoring timing & points gaps will leave me sitting waiting for the RAC rather more often. Unless you know someone who is massively bored, has an adequate income & curiosity, can keep one of these sweet & won't spook the husband? At which point I might start flirting with a stable of vintage vehicles, but I would need a comes-with-own-mechanic!

LandyAndy wrote: »

My TR6 was much nicer.

Contemplates visibility to other road users as short in a TR6. Not questioning the Fun just "cause of death - other driver didn't see her" - I'd rather I was clobbered deliberately. I think I need something a little more waterproof as well. Living in Lancashire I spend more time in waterproofs than sunscreen!

silverwhistle wrote: »

I've got a Hyundai i20 which at my age is cheap to insure and at a pinch can carry 5, can get pallets in the back with the seat down and carry me to the Alps if I need it. Touch wood it's needed only routine maintenance and a new battery. I check the oil more often than you though..

Even I've heard of the Hyundai i20! How does it do with motorways?

Herzlos wrote: »

The Focus is pretty big these days, so might be better just going down to the Fiesta which is the size a Focus used to be.

Yes, the Focus is barely 3 centimetres narrower than the Mondeo where as the Fiesta is a useful 20 cm narrower. The poor Ford garage and my tape measure... Again, how well do these little cuties cope with motorways though?

Some days I think I'd face less misunderstanding if I went looking for another car in a police lockup. Though the only copper I know may not be allowed to borrow tackle from the armoury yet. A brother Scout though - much is possible. (We took a pack of Cubs to the local station & the planned 70 minutes stretched past 100 as the police were generous with interesting & educational opportunities, even as the waiting room got to standing room only with anxious parents. And Every Cub got to let rip with the Sirens...)

NBLondon

Herzlos wrote: »

The Focus is pretty big these days, so might be better just going down to the Fiesta which is the size a Focus used to be.

Which dimension? The latest Fiesta (Mk 7 or 8?) is way bigger than the Mk1 Fiesta of the late 70s but I don't reckon it's quite the size of the 1990s Mk1 Focus yet. There has been a design tendency to go wider and push the wheels out to the corners (maximising interior volume compared to the classic 3 box saloon) which gives a visual effect as well.

LandyAndy wrote:

You don't need an MGC bonnet to accompany the V8. It fits fine under the standard bonnet as in the factory produced MGB GT V8.

The 'C' bonnet was to accommodate the extra height of the 'C' series 6cyl engine.

True, they didn't need the bonnet bulge. Just did it as a visual cue that it was the bigger engine.

DigForVictory

While my Inner Toddler thinks Any V8 is brilliant, my insurers & my eco-conscious relatives some of whom I hope to inherit from suggest the closest I get is an undocumented & deniable track day, possibly in America.

I have to admit VED under £200 would be a nice perk. Even if I’d Love to arrive at the office in something sounding even more bad tempered but well bred than a KC Dobermann with an appalling owner.

Cornucopia

I'd suggest a Renault Captur - the early ones are now getting into the £5-6k range, and may even take a little dip with the announcement of the new model. The 1.5dci diesel is excellent. Not driven the 0.9 petrol, but it seems a little small for the size/weight of the car.

As a more general observation, don't be put off by small engine sizes. There are a number of very good small engines now, like the 1.2 Petrol across Peugeot-Citroen-Vauxhall and the 1.0 Petrol across VW-Audi-Skoda-Seat. I have the 1.0 in my Skoda Octavia and it really shifts, even though it is a 1.7 tonne car.

If you want to start researching/learning about electric & hybrid vehicles, I'd suggest Robert Llewellyn's "Fully Charged" Youtube channel as an easy way in. RL is very enthusiastic and entertaining whilst keeping the subject matter very accessible for newcomers.

https://www.youtube.com/user/fullychargedshow

silverwhistle

DigForVictory wrote: »

Look, one of the main reasons I'm looking at cars is I Am Not Good At Checking Oil (for starters...).




Even I've heard of the Hyundai i20! How does it do with motorways?

Well, I'm not exactly a mechanically minded lass myself, but checking oil is easy enough, do it at the same time as you top up your washer bottle.


i20 no problems with motorways. This year we went to the Alps with my GF's van, more space (wine..), more economical (diesel) and cruise control. Previous 5 years by i20, two of us last year and always very full on the way home!