2 Door Buying?

[dunketh]

Thinking about buying a two door.
Are there any specific areas that I should check on a 2-door model?

I'll have to sell my four door to fund it but I've always wanted a two door and this ones too good an opportunity to miss.
I love the four door and its never let me down and goes like stink but my heart craves the sleeker 3 door shape.

Would it be too cheaky to expect the seller to remove his sill 'kick' covers for me?

[JimK]

There's not much that's different to the 4-door.

There are repair sections available for the side panels (behind the doors) but only for the bottom 8-10 inches or so. Everything else is the same as the 4-door, I think.

And I agree with you about the looks. That and body stiffness were the reasons I bought a 2-door.

[Willie]

Depends how rusted the bolts are! If in clean condition it is not much of a job if it makes the difference between a sale or not.

[paulk]

The thin B post snaps at the bottom just where it meets the main rear quarter panel.

I think its just a weak spot and the door slamming flexes the whole area. Can be welded up and reinforced if necessary.

Rear quarter windows leak if not sealed in and the access to the rear (for putting small sprogs in car seats) is tricky. Especially if you up grade the seats at all

Don't get me wrong I love the 2dr. But just trying to be helpful.

[Pyoor_Kate]

*mutters something about people not knowing luxury when they have it*

*pets her beloved four door*

*sighs about the knackered engine*

[Packedup]

*sighs about the knackered engine*

Get a bit of wet and dry, clean up the bores, stick the spare head on and glug some 20/50 into that spare one then! ;)

[benw]

Cracks in the b-posts are a bit troublesome on 2-doors, but should be straightforward to weld up again. I've heard its a common problem on 2-doors and mine is certainly no different. I'll be sending mine to have its b-post welded up soon.

As you'll already know, rust is the most important thing - try and avoid it!!

[dunketh]

Well, had a nosey at this today and its a no I think.

The car was average condition, very solid and with full MOT but looking at the 3 door shape it just seemed so tiny. Wings looked mint and chrome was very good.
I know the internal space must be the same on the 4 and 2 door cars but it looked only half the size. Having to move the seat to let folk in is just too much of a pain and you can't 'slide' stuff straight onto the back seat through an open door.

The B posts were cracked at the corners of the windows and the sills had all been patched and gunked.. but it was all solid and quite well done.
I couldn't get the kick panels off as the bolts were all rusted and covered in gunk and I didn't want to mess it up for the seller.

There was filler in the top of one rear wing and in the rear quarter panel where it curves at the bottom.

However, the car handled amazingly.
I took it for a good thrash and it loved it - the 1098 being almost as spritely as my 1275! The suspension was solid, it soaked up the bumps with a dull thud unlike mine which hits anything bigger than a fag paper with a sickening whack.

So the short of it is, I'm gonna replace the suspension on my four door, tidy up any dodgy bits and just keep it.