New, looking for some advice

Post by **Lion** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:23 pm

Well firstly i'd just like to say hello & say this seems a great forum! I've been reading it all day & found lots of great info so far

I've been looking around for a classic car since i passed my test in 2004, just something about new cars that dont cut it for me (yes at least 1% of the young drivers isnt a boy racer!

) I got close with a carbed mk1 golf gti, but that had its electrical issues that forced me to sell.
I've looked at minis, beetles etc, but they all seemed a bit common, then i found a minor near me, went to view it & thought yep this is the car for me. Unfortunately that one was rotten, so onwards with my hunt.

Now the question i have is, how much should i be spending for something half decent & thats roadworthy?, i can do any mechanical , trim repairs myself, but i dont want to go down the road of excessive bodywork, i dont mind restoring a tired finish, a bit of rust around the door edges, or some service items etc, but when it comes to rust & rot i want something thats pretty straight so i can get straight on with waxoyling it & have it lasting for a good few years.
The price i had in my head was £1k, but im now starting to doubt i can get anything for that.
Also can anyone reccomend anywhere to buy one from? All the minors on ebay, seem at either end of the scale, either over my budget, but mint, or a total wreck.

Thanks for any advice.

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:30 pm

well i bought mine from ebay at £500. with 12 months mot
obviously not mint and needs 3 small welding repairs, but other than that is all solid
will also need new wings , just bolt on, and a respray, but then i will have a car thast worth a few quid

so do not give up on ebay

as with all clubs, members know the pitfalls and of course price,
so look beyond shiny exteriors, not allways good as quite a few have found out to their cost in the past

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:40 pm

Yes - just keep looking - but don't buy without inspection. There are some horrors out there - but also some good buys.

Post by **Mogwai** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:45 pm

These 2 websites have got a quite few minors for sale on them be worth a look
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/33/
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=696

Post by **Lion** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:49 pm

Thanks for the info, i was quite surprised at the morris 1000 on pistonheads for 1800, think i'll have to add a bit to the kitty and lookout for something like that.
Cheers

Post by **msppowers** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:08 am

Being from the USA I have no Idea what "12 Months MOT"mean
Please explain
MIke P

Post by **FrankM83** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:57 am

its a test to check whether the vehicle is road worthy

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:08 pm

I have no Idea what "12 Months MOT"

Hi Mike as Frank has said we have to have our vehicles checked for roadworthyness every year once they are over 3 years old at an approved testing station and get charged £50 for the priviledge.

Also can anyone reccomend anywhere to buy one from?

Hi you are in luck if you are from the Lincolshire area as they have a very active branch and one of the members Mike Dean even has his own website called the Minor Site I would contact them as they should be able to give you plenty of advice

http://www.theminorsite.co.uk/

Post by **Vikki** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:14 pm

i got mine off ebay for £1800, i bought it off a mechanic and he had restored/renewed/replaced all the mechanics very well but did need the aesthetics looking at like new trim and re-spray (which will probably cost twice as much as what i paid for it).

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:41 pm

Kevin wrote:
I have no Idea what "12 Months MOT"
Hi Mike as Frank has said we have to have our vehicles checked for roadworthyness every year once they are over 3 years old at an approved testing station and get charged £50 for the priviledge.

It's called MOT because the government department that used to issue them was called the Ministry of Transport.

Post by **Lion** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:00 pm

Thanks for the link Kevin

Yes sorry i didnt realise there were any US owners on here,
as said the M.O.T Is a yearly check that makes sure a car is roadworthy, ie no gaping holes underneath, badly worn bushes etc..
Its by no means a guarantee that a car is in good condition, but it makes life easier to buy one that is allready M.O.T'd as you have a better chance of not putting your hand straight through the floorpan lol.

Post by **eastona** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:13 pm

Mine was a £450 bought unseen from ebay, it did 18000 trouble free miles, being driven pretty hard for most of it, but now has succumbed to a bit of a refit.

It's going through a bit of a "D" check

Whatever you get, as mentioned earlier, and contrary to my experience, view before you buy and don't stint on the maintenance.

Andrew

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:46 pm

well as i said my car was a £500.00 bargain, 12 months mot
is solid no major repairs needed, all original floor pans in very good nick

needs new wings and a respray

so really ebay, dont knock it
it is a good source for classics cars and of course new old stock panels