Turbocharger Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Forgive me for I have sinned. It has been four years since my last car purchase. Since I finished Uni I'm starting to do more driving with work, especially motorways, and less time for offroading (and online foruming!). While I was in London I couldn't park (or afford) two cars but since I moved to Bristol I needed something cheap to run that could handle motorways. Of course, I didn't want anything run-of-the-mill so diesel Peugeots and dull Mondeos were out of the picture. To get the fuel economy I set a weight limit of 1000kg and it's surprising how little there is. The shortlist came down to: - Lotus Elise (+++fun but vv expensive to insure, K-series head gasket is legendary and whole car's a bit too "extreme" for motorways) - Smart Roadster (surprisingly entertaining 600cc pocket rocket, 50mpg but water leak worries and there aren't many around) - MGF (decent mid-engined 2-seat convertible but questionable image and British build quality, plus all the K-series issues) - Mazda MX5 (ticks all the boxes, reliable and fun but seemed soulless and SWMBO didn't fit) - Toyota MR2 (mid engined reliable car, but I just don't like them) - Honda S2000 (fantastic engine but really cramped inside and expensive for what you get) - Suzuki Cappuccino (Jap kei-car, entertaining handling but noisy at speed and rust-prone chassis) - Caterham/Westfield/Locost (hysterical, ridiculous, excellent car but not really for the motorway) After a few months looking around I bit the bullet and have what SWMBO calls "his attempt at a practical car". MGTF 135 Sprint, 1060kg, 24k miles, FSH, immaculate condition, and it goes like a rocket. I've got an eagle eye on the coolant and oil but it came with a 2-year warranty. The Ninety stays as backup transport, offroading and I actually find it more enjoyable to drive, except above walking pace... Anyone need a perm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Very nice John. Much better value than an MX5 - as I am discovering to my cost.... you cannot get a decent one for sensible money. SWMBO must be too tall for MX5s? Even I fit in width-wise. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark90 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 - Mazda MX5 (ticks all the boxes, reliable and fun but seemed soulless and SWMBO didn't fit) Problem with the air bags? I'll try and refrain from commenting on the tarts handbag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Problem with the air bags? strangely, that was my first reaction too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 This thread is worthless without pictures to illustrate the issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Br00n1e Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 This thread is worthless without pictures to illustrate the issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Nice landy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Wondered where you had disappeared too, good to see you back, 90 still looks good, dunno about that silver thing next to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hey Turbo can you pop round, my wife needs a haircut Get a TVR you big poof Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Hey, Turbo, your Landy has dropped some carp on the drive Very pretty but how much shopping can you get in the back hmmmm ? Enjoy Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ101 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 What ever you do, do not knock it,, You try and buy front or rear bumpers !! Just done an insurance job on a 04 plate,, only 2 bumper left in the country !!!! well one now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy_neutron Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 What ever you do, do not knock it,, You try and buy front or rear bumpers !! Just done an insurance job on a 04 plate,, only 2 bumper left in the country !!!! well one now Wow .. was thinking of one of these myself .. Did ya try these people ? http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 There are so many of these about and they are so cheap now that Ebay will soon be full of people breaking them for parts. Either way, if it is an insurance job and they cannot mend it they will have to pay up for a new car. I like it John. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Since John has come out I thought I would too. My new toy: Short back and sides? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 that's a very pretty MX5- i think you'll be wanting to go here http://www.monstermiata.com/ seeing as we are al posting piccies of ricers: Here's a representative shot of mine- its just never suny enough to get a nice photo like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ101 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Mmm best take a pic of my hairdresser , if and when it stops raining Chris,, have those gay wheels gone yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 http://www.monstermiata.com/ Oddly enough I found myself reading about LS1s the other day... Mmmm, 115BHP to 300+BHP... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OilIT Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 all these topless photos have got me hankering after a topless bit on the side for myself - especially as Spring and Summer are supposedly just around the corner........................................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_warne Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Turbo, as I said to you before - well done, you've got a smart looking car there. You're still a wuss for not getting a Lotus, though I wouldn't worry about the K series as with a couple of mods (re-site the thermostat, metal dowls and the latest LR head gasket) you should have no problems. You can also have issues if the liner heights aren't correct but if your engine builder knows what he's doing he'll have no problems getting the liner heights correct. If you do ever have any problems the place to go is DVA Power - Dave Andrews is superb and very well priced although he does have a long waiting list. On the bodywork front it can't be any worse than an Elise: Damage the clam shells and you'll have a big bill or worse a write off. You see a huge number of Cat D cars floating around that have suffered only minor damage (and are cheap to fix with 2nd hand parts) but are written off due to the cost of new clams from Lotus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 OK I admit I once owned at X1/9, there I have said it. In my defence it wasn't a standard one it was quite swift. Thankfully I have a good friend with a Caterham so I still get the wind in your Hair...err...baldy head fix every now and then. My last wind in the baldy head fix was on a freezing cold day in January in the driving seat of a Lotus Elan. Unfortunately the windscreen was covered in condensation, the engine was disabled and I was being towed over Exmoor in an icy gale sat on a box so I could see over the windscreen to the Toyota Surf towcar beyond! Good fun anyway even without brakes Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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