sorry guys, another dreamy thread!

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 22:36

After deciding that for the time being the Mini would be too much too take on, and wanting something perhaps a bit more fun on the road than a Land Rover, I was thinking how would a Triumph Spitfire MKIV/1500 be?

As some of you already know I want something a bit different for my first car.

It seems like the mint condition fully restored ones don't go for more than about 3-4k, and you can get a nice one for around 2k.

I've checked insurance quotes and it would cost about the same (less in some cases) to insure as a typical small 90s hatchback.

It's based on a Triumph Herald and only has a 1500cc engine so it probably isn't going to drink a lot. I've not heard of any really major issues with these cars, they look great, and I have a mate with an MGB and a Morris Minor who would be willing to service it for me for free and help with any repairs.

Anything I'm missing? Because it sounds like a masterplan to me

*dons flame proof vest*

Stolly · 2 Feb 2009 at 22:44

geez just get a shed as a first car. You are only going to do something dumb and write it off anyway. Nobodies going to miss another dead Saxo. Don't kill a Triumph Spitfire for petes sake.

Muffin` · 2 Feb 2009 at 22:55

I personally think you could do with some friends.

Hedge · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:04

I think you are coming up with the most unsuitable crap ideas for a first car.

Get yourself a nice big cheap barge, comfort, reliability. And probably as quick as an old triumph.

Keep the money you save in a pot, add to it, and after a year, buy something interesting.

everything else is just retarded

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:07

Christ almightly not AGAIN!

Just do what everyone else does and buy a Fiesta 1.25 Zetec.

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:09

Hedge said:
I think you are coming up with the most unsuitable crap ideas for a first car.

Get yourself a nice big cheap barge, comfort, reliability. And probably as quick as an old triumph.

Keep the money you save in a pot, add to it, and after a year, buy something interesting.

everything else is just retarded

I won't save any money though, because after that I will be going to university. So whatever car I get now will either be a car I will have for a long time (providing I don't write it off) or the next car I get will be of roughly the same value anyway, probably less if the car I get depreciates. If it doesn't cost any more to run or buy than a normal hatchback I see no reason not to get it.

Also a barge will probably drink too much.

Jez · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:09

Hedge said:
I think you are coming up with the most unsuitable crap ideas for a first car.

Get yourself a nice big cheap barge,

This. Thats what i did.

Ricochet J · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:10

[TW]Fox;13414962 said:
Just do what everyone else does and buy a Fiesta 1.25 Zetec.

Because he's not "everyone else". He was given advice in the Mini thread that going down this route would be a bad idea and he knows this. Yet he still wants something different. Which probably means he doesn't give a toss about a 1.25 Fiesta even if it slapped him in the face as the better option.

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:11

yantorsen said:
I see no reason not to get it.

But you also saw no reason not to get a Land Rover, and then to restore a rotten old Mini.

Tune in tommorrow for Yantersen with 'I see no reason not to get a 1981 Toyota Supra with nitrous' and the sequel, 'I see no reason not to get a 7.5 ton Iveco Cargo', here on Delusion TV.

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:12

Ricochet J said:
Because he's not "everyone else". He was given advice in the Mini thread that going down this route would be a bad idea and he knows this. Yet he still wants something different. Which probably means he doesn't give a toss about a 1.25 Fiesta even if it slapped him in the face as the better option.

Correct. That's not to say I'm doing it for the sake of being different or to get attention though. It would just give me great satisfaction to have something that not every tom dick and harry has and actually has some heritage or pedigree I can be pleased with.

Jez · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:12

What happened to the land rover idea?

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:13

[TW]Fox;13414991 said:
But you also saw no reason not to get a Land Rover, and then to restore a rotten old Mini.

Tune in tommorrow for Yantersen with 'I see no reason not to get a 1981 Toyota Supra with nitrous' and the sequel, 'I see no reason not to get a 7.5 ton Iveco Cargo', here on Delusion TV.

Na I don't like Supra's

I'm still considering the Land Rover tbh, everyone I've spoke to doesn't seem to think it's such a bad idea, especially the people of the Land Rover forum

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:14

Do you know what a good idea is?

GET A DRIVING LICENSE. Then once you've actually driven a car on a public road you might have a better idea what it is you want.

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:14

Jez said:
What happened to the land rover idea?

Still considering it. But I think what some people said it true, although I'd probably go green laning once a month or so and the practically would be great, they do drink a lot more, and perhaps wouldn't be the most fun things to drive on the road, especially if it was a S3 without power steering.

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:16

[TW]Fox;13415019 said:
Do you know what a good idea is?

GET A DRIVING LICENSE. Then once you've actually driven a car on a public road you might have a better idea what it is you want.

I'm sure I will, by most accounts though a Triumph Spitfire is more fun to drive than a lot of hatchbacks. Sure I know the 205 GTi etc is supposed to be great, but they cost a lot more to insure.

And I don't care about creature comforts, as long as I have a stereo and a seat I'm not too bothered.

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:16

Ricochet J said:
Because he's not "everyone else". He was given advice in the Mini thread that going down this route would be a bad idea and he knows this. Yet he still wants something different. Which probably means he doesn't give a toss about a 1.25 Fiesta even if it slapped him in the face as the better option.

Your first car is never something which is tailored to every one of your needs, tastes and hearts desire. It is never perfect. It is never your dream car.

Please don't encourage him.

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:17

yantorsen said:
I'm sure I will, by most accounts though a Triumph Spitfire is more fun to drive than a lot of hatchbacks.

Do you really not understand why banging on about being 'fun to drive' is completely and utterly pointless until, I dunno, you ACTUALLY DRIVE?!

It's like me discussing which method of bunjee jumping is the most fun when I've never even been up a crane.

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:17

[TW]Fox;13415036 said:
Your first car is never something which is tailored to every one of your needs, tastes and hearts desire. It is never perfect. It is never your dream car.

Please don't encourage him.

and this isn't my dream car either, that doesn't mean you should aim for it to be nearer to it though just because nobody else does.

task · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:18

A very good reason will be the amount it costs to keep one of these in good condition and on the road. Compare the running costs for a classic car to those for a 1.0 Saxo or other small hatch. If these were such a great idea then don't you think everyone would be running about in a nice looking classic instead of spending money on new cars?

You're still going to have reliability issues, it's an old car, things WILL go wrong with even a mint condition one. This isn't speculation, I'm speaking from experience here (of classics in general).

What exactly did you get an insurance quote for and how much did it come in at? All your posts seem to lack any detail besides "I R WANT THIS CAR NAOW".

yantorsen · 2 Feb 2009 at 23:18

[TW]Fox;13415040 said:
Do you really not understand why banging on about being 'fun to drive' is completely and utterly pointless until, I dunno, you ACTUALLY DRIVE?!

It's like me discussing which method of bunjee jumping is the most fun when I've never even been up a crane.

Of course, but having driven a few hatchbacks there really not as great as you like to think. But then I don't really think I'd listen to advice from someone who thinks an old 5 series is good looking either. You obviously have totally different ideas about what makes a car good.