Buying a wreck...

Tr1p

Tr1p

Tr1p

Associate
Joined
20 May 2009
Posts
303
Ello everyone,

Was just wondering, what are people's thoughts on this idea.

I recently split up with my girlfriend of 3 years, and to be honest haven't got friends outside of work that I will meet or talk to regularly outside of work. I'm 18 and I passed my driving test in March this year and currently drive Fiat Brava :(.

As expected the Fiat is... well a Fiat. Since I've had it, the exhaust has rusted and the brackets have corroded forcing a new exhaust, the bonnet release has snapped and the second key has snapped in the drivers door and won't release whatever I try. Good old Italian build quality aye, least it has soul and passion ;)

Anyhow back on topic, as I work full time and have hardly any mechanical experience I was ponding buying an old car that is high mileage, and a bit tatty and restoring it. Probably not factory condition as it would be my first project, but something to look at and drive and think that I put a lot of hard work into and made my own. (Not into these Corsa's with speakers in every panel, big rims and tinted windows with a banging sound system init)

What are your thoughts guys? I am stuck at the first hurdle though, finding a suitable car. Thought about an original Mini as they seem simple and cheap to run, insure. Or a old BMW 3 series, however that is quite the opposite. This would be an ongoing project, not something that I will do in 5 minutes, would take real pride in it :).

Thanks
 
Well I'll say this, an E30 or E36 3-series is quite possibly one of the easiest cars in the world to work on. It would be a "simple" introduction into mechanics and restoration, and parts are widely available, and contrary to popular belief, don't cost the earth.
 
You want a wreck to work on. There simply is no better car for the home DIY motorist than a VW Beetle.

For a start, its tax free. If you get something like mine - its insured as a kit car, so there are no such restrictions on modifications like you'd get on a 'normal' car.

Plus - every single component, body panel, peice of rubber, glass, etc can be bought brand new, cheaply, made by VW, or by a huge array of high performance specialists, or cheap chinese copies.

Just take a look at a couple of the threads on here, eg Dead Dogs Beetle build.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17655353&highlight=baja

or in fact my own build thread.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17868944&highlight=baja

If you're going to bespending hours of your time devoted to a car, why not make it something a little bit 'special' :)

Big%20Bang%202010%20026.jpg
 
I'd love to do a 500SL, buy an old wrecked one with the bonus that you can look forward to a genuinely awesome car at the end of it, and keep it forever, garaged, and be genuinely proud of it. Do it with a proper genuinely awesome classic, or dont bother, imho.

The beetle idea is all well and good, but there would be no worthwhile target for me.
 
E30 baby :D has to be done!

Or buy a Mk1 Golf GTi.

I don't think you need a genuine classic car tbh, not for your first foray into diy motoring, you want something pretty simple and relatively cheap. Remember you'll be buying loads of tools too so that is another cost to add in.
 
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From a previous mk1 GTI owners perspective, you'd save a lot of money long term by buying a minter than attempting to do up a wreck.

No amount of DIY 'hard work' will recondition a gearbox, or replace fuel lines, rusty holes etc.
 
I'd avoid anything old and either Ford or VW as scene tax is crazy so even buying rotten old crap will cost a lot even if the parts to fix it are cheap. An e36 isn't a bad idea as you can pick up a 4 cylinder model cheaply and they do seem to be fairly easy to work on and even parts direct from BMW seem fairly priced.
 
Jez said:
I'd love to do a 500SL, buy an old wrecked one with the bonus that you can look forward to a genuinely awesome car at the end of it, and keep it forever, garaged, and be genuinely proud of it. Do it with a proper genuinely awesome classic, or dont bother, imho.

The beetle idea is all well and good, but there would be no worthwhile target for me.
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Ooooh definitely something I also want to do. This or a 500 / 560 SEC. Even if I could buy a great example I'd probably still to do a restoration myself. Though I have no mechanical no-how :p

To the OP - make sure you check insurance quotes. You may think it's a wreck and it'll be cheap to insure, but you're 18 and insurance on even very old BMWs / relatively big engined vehicles is silly.
 
MGB GT, not a single item you can't buy new. You could build a new car out of the Moss catalogue. Simple to work on, keep up with modern traffic and they look great.
 
Jez said:
I'd love to do a 500SL, buy an old wrecked one with the bonus that you can look forward to a genuinely awesome car at the end of it, and keep it forever, garaged, and be genuinely proud of it. Do it with a proper genuinely awesome classic, or dont bother, imho.

The beetle idea is all well and good, but there would be no worthwhile target for me.
Click to expand...


What would you do, a 107 or 129?
 
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