Low Budget 2 Seat Project - ideas?

DampCat · 22 Nov 2007 at 09:00

So let's say about £1500 on a project car. By project i dont mean by your standards.

Preferably it'd need to be mobile. I'm not really into engine restoration and the car would have to be my daily whilst i worked on it. The age of the car doesn't matter to me but Classic isn't really my thing either. Easy to get hold of parts would be a bonus of course!

I've been looking at things like the MX-5 or MGF, with bent panels or ripped hoods, enough damage to bring the price down but not enough to make it a money sink. I can do silly things like belt changes, small amounts of engine work, but blown head gaskets and stuff is a little bit more work than i'm after.

I've got a hard on at the moment for a 2 seater. I dont have family so i dont need bootspace or back seats. Somewhere to import my CarPC from myjeep would be a bonus but i wouldn't own it too long after finishing it anyway. Had the jeep a few months and now its roadworthy and "nice" i'm looking to shift it by next summer.

What sort of things should i be looking for? 95 - 99 MX5's seem to be around the right prices but i'd prefer a hardtop. I guess actually 2 seats isn't a must, just soemthing that looks a bit sporty!

Wow. i started quite specific then ended a bit vague. Oh well, i trust you guys.

Thanks!

Saytan · 22 Nov 2007 at 09:17

there's a removable hardtop available for the MX5 - it looks alright as well

wassap · 22 Nov 2007 at 10:22

I wouldnt have thought a 95-99 MX would be in range, they still fetch good money for dogs, you would pick up an early import for your kind of budget, 90-93 model should be do-able.

kaiowas · 22 Nov 2007 at 10:34

Sounds like the mk1 MR2 is worth a mention here. Can buy a very good car for your budget. Parts are plentiful and cheap as there are so many cars being broken these days and there's not a whole lot mechanically that will cause you headaches.

Firestar_3x · 22 Nov 2007 at 10:49

For that sort of money you might get a dog of a 89 - 92 but dream on if you think your getting anything other than a cat C or D non repaired wreck of a 95 - 99.

ci_newman · 22 Nov 2007 at 10:53

kaiowas said:
Sounds like the mk1 MR2 is worth a mention here. Can buy a very good car for your budget. Parts are plentiful and cheap as there are so many cars being broken these days and there's not a whole lot mechanically that will cause you headaches.

This man speaketh the truth however the Mk1 is ageing quite a bit now and you'll have to look quite hard for one that isn't suffering from some from of bodywork rust. Should be low budget though!

Hawk Tuah · 22 Nov 2007 at 10:59

What about an Mr2 Mk1. - doh - beaten to it.

jimblowscash · 22 Nov 2007 at 11:57

locost seven with a hard top?

Shadez · 22 Nov 2007 at 12:07

Have a look at CRX delsols, you should be able to get one for around £1500 Failing that the MR2 as already mentioned.

DampCat · 22 Nov 2007 at 12:19

Firestar_3x said:
For that sort of money you might get a dog of a 89 - 92 but dream on if you think your getting anything other than a cat C or D non repaired wreck of a 95 - 99.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/254973.htm

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll take a look at some MR2's now!

DampCat · 22 Nov 2007 at 12:50

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/285446.htm

Seems an awful lot of car for the money. What sort of things should i look for there? Aside from the usual rust and possible engine problems or crash/repair work, is there anything that MR2's are famous for that i should look out for?

Zip · 22 Nov 2007 at 12:55

DampCat said:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/285446.htm

Seems an awful lot of car for the money. What sort of things should i look for there? Aside from the usual rust and possible engine problems or crash/repair work, is there anything that MR2's are famous for that i should look out for?

Thats a Rev 1 MK2

So you will have to look out for trees heading toward you in your revision mirror

Edit: Thats an Automatic you link

kaiowas · 22 Nov 2007 at 13:30

Don't really know about mk2s but on the mk1 front...

Condition of the shell is everything. Most people very quickly become aware of the rear arch issue and don't really look far beyond that when assessing the condition of a shell. From personal experience I've become somewhat more discerning and have a rather long list of places I like to check for rust. Whether rust is an issue for you depends on the kind of project you want, if you're happy welding and spraying then there's very little to worry about as it's all fixable if you've got the time to do it. If you're looking for spanner work only then obviously you'll want to know what to avoid. If you need more information of where to check just ask.

Aside from bodywork condition the key thing to look out for is the gearbox. Popping out of 5th gear when coming off the power is a relatively common fault as are worn syncros on 2nd/3rd. It's no big deal if the box isn't spot on though as replacement used units aren't expensive or hard to find, it's just pain having to swap them over.

K.C. Leblanc · 22 Nov 2007 at 13:53

You might be able to get a Fiat Barchetta in budget. Just bare in mind it is effectively a Fiat Punto with a few more down sides.

Shadez · 22 Nov 2007 at 14:08

what about one of these
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/215262.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/256379.htm

if you look around you can get them within your budget

Dogbreath · 22 Nov 2007 at 17:56

DampCat said:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/285446.htm

Seems an awful lot of car for the money. What sort of things should i look for there? Aside from the usual rust and possible engine problems or crash/repair work, is there anything that MR2's are famous for that i should look out for?

You don't want that one. The Rev1's are famous for being under braked and having "interesting" handling traits, but it's been covered on here dozens of times before if you have a search. Unless you have some kind of disability, an automatic MR2 is also a sin against nature.

If you fancy an MR2, get the best Rev2 or later (92 on) you can afford, and bare in mind that it's a mid-engined car which makes working on anything engine or gearbox related much more difficult than a front engined car.

Kitchster_uk · 22 Nov 2007 at 18:03

Can I also add my weight (and there's a fair amount of it..) beghind the Mk1 MR2 - I currently have one as a project in my garage (will post a thread eventually). They're great little go-karts and 122bhp standard from the 1.6 lump is very good going. Went to the 'ring in mine this year and there really wasn't anything between it and mattpc's 1.8i MX-5, justa different feel. I love the '2, it's such a drivers car and relatively simple to work on as well. Rear arches cost £210 for the full replacement metal btw, unless you're prepared to do some major work yourself as you can make Datsun Cherry arches fit and they're about £20!

Firestar_3x · 22 Nov 2007 at 18:14

DampCat said:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/254973.htm

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll take a look at some MR2's now!

First off its done 150k, secondly its only the i thirdly the rear arch problem is a huge one, odds on the chassi being rusted as well, so like i said my point still stands.

Lopéz · 22 Nov 2007 at 18:31

Firestar_3x said:
First off its done 150k, secondly its only the i thirdly the rear arch problem is a huge one, odds on the chassi being rusted as well, so like i said my point still stands.

It has only just been MOT tested so if the chassis is corroded it can't be particularly significant.

Lashout_UK · 22 Nov 2007 at 18:35

Obviously not been to some of the garages I've seen then

Especially the one where I asked to book an MOT, the guy looked over the car for a minute or two, disappeared into the workshop, then came out with a completed MOT sheet and said "that'll be 60 quid, thanks" (this was a few years back now!)