[Kerr]

I was just messing around potentially looking for a banger for the winter.

Then I stumbled across one of these. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1501?logcode=p

Quite a few good looking ones for peanuts.

The car is still lovely to this day and I'm suprised to see them slump so low in value.

Future classic with increased value do you think?

Can you think of any better?

[davyk31]

Ahhhhhhh that takes me back. Bought a Sprint Blue one brand new in 1998, great looks and sounds especially with an induction kit! Sold it in 2005, totally immaculate with only 21000 miles and REALLY wish I had kept it but didn't really have the space or spare funds at that time.

Would buy another one tomorrow for a garage toy if I had space and saw a nice one.

[rich1068]

Nice find Kerr. I lusted after those too when they came out. And for that money you could just throw it away when it broke!

[creepy coupe]

Don't they trash gearboxes on a regular basis?

[edowen]

It's not quite a "Banger", but I managed to grab a P38 HSE Range Rover earlier in the year.

Now I know these are renowned for being a nightmare etc, but there are good ones out there, especially if you stick to the last few years of production.

Buy in summer, and sell in winter, and a good one wont cost you anything in depreciation. You will need to keep on top of the niggles as they come up though.

Mine had only 46,000 miles on the clock (in 10 years) is the later "THOR" Bosh engine, and has Harmon Kardon, Elec memory heated Leather, Sunroof etc. EVERYTHING works inc air suspension, and it has had 10 services in 46,000 miles.

It was only 4600. I am praying for snow again!!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by edowen

Buy in summer, and sell in winter, .

I'd have thought you really would want to own it in the winter?

[SelSol]

I had one of those! The earlier 16v model, not the 20v. Performance was pretty epic for what you pay for them, its not gearboxes they trash, its cambelts and tensioners because tightwad owners only get the belts done and the tensioner fails, and belt changes on these are a pig.

I believe the current best buy for future values is an early Lotus Elise, since they're down at around £6-7k for a tidy one, and if you look at the MK2 Elan, which is a fairly comparable vehicle, they still fetch £5-8k.

Elise will be a popular future one because of the emissions and fuel consumption, which is how the whole motoring market is heading.

[edowen]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I'd have thought you really would want to own it in the winter?

Well yes, this is true of course - but when you want to sell, wait till Winter!

Elise is another good call - I made a profit on one, and no loss on the other. Same with the Exige.

[B33M3R]

I always fancied one of them. I actually had the Fiat Bravo HGT 20v back in 2007. Basically a Fiat Bravo with the aspirated 20v 5 cylinder version of the Coupe engine. Was great fun and sounded fantastic. Not very reliable though, various electrical gremlins and once when I was filling up with fuel after about one month of ownership the exhaust just fell off and I had to get the RAC out to remove it whilst stranded on the forecourt.

Also whenever the temperature dropped the handbrake would freeze on. Happy days

[davyk31]

Have to say my Fiat was very reliable. Only major issue was turbo seals a couple of times. Cambelt is the other biggie on these, dealers quote its an engine out job to change although think some indies can do it with engine in place. Still costs a few quid but essential.

[jonw]

Fiat real shit boxes imo.
Cant see any 80s or 90s Fiats becoming future classics.

I'd rather buy something like a 205 GTI or Golf VR6.

[JJD]

Nice find! i always fancied one of these but was put off by the cost of a cambelt change. good news that some can do them with the engine in place.

[davyk31]

I was quoted £400 or £500 for the cambelt change by an Indie doing it with engine in. Dealer was more like £1500 and wouldn't have had a clue as they hadn't done one before.

[Kerr]

I was looking at puddle jumpers and a few of them came up in the less than £1k filter.

There is quite a few good ones for £2k. I do prefer both blue colours and dare I say it, yellow before silver. One of the few cars yellow is acceptable.

Not exactly a winter beater car but it does stir my interest.

[Boyd1963]

What about this bad boy that I found in my sisters shed! Lotus Esprit I think.

[edowen]

Eclat if I am not mistaken. Or Excel? Can never remember which is which.

[Ste133]

Originally Posted by Boyd1963

What about this bad boy that I found in my sisters shed! Lotus Esprit I think.

I think that's a Lotus Eclat, not an Esprit. Looking a bit dusty though...

[Boyd1963]

Originally Posted by Ste133

I think that's a Lotus Eclat, not an Esprit. Looking a bit dusty though...

Actually that's what my brother said but when I put the reg into KwikFit it said that it was an Esprit. She has got a 10,000 square foot shed full of old cars that my brother-in-law has acquired. He also keeps his WWII vehicles in there.

[dxb335d]

I think they are a little chavvy these days.

I wouldn't to drive a nineties car in winter myself.

[xenon]

That is quite definitely a Lotus Excel in BRG.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by xenon

That is quite definitely a Lotus Excel in BRG.

Probably an Excel SE. Looks like the Eclat was basically the same car pre 1982.

Yum, yum....

[leetennis]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

Probably an Excel SE. Looks like the Eclat was basically the same car pre 1982.

Yum, yum....

+1