What sportscar would you give to your 21 year old? - Page 2

COOPERMAN · 18 Mar 2003, 20:15 (Ref:540452)

I would by him a talbot lotus sunbeam and for that money you would easily get an immaculate one at that they are in my eyes a true holligans cars ...short wheelbase pokey 2.2 lotus twin cam (907 type) brace of webers/dellortos and rear wheel drive,it'll teach him oversteer and how to drive a car that tends to pop and cough in traffic not like todays modern cars!! i love em!!!!

dretceterini · 19 Mar 2003, 04:48 (Ref:540853)

Simon:

I've had MANY Alfas; mainly 750, 101, 102 and 106 series cars. I've had a couple of 105s too...but not recently. In the last 5 years a really good 105 has been VERY difficult to come by. My ideal one would be a '67 1600 step nose or a '69 1750 with the neat seats. I want an ORIGINAL car, which makes it even more difficult...I've found a couple of things for around $3,000...but they needed $10,000 worth of parts and work to make correct..
Currently looking at a couple of Fulvias including a 1300HF (1600s are IMPOSSIBLE here) at prices near what I can afford. Strangely, Fulvias are easier to find here!

simon drabble · 19 Mar 2003, 07:53 (Ref:540907)

I once raced a 1300 and would strongly urge you to go down the 1600 route! From an investment standpoint the 1600 HF is always going to be easier to move on. The problem abt 105's is that if you buy a basket case it will take £20 000 to restore yet an immaculate one is only £10-12 000. There are good LHD ones around. Sorry to show my ignorance but what are 102 and 106 cars?

Tedebear · 19 Mar 2003, 12:02 (Ref:541063)

Crikey - even if its a hypothetical question - some of the offers here are amazing...at that age I was only just allowed to drive my Dad's mini panel van - and that was after I had learned some simple maintenance....

Shortly there after I got my first MG Midget - if ever there was a fun, cheap car for learning the basics and having a blast then that is it... besides being easily modified and raced, its just plain fun - although probably not as glamourous as most 21 year olds would like to have...

davemorganfan · 19 Mar 2003, 14:07 (Ref:541180)

Quote:

Originally posted by Liz
None -- they should earn their own car and then they'd take care of it. Also pay their own insurance.

But I agree that after he/she had bought that car, I'd give the money for a course at a really good driving school like the Porsche School.

Absolutely spot-on, Liz. Too may spoilt brats on the road with cars paid for by rich Daddy (guess whose impoverished Daddy never bought him a car?). And being entirely selfish, if I had that kind of money burning a hole in my pocket, I'd spend it on a car for myself and the sprog could make his/her own arrangements.

dretceterini · 19 Mar 2003, 15:34 (Ref:541233)

Simon:

The 102 series Alfas are the cast iron 2 liters from 1958-1962...kind of like uprated 1900s, and came in saloons, roadsters and coupes (only about 6 of the 704 coupes built are known to exist today!)

The 106 series cars are the straight 6 2600s from 1963-1967 and also came in saloons, roadsters and coupes, plus a Zagato version. I like the styling and they are very comfortable, albeit a bit larger road cars. The 102s are not really suitable for any kind of competition. The 106 coupes did fairly well in their class in distance events such as Spa back in their day.

TimD · 19 Mar 2003, 16:24 (Ref:541267)

And there's a 2600 Sprint coupe still doing sterling service in historic touring cars in England today, in the hands of Nick Savage. Beautiful car....

TimD · 19 Mar 2003, 16:25 (Ref:541271)

Although I have also seen photographic evidence of one being used in a demolition derby.

Does the word sacrilege spring to your mind too?

dretceterini · 20 Mar 2003, 01:57 (Ref:541776)

I'm aware of Nick's 2600 sprint...I'm still a member of the 102/106 series register although I haven't had one in about 7 years. Back in their day (and today too) they aren't really very competitive except in long distance races and only really in their class...not for any kind of high overall placeing. They do make very nice road cars though, and can climb a 70 degree bank with no problem...they have something like a 3:30 to 1 first gear and a 4.66:1 rear end ratio!

SL · 20 Mar 2003, 08:54 (Ref:541907)

Well my two nieces would only get the best, a couple of 246 Dino's I think.

Pity Corgi only made the models in red as pink is their colour.

As for real cars, I'll wait to see want they want in 19 years time

Simon

Nordic · 20 Mar 2003, 09:15 (Ref:541924)

Quote:

Originally posted by SL
Well my two nieces would only get the best, a couple of 246 Dino's I think.

Pity Corgi only made the models in red as pink is their colour.

As for real cars, I'll wait to see want they want in 19 years time

Simon

Simon, I'm sure there dad would find room in his garage for one so he could keep it 'safe'.

simon drabble · 20 Mar 2003, 15:41 (Ref:542178)

Nick's racing of the 2600 is a real labour of love altho I think he has now sorted the handling out. He did have it for sale as he has bought a GTA. this car has seen several trips to Goodwood as well as Top Hat etc.. He also has an SZ so I guess it would be fair to say he likes Alfa's! I am testing my Alfa on Saturday at Goodwood - cant wait its been a long time since I last saw it and hopefully all last years gremlins have been ironed out!

ASCII Man · 20 Mar 2003, 15:54 (Ref:542184)

I would get him a Fiat 500 coz those are really fun to drive and race!
And it would comfortably fit in a $8000 budget too.

Hell, even i would want to have one of those!

dretceterini · 20 Mar 2003, 16:55 (Ref:542233)

Fiat 500? I rather have a REAL Fiat 500...the Topolino from 1936 through 1948...with some period Italian speed equipment. Maybe all the way from 13 to 20 horsepower!

Lee Janotta · 20 Mar 2003, 17:19 (Ref:542258)

Fiat 500? BLEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After this piece of garbage I've got now, I'm never driving another car with less than 100hp!

ASCII Man · 20 Mar 2003, 20:18 (Ref:542411)

That sort of response is exactly what i expected from Americans who have wide streets and ditto cars...

Try driving one of those "muscle cars" or whatever in the narrow streets of Europe...

Power is nothing without control. (yes, ripped off from Pirelli, i know)

eclectic · 20 Mar 2003, 20:27 (Ref:542418)

There have been a few American cars suited to European roads if no the byways of England, but my personal experience stopped short at the Pontiac Fiero!

Lee Janotta · 20 Mar 2003, 22:08 (Ref:542530)

Quote:

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
That sort of response is exactly what i expected from Americans who have wide streets and ditto cars...

Try driving one of those "muscle cars" or whatever in the narrow streets of Europe...

Power is nothing without control. (yes, ripped off from Pirelli, i know)

Bah. Why would I ever get behind the wheel of a gutless Fiat 500 when I could _at_least_ get a Mini Cooper down the same roads? Even better, though, an MR2 or an MGF.

Just because we _haven't_ built cars really suited to Europe, doesn't mean we _can't_. We got _so_ close when we built the Corvair, but it was killed by safety Nazis. And then again with the Fiero, which was killed by the insurance industry.

dretceterini · 21 Mar 2003, 15:46 (Ref:543280)

Why would you get behind the wheel of a Fiat 500? Because silly little cars like Isettas, Gogomobiles, Hinkels and Fiats are fun...

eclectic · 21 Mar 2003, 16:16 (Ref:543305)

Oh yes...and Citroen 2CV's I may have prestige old cars in my garage but I have a 1964 2CV as my everyday second car, If you have ever seen 2CV racing in England or 2CVcross here in France you will know what I mean!

That said its hardly a sports car, and I've just got back in from my first run this spring in my 1935 Talbot Lago T120 drophead coupe' which lurks in my barn here. 3 litres of joy.

gfm · 21 Mar 2003, 16:32 (Ref:543313)

This sound like an interesting garage. My mate has a GP TL. I think he's lost a packet on it! I'm seeing him tomorrow at Silverstone, I'll ask him which one it is.

dretceterini · 21 Mar 2003, 23:26 (Ref:543647)

eclectic: any particular reason why French cars? I wouldn't mind a Delage or Delahaye, but prefer Alfas and Lancias. I've had some oddball French cars like 2 Matra Jets (a 5S and a 6), A CG-Simca coupe, and a DB5.

eclectic · 22 Mar 2003, 09:16 (Ref:543937)

I call myself Eclectic cos that describes my collection!
At present, in age order I have a Stutz Bearcat 1918, no front wheel brakes, on the road, Alvis 12/50 Duck'sback 1925,no fwb, otr, 1930 Bugatti T44, otr, Talbot Lago T120 1935 3 litre, otr, Citroen 2CV 1957 ripple bonnet, almost finished and a 2Cv 1964 otr. Far too much work, so something has to go. The T44 is for sale. As I live in France the emphasis in on French cars....

dretceterini · 22 Mar 2003, 14:55 (Ref:544176)

Eclectic indeed!

I'd love the T44, but am sure it's out of my price range...

JGM · 22 Mar 2003, 19:36 (Ref:544357)

Make it an old, slow sports car -like an MGB - that requres a bit of TLC. This might encourage a deeper interest in these things beyond the usual pathetic fashion statement.

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