Opinions on this ebayage>

Tempted by the B.I.N, but not blinded.

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Looks nice, but wonder if it is overchavved. Bit worried about the cooling, but what does everyone think? Honest answers, and yes I know it isn't a real lotus at that price.

Reply to
NeedforSwede2
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You'd rather have that overpriced POS than your Saab 900 T16 Conv, even with it's "issues"?

Surely the BIN is at least twice what it's worth!?

Good good man. Have you lost your mind?

Os

Reply to
Senor Osito

I had a 24v Carlton and loved it.

The cooling isn't really something I'd worry about personally, mine never got remotely hot in 30k miles, the only time the cooling system had a problem was when the top hose burst. Excellent engine in the 24v, but even with the Dual Ram induction system they're not the torquiest of things - excellent on fuel for a 3.0 though.

That one looks ok, but he's got a bit carried away with describing the bulbs and stuff - hardly the kind of thing to put the price up. I'd just check the rear arches, inner wings, trailing arm mounts and front balljoints and if the thing drives ok it more than likely is ok. The manual box in them is always awful though.

Reply to
Pete M

That is why I was asking.

I know there are a few Carlton fans and enthusiasts here. I know gen=20 Lotus Carltons fetch =A310-30k. I know this isn't. My Saab needed more=20 body work than I could afford. I was clear about that. Mechanicals can=20 be fixed by a hammer wielding orangutan with a blindfold and a copy of=20 max power eventually.

If as a 24v it was a bargain, I would buy it. If not, I would leave it.

--=20 Carl Robson Car PC Build starts again.

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Reply to
NeedforSwede2

Bargain it's not.

You can get a very nice 24v GSi for around £1100. Make sure you get the auto though, the manual box really is bloody awful.

Reply to
Pete M

I get your points about the Saab, shame though, look a nice motor from the pics and probably wouldn't have lost any value had you got it sorted.

There's a standard 24V Senator for sale in Autotrader in Oxford (bit far from you) on a K-plate with 146 K on it, with history for a grand. Which seems a more sensible price. Also has a years MOT and 6 months tax. Ex unmarked ARV car apparently.. Looks in good condition and not chavved at all.

Os

Reply to
Senor Osito

It's not, there's a tidy looking one on the Autotrader with lower mileage for a £1000.

Reply to
Homer

Cheers Pete, kind of straight answer I wanted.

--=20 Carl Robson Car PC Build starts again.

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Reply to
NeedforSwede2

Thanks. I did think it was over priced, but loved the look. Just needed a reality check.

Probably looking at either a 2 litre Octavia, or a Saab 9000 2.3 at or=20 arround the =A32k mark. Doesn't seem to be much worth in spending less,=20 and much need to spend more.

I did narrowly miss on an Alfa 145 Cloverleaf. Big enough engine to keep=20 me happy, small enough car to keep the missus happy. Willing to take=20 paypal, and in scouse land so easy enough to pickup. The cracked windscreen would be sorted by my insurance, and it was cheap=20 enough that a cambelt wouldn't havemade it uneconomical.

I had a auto snipe bid set for =A3950. Soemthing went to c*ck and it=20 didn't bid in time. Ended up going for =A3850.

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Carl Robson Car PC Build starts again.
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Reply to
NeedforSwede2

Nice? Okay, if you like red in a large car (and I don't, drk blue, green, black hey even silver but not red), it looks okay - apart from those

*gopping* rear lights. Bleurgh.

And you can't have a look around until you've paid for it.

Sounds a bit suspect to me. Roaring fan from the front to make people look? Hmm.

Excepting the rear lights and it being red, I'd agree with Pete M - avoid the manual.

As for your budget... have you considered the Honda Accord? :-)

Reply to
DervMan

I have. TBH, the plan was Facelift Skoda felicia as cheap as possible. but the market has dried up locally, alright if I want to be able to travel 200 miles for one.

Then I thought maybe 80 jap RWD if it is still arround now, and not blown it's guts can't be all bad.

Missus has even been looking 318 and 320 beemers. And she hates them. Problem is, my car goes tomorrow. The german flies in at 17.30

He paid 50% infront and the remainder is being paid on collection by paypal to save him having to carry large sterling ammounts on a bank holiday weekend.

I didn't have room to keep anything vaguelly decent size until the Saab goes. I have to find a car that I can either pay for on switch/visa or paypal on a Bank holiday weekend, with tax, to use to get to work on Tuesday.

Reply to
NeedforSwede2

Yup, I'll second what he said about the manual boxes, well sort of - they've got a quite smooth change to them if they're not knackered (and I've not personally known a knackered one) but apparently parts start getting expensive if they go wrong, and once you've been driving it for a while the long through really starts to get on your nerves. Other than that, like Pete said, you should easily get a 100% original one for not much over a grand.

Reply to
AstraVanMan

Have you considered sticking to the real cheap stuff for a bit ? I was on the verge of spending several grand on a car earlier this week - then I reminded myself that I had to know without doubt that I would like it for as long as I owed money on it. That was all I needed to remind me what a stupid idea that was. I'll say it again - 500 quid tops.

Or if you just want cheap transport, pay even less. That way you can afford to replace it as and when you feel the urge. Picked up an M reg Corsa 1.2 for 200 quid yesterday. Bog standard, skinny tyres and steel wheels, unmolested, Feb 07 MOT, July 96 tax. Didn't need it - didn't even want it, but had to buy it at that price. Make a turn on it and buy the engine for the locost is my plan.

Reply to
Bob Sherunckle

Hmm. If you know the machine, can you wait?

Maybe. But as you say, finding something in good enough condition...

Forever will you run a car you dislike then... not recommended.

Hmm.

Right. Sounds familiar. We basically had a shortlist of stuff to look at, which included the Accord. Paid half of it on the day, half a few days later, picked it up a few days after that. Decided that I wouldn't find something I really wanted so I'd take "near as" basically.

Do I look back and wish I didn't? Not really, well, beyond Ka aerobatics I suppose. I've had my up and downs with this Accord. Ultimately, it's competent, quiet and sadly all grown up.

Reply to
DervMan

That's why I've been looking at auto and LPT 9000's as well as manual aeros, Carltons and Merc SECs as well as small cars.

Even looked as Starlets and the like. Gutted about that 145 though.

Reply to
NeedforSwede2

If I spend below =A31800, there wouldn't be anything owned. I wanted to spend less than =A31k if I could.

A lot of small cars I physically can't drive, I end up so doubled=20 because of lack of seat adjustment that me Sciatica flares up, and also,=20 I find difficulty lifting my foot off the clutch on some cars because=20 they put the steering wheel in the wrong place.

--=20 Carl Robson Car PC Build starts again.

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Reply to
NeedforSwede2

If I spend below £1800, there wouldn't be anything owned. I wanted to spend less than £1k if I could.

Righto - the rest is none of my business.

I could point you in the direction of a couple of larger cheapy barges if you like. A Scorpio 24V ultima or an E28 520i Automatic. Both near mint, both much under your budget - much under your budget. Both being sold by a regular on locostbuilders.

Here's the Scorpio 24V

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- 1100 quidHere's the 520i
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- 500 quid. This would be my choice, even though it's a much less capable car. You definitely fit both of these. Physically and financially :-) Oh and here's my new 200 quid corsa - had to -
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Locostbuilders - a hotbed of bottom end car trading :-)

Reply to
Bob Sherunckle

Whisper it. I had a 145 for a bit if you may remember. It broke nothing, started every time and didn't really lose a great deal over the piece at all. The engine sounded great and I loved the looks, but the driving experience left me very very cold. The razor sharp turn in and adjustability on the throtlle and steering I had bee hoping for were just not there - at all. Squishy understeer was about it I'm afraid - and that was on good quality tyres.

Sorry SteveH :-) If I have another Alfa, it will be a 156 2.4JTD or a V6. for nowt - obviously.

Reply to
Bob Sherunckle

If you're looking for large cars like a Carlton, you can get a half decent Omega for around £750.

Reply to
Homer

Did you get the quavers? If so that was a bargain!!

Reply to
Carl Gibbs

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