Hi - what car do you recommend?

[alabbasi]

OK as you didnt say LHD would be a problem, I would find a ford Mustang. The 6 cylinder models should do 22mpg on the highway and a common modification these days is to put a modern engine, gearbox and fuel injection system in them which would probably get the v8 model to return pretty decent fuel consumption. They also have aircon.




Another alternative is a Mercedes Benz W114 coupe (250CE or 280CE)
These cars have fuel injection (bosch D-jetronic) 4 wheel disc brakes, some have air conditioning, and independent rear suspension.

The M114E engine will make 170hp while the M110E will make 185hp.

You may (with a feather touch) get 22mpg




Lastly, ditch the 22mpg requirement and find a car that will do less miles but has been converted to LPG like a series 1 Jaguar XJ6 or a Mercedes Benz 280SEL

[IainG]

Hi, I'm going through exactly the same thought process, although I'm happy with auto and whilst tax exempt would be nice, I'm not too fussed.

I'm thinking perhaps, P1800ES, 280CE(had one before & liked it), Stag, Sunbeam Rapier or Karmann Ghia.

[1600Pee]

thanks for all your suggestions (and pics) so far....!

some are thought provoking....

So far I'd say

rover P5/P6 and Stag are probably the most appealing options mentioned.

I dont really fancy a big merc that needs a feather touch to get 20mpg! I do a 15 mile commute (x2) each day in mixed traffic, hence why I want something that actually delivers in the twenties, not drifts to mid teens mpg.

Can I buy a mustang for £7k?????!!!!

Scimitars look nice but are they 'trusty'?

This would be something that I expected to start first time, come rain or shine, and wouldnt let me down.

when did they start making Dolomite Sprints??

[1600Pee]

I wonder if a manual box P6 V8 feels sporty? Might be a decent proposition.

[JPB]

Earliest Sprints were April 1973 but you could buy a tax-free Dolomite and add the 16 Valve engine. My Sienna Dolomite's current owner used that car to reshell a rusted Sprint from the Russian steel era into a rust-free, VED-free replica. The twunt. There are also Dolomites with TR7 engines, a couple with the earliest 2 litre Saab 99 engines (same idea but parallel head studs & bolts, avoid the ones with the distributor on the head) and tuned 1850s on TR7 fuel injection, any of those options would give you very similar performance to a real Sprint. Any of the range outhandles the trap-sprung Fords of the period and loads of uprated bits can be sourced.

Aircon was a very rare option but is listed in the period brochures and I know of two local examples that have it; one a "stock" Dolomite and the other a Panther Rio.

[alabbasi]

Can I buy a mustang for £7k?????!!!!

That's about $12000 USD, and you can buy a Mustang all day and all night for that.

Here are ones that are for sale locally to me.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/2667197929.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/2689388355.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/2667387797.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/cto/2699717831.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/2713250592.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2660730706.html

Locally to me is good because cars don't rust here.

FYI, if it has a V8 and a 3 speed automatic, it would be very optimistic to think that 20+mpg is achievable in mixed driving conditions.
The only older v8 engined cars that seem to do good when it comes to fuel consumption are American V8's after the introduction of an overdrive 4th gear (i.e 700/R4 transmission). They only turn 1800rpm at 70mph.

[SirTainleyBarking]

Just a thought, when comparing MPG, remember that a US gallon is smaller than a UK one, so on first glance a not too great US highway figure might be a little better over here. LR Discovery 300TDi is 25mpg US figures, but a not too bad 30 to the gallon over here http://www.mpgtokpl.com/mpgustompguk.htm

Still hurts to fill the tank mind you at £1.40+ per litre

[1600Pee]

what does road tax cost per annum on a dolomite sprint?

[TerryG]

Any car made before March 2001 costs £215 for engine sizes larger than 1.6 or £130 for cars with an engine smaller than it.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Ow ... G_10012524

[1600Pee]

thankyou