Another barely used Mk1?

[kaiowas]

Not sure if this is another low mileage example that's surfaced or whether it's one of the previously known ones doing the rounds:

http://www.ashtons.uk.com/prestige.html (Near the bottom of the page)

Anyone feeling flush enough?

[MartG]

Dear Lottery.....

[kevin..in]

I want!!!!

[Charged]

I bet it still leaks

[Tiamat]

I want!!!!

What would you do with it?
I'd double the mileage easily within 2 months.
It'd then start to rust as it would be kept outdoors.
MK1s like this are for serious collectors, weekend toys - for a few miles and then for a wash and back into climate controlled garage.
I wouldn't want it as it would not receive the care its really due.

[Negativvv]

I want!!!!

What would you do with it?
I'd double the mileage easily within 2 months.
It'd then start to rust as it would be kept outdoors.
MK1s like this are for serious collectors, weekend toys - for a few miles and then for a wash and back into climate controlled garage.
I wouldn't want it as it would not receive the care its really due.

The way i see it, either a car is a museum piece and shouldnt be driven at all, or just get out and use it for what its intended! Which would probably make that white t-bar a very expensive prospect for most people! Id just find a decent mk1 and maintain it well, i wouldnt appreciate the extra i paid for something thats done so little miles but is just gonna b used like any other car anyway. The extra £ is alot to pay for that new car "aura"!

[johnp]

It's a pity it wasn't offered for sale privately first because the dealer will have a massive mark-up on this,he's perhaps only paid £5k,who knows?
....And £5k would be the right money for it because it's then not too expensive to drive and enjoy.

[John R]

I met a chap at Tatton Park in August who was asking for advice about acquiring this car, looks like I talked him out if it!

He was asking if it was worth the price and general information about Mk1 ownership. I remember enquiring about what he intended to do with it, weekend 'toy' car or such like etc, but he said that he wanted it as a everyday car running to 12k plus miles a year.
I commented that in a few years of that use the mileage would mean the exclusivity of the condition now would disappear and the so would the value.
As far as I can remember we both agreed that a low mileage 'excellent condition' example could be found at less than half the cost of this one and would give just as much enjoyment.
The price is only high because the the mileage and the condition, if it had say 35k on it, it would be lucky to get £4000 IMHO. But how many more are out there?

John

[waynestoyotamr2]

Even so John, its a "nice to have" isnt it? But not at that price!

[triplecustard]

yep, very nice, but as soon as its driven properly it would be just another old MR2.

[kevin..in]

I want!!!!

What would you do with it?
I'd double the mileage easily within 2 months.
It'd then start to rust as it would be kept outdoors.
MK1s like this are for serious collectors, weekend toys - for a few miles and then for a wash and back into climate controlled garage.
I wouldn't want it as it would not receive the care its really due.

yes its always going to be a constant dilema of to use or not to use
but as way back in the day (late eighties) in my early twenties the very expensive MK1 was beyond my budget and thankfully in '89 i ressisted the very real temptation to buy one of the last Bertone ltd. edition Fiat X19 that could have ruined my perseption of the 2 seater for ever
now though 10K is not beyond my grasp though it may be a streach this represents a very real opportunity to own and yes drive a MK1 in as near perfect if not "Mint" in the correct use of the word, for comparratively little outlay
so yes I want though as I was always told as a small child I want doesn't always get

Even so John, its a "nice to have" isnt it? But not at that price!

in real terms 10K isn't too much for an as new car a MK3 with this mileage would cost more which one would you go for

[HT]

Even so John, its a "nice to have" isnt it? But not at that price!

in real terms 10K isn't too much for an as new car a MK3 with this mileage would cost more which one would you go for

Erm no contest - mk1 please

Looking at some of the other exotic cars on the listing its quite a contrast - wonder how it compares on smiles per miles against say a lambo

[millentubby]

I'd destroy what makes that car so special just by using it...I don't care how many miles are on the mk1, as long as it's got no RUST!

[Jim-SR]

sod taking care of it and keeping it looking that nice. id rag the nuts off of it and make all the same changes to it that i would to a knackered example. a properly mint car to start with just means less maintenance before you start modifying it!

i dont understand why anyone would want to savour an original AW11. they are cracking cars for under a grand (slightly over a grand for a mint one), they are good fun to drive, easy to make faster, and alright looking.

but they arent anything special, the looks are average at best, the performance is good for a 120bhp daily driver from the mid 1980's, but its nothing incredible, 205 GTi's are faster, and its fun to drive, but not fun enough that it doesnt need quite a few changes made to improve it

savouring a car that only cost the equivalent of about £18k to start with would be totally pointless. id rather savour the mint shell and not having to weld half of the car before it was properly safe to go fast in lol. and that car is £10k, i wish all my cars only depreciated £8k in 20 years. its worth £3k at MOST

[johnp]

'..slighty over a grand for a mint one...'
Jim,I don't understand...?...perhaps you should revert to a 205GTI?

[HT]

'..slighty over a grand for a mint one...'
Jim,I don't understand...?...perhaps you should revert to a 205GTI?

Not sure you'd get a mint gti for just over a thousand.

I Definately would not compare a 205 gti with a mk1. Yes there fun - if you can live with a thrashy mass produced and easily broken front wheel driver. The mk1 may not be the most sophisticated piece of machinery today but for the money it did very little wrong in the mid-eighties and many things very right unlike the 205, which after a quick thrash thorugh the twisties has little lasting appeal.

[johnp]

I'm sorry my previous post was rather cryptic....what I meant to say was:--
Jim-SR-----I haven't a clue what you're on about...this car is obviously worth more than £3k (although everone seems to agree its not worth £10k)....and not sure how a 205 GTI is relevant here...???

[John R]

Weird how we get to 205's but.. My mate who put me on to MR2's changed his year old 'T'Bar for a new 205 1.6 gti, he needed the space for shopping
The standing joke was the gearbox, I think they were changed as frequently as the oil.. Thank god for warranties..

john

[GhostCav]

Not sure you'd get a mint gti for just over a thousand.

I Definately would not compare a 205 gti with a mk1. Yes there fun - if you can live with a thrashy mass produced and easily broken front wheel driver. The mk1 may not be the most sophisticated piece of machinery today but for the money it did very little wrong in the mid-eighties and many things very right unlike the 205, which after a quick thrash thorugh the twisties has little lasting appeal.

Cant' really agree with that, I owned 205GTi's from 1990 to 2007,last year I actually had 5 of them at the same time. A grand can get you a tidy GTi. I wouldnt say they are easily broken as I never had this problem. I did have a break from 205's for two years & bought a 2 year old Honda CRX V-tec Mk2 but that cost so much to run back then as everything spares wise had to be oem & ££££. The 205 GTi is in a different class to an MR2 but just as fun in a different way. My last road one had full 309 GTi running gear,koni's with an Mi-16v engine with Kent cams. Externally completly stock looking (apart from the wider track from the 309). I had stupid amounts of fun with that car.Also had a fully stripped out 205 GTi 1.9 rallycar which was a real good laugh. At the end of the day the 205 GTi did everything it was supposed to do & very well. Ok it's limitations were it was a 4 seater car & FWD, so major major power was a waste unless you converted to rear or AWD. (There are a few cossie powered 4x4 205's knocking about). I still believe that in its class it has to be the best hot hatch of the 80's & find few cars that equal its smiles for the money. The MR2 is in a completly different class, not higher/lower just different. Anyway yes I am biased.

[GhostCav]

The standing joke was the gearbox, I think they were changed as frequently as the oil.. Thank god for warranties..

john

Ok I need to watch all this 205 defending anyone would think I'm more into them than mk1's....

But as for gearboxes,nothing wrong with them. The 1.9 rallycar ran a 1.6 gearbox (BE1 type), I had a spare unit that sat in the storage area unused & was never needed. In 17 years of 205 ownership I've never changed a gearbox due to a fault. Driveshafts I used to get through a few but thats fairly normal for a rally car.