winter convertible project - what would you buy?

[Deleted member 26392]

Had to sell my mgf as wife wasn't happy it was inly two seats as we are a yoing family of four.

So, I like a challenge and want a 4 seater winter convertible project. I want to spend upto £750 to buy a project car that needs stuff doing to it.

Im keen on either an audi 80 or saab 900 convertible.

Whats everyone's thought and what else should I consider. Must be from the 90's or earlier.

 

[Ian_Mac]

What about a Mk1 Golf Cab?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Might need to stretch the budget slightly but I'd recommend a BMW E30 cabriolet.

 

[flango]

Saab bulkheads split so if you go this route choose with care, there is a mod to prevent this happening. Audi 80 solid car but looks dated now. For £750 you will probably pick up a W208 CLK that will want some work but suspect that will cost significantly more to bring back to life than the others.

What about Mazda MX5 then even when you wanted to sell it would still fetch strong money for a sorted one.

 

[jamesfuller]

I forgot all about the Audi coupe/cab range of the late 90's. When I was a kid I went for a ride in one and loved it. A very light metallic green one.

That would probably be the most car for the money.
A Golf or a Saab for £750 is not going to be up to much.

One random suggestion, a four seater soft top from the 90's in budget.
Fiat Punto Cabrio 1.2 twin cam. I got one to rob the engine for my hillclimber. They can be quite fun.

 

[Halcyon Days]

Oh, I don't know if a Saab wouldn't be up to much?
Saab 900

 

[jamesfuller]

Oh, I don't know if a Saab wouldn't be up to much?
Saab 900

I wasn't thinking of that shape I had the previous shape in my head and they seem to be holding onto the money quite well.

That does seem a lot of swede for the money! Are these the ones that have a lot of GM parts?

 

[Halcyon Days]

I wasn't thinking of that shape I had the previous shape in my head and they seem to be holding onto the money quite well.

That does seem a lot of swede for the money! Are these the ones that have a lot of GM parts?

A lot, yes, but not all. Brake discs and things are, but engine etc not.

You won't get a "classic" for that kind of money :-(

 

[LTD]

Used saab 2.0T SE Convertible 1999 (T Reg ) for sale - PistonHeads (Ref 1749953)

Less to spend on a refurb ....

 

[abecketts]

I'd recommend the audi 80, bought the boss one last year 99T 2.8 in blue with a blue leather interior 95k miles and full service history all for £623 I've had the front wings repsprayed, changed alloys from poor aftermarket ones to audi 15" ones. Car is an auto which is probably it's only negative as the box is very lazy but changing the ATF and filter has helped. I thought I would not enjoy driving it but I have been proved wrong it is engaging to drive and the boss approves. Perhaps that's because princess Diana had one?

If you can find one you can fit a hard top for the winter, as yet I've not been able to find one and I have a new set of audi 16" alloys to go on next week which keep the car looking as modern as you can for a model that came out almost 20 years ago.

Enjoy the project.

Paul

 

[Deleted member 11979]

The Audi 80 for me, the Saab is too common, and not a great drive to be fair, unless you can find a classic shape 900 convertible, and they do exist, there was one on Ebay in Braunton for sale that had no bids at £400, it needed a new door and bodywork to a dented rear quarter.

I had an 80 cab when they were current, lovely car, drove like a block of wood but extremely well screwed together and understated looks, got to be a bargain at the moment, plus you can get one with a manual roof which is a good thing on a car of that age.

What about an E36 328i or the like, lovely cars, but lucky to find a standard one nowadays.

 

[Palfrem]

Had lots of Saabs. Best seats ever.

 

[GordonTarling]

Oh, I don't know if a Saab wouldn't be up to much?
Saab 900

Those are the ones which suffer bulkhead cracks. The cracks can be very well hidden and some MOT testers are totally unaware of them. It cost us £1000 to have wifey's SAAB 900 cracks sorted.

 

[Teflonso]

I have a mate with a little garage. A couple of years ago when I pitched up, there was a Saab ragtop on the ramp. Think it was a 900. The owner was having constant problems with the roof mechanism, aparently a well known issue. My chum knew before he looked what the answer was but went throught the motions anyway and even spoke to the main dealer (when they actually existed).

The roof was terminal, because of motors/sensors/alignment and was only going to get worse. A scrap yard replacement was never going to be an option. The advice was to find a mug to sell the car to before the end of the summer. If you are looking at a Swede - choose very carefully!

But whatever you buy, please, please keep it in a garage. My wife's folding tin top has only been out overnight twice in it's entire lifetime. The guy across the cul-de-sac keeps his BMW ragtop on the drive and I've seen it with 2 feet of snow on top for a fortnight. It makes my teeth itch, just to look at it when the temperature drops below freezing.

Personally, I'd think about a TVR. Manual roof, leaked like a sieve straight out of the factory, cheap as chips to buy, Rover and Ford bits, good summer fun, ideal for spending the entire winter fixing the problems that turn up on the handful of sunny days you'll take it out. You can't go wrong.

.

 

[lxi]

Saab bulkheads split so if you go this route choose with care, there is a mod to prevent this happening. Audi 80 solid car but looks dated now. For £750 you will probably pick up a .

I think that's only on the 9-3 models & as the OP was talking 900 he's probably safe

 

[GordonTarling]

I think that's only on the 9-3 models & as the OP was talking 900 he's probably safe

My post #13 refers.

 

[flango]

I think that's only on the 9-3 models & as the OP was talking 900 he's probably safe

No the 900's cracked badly and Saab carried the design fault into the 9-3 gen 1 and 2.

 

[isleaiw]

Volvo C70 (mk 1 - canvas roof). well made and last well, not the last word in driving enjoyment buit decent space, well kitted and look good with the rood down in the right spec?

and seats nearly as good / better than a SAABs....

Ian

 

[Deleted member 26392]

Thanks guys. Im steering towards an audi although have seen an tidy g reg 1990 saab 900 which I like. Im not keen on the newer saabs or newer cars so its got to be between an f reg and k reg to keep things simple... infact the older the better!

 

[Deleted member 26392]

Update: went to see a couple audis snd saabs but both reminded me why I love my 300ce.

I decided I needed a proper project which I could ger my hands into (literally)

So, bought a 1972 beetle with one previous owner. Needs mega work as its been in storage and not been on the road since 1995 - oh and its still german!

Can anyone recommend a decent welder a novice like me should buy? Happy to spend about £400 as I hear a better welder is a good investment instead of the cheap ones.

What's everyone's views?