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fresh
21-05-2017, 10:28
So I have a choice of two cars... A williams two that needs work and will be an ongoing project. Or a three that is almost perfect. Stuck what is best to do?

Kris2012
21-05-2017, 10:38
What are the prices?

fresh
21-05-2017, 10:51
4k and 7.5k

Kris2012
21-05-2017, 10:55
I think you can lose £3.5k very quickly in parts and labour if you're not doing the work yourself.

If it's genuinely almost perfect then I'd go for that one, but I'd still check when all the big consumables were last done as replacement parts are either expensive or unavailable nowadays.

fresh
21-05-2017, 11:05
I know... Its the bits I can't see worry me

northy
22-05-2017, 15:09
whats the mileages?

fresh
22-05-2017, 16:30
whats the mileages?


3 = 100,300
2 = 116,000

Ayli Carper
22-05-2017, 17:02
I know... Its the bits I can't see worry me

Which goes as much for the three as it does for the 2, by the way, if not more so given the higher price!

mrodz
22-05-2017, 17:49
After 1.5 years of an ongoing resto on #0366 I strongly recommend buying the better car. In my case it's not only been a matter of parts availability (and the hours spent sourcing the harder to get ones), but making sure everything is done to the required standard and as per your expectations. Unless you have a trusted mechanic and bodywork specialist (presume it's going to require at least some bodywork), it can be very frustrating not having things done to your liking. Save yourself not only the money, but also the time and nerves of a resto job, unless you actually want the challenge or have been through it before and know what it entails.

fresh
22-05-2017, 19:44
Cheers for the advice guy's

PhilW
22-05-2017, 20:09
I agree with MRODS totally, sounds like we are at a similar point in our restorations. Its always easier and cheaper to buy something that is in great condition than make something good again.
I would certainly caution about cars being in perfect condition, since there is plenty that you cant see unless you have a four post lift and someone who is prepared to let you have a really good look around.
Paying someone to restore a car (unless its an expensive collectors car) is not cost effective in my opinion as one you start you will have to decide what you can afford to do and therefore where you have to stop.

One of the benefits of restoring a car in my opinion is that you know that everything has been done correctly and has not been covered up. There will be some honest sellers out there, but in the used car market, there are plenty of rogues tarting up old nails.

buy the best you can afford and get out and drive it whilst the weather is nice 😎

Ayli Carper
22-05-2017, 21:10
buy the best you can afford and get out and drive it whilst the weather is nice [/QUOTE]

This is the best advice you will receive! They all drive at the same speed and handle the same way when they're in a garage being repaired.

PhilW
22-05-2017, 21:21
buy the best you can afford and get out and drive it whilst the weather is nice 

This is the best advice you will receive! They all drive at the same speed and handle the same way when they're in a garage being repaired.[/QUOTE]

I've never been quoted before Ayli - Proud moment 👊🏻

Ayli Carper
23-05-2017, 18:49
This is the best advice you will receive! They all drive at the same speed and handle the same way when they're in a garage being repaired.

I've never been quoted before Ayli - Proud moment [/QUOTE]

Shame it didn't appear properly in the blue box Phil I hope this one does.

You should be proud for what you've done for your car and contributed to this forum. It is appreciated, as was your comment, with MRODS' one, for both of them being heartfelt. I couldn't contemplate what you've both done. The cost is enormous (I'm mainly thinking of the psychological toll here). To do to a car what you've done to yours must be north of £20k if you'd asked a pro to do it, and you'd never have the satisfaction let alone the assurance that you KNOW it's been done well, that you would never have if someone else, however qualified, however much you paid them and the photos they took, had done it for you.

I was at Mark Fish's garage today looking up at my engine-less car, heart in mouth, petrified of what the final bill will be, and thanking my lucky stars. He might tell everyone that their car is a lot better than others' ones, but it does seem all right. He also said that most Renault 5s he sees are way better than Clios.

Which is why this post does worry me. A 3 in near mint condition for 7.5k is an absolute bargain, IF it is what it says. It may be presented in good faith, but hide a nightmare. And an ongoing project 2 which LOOKS ropy may in fact just reflect an honest deterioration of a fundamentally sound, original car, that is actually quite easy to fix.

I'm sorry if that confuses things but these are old cars that have generally been through many hands and you have to tread with care with anything and only purchase on condition. My car has done 125k miles, had periods off the road (ALWAYS be suspicious of this, MOT history check on DVLA goes back to 2006 and you don't need a V5C number to check it now), been sold for £100 at one point, all the dodgy signs, and yet it is fundamentally sound. Through no competence of its owner when purchasing it I must say, I just thought the seats were comfortable.

Good luck and please put up some pictures as soon as possible.

fresh
24-05-2017, 23:13
So saw the three. Not in 100% condition. arches have been done before and not a brilliant job but easily sorted. Also aftermarket bits can be removed like the stereo. Loads of history like mot's and had the cambelt done. Only downside is a small gap in the service history

PhilW
25-05-2017, 14:01
So saw the three. Not in 100% condition. arches have been done before and not a brilliant job but easily sorted. Also aftermarket bits can be removed like the stereo. Loads of history like mot's and had the cambelt done. Only downside is a small gap in the service history

I wouldnt worry about a gap in the service history! buy on condition. If mechanically its good, a gap in the history is no problem, after all its an old car now.
Mechanicals are pretty easy to sort out, the bodywork is not, concentrate on that. If the rear arches have been "done" but not to a high standard, then check out the following
Rear jacking points, rear axle mounting area, rear chassis legs, front jacking points, sills, bottome of the front chassis legs either side of the engine and the area where the bulkhead joins the bottom of the windscreen - these are the main areas and the car can hide some of it well.

just bear in mind, if it has rusted where you can see, it will certainly have rusted where you cant!
Good luck

fresh
25-05-2017, 14:36
From what i could see it all was very sound time will tell......it gets delivered tomorrow....

PhilW
25-05-2017, 18:48
Very good, have fun in the ☀️

fresh
25-05-2017, 19:19
Few jobs on the list to do sure it will grow