buyer s guide
Once you know what you want, do some research and take your time to ensure that your dream car doesn’t turn into a nightmare
YOU’VE saved some money, found a bit of space in your garage and finally reached an age where insurance isn’t a big issue. Now is the time to treat yourself to that car you always wanted when you were younger. We’re not necessarily talking about Jaguar E-Types or priceless Ferraris; instead we are going to take a closer look at the emerging classics that cost less than £10,000, will be fun to own, and might even prove to be a bit of an investment.
Before you take the leap, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. And don’t hurry; research will save you a lot of heartache – and money – in the long run.
The best place to start is by reading buying guides online, and asking for advice on forums. It’s also worth trying to visit a few car shows and chat to owners about their cars. If you can’t make it to any shows, try speaking to owners in car parks and petrol stations; most will be enthusiasts and will love talking about their pride and joy.
You can also learn a lot from reading adverts. Online listings have no limit to the number of words an owner can post, so many people will go into great detail, describing the common bad points for the model and whether they’ve been fixed on the one that they’re selling.
While you are browsing the adverts, type the registration numbers of the cars you have spotted into the government’s free MoT history check (www.gov.uk/check-mot-history).
This online tool will give you an idea of how well that specific car has been maintained, but you can also get a feel for any frequent faults on the model.
If you are confident enough after all that research, then go to view cars with your eyes open. Don’t be fobbed off with phrases like: “Will easily pass MoT” or “Simple fix, parts just £20 on eBay”. There will usually be a reason why the owner hasn’t done the job themselves.
If you’re not confident inspecting a car on your own, take an expert to a viewing. Ask on forums and see if someone who knows the cars well will come with you. A specialist mechanic will only charge you for labour time, while an enthusiast might do it for the price of a pint.
Once you have your car, you need to get it legal. Road tax on pre-2001 cars isn’t emissions-based, so you’ll pay just £160 if it’s under 1,549cc, and £265 if it has a larger motor. That could be quite a saving over newer cars with big engines.
Don’t forget that you can also declare a car off the road – or SORN – and claim back the vehicle excise duty (VED) for unused months. That will be worthwhile if you know the car won’t be used for the winter months or needs repairing.
Insurance premiums could also turn out to be cheaper than you expect. Most dedicated ‘classic’ policies start when the cars are 20 years old, but younger models could also be covered on a specialist policy if they are your second car and not used for commuting or business.
Andrew Evanson from classic car insurance specialist Lancaster says: “My advice is to talk to a broker. An online comparison tool won’t recognise a classic. For these policies, we need to build up a profile of the person, not the car. If someone is obviously an enthusiast who uses their car for pleasure, then insurers like it.”
Having a garage isn’t essential for insurance, but it helps, and it will keep your new pride and joy in good condition, so long as it is leak-free and secure. If you don’t have a garage, consider a car cover, but be careful, because many cheaper ones can cause damage to the paint by trapping moisture. Auto Express has a list of its preferred choices online.
A garage will also give you somewhere to work on the car, if you fancy a bit of DIY. Workshop manuals, online videos and step-by-step instructions on forums will help you complete most common tasks, and parts needn’t be expensive either. Bits for ‘modern classics’ are mostly available either from cars set to be scrapped, or even from franchised dealers who want to clear out old stock. Many aftermarket makers provide non-original spare parts, too.
But the best way to keep your classic in good condition is to drive it and enjoy it. Keeping a car well exercised will ensure the mechanical parts don’t seize, the battery is charged and the interior well ventilated. It will also remind you why you bought it in the first place and let other enthusiasts see and enjoy your modern classic.
The best way to keep your classic in good condition is to drive it and enjoy it