There is always "Talk Morgan" look what we did for Matthew! Aren't you glad you listened to us Matt?
Too right Camelman ! I got invaluable advice from all, but particularly cerealsurfer, and it managed to stop me using my heart instead of my head. I saw mostly average cars, one that looked great initially, but on closer inspection was quite bad, a few good ones that were just too much for my budget (which was at the bottom end of low !). But all this helped me become more experienced in the subject and hence able to tell the difference between a car that was right in all the important areas, even if it needed a little bit of work to bring it completely up to scratch, from one that looked good on the surface, but was rotten underneath.
In the end though, sometimes fate lends a hand, as I think I've been really lucky to find an older car that fitted my budget, but was actually in way better condition than the money I paid for it should have bought. It also didn't take me years to find it - 5 months was long enough though !
I have always preferred my motors to look a little 'used' (both my Ducati's were certainly not concours condition!) as it gives the car some character and I'm then not afraid to drive it for fear of spoiling it.
My advice would be to not worry about cosmetics too much, just concentrate on the basics (chassis, wood frame, overall mechanics) and then enjoy doing her up over time at the same time as putting as many miles under the wheels as possible.
Good luck !
Matthew
