Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Cheapest Open Top Sports Car Fun?

I know this isn't an open topped car but I have very fond memories of it so hope you don't mind if I post.

In the early 60s, my father had a Rochdale Olympic ( the Riley 1.5 engined version)
I think he bought it as a kit for between £600-700 and our resident wizard at the local garage assembled it. Tremendous fun. This isn't that actual car but it does, I think, show how pretty some of those cars ( eg Elva Courier, etc.,) were

Personally I would rule out any of the oldies - MGB, TR etc. Driving one of those would simply show you how far things had moved on.

You could go for the MX5 which in many ways is a modern Jap MGB. Personally I would go for one of the Lotus variatns such as the VX 220. This has all the handling of the Lotus with a solid Vauxhall engine. You could try an Early Elise and if someone has sorted the K series out, that would be acceptably reliable too. Both these are true sports cars and would give a level of driving pleasure you simply wont get in most of the alternatives listed so far.

As someone who has suffered a number of these engines, I have severe doubts as to whether this could/can be done with any real degree of success.

Sure, there are partial 'fixes' such as better gaskets, dowels etc but isn't the bottom line quite simply that the design incorporates a water capacity which is too small, waterways which run too close to loads of other things and a heated manifold system which conspires with the two former features to make it an accident waiting to happen ( and I haven't even got to the water pump yet)

I'm happy to be corrected on this but my own personal experiences tell me that, even with very careful attention to details such as AF strength, fluid levels etc, it is a 'pants' engine
G

I find the MX5 uninspiring. An early Elise might be a challenge on the engine front, but would make for a more interesting experience, and is a nice looking car. I didn't like it on release, but it has aged very well (IMO).
The K Series mods now available allegedly improve reliability.

A good friend of mine had an early Elise, the day he collected his new Lotus was the second happiest day of his life, it soon developed a water leak in one the hoses passing through inaccessible chassis box sections....the happiest day came when he waved it goodbye

Maybe that was bad luck.
The Lotus bee is buzzing loud in my ears this week.......
I nearly went to the local dealer on Saturday, but was forbidden.

You had a very lucky escape then!

If you want the same sensation, get yourself the biggest load of old automobile rubbish you can find ( preferably half- finished in a previous life and with 'weight-saving' devices which make it nigh on a death trap) open a can of Evostick and you can live the experience
G

You got something against old cars??


Did that - even in 1.8, bland. The first generation is lightest - not bad, but I wouldn't do it again. Z3, at least in smaller engine sizes - too soft... Boxster - fantastic, but too darn complex, plus excellent luggage capacity if you want to go away for a week or two. I still prefer driving my 'old' Morgan. will not be happy soon, though. Still leaning towards having a 4 seater Mog for times when the 2 seater isn't large enough...


Must investigate these a bit more... Vauxhalls have solid engines?

But, in general, I don't like modern cars - moved on or not, most are very bland and uninteresting (at least in my price bracket ).

Cheers,

LOTUS....Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious.

And it still applies.

I think the biggest problem with the K series was the thermostatic control of coolant, i.e. the thermostat was in the wrong place and cooling flow in the wrong direction, leading to thermal shock to the head region before the engine had properly warmed up...

There's plenty of info out there.

Cheers,