Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

^I need that garage in my life

Been a while since I saw one of those.

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2013/inside-the-coolest-car-collection-youve-never-heard-of/

Hah, I was just looking at that, linked off Turbobricks.

In other news, drove down to my parents at the weekend- the car is now very fast- surges forward in fifth, it's nuts in third, and with the new turbo, raised rev limit and boost increasing with revs it keeps making power rather than choking like it used to.

This is all very nice, but 1) it's over 100 mph at the top of third and 2) it's a bit of a barge.

Now these cars clearly can handle- but then it'd be slammed on the deck, tucking BBS centrelocks on 2 grands worth of coilovers. This, I suspect, would compromise it's ability to get up and down our (steep) drive.

What's small, really light, handles like a dream and will allow fun to be had at low speeds?

EDIT

I must have these wheels:

Pug 106. Light, funny enough so that it doesn't hurt if you get it wrong but also the potential to go quite fast.

Or would you prefer rwd? An old Starlet? Not sure how they handle but plenty of engine options I've heard.

RWD for the next one.

I'm tempted by the idea of a three wheeler- two at the front, one driven wheel at the back.

A Morgan? They've been included in a few car programmes recently. Fifth Gear included it in their comparison thing. It got quite interesting when the inside front wheel started to lift.

Mini!!!

would this be a bit unnecessary for central?

Needs bullhorns for central

True that, learnt about farmer union insurance from mechamorgan today - £250 a year is a pretty good deal me think! Mini might be for sale soon ...

Pug 106. Light, funny enough so that it doesn't hurt if you get it wrong but also the potential to go quite fast.

Or would you prefer rwd? An old Starlet? Not sure how they handle but plenty of engine options I've heard.

+1
I really miss my S1 Rallye. Best fun with 100hp!

Volvo 940:

^Not what I want to do.

Naturally aspirated, rear wheel drive, maximum weight of 1,000kg?

MG Midget if you're thinking retro. Popular in autocross. Getting expensive now though... I sold mine for £2k about six years ago - would seem to be about £3k now.

I'm 187cm- would I fit?

Yeah, you're only a two or three cm taller than me. It's never going to be a comfortable car though - I drove mine from Colchester to Edinburgh and back and was blind, deaf and numb all over.

Merc 190e? 100kg over your weight limit but they're cheap as chips, and reliable so long as they haven't been ragged and neglected.

Merc 190e? 100kg over your weight limit but they're cheap as chips, and reliable so long as they haven't been ragged and neglected.

Mini cab?

MG Midget if you're thinking retro. Popular in autocross. Getting expensive now though... I sold mine for £2k about six years ago - would seem to be about £3k now.

Ah spridgets.

I'd be keeping the Volvo, so something smaller than the 190e would be my preference.

would this be a bit unnecessary for central?

It will be noisy, very noisy....and cold.

A Morgan? They've been included in a few car programmes recently. Fifth Gear included it in their comparison thing. It got quite interesting when the inside front wheel started to lift.

Now that I am in possession of a practical test pass certificate I have been playing the Autotrader shed game. Set a radius of 30 miles, max of £1000 and see what interesting cars come up.

Sadly I have been unable to persuade Bobbinbird that we need this Cadillac:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201203210800098/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/make/cadillac/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/e29hb/quicksearch/true/radius/30/page/1?logcode=p

Do gumtree and I'll kick the tyres for you