Z3 Donor Cars - Page 3

Lucky@LeMans · #41 20th January 2016, 22:55

Have you checked out the donor cars of choice from 25 years ago, ie the Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts. Even the Cortina's Mk3 , 4 and 5 are now highly priced / prized collectors cars !

Mister Towed · #42 21st January 2016, 06:28

Nice Alpina, but the 3.0 CS was an expensive and desirable car even when it was new. The list price in the U.S. for 1974 was almost $12,000 which was about £6k at the time. With the Alpina premium plus purchase tax, special car tax etc., it wouldn't surprise me if the UK price was around eight or nine grand.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/s...=3&nm=3.0%20CS

You could buy a nice house in London for eight grand or three nice houses in the countryside for nine grand back in '74. I'm a country bumpkin so I don't know these things, but can you buy a nice house in London today for £120,000?

Lucky@LeMans · #43 21st January 2016, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

Nice Alpina, but the 3.0 CS was an expensive and desirable car even when it was new. The list price in the U.S. for 1974 was almost $12,000 which was about £6k at the time. With the Alpina premium plus purchase tax, special car tax etc., it wouldn't surprise me if the UK price was around eight or nine grand.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/s...=3&nm=3.0%20CS

You could buy a nice house in London for eight grand or three nice houses in the countryside for nine grand back in '74. I'm a country bumpkin so I don't know these things, but can you buy a nice house in London today for £120,000?

No , but you can buy a big detached house with a couple of acres in France for that sort of money. Looking to buy in the south west of France in next couple of years with a similar budget!

Nubodi Automotive · #44 21st January 2016, 13:57

I would advise against it! It may seen cheap in the beginning.
1/ The french do not like the english. Its a generalisation but its hard to make friends
2/ You can only keep UK registered cars for 6 months. If you are caught after that at tolls and road blocks which are common they with fine you on the spot and impound the car, never to be seen again.
3/ You cant get any good car parts there and the post is atrocious.
4/ Any tradesmen who knows you are English will double the cost of their services.
5/ You won't get a customised car registered in France.
6/ The schooling is crap if you have kids
7/ Cars shows are minimal and rubbish.
8/ You spend most of your time and money coming back to the UK regularly.
9/ Internet is crap, slow and expensive.
10/ Power supply in rurals is temperamental.
I could go on but it brings back too many bad memories.
You get the idea
I'm going to Wales, at least its closer to England

Roadster · #45 21st January 2016, 16:59

I would advise against it! It may seen cheap in the beginning.
1/ The Welsh do not like the english. Its a generalisation but its hard to make friends

4/ Any tradesmen who knows you are English will double the cost of their services.

6/ The schooling is crap if you have kids
7/ Cars shows are minimal and rubbish.
8/ You spend most of your time and money coming back to the UK regularly.
9/ Internet is crap, slow and expensive.
10/ Power supply in rurals is temperamental.
I could go on but it brings back too many bad memories.
You get the idea

Lucky@LeMans · #46 21st January 2016, 17:34

I see what you did there Roadster !

I've been so many times , every time I go it gets better ! Rural France is stunning , the people are great , you can live like a king. I wouldn't like to live in or near a big city , same problems as over here. There are many parts of the UK I wouldn't like to live , I'm lucky here in rural Worcestershire !

WorldClassAccident · #47 21st January 2016, 17:44

I reasonable seriously looked into moving to France down near Perpignan a few years back.

+ Bigger house with lots of space
- there are only 2 of us so don't need the big house and space is great if you have use for it. See later points

+ Lots of interesting old farm machinery and always the hope of a 'barn find'
- What do you actually do with old, knackered farm machinery and 'barn finds' in the UK are probably better finds

+ The rural relaxed life style
- Nothing to do and no-one interested in doing it

+ Get away from it all
- Need to commute further/flights to work to pay for it

etc, etc etc

Nubodi Automotive · #48 21st January 2016, 17:54

That's the mistake I made..a holiday destination is not the same as living there.
Went there on holiday to France many years running and loved it
The reality of living there is not so rosy
I live in a farm in rural Berkshire, and love it but its very expensive.

After all I don't care if you still want to go there, its not for me, that's all I'm saying.
Moving to South Wales is very cheap, same distance to most car shows (no ferry crossing) kids are all grown up, my best friend lives there. You can get grants to start a business and cheap premises, they speak the same language (sort of), beautiful scenery, etc Its perfect for me but not everyone.

WorldClassAccident · #49 21st January 2016, 17:57

Before you go to Wales I need to get my bonnets up to you for painting. Did you get my email?

Dry January has saved enough now to pay for the work so when you have a gap can you prep and paint the bonnets as discussed?

Nubodi Automotive · #50 21st January 2016, 18:05

Not moving in the next year, don't worry.
Bring the first one up anytime its convenient for you
You know I work every day..all day

Mister Towed · #51 21st January 2016, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

Before you go to Wales I need to get my bonnets up to you for painting. Did you get my email?

Dry January has saved enough now to pay for the work...

Jesus, how much were you drinking?

Loved Roadster's post turning the whole 'living in Wales' thing around btw, it really tickled me having lived there.

Lucky@LeMans · #52 21st January 2016, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

I reasonable seriously looked into moving to France down near Perpignan a few years back.

+ Bigger house with lots of space
- there are only 2 of us so don't need the big house and space is great if you have use for it. See later points

+ Lots of interesting old farm machinery and always the hope of a 'barn find'
- What do you actually do with old, knackered farm machinery and 'barn finds' in the UK are probably better finds

+ The rural relaxed life style
- Nothing to do and no-one interested in doing it

+ Get away from it all
- Need to commute further/flights to work to pay for it

etc, etc etc

We hope to strike the right balance. House with a couple of acres. Start small campsite business / gite. Within a few miles of a touristy town. Out of the rat race and away from rip off Britain!

landmannnn · #53 21st January 2016, 19:32

Having a house there I would say..

1/ The french do not like the english. Its a generalisation but its hard to make friends.
I find that outside of the big towns they are friendly enough
2/ You can only keep UK registered cars for 6 months. If you are caught after that at tolls and road blocks which are common they with fine you on the spot and impound the car, never to be seen again.
Maybe, but I know plenty of people who have UK registered cars and have kept them there for years
3/ You cant get any good car parts there and the post is atrocious.
absolutely
4/ Any tradesmen who knows you are English will double the cost of their services.
probably treble the price, but crack out a few bottles and make them lunch and the price drops
5/ You won't get a customised car registered in France.
6/ The schooling is crap if you have kids
no worse than the UK
7/ Cars shows are minimal and rubbish.
they aren't as good as that
8/ You spend most of your time and money coming back to the UK regularly.
if you want to
9/ Internet is crap, slow and expensive.
true
10/ Power supply in rurals is temperamental.
you could go for days without a power cut

The upside, there is an old 4 bedroom house up the road from me with 17 acres and a couple of barns for €20k, £200k can get you a chateau

IanA · #54 21st January 2016, 20:35

7/ Cars shows are minimal and rubbish???

Retromobile !!!

Lucky@LeMans · #55 21st January 2016, 20:42

LeMans Classic is worth a look ! Got to be the best 5 day classic / retro / custom / yank / super car / vintage etc etc show in Europe if not the World.

I might be a bit bias

Danny_HUFC · #56 22nd January 2016, 05:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nubodi Automotive

The dash of the Z4 is a problem also, far too modern. I believe Porsche Boxsters will be the next donors, prices are dropping like a stone. I'm not saying I like them, just a prediction.

Modern is good for what I need.....

Danny_HUFC · #57 22nd January 2016, 05:52

Might i sugest a move to spain and not france....

1/ The Spanish like the english, i have lots of Spanish friends.
2/ You can keep UK registered cars here for as long as you want, the police dont mind as long as its tax tested and mot'd.
3/ You can get any good car parts there and with the vast amount of people doing trips from uk to spain, delivery on big parts is quite cheap. €100 per cubic meter.
4/ Any tradesmen who knows you are English will double the cost of their services if you ask an english trademen. (Shocking but true) - im renovating a villa and have Ukrainian wokers. €60 a day 8am - 6pm and the are goor workers!
5/ I have personalised registrations on 3 cars I have here in Spain
6/ The schooling is some schools is on par with the UK and both my kids are now fluent in Spanish so thats a bonus?
7/ Cars shows are not too bad (1st sunday of every month about 2 mins drive from where I live)
8/ You spend most of your time and money coming back to the UK regularly. And why not? Ryan air flights from as cheap as £19, it would be rude not too
9/ Internet is fine, i have fibre optic, unlimited for €35 a month
10/ Power supply constant and never had a problem.

Danny_HUFC · #58 22nd January 2016, 06:00

Just as a 'brucey bonus' i think i should add that my local pub is €2 a pint and €1.50 a pint on 'happy hour' wich lasts 3 hours every day..... Was the most important factor when I decided to move

Mister Towed · #59 22nd January 2016, 06:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny_HUFC

...Im sure most of you know a mate who can mot a car without the car being there...

Don't worry, back here the Home Secretary's working on ways of tackling crime without the police being there...

Roadster · #60 22nd January 2016, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

Don't worry, back here the Home Secretary's working on ways of tackling crime without the police being there...

I think they should tackle crime where the police are present first.

Its no coincidence that there are police waiting outside the houses of Parliament and Downing street They know where the criminals are.