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Posted By : Michael Charlton, 16-Apr-2003,
02:30pm
I use mine nearly every day.
Open or soft top from March to November and fit my hard top for winter.
I have a Mk 3 currently insured for 5k miles ,with Hill Hous Hammond but tranferring to Footman Jame for unlimited mile come May (circa
£110.00)
Mike( see International Spitfire Data Base website for mine )
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Posted By : Andrew Evans, 16-Apr-2003,
03:21pm
I bought my car for £800 (Spit Mk IV) and after a few replacement bits (alternator, coil, starter) now use it every day at about 5000
miles a year. Get a hardtop for winter though.
Next time I'd try and spend as much as I could afford on a Triumph 'cos it's probably cost me (???) -loads making mine looking/working nicely!! I
bought mine as a novice, and soon learnt all about cars by asking people questions when things went wrong - you'll find that there's a lot of helpful
folk in these here parts.
In hindsight, I'd now get a "buying your car" booklet/book from the club, 'cos thinking about it, it was just plain old luck that I didn't end up with
a banger. I bought one with little rust and nice alloys but was a non runner, so the fact that the diff, engine and gearbox etc were fine was pure
fluke. Something I'd not repeat. Anyway, insurance wise I looked at loads of companies and ended up with Footman James for unlimited mileage and
£110 a year. May cost a little more if you off road park.
Good luck!!
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Posted By : David Balfour, 16-Apr-2003,
06:17pm
I was looking to do a similar sort of thing, although I have a drive to keep mine in (I could get a space in the garage if it wasn't for my dad's
Stag).
I bought the best one I could find for the money I had (£3500) and so far, all seems to be going well as regards the every day car usage.
I bought it about a month ago, and have been doing 20 miles a day. It did come with a hard top, which I was told is essential for winter use, and I've
bought it a cover.
I too was told by most insurance companies that I was not eligible for classic car policies because I was either too young (20) or because I had no
other car. A guy at work suggested buying and insuring an old Fiat Panda to get round this, then never use it. I got the best quite from Peart
Associates (£500 pa), Lancaster and Footman James were also reasonable.
I spoke to many people who used their Spitfires as everyday cars and all said that, given the required servicing at the recommended intervals, all had
been reliable and fun to use every day - hence I bought mine and not another Volvo. That said, I've only had it a month, and I suppose the chances are
high I will not make it to work tomorrow having sung its praises here tonight.....
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Posted By : Matthew Fox, 17-Apr-2003,
09:10am
you have now got concerned .... did you make it to work today ?
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Posted By : David Balfour, 17-Apr-2003,
08:02pm
Yes thanks, and back too!
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Posted By : Steven Crawford, 16-Apr-2003,
07:50pm
Hi, Bought a pretty good 1500(81) for £2650 with few bubbles round the usual places used it every day (for about 6months) doing about
300+miles a week, just did routine stuff when got it - all plugs leads coil etc... and was ready to drive over to Hungary few months later for the
grand prix(08/02) until some *%$* decided they wanted it. Insurance wise, i used Peter Best £120 on 10k miles (garaged l'pool city centre)
also have GT6's with them currently
Go for it!....they are easy to work on and cheap to run, and most of all FUN
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Posted By : John Tabor, 17-Apr-2003,
02:14pm
Elliot,
from my experience I'd recommend 2 things for a daily runner:
1) avoid cars with poor repairs to the floors/inner wheelarches that aren't properly done and therefore don't look waterproof. The prev. owner of mine
had arc-welded some plates in that let water in around the gaps and caused more rust than they cured. They have now been mig-welded and are nice and
waterproof.
2) check that any rust proofing/underseal has been applied properly, not just sprayed onto flaky paint (It'll trap water behind).
For insurance (being only 23) Footman James wanted to relieve me of £800. I've used AON RISK and they wanted just £230 for
unlimited mileage, fully comp, driveway parked for my MKIII.
Good luck, and above all - enjoy!
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Posted By : Graham Brunton, 17-Apr-2003,
04:41pm
I bought a tidy 1980 1500 for £2700 and used it as an everyday car for over two and a half years and it never let me down (after a few
initial overheating problems were rectified).
i have now begun restoring the car because running it in all weathers has done the body work no good at all. when its finished it will probably be
returned to everyday use in the summer, but definately will not get used for the months when theres salt on the roads.
i am 26 yrs old, full no claims but don't have a garage or drive. i got insured through Lancaster for £160, fully comp, unlimited mileage
inc. RAC cover. couldn't complain about that.
Cheers,
G.
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Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 17-Apr-2003,
10:57pm
I just helped a friend get her first car - Spitfire MKIV - she is 25, has no previous ownership or insurance and Footman James have her on
£130, unlimited mileage, parked on road and she lives in Twickenham.
Can't go wrong - can you?
Includes Breakdown and Legal stuff of course.
NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net