I'm currently shopping for a new sportscar, armed with $7K and modest
mechanical abilities. I'll probably be driving the car solo most of
the time, but need to be able to pack in my 3 kids (ages 2, 4, 9) to
run them about town when my wife's Honda is otherwise busy.
Some of these questions may seem rather basic/silly, but please
understand that there are VERY FEW britcars here in Gainesville, FL,
so I can't just go out and look at somebody else's car. My only
britcar experience was with my Mom's TR7 when I was in high school
and with my Spitfire.
MGB/GT - seems ideal conceptually to me. Questions: How much rear
seating room *is* there anyway? Was air conditioning ever available,
or is there an aftermarket product?
Jensen Interceptor - there are a few available roughly in my price
range in Hemmings. I know that it's got an old Chrysler big block.
Can I get a decent specimen for $7K? What are they like to drive?
I don't want a British equivalent of an old Dodge handling-wise.
Lotus Eclat - am I crazy or was this the 2+2 Lotus from the mid-70s?
There are 2 in the June Hemmings, one for $8.5K one for $6K. Would I
be just plain stupid to spend everything buying a Lotus, leaving
little for dealing with its quirks? (devil's advocate here -- but
it's a LOTUS, Eric! Vroom vroom vroom!) How fast is this car
anyway? Whose engine is it? Reliable? Parts expensive as heck?
Somebody stop me!
Jaguar Mark II - no, it's not really a "sports car", but it is
British and has a lovely engine and room for the entire crew. How do
they handle?
I'm also considering a couple of non-British lumps, like Porsche 912,
early Alfa Romeo GTVs, and the Fiat 124 Sports Coupe. Although this
is heresy, any comments or other recommendations?
Thanks for your comments today, and for the couple thousand messages
I've savored over the last 3 years!
Eric
'80 Spitfire, about to receive a well-deserved new ragtop this weekend
=====================================================================
Eric Olson eric@chip.cba.ufl.edu
Dir. Instructional & Research Computing eeco@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
UF College of Business Admin (904) 392-6869x1267
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