Advice from fellow Sax-P'ers

[-Dan-]

Right basically I'm in another car dilemma.

I've got a 1.1, that I've had since it was my first car (back in December 2007).

It's quite low mileage (about 60,000) and I got it VT-Kitted.

Now I want something a bit faster though. I still want a Saxo and Ideally I want a VTS, but I won't be able to afford the Insurance until December.

I've also been looking at VTR's with the view to doing a VTS Conversion next year (as I'm taking a gap year, and planning on a fairly large scale project for my car)

Should I:

a) Sell mine, and buy a VTR now, then drop an S lump in it once I get my 2nd year NCB

Positives


Better Base to work from (suspension etc)
Faster Car for now, be good to have that 'new car' feel
Works out cheaper in the long run.


Negatives


Might not be as good condition as my current car
Insurance will be a bit more expensive
Engine will be changed to a VTS Engine anyway once I have my 2 years NCB so It seems a bit pointless.


b) Keep this car as the base, then drop an S lump in it once I get my 2nd year NCB

Positives

Car is good condition, know the chassis of the car, and that it isn't a bad egg.
Quite a rare colour, although considering a respray anyway at some point during the project



Negatives

Have to spend more on forking out for upgraded parts (VT Engine Mount, Rear Disc beam, Radiator setup etc)
Have to drive around in a slow car until december! :homme:
It's never actually going to be a 'VTR' or a 'VTS' it will always be on my mind as an imitation car.


c) Wait until December with this car, then buy a VTS

Positives


Works out cheapest by far
Car will actually be a VTS not a copy
I become Sax-P royalty :p


Negatives


Won't be any sense of achievement compared to 'building' the car
Means I'll still have to drive around in a slow car until December
Hard to find decent low mileage VTS's around these days that haven't been ragged.


So basically I'm stuck on where to go, I want the VTR, but that's just because I'm a big kid and want something faster. Wondering what peoples advice on here would be.

[Darlo-paul]

Keep the 1.1 till you can afford the VTS?
It makes sense lol.

[-Dan-]

That was going to be option C... lol.

[Rob-6]

id keep the 1.1 till u can afford to put a vts lump in it. will be much more satisfying than just buyin a vts plus u will no every inch of the car

[Tony]

What are you doing in your gap year?

Buying a VTS in the first place will probably make it easier to sell on and less hassle if a conversion goes wrong.

Have you got insurance quotes for saxos with engine conversions?

[-Dan-]

What are you doing in your gap year?

Buying a VTS in the first place will probably make it easier to sell on and less hassle if a conversion goes wrong.

Have you got insurance quotes for saxos with engine conversions?

I'll be working full time at Sainsburys, with no outgoings other than the car, so money won't be an issue. Looking to get a far better knowledge of my car while I haven't got to worry about getting to college etc (as work is only 10 mins I can walk if necessary).

I got a quote from Adrian Flux, and on the 1.1 with an S lump it works out at £689 with 2 years NCB at 19. On a VTS it works out at about £800, so insurance is actually cheaper.

[-Dan-]

id keep the 1.1 till u can afford to put a vts lump in it. will be much more satisfying than just buyin a vts plus u will no every inch of the car

This is one of the things. I just don't want to buy a car then have to fork out money on repairing it, when *touch wood* this car has had nothing go wrong in almost 2 years.

[dannyboy2005]

Keep the 1.1 untill you an afford the VTS ?

[one_nation04]

i think the best thing at the end, would be to do the conversion on what youve got because as you said, you know the car etc, and will be a bit more of an chievement at the end of it(if you planning to do it all yourself) but then again, it wilkl be alot more work, so i would probably say go for the R, then you have a quickish car with cheap-ish insurance etc, then S conversion when you can afford :y:

[Tony]

So why are you taking a gap year?

I'd go travelling or do something more interesting. It will look better to future employers and on your CV.

[dannyboy2005]

So why are you taking a gap year?

I'd go travelling or do something more interesting. It will look better to future employers and on your CV.

:hijack:

How have you got 113BHP VTR? What mods

[RichM]

I think option C will be by far the best option imo.

[Tony]

:hijack:

How have you got 113BHP VTR? What mods

GMC manifold, full Magnex, Green enclosed.

[dannyboy2005]

GMC manifold, full Magnex, Green enclosed.

Wow, never had thought such things like that would give so much more BHP

I'd rather stick my "+15 BHP" chip back into my car. Far cheaper lol.

[J222JRA]

the main thing in my opinion to look for with a car is a good body / chassis. so if your car is a minter keep that, swap the axle when you can so you got disc brakes, upgrade front breaks and eventually swap the engine for the s lump

[Tony]

Wow, never had thought such things like that would give so much more BHP

I'd rather stick my "+15 BHP" chip back into my car. Far cheaper lol.

Which shows you how different we are and that makes me happy.

[LeeM]

there is no point at all in buying a vtr to put a vts engine in, either buy a vts or put a vts engine in yours. if it was me i'd go with the latter as its more fun and satisfying

[dannyboy2005]

Which shows you how different we are and that makes me happy.

lol

I wasn't happy. The car wouldn't even start with it in. Took 50 minutes to fit when it said on the packet "Simple to fit with in 5 minutes"

Ach had to get long nose plyers to fit it.

[lukowski14]

i'd also say option C mate

[LeeM]

i dont see option c being the cheapest personally, how much is your car worth?

[-Dan-]

i dont see option c being the cheapest personally, how much is your car worth?

£1200-1600ish depending on who buys it etc

there is no point at all in buying a vtr to put a vts engine in, either buy a vts or put a vts engine in yours. if it was me i'd go with the latter as its more fun and satisfying

But with the VTR I wouldn't mind driving it around until I can sort out absolutely everything, and get the conversion done properly, plus it's nicer to drive, and just as cheap to run.

the main thing in my opinion to look for with a car is a good body / chassis. so if your car is a minter keep that, swap the axle when you can so you got disc brakes, upgrade front breaks and eventually swap the engine for the s lump

This is just it. I CAN get a VTR for roughly the amount I sell mine for (maybe a tad more) but it won't be as good condition etc.

Keep the ideas coming guys.

PS. If a mod reads, would you mind adding a poll for all the options please?

[LeeM]

id start getting all the bits the do an s conversion to yours because it looks really nice. get an engine and start cleaning it up and changing things like belts and clutch, maybe tune it a bit with a new manifold and inductionm so the engine is ready to go in, then get your radiator, fan, hoses and fuel lines and stuff then all you need to do is upgrade your brakes, by the time thats done you'll be ready to put it in

[-Dan-]

id start getting all the bits the do an s conversion to yours because it looks really nice. get an engine and start cleaning it up and changing things like belts and clutch, maybe tune it a bit with a new manifold and inductionm so the engine is ready to go in, then get your radiator, fan, hoses and fuel lines and stuff then all you need to do is upgrade your brakes, by the time thats done you'll be ready to put it in

Yeah I've been fairly certain this is what I was going to do initially, but lately just been seeing a lot of cheap VTR's around, but like you say, seems a bit pointless to buy one, then take the engine out anyway.