Welcome to the list!
They can certainly be driven in the snow, and many were when they were new.
You can easily find M&S rated tires. Mine are Coopers. Keep in mind that you
are a very small, vulnerable target for the big SUVs that are so dangerous in
snow.
Of course, it is difficult to tell what a car is worth by a description on a
web site. The car COULD be worth $3600. You have to drive it and listen for
expensive noises. Does it shift smoothly? How do the brakes feel? Bounce
the corners to see if the shox are working. Look at the shox to see if they
are
leaking. Jack up the front and pull on the top of each tire to see if there
is play in the king pins. Is the steering box tight?
Most people ask more than they are willing to take for a car. If everything
looks good, offer him $2500 and settle on $3000. If stuff is not as good as
the description, list your concerns and offer him less, or just walk away.
Rust is always the prime enemy of a classic car. Check how the doors fit.
Open the doors and lift the end to see if there is play at the hinges. Do the
hinges pull away from the fenders? A very bad sign!! Check the body with a
magnet for areas fixed with Bondo, especially the rocker panels under the
doors.
Keep in mind that SOMEONE on this list who has fixed ANYTHING that can be
wrong with that car, so you will get the experience you need right here!
Good luck,
Allen Hefner
Phila. Region SCCA Rally Steward
'77 MG Midget (#51 FSP)
'75 MG Midget (The Project)
'99 Ford Contour SE Sport (24v V6)
- - - - - - - - - - -
In a message dated 6/3/03 9:35:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, rife@msu.edu
writes:
> Does anyone drive these cars in the snow? If fitted with snow tires
> would they do decently? I live in Michigan, and my commute is barely 3
> miles, and I would like to use the car year round. Am I crazy? A hard
> top would be a plus, I am sure- are they difficult to come by?
>
> The car I am looking at can be seen with the sellers description at
> <http://www.msu.edu/~rife/mg/mg.html> They are asking $3600, does this
> seem reasonable based on the description and admittedly small pics? I
> would, of course, try and get the car inspected by someone more
> knowledgeable than myself before parting with any of my hard earned
> cash. I haven't yet seen it in person, as I just came across it
> recently.
>
> Other than rust, any mechanical issues I need to be paying special
> attention to?
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