![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Been doing a lot of searching and reading - but need to pick a few brains if you dont mind
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Thinking of buying my 1st 480 soon.... I drive a V40 bi-fuel daily and love it to bits - but have admired the 480 for many years. I owned a couple of old TR7s not so long ago - a 2.0 litre and then a 240hp 3.9 V8 which was fun
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/laugh.gif)
I've since been enjoying a full blown mid life crisis since - on my 4th bike in 3 years. Just got a 2004 Kawasaki Z750 a couple of months ago which is a hoot - but I've promised myself (and the missus) that I'll stop soon. It only takes 1 mistake to have some big consequences - and I have a wee 2 yr old to think about.
.. which brings me to the 480!
When I sell the bike, I'll bank a bit and spend a bit. My 480 budget will be £1k max. I want a model/variant that will be reliable and cheap to maintain. Not worried about fuel consumption - but if I can get a 15+ yr old, I'm hoping/assuming that I'll get a classic policy on it.
My initial thoughts are that I'd enjoy a turbo... but would a 2.0 be a safer proposition for me? I dont want big bills... 2 months after spending over £5k buying my TR7V8, the fuel tank perforated and ended up costing me a fortune to replace - so I dont want to repeat that. I swore I wouldnt buy an old car again, and having 4 utterly reliable Jap bikes has been a maintenance free experience. Overall, am I in for a headache?
I'm in Northern Ireland - and rarely see a 480 so expect that a trip on the Belfast-Stranraer ferry may be the way to go... I have family round Edinburgh and Fife. Anyone selling up a nice clean example before the end of the year?
John