How big is a P5B?

[Deleted]

Hi All,

New to this forum. I currently drive a 1970 MGB GT. I use it every day and cover about 200 miles a week. However an expanding family means I am considering swapping the MG for a more sensible car, and the P5B came to mind! The main problem I have is that my garage is a bit on the small side. Can any one point me in the direction of a site that will give me the dimensions of the car?

My budget will be about £1000 + my MG. So probably £3.5k or there abouts. Any chance of getting A decent runner for that kind of money?(doesn't have to be in great nick, but will need to be reliable).

Thanks for the advice.
Iain

[Deleted]

Scratch the question. I found a site that said it was about 186 inches long. That's about 12 inches longer than my garage!! Looks like I'll need to keep the MG for the time being. Aiming to move house in the new year, so might try and persuade the wife that a longer garage would be a good idea!

Iain

[Phil Nottingham]

Thats wat we did - trouble is one P5 was not enough so the garage had to grow as well

[nealp5b]

I too drive an MGBGT as everday transport (for past 20yrs) and a P5b for weekends or special days it is 15ft 6''long by 5ft 10'' wide - and is a tight squeeze in a standard size garage - The bumper overiders touch the wall one end and the door the other in mine. I don't want to put you off but to use a P5b as everyday transport you would need to remortgage just to fund its drinking habit! - The P5's are superb vehicles and I wish you luck with buying yours - but as a practical everyday car and for sheer driving pleasure I would choose my MG every time!

[Phil Nottingham]

I use a P5 3 litre Auto and a P5B as everday transport and the 3 Litre is by far less econonical but both are cheaper to run overall than buyind a new car

I am glad you like P5's but an MG more practical - it depends on your criteria which are obviously totally opposite to mine!

[nealp5b]

True it does depend on criteria - I am glad you are able to use your Rovers for everyday transport - I am a firm believer in using classics as much as possible. I was just basing my opinion on comparing the fuel bill alone - at least double for 200+ miles per week - or trying to park a P5 in busy cities for instance - a multi-storey car park is quite an adventure when you find they don't have the lock to turn the tight corners sometimes!

[John Stacey]

P5b everyday
We bought out first one in 1975, after realising that chiidren take up space in a car and the traditional little ladies car just is not up to child seats and the supermarket run. To cope with a family the car has to be bigger than an MGB. To do it sensibly it has to be Ford Focus size. Once you realise that, the P5b is very sensible.
No tax (save £150pa) low insurance (save £250pa) no depreciation (save £000s)easy maintenance. Lots of curtosy from other road users which makes driving very restful.
My wife still uses the P5b coupe as her daily car even though the family has now flown the nest simply because it is so easy to use.
John Stacey (Bristol)

[Phil Nottingham]

Its nice to thinks someone agrees with me!

[Geoff Arthur]

I am just fully restoring my third P5B. This one is a saloon to go with 2 coupes and in order to use it much more it will be running on a large LPG tank instead of the original petrol tank giving the equivalent of 35mpg. This will be achieved by the use of an ecu and 2 lambda sensors. I am in the process of pickling it with Dinitrol at the moment as each panel goes back on. I think it will be more than up to everyday use.

[Phil Nottingham]

Well do not forget that the government has pledged to even up the fuel duties between petrol and LPG so you had better hurry up and finish it! I doubt the petrol duty will go down to LPG levels though

[glennr]

I have noticed the LPG prices in my area already rising. Born free, Taxed to Death.