The Journal
The Old Bangers Journal
Buying guides, market analysis and honest ownership advice for the affordable, interesting and collectible cars of the 1970s to the 2000s — modern classics, hot hatches, JDM icons and future classics. Every guide is researched properly and checked against real prices, not recycled opinion.
UK Online Car Auction Sites Compared: Collecting Cars, Car & Classic, The Market and eBay
Collecting Cars vs Car & Classic vs The Market by Bonhams vs PistonHeads vs eBay: fees, buyer premiums, escrow, sniping rules and how each actually works — compared fairly.
Read the guide →
Future Classic Hot Hatches: The Ones to Buy Before Everyone Else Notices
Which hot hatches are genuinely appreciating, which have bottomed out, and which are still cheap? The future classics ranked with real market evidence — not recycled opinion.
Read the guide →
Porsche Boxster 986 Buying Guide: IMS Facts, Real Prices and How to Buy a Good One
The honest guide to the Porsche Boxster 986: what IMS risk really means, 2.5 vs 2.7 vs S, manual vs Tiptronic, verified faults and what good 986s cost in 2026.
Read the guide →
The Best JDM Cars You Can Buy in the UK for Under £10,000
The best affordable JDM and Japanese performance cars actually for sale in the UK under £10,000 — with real observed prices, honest buying advice and what to check on each.
Read the guide →
Best Classic Cars Under £5,000 — Verified Against Real Prices
Every car on this list was genuinely for sale under £5,000 when we checked live UK listings in July 2026 — the best cheap classics and modern classics, verified against real prices.
Read the guide →
BMW E39 5 Series Buying Guide: The Best Modern-Classic Saloon You Can Still Afford
The definitive UK guide to buying a BMW E39 5 Series — best engines, verified common problems, Sport vs SE, Touring quirks, and what E39s cost in 2026.
Read the guide →
Honda Civic Type R EP3 Buying Guide: Prices, Problems and What to Look For
Everything you need to buy a good Civic Type R EP3: verified common problems, what they cost in 2026, UK vs JDM imports, best years, and the checks that actually matter.
Read the guide →
MGF and MG TF Buying Guide: Head Gaskets, Real Prices and Britain’s Cheapest Mid-Engined Sports Car
MGF or MG TF? What they really sell for in 2026, whether the head gasket problem is actually solved, VVC vs Trophy 160, Hydragas vs coils, subframe rust and everything to check before you buy.
Read the guide →
Daily Driving a Classic Car: What It Really Costs and the Best Cars to Do It In
Can you really use a classic every day? The honest costs, the insurance trap that can invalidate your cover, and eight classics that genuinely cope with modern traffic.
Read the guide →
When Does a Car Become Tax Exempt in the UK? The 40-Year Rule Explained
The 40-year rule in plain English: which build years qualify for historic vehicle tax in 2026 and 2027, how to apply, MOT exemption and the V112, and the ULEZ trap that catches owners out.
Read the guide →