Normally you are likely to be only allowed to drive your chosen classic around the block, under supervision. If you are really lucky, you will get to drive the car for half an hour or so. While this may be enough to assess the condition and value of the car, it is not enough time to decide whether or not you can live with a classic car.

You need to understand a few practical things when deciding to own any classic car:

Is it comfortable – can you drive it for hours and not feel tired?
Can you fit enough luggage in the car to go for a weekend or a full week touring in a classic car?
Can you cope without power steering?
Can you cope without a brake servo?
Can you cope with a heavy clutch and a slow, heavy gear change?
Is there enough leg room in the car?
If the car is a convertible, are you prepared to put up with the hood leaking in the rain (very few of them fit properly)?

As well as owning our current fleet of cars, over the years we have bought and sold a number of other makes and models, so have a reasonable knowledge of the trials and tribulations of buying and owning classic cars. If you are thinking of buying an MG but can’t decide between an MGB Roadster and an MGB GT then why not book an MG Weekend? Hire the MGB Roadster for one day and then take the GT the next day.

If you are thinking of buying a Triumph TR but can’t decide between a TR4, TR5 or TR6 then why not book a Triumph TR Weekend? Take the TR4A out on the Saturday and then the TR6 on the Sunday. The TR6 is based on the same chassis as the TR4a, so the road holding is very similar but it has much better brakes and more power from its 2.5 litre petrol injected engine. If you are thinking of buying a TR5 then have a go in our TR6 as they share the same brakes and engine even though they use the TR4A body.

For many people the E-Type Jaguar is the archetypal British sports car. As a good one will cost you anything from £20,000 to £30,000 it is vital that you won’t regret your purchase after you have parted with that amount of money. An E-Type is a wonderful driver’s car; it is extremely responsive, with precise steering and very little body roll. It is also very comfortable whether you are just making a short journey or spending a whole day driving. Our E-Type Coupe has a reasonable amount of luggage space, more than enough for either a weekend or even a full weeks touring. People are split about which model of the E-Type is the best:

Series 1 with it faired in head lamps and 3.8 litre engine, but awkward Moss gearbox
Series 2 with improved braking, better seats and the better Jaguar gearbox
Series 3 with its turbine smooth V12 engine (that gives 12mpg), power steering and flared wheel arches to accommodate the wider wheels and tyres.

We think our choice of Series 2 is the ideal compromise. The 4.2 litre engine delivers enough power, the brakes are more than adequate, the steering very responsive and we have installed a 5 speed Getrag gearbox. Our Series 2 Roadster has the 4 speed Jaguar gearbox, so you could compare the two. We have also owned a US specification E-Type with twin Stromberg carburettors and an automatic gearbox so we can advise on the differences between the UK and US spec cars.

We include a full information pack with all our cars and this includes magazine articles advising on what to look for in each model.

So if you are thinking of buying a classic car, then come to The Open Road and try one of ours for a day or a weekend before you buy one.