£1,000 for a second car, what would you get?
Discussion
Bit of background first.... I'm at Uni doing Engineering, I'm young and I drive an E46 330i Sport. I love it, but it does cost a fair amount to run, and I hate parking it down some of the streets around where I live near Uni. I travel home every weekend to work. So doing some man-maths I've worked out I can save money buy running two cars instead of one. 
I would just stick with one car, but I've become quite keen on the whole StanceWorks and also the drifting scene recently (blame Jonny), I'm also quite keen just to have a shed and generally a more appropriate car for my age. Love the BMW and intend to keep it for a long time, but I'd just like something cheap and fun, that I can mess about with, possibly lower to the floor, maybe weld a diff where appropriate and possibly have awesome sounding exhaust. I don't want to ruin the BMW doing any of this to it. I'd also like to get my hands dirty a bit, and maintain and look after a car myself, again I like my FSH on the BMW too much to touch it.
So I'd like something else for under £1000 and cheap to insure as a second car, I've long been in love with 5pots and boxy Volvos so top of my list is a Volvo 850 T5 Estate with a manual box, with that I'd probably just sort a remap and a tasty exhaust and be done. I've looked at MX-5s but they all look a bit doggy for under £1k. I've also thought about things like Mercedes-Benz 190Es. (Yes I like my big solid heavy cars
) and then of course there is the E36, which has so much potential for everything I've mentioned above. I'm not looking for anything in particular, as long as the car has one stand out point, or one defining thing about it. So here's my list and what I think that stand out point for each is...
Volvo 850 T5 - Speed and noise
Mazda MX-5 - It's an MX-5
190E - Solid barge wafty-epicness
E36 - Good looks and potential stanceability/driftability
Volvo 240 - old school coolness and driftabilitly
Old Landy - learn car mechanics on and off roading
Something classic? - again to learn more about car mechanicals and the joys of an old car
I've seen a few people on here who have been at Uni and have had more than one car, and advice from any of you?
Any ideas for what else I should be thinking about? Oh and some advice for dealing with parents who don't even like the idea of you having one car let alone two would be great.
I would just stick with one car, but I've become quite keen on the whole StanceWorks and also the drifting scene recently (blame Jonny), I'm also quite keen just to have a shed and generally a more appropriate car for my age. Love the BMW and intend to keep it for a long time, but I'd just like something cheap and fun, that I can mess about with, possibly lower to the floor, maybe weld a diff where appropriate and possibly have awesome sounding exhaust. I don't want to ruin the BMW doing any of this to it. I'd also like to get my hands dirty a bit, and maintain and look after a car myself, again I like my FSH on the BMW too much to touch it.
So I'd like something else for under £1000 and cheap to insure as a second car, I've long been in love with 5pots and boxy Volvos so top of my list is a Volvo 850 T5 Estate with a manual box, with that I'd probably just sort a remap and a tasty exhaust and be done. I've looked at MX-5s but they all look a bit doggy for under £1k. I've also thought about things like Mercedes-Benz 190Es. (Yes I like my big solid heavy cars
) and then of course there is the E36, which has so much potential for everything I've mentioned above. I'm not looking for anything in particular, as long as the car has one stand out point, or one defining thing about it. So here's my list and what I think that stand out point for each is...Volvo 850 T5 - Speed and noise
Mazda MX-5 - It's an MX-5
190E - Solid barge wafty-epicness
E36 - Good looks and potential stanceability/driftability
Volvo 240 - old school coolness and driftabilitly
Old Landy - learn car mechanics on and off roading
Something classic? - again to learn more about car mechanicals and the joys of an old car
I've seen a few people on here who have been at Uni and have had more than one car, and advice from any of you?
Any ideas for what else I should be thinking about? Oh and some advice for dealing with parents who don't even like the idea of you having one car let alone two would be great.
Unfortunatly you may struggle these days to get a decent Land Rover for a grand. I think Series IIIs have appreciated beyond that now. What may look OK, may have serious issues. On closer inspection you could find a rotten bulkhead and a rotten chassis.
But I'm not sure on current prices so it's worth a look.
But I'm not sure on current prices so it's worth a look.
The problem is, you're going to be sinking a lot of time and effort into something that is, however you cut it, end of life.
The sort of landie you'll get for a grand will be biblically screwed. T5s and E36s will be full of time expired black-box wizardary and 1.8 and 2.0 190s are very slow and 2.6s are out of your budget. What about a 740 or even a 340?
The sort of landie you'll get for a grand will be biblically screwed. T5s and E36s will be full of time expired black-box wizardary and 1.8 and 2.0 190s are very slow and 2.6s are out of your budget. What about a 740 or even a 340?
X300 XJ6? Get a tidy one for £1000 and not many guys your age will be driving one. Plus RWD mine was fairly tail happy when given a bootfull. 
ETA gratuitus pic
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
ETA gratuitus pic
DSCF2800 by Jamie Firman, on Flickr
Cheers for all the suggestions, I did think the Landy may be out of budget, and the 190E being slow isn't something that worries me too much, I've got the 330i for going fast.
MR2 is something I had looked at, again seems to be a bit of a MX-5 situation and under £1k seem to be dogs.
Jag idea I really really want to do, especially an XJ40 Sovereign, but they aren't insurance friendly
MR2 is something I had looked at, again seems to be a bit of a MX-5 situation and under £1k seem to be dogs.
Jag idea I really really want to do, especially an XJ40 Sovereign, but they aren't insurance friendly
petrolveins said:
rb5er said:
I Just yesterday bought a Volvo S60 2.4T for £1150. Needs a few bits but its a lot of car for the money.
How much??? What's wrong with it?I should say to the Clio comment above, I don't like hatches, I'd consider a 205 GTi though
ambuletz said:
Out of the list you've given, the top 3.
Additionally, most things mazda and nissan, as they are a neglected brand.
such as..
nissan.. primera, almera
Mazda... mx-6, 323f, 323, xedos
also octiavia.
Umm Primera? Almera? Octavia? I missed the interesting bit. Did you miss where I said I was young? Additionally, most things mazda and nissan, as they are a neglected brand.
such as..
nissan.. primera, almera
Mazda... mx-6, 323f, 323, xedos
also octiavia.
petrolveins said:
Umm Primera? Almera? Octavia? I missed the interesting bit. Did you miss where I said I was young?
I guess i must have missed that part (had afew too many beers). Primera still stands though, primera GT. but on your list, I'd go for the top 3 that you suggested. There's also volvo c70. If you are extremely lucky, you could get a lexus IS200 or 7th gen celica for that price too.I just did the same thing myself, I bought a 5 pot 2.3 Audi cabriolet, very cheap to insure also they make a coupe, both cars are cheap and bullet proof and your never going to have an issue with rust.
I've still got to pick mine up but to give you an idea of price, I got one with a 10 months ticket and 1months tax for £700 and that's with 68000 on the clock with full service history.
Now I've just got to keep on top of remembering which one to sorn and clear my garage out.
I've still got to pick mine up but to give you an idea of price, I got one with a 10 months ticket and 1months tax for £700 and that's with 68000 on the clock with full service history.
Now I've just got to keep on top of remembering which one to sorn and clear my garage out.
Vince70 said:
I just did the same thing myself, I bought a 5 pot 2.3 Audi cabriolet, very cheap to insure also they make a coupe, both cars are cheap and bullet proof and your never going to have an issue with rust.
I've still got to pick mine up but to give you an idea of price, I got one with a 10 months ticket and 1months tax for £700 and that's with 68000 on the clock with full service history.
Now I've just got to keep on top of remembering which one to sorn and clear my garage out.
I've gotta be honest I would quite like a cabrio, and one with a 5pot soundtrack would be perfect. If I could have the perfect second car it would an Audi Coupe GT but I wouldn't want to bring it anywhere near Uni. Want something I won't cry at when it gets a parking ding. Audi Cabrio is a very good shout though.I've still got to pick mine up but to give you an idea of price, I got one with a 10 months ticket and 1months tax for £700 and that's with 68000 on the clock with full service history.
Now I've just got to keep on top of remembering which one to sorn and clear my garage out.
Kieranv said:
Nissan Almera GTi
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