Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[Emeye]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Emeye said:

I need an estate really.

I think I've solved your problem:

idiotgap said:

W00DY said:

benjj said:

0a said:

Despite the issues, I find myself liking this car a lot when I browse the excellent photos. Only £1,250, but 4 matic. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C614948

They're not really 'issues', just fun things for a new owner to think about at weekends

Lovely pics and that walnut Alpine is worth the asking price alone. Sure it'll be snapped up quick.

See this car in reader's cars...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

HTH and all that...

Wow - I really like that - not too far from me either. Could I get away with using that as a daily? I was planning on going to look at a V70 tomorrow. Hummmm.

What could go wrong?

Edited by Emeye on Saturday 16th May 21:20

[0a]

TwistingMyMelon said:

W124s lovely as they are, are not the cheapest car to run, good value yes, but its easy to run big bills

They also "hide faults well" .

Great cars if you are mechanically capable and enjoy working on cars, otherwise budget a bit for servicing

Also remember however well made a car leaves the factory age can still really take its toll

Id have another W124 in a heartbeat, but only if I could budget a fair whack in maitainence and more importantly could afford it to be off the road a few days at a time.

I love my W124. However they are old cars now. When I purchased mine, looking through the thorough history it had just been serviced and MOTed for its 21 year / 145k life. No other work had been done. A good advert for the build quality of these cars, but once I got the bug for making the car drive as it should again at 170k+ miles, you can end up on an endless cycle of buying parts to chase that 'as new' feeling to the drive.

It has not let me down though (touch wood), if you exclude the rear window that fell into the door necessitating covering it until a new regulator could be sourced.

They all need ball joints, a wiper motor, and wings at some point. And to drive well they will all need a suspension refresh by now.

With hindsight I should have purchased a lower mile tatty car that had work done, but rust that keeps the values down. As they all need wings anyway, paint is a known process/cost that doesn't cost much more for a tatty car than a neater one. That's my theory anyway!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Emeye said:

Wow - I really like that - not too far from me either. Could I get away with using that as a daily? I was planning on going to look at a V70 tomorrow. Hummmm.

What could go wrong?

V70s are thoroughly decent cars and popular for a reason, but there are things to watch out for, and they are model/year/transmission dependent.

The 124 is similarly brilliant, but also has things to watch out for. The one I linked is 4WD which brings extra complexity. As 0a said above, they all need certain jobs doing at this age, but most can be utterly neglected and run into the ground if that's your thing. They are extraordinarily resilient things. I've got two (estate and cabrio) and love them both.

[Emeye]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Emeye said:

Wow - I really like that - not too far from me either. Could I get away with using that as a daily? I was planning on going to look at a V70 tomorrow. Hummmm.

What could go wrong?

V70s are thoroughly decent cars and popular for a reason, but there are things to watch out for, and they are model/year/transmission dependent.

The 124 is similarly brilliant, but also has things to watch out for. The one I linked is 4WD which brings extra complexity. As 0a said above, they all need certain jobs doing at this age, but most can be utterly neglected and run into the ground if that's your thing. They are extraordinarily resilient things. I've got two (estate and cabrio) and love them both.

I think the Merc would have been perfect if it was just for house-doing-up duties - I bought an E34 525 touring auto when I did up our current house and treated it like a mobile skip, but I also had a mk1 TT and Mk5 Golf Gti at the time.

I only have time and finances for a single car now - my BMW E92 325i is having to go, even though I really don't want to get rid.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Choose well, and a Merc 124 is the only car you'll ever need.

[Emeye]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Choose well, and a Merc 124 is the only car you'll ever need.

I bet finding the correct one could be a real challenge and take some time though?

[0a]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

V70s are thoroughly decent cars and popular for a reason, but there are things to watch out for, and they are model/year/transmission dependent.

The 124 is similarly brilliant, but also has things to watch out for. The one I linked is 4WD which brings extra complexity. As 0a said above, they all need certain jobs doing at this age, but most can be utterly neglected and run into the ground if that's your thing. They are extraordinarily resilient things. I've got two (estate and cabrio) and love them both.

I got back into the W124 yesterday after a few days in the SL and a hire car and it just feels so 'right' and if i'm honest better quality than the SL.

Jobs are rarely fail to proceed jobs; it's more like gradually improving an old house.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Not sure if you frequent the smoker barge 1-5 thread, but there are cars posted and lots of expertise there.

At the price point that most of them sit, if you find a car with a decent service history and a long MOT you can pretty much buy with some confidence that it'll run for a long while yet and won't cost too much.

However, you will find that you want to improve it and restore some glory to the old girl. You'll start refreshing. You'll titivate. You'll improve it.

Then, and only then, you'll be a hopeless addict. Your children will view you with disdain. Your wife will refer to the 'old shed'.

Welcome to the club! It's a slippery slope.

[Emeye]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Not sure if you frequent the smoker barge 1-5 thread, but there are cars posted and lots of expertise there.

At the price point that most of them sit, if you find a car with a decent service history and a long MOT you can pretty much buy with some confidence that it'll run for a long while yet and won't cost too much.

However, you will find that you want to improve it and restore some glory to the old girl. You'll start refreshing. You'll titivate. You'll improve it.

Then, and only then, you'll be a hopeless addict. Your children will view you with disdain. Your wife will refer to the 'old shed'.

Welcome to the club! It's a slippery slope.

I used to be a regular on the 1 - 5 thread, but I had to go cold turkey as there was too much tempting metal on show!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

Jobs are rarely fail to proceed jobs; it's more like gradually improving an old house.

That is a very nice way of putting it. I agree.

[vournikas]

Emeye said:

BigTom85 said:

I really quite like that 318is, give it another 10 years and examples like that simply won't exist. If it was local I'd be on it like a tramp on chips.

Edit to add - looks like it may be the one of only 2 of this vintage left! https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_318_is#!...

Edited by BigTom85 on Saturday 16th May 14:04

It isn't too far from me - but I need an estate really. Still very very tempting.

It does look very tempting indeed, and about an hour's drive away from me......

[BorniteIdentity]

WildCards said:

BorniteIdentity said:

Can someone tell me about Saab 9-5s?

I really fancy trying one. I want the fastest going - is that an aero HOT? Also, what can I expect MPG wise on a run when not hammering the turbo?

All help appreciated.

Budget dependant an Aero will be 230, 250 or 260 bhp as standard. £500 takes you to stage 3 which is just shy of 300bhp. I've seen low 40's in mine with the cruise set at 60 on the motorway, that said my average is 21mpg. They're comfortable and the mid range grunt is fantastic.

Thanks for this. Probably do about £2k on one (which is twice what I normally pay for a car!) so will go take a look at some. Is it just tank sludge to look out for really?

[2013BRM]

sludging was resolved on 2004 cars so you should be ok going by your budget, I scored a 55 plate high miler for £850

[BigTom85]

vournikas said:

Emeye said:

BigTom85 said:

I really quite like that 318is, give it another 10 years and examples like that simply won't exist. If it was local I'd be on it like a tramp on chips.

Edit to add - looks like it may be the one of only 2 of this vintage left! https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_318_is#!...

Edited by BigTom85 on Saturday 16th May 14:04

It isn't too far from me - but I need an estate really. Still very very tempting.

It does look very tempting indeed, and about an hour's drive away from me......

I made inquiries and it looks as if its as good as sold. Shame.

[S3_Graham]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Not sure if you frequent the smoker barge 1-5 thread, but there are cars posted and lots of expertise there.

At the price point that most of them sit, if you find a car with a decent service history and a long MOT you can pretty much buy with some confidence that it'll run for a long while yet and won't cost too much.

However, you will find that you want to improve it and restore some glory to the old girl. You'll start refreshing. You'll titivate. You'll improve it.

Then, and only then, you'll be a hopeless addict. Your children will view you with disdain. Your wife will refer to the 'old shed'.

Welcome to the club! It's a slippery slope.

Be prepared if you do buy one. They get under your skin. I bought mine on a total Whim and its just brilliant and the perfect partner to my E36 Cabrio. Those days when you cant be arsed with a rag top and cant be arsed with a harsh ride and noisy exhaust. The S124 is just perfect. Big armchairs, huge boot, decent performance, great looks - imo!

Depressed to say, as soon as I've helped the GF move in a few weeks and my M3 has sold i'll be selling my 124.

Really cant decide on a price?
1990, 300TE24, cast iron sink a ship levels of history. Even the original PDI sheet!!! 214,000 miles. Has a small amount of rust on every arch - I have a spare wing for the worst bit but wrong colour.

[jas xjr]

Take a look at this for £395
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Saab-9-5-2-3t-Linea...

[kowalski655]

A slightly(?) knackered beemer from the same place
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-318-Ti-Se-Compa...

[Emeye]

jas xjr said:

Take a look at this for £395
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Saab-9-5-2-3t-Linea...

Looks a bargain until you see the one on auto trader with a fifth of the mileage for twice the price!

These 9-5s are a serious bargain. Even the estates are cheap!

[Hoofy]

Wonder if it's because they're just a bit leftfield so aren't in demand even if they're pretty capable.

[SidewaysSi]

S3_Graham said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Not sure if you frequent the smoker barge 1-5 thread, but there are cars posted and lots of expertise there.

At the price point that most of them sit, if you find a car with a decent service history and a long MOT you can pretty much buy with some confidence that it'll run for a long while yet and won't cost too much.

However, you will find that you want to improve it and restore some glory to the old girl. You'll start refreshing. You'll titivate. You'll improve it.

Then, and only then, you'll be a hopeless addict. Your children will view you with disdain. Your wife will refer to the 'old shed'.

Welcome to the club! It's a slippery slope.

Be prepared if you do buy one. They get under your skin. I bought mine on a total Whim and its just brilliant and the perfect partner to my E36 Cabrio. Those days when you cant be arsed with a rag top and cant be arsed with a harsh ride and noisy exhaust. The S124 is just perfect. Big armchairs, huge boot, decent performance, great looks - imo!

Depressed to say, as soon as I've helped the GF move in a few weeks and my M3 has sold i'll be selling my 124.

Really cant decide on a price?
1990, 300TE24, cast iron sink a ship levels of history. Even the original PDI sheet!!! 214,000 miles. Has a small amount of rust on every arch - I have a spare wing for the worst bit but wrong colour.

I am in the same position-need to sell my W124 but prices are all over the place. Mine has rusty front wings too but otherwise is totally solid, 1 previous owner, massive history, 95k miles etc. Don't want to give it away as it is a fabulous car that has got completely under my skin. They really are stunning cars IMO-so comfortable and as well made as anything out there.