Newbie... and I've got a budget of around £11k for a new toy
Discussion
Was going to chip in with a 996 911 or Boxster 987, but your not keen on Porsche which is more common on here and in the real world than I had suspected up until a couple of years ago!
Monaro was also on my suggestions list based on your previous Yank stuff, but Im also turned off by the Vauxhall thing (and also apologise to Vauxhall owners!)
You could find a modern-ish Corvette for £11K, I'd love one.
Mkiv Supra TT is a great shout (Ive had 2). They are of a vintage now where prices are on the rise due to so many being neglected/ molested into oblivion. £10-11K is also the right price point for decent TTs with manual box. Probably my pick, but Im very Supra-centric. Not going to depreciate (or very little at worst) and in my experience very reliable. Better drivers' car than its given credit for, but needs a couple of mods to feel properly 'sharp'.
E46 M3 has been calling my name for ages now. Get one soon, prices are going one way on these too. Find a tintop, manual, with a brake upgrade and no splitty-floor- would be my #2 pick.
I'd also be tempted by an S2 Elise, everyone knows how they drive and the S2 still looks properly fresh.
Plenty of big-engined Mercs available too. I'd be concerned about big-Mercedes bills though (says the guy suggesting a 996).
Tbh, the world is your oyster with £11K to spend. Find a 'what car for £10K?'-esque thread, bet there's afew!
Monaro was also on my suggestions list based on your previous Yank stuff, but Im also turned off by the Vauxhall thing (and also apologise to Vauxhall owners!)
You could find a modern-ish Corvette for £11K, I'd love one.
Mkiv Supra TT is a great shout (Ive had 2). They are of a vintage now where prices are on the rise due to so many being neglected/ molested into oblivion. £10-11K is also the right price point for decent TTs with manual box. Probably my pick, but Im very Supra-centric. Not going to depreciate (or very little at worst) and in my experience very reliable. Better drivers' car than its given credit for, but needs a couple of mods to feel properly 'sharp'.
E46 M3 has been calling my name for ages now. Get one soon, prices are going one way on these too. Find a tintop, manual, with a brake upgrade and no splitty-floor- would be my #2 pick.
I'd also be tempted by an S2 Elise, everyone knows how they drive and the S2 still looks properly fresh.
Plenty of big-engined Mercs available too. I'd be concerned about big-Mercedes bills though (says the guy suggesting a 996).
Tbh, the world is your oyster with £11K to spend. Find a 'what car for £10K?'-esque thread, bet there's afew!
daveofedinburgh said:
Was going to chip in with a 996 911 or Boxster 987, but your not keen on Porsche which is more common on here and in the real world than I had suspected up until a couple of years ago!
Monaro was also on my suggestions list based on your previous Yank stuff, but Im also turned off by the Vauxhall thing (and also apologise to Vauxhall owners!)
You could find a modern-ish Corvette for £11K, I'd love one.
Mkiv Supra TT is a great shout (Ive had 2). They are of a vintage now where prices are on the rise due to so many being neglected/ molested into oblivion. £10-11K is also the right price point for decent TTs with manual box. Probably my pick, but Im very Supra-centric. Not going to depreciate (or very little at worst) and in my experience very reliable. Better drivers' car than its given credit for, but needs a couple of mods to feel properly 'sharp'.
E46 M3 has been calling my name for ages now. Get one soon, prices are going one way on these too. Find a tintop, manual, with a brake upgrade and no splitty-floor- would be my #2 pick.
I'd also be tempted by an S2 Elise, everyone knows how they drive and the S2 still looks properly fresh.
Plenty of big-engined Mercs available too. I'd be concerned about big-Mercedes bills though (says the guy suggesting a 996).
Tbh, the world is your oyster with £11K to spend. Find a 'what car for £10K?'-esque thread, bet there's afew!
I do quite fancy a C5 Vette, but a nice lowish miler is a little above my budget (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-C5-5-7-AUTO-TARGA-TOP-EURO-SPEC-62-000-MILES-/131376163162?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e96a1295a) I can stretch my budget, but not too much.Monaro was also on my suggestions list based on your previous Yank stuff, but Im also turned off by the Vauxhall thing (and also apologise to Vauxhall owners!)
You could find a modern-ish Corvette for £11K, I'd love one.
Mkiv Supra TT is a great shout (Ive had 2). They are of a vintage now where prices are on the rise due to so many being neglected/ molested into oblivion. £10-11K is also the right price point for decent TTs with manual box. Probably my pick, but Im very Supra-centric. Not going to depreciate (or very little at worst) and in my experience very reliable. Better drivers' car than its given credit for, but needs a couple of mods to feel properly 'sharp'.
E46 M3 has been calling my name for ages now. Get one soon, prices are going one way on these too. Find a tintop, manual, with a brake upgrade and no splitty-floor- would be my #2 pick.
I'd also be tempted by an S2 Elise, everyone knows how they drive and the S2 still looks properly fresh.
Plenty of big-engined Mercs available too. I'd be concerned about big-Mercedes bills though (says the guy suggesting a 996).
Tbh, the world is your oyster with £11K to spend. Find a 'what car for £10K?'-esque thread, bet there's afew!
Certain cars just don't tickle my fancy right from the off and unfortunately Supras (all Toyotas) and Mercs fit into that category. I'm sure the Elise would be a hoot to drive but again, it's one of those cars that's never grabbed me.
Snails said:
It is really is worth joining the forum as a member, there is a whole load of information on the cars in the knowledge base and on the forum as whole. If you are interested it might be worth putting up a 'Wanted' ad
Lots of the things you need to look for, relate to making sure all the body panels are there! Quite a few have been seen to missing various panels after accidents and not being repaired properly due to the ridiculous cost of the panels and corners being cut. (A new front bumper is £900 from Renault, rear even more.)
Make sure the cambelt and accessory has been changed recently, it is 5 years or 72k, however it is a £1000 job if it hasn't. Most owners will get the waterpump done at the same time.
Lift the bonnet and check the luggage tray for cracks, as it is easily damaged.
Remove and check under the luggage tray, mine had just started to develop a small patch of rust on the far right under the tray.
Check all the undertrays are present and correct. There should be a plastic undertrays cover almost the entire underside of the car. A replacement set is ~£900
There should be a black plastic panel that attaches to the underside of the phase 1 bumper and extends to the the start of the arches. If the car has had a front end bump and isn't replaced, ~£850.00
Check the rubber spoiler on the front bumper is present ~£310 from Renault, although a Skoda Fabia rubber has been found to be a replacement at about £20
Check it has both front arch liners. They are ~£250 to replace and often aren't replaced when a cheaper repair has been done.
Make sure the bumpers align with the front wing and where they join the rear quarter as there can sometimes be quite noticeable gaps if it has had a knock.
I'm sure those on the forum would give a more full answer!
Top man, thanks for your help.Lots of the things you need to look for, relate to making sure all the body panels are there! Quite a few have been seen to missing various panels after accidents and not being repaired properly due to the ridiculous cost of the panels and corners being cut. (A new front bumper is £900 from Renault, rear even more.)
Make sure the cambelt and accessory has been changed recently, it is 5 years or 72k, however it is a £1000 job if it hasn't. Most owners will get the waterpump done at the same time.
Lift the bonnet and check the luggage tray for cracks, as it is easily damaged.
Remove and check under the luggage tray, mine had just started to develop a small patch of rust on the far right under the tray.
Check all the undertrays are present and correct. There should be a plastic undertrays cover almost the entire underside of the car. A replacement set is ~£900
There should be a black plastic panel that attaches to the underside of the phase 1 bumper and extends to the the start of the arches. If the car has had a front end bump and isn't replaced, ~£850.00
Check the rubber spoiler on the front bumper is present ~£310 from Renault, although a Skoda Fabia rubber has been found to be a replacement at about £20
Check it has both front arch liners. They are ~£250 to replace and often aren't replaced when a cheaper repair has been done.
Make sure the bumpers align with the front wing and where they join the rear quarter as there can sometimes be quite noticeable gaps if it has had a knock.
I'm sure those on the forum would give a more full answer!
I didn't realise how expensive parts were for them.
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