What car, 4-5k, no I'm not sorry :-)

[The101]

Quite keen on the murano actually although I think I may get annoyed with the 20-25 mpg eventually because I doubt it'll be fun enough to justify... As I don't need the space. That being said, it looks like a great comfy cruiser and plenty of power so I might try and test drive one

[pointedstarman]

If the Murano doesn't do it how about:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[ZX10R NIN]

Some left field options:

Legacy 3.0R
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

WRX
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Saab 9-3 250bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Nissan 350 GT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-SKYLINE-350-GT-35...

Mazda RX8
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[The101]

pointedstarman said:

If the Murano doesn't do it how about:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

The Breras really are beautiful machines! Worth a look too - I'm not sure how comfortable I would be buying one with those miles on but I'm sure there are more out there. I will add that to the list and have a look!

[The101]

ZX10R NIN said:

Some left field options:

Legacy 3.0R
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

WRX
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Saab 9-3 250bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Nissan 350 GT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-SKYLINE-350-GT-35...

Mazda RX8
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

CLK
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Thanks for taking time to post these for me. Some very nice cars here and some would have never entered my head really. The skyline is a very rare sight on the roads, Id love something different like that! I've always liked the rx8's too but seem to remember being told they have some engine problems, maybe I need to look in to that.

It's funny, when you're not looking for a car you can easily spend money you don't have and know exactly what to get but when it comes to actually buying one it can become very difficult. Especially when you have as few criteria as I do!

[Slow]

Big comfy 4x4?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[The101]

Slow said:

Big comfy 4x4?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I would absolutely love one of these, but do you think I'm right to be scared by potential Bork? Or will a good one happily eat up as many miles as I need to throw at it? Typically 200-400 per week, so not mega high miles but enough.

[ZX10R NIN]

The101 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Some left field options:

Legacy 3.0R
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

WRX
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Saab 9-3 250bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Nissan 350 GT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-SKYLINE-350-GT-35...

Mazda RX8
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

CLK
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Thanks for taking time to post these for me. Some very nice cars here and some would have never entered my head really. The skyline is a very rare sight on the roads, Id love something different like that! I've always liked the rx8's too but seem to remember being told they have some engine problems, maybe I need to look in to that.

It's funny, when you're not looking for a car you can easily spend money you don't have and know exactly what to get but when it comes to actually buying one it can become very difficult. Especially when you have as few criteria as I do!

I'm biased (I have 3 of them) but I'd buy a CLK 500 comfortable fast decent handling V8 engine note (although you do need to do an exhaust mod to hear it) & reliable you'll average 23-25mpg.

The only real problem is if you hear a clicking from behind the dash then it'll need the flaps replacing a labour intensive job & of course the plug change when it comes round isn't cheap as there are 16 of them.

The advert below seems like a very nice example:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[The101]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'm biased (I have 3 of them) but I'd buy a CLK 500 comfortable fast decent handling V8 engine note (although you do need to do an exhaust mod to hear it) & reliable you'll average 23-25mpg.

The only real problem is if you hear a clicking from behind the dash then it'll need the flaps replacing a labour intensive job & of course the plug change when it comes round isn't cheap as there are 16 of them.

The advert below seems like a very nice example:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

I like these a lot, I think they've aged very well when comparing similar cars of that age, and what's nice is with a big v8 I'd be happy to buy something on 100,000 miles if it's been maintained so it keeps them well in budget.

Plan of action is, try to look at the shortlisted cars or get a test drive if being sold by a garage, and this will hopefully give me an idea of which will suit me best. Then I can go about finding a decent one

I reckon where the clk is concerned, if I was going to have one it might as well be the v8 as the consumption of the 320 is probably about the same. And it's a v8

[Slow]

The101 said:

Slow said:

Big comfy 4x4?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I would absolutely love one of these, but do you think I'm right to be scared by potential Bork? Or will a good one happily eat up as many miles as I need to throw at it? Typically 200-400 per week, so not mega high miles but enough.

I put about 10000 miles on a td6 version in under 4 months. Was a 150k mile car bought for £3900.

It needed tyres when I bought it and a new battery. Other things I bought were a £25 droplink

The gearbox was dodgy on it only failing after those 10k miles, drove down to Norfolk with a trailer then back up to Inverness with a defender on the back so about 3.5ton all in for the 600 mile return journey at about 23mpg. But this isn't a problem on the petrol versions as it doesn't have the chocolate gearbox.

Heres the thread if you fancy a read of it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[The101]

Slow said:

I put about 10000 miles on a td6 version in under 4 months. Was a 150k mile car bought for £3900.

It needed tyres when I bought it and a new battery. Other things I bought were a £25 droplink

The gearbox was dodgy on it only failing after those 10k miles, drove down to Norfolk with a trailer then back up to Inverness with a defender on the back so about 3.5ton all in for the 600 mile return journey at about 23mpg. But this isn't a problem on the petrol versions as it doesn't have the chocolate gearbox.

Heres the thread if you fancy a read of it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks I'll have a read

[jamesy12345]

One of the more affordable cars from the Sports Car International top ten listings maybe?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Car_Internati...

MR2
MX5
300ZX
Boxster
WRX as mentioned above is a good shout

[The101]

jamesy12345 said:

One of the more affordable cars from the Sports Car International top ten listings maybe?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Car_Internati...

MR2
MX5
300ZX
Boxster
WRX as mentioned above is a good shout

Thank you for your reply. I am definitely still considering the mx5. And ZX who mentioned the CLK did get me looking at mercs, but sensibility kicked in and I started looking at the more economical ones.

This is really odd that it's between two very different cars, but fairly local to me there's both a nice mx5 mk2 with a new hood and fsh, and theres a mercedes E270 CDI with a fsh. On the one hand I get a great fun little soft top, on the other I get a cruise to work on the motorway in comfort and great economy, with a reasonable performance. Neither are particularly saying anything about me, one says hairdresser and the other says Cypriot taxi, but I like them both for different reasons.

The mx5 is cheaper and I do kind of fancy one but I don't know if I could stomach the road noise and lack of comfort on longer trips. But then when I do get a B road blast at least it would be great fun and keep me smiling, and the bonus of mazda reliability too. I'm a bit skeptical about a 100k miles diesel mercedes but theres not much else nearby and the right price that fits the comfort bracket.

Both cars are under budget by a good margin, the mazda in particular.

I've decided to rule out a big 4x4 on the grounds of it being unnecessary for me.

I've thought about some 'in between' cars, so fun and fairly comfortable - but then they do neither particularly well. For me it's all or nothing, but I just can't decide which is more important to me. Silly really. No pleasing some people!

Edited by The101 on Tuesday 1st September 17:58

[Farmer Geddon]

If it were me, I'd go for the mx5. At least you won't hate it because it's boring and it will be excellent fun and likely reliable. Check for rust. Big Merc's are nice, but surely it's better to put up with the ride some of the time so you can have fun the rest. Better than having a comfy but dull ride everywhere you go.

[The101]

Farmer Geddon said:

If it were me, I'd go for the mx5. At least you won't hate it because it's boring and it will be excellent fun and likely reliable. Check for rust. Big Merc's are nice, but surely it's better to put up with the ride some of the time so you can have fun the rest. Better than having a comfy but dull ride everywhere you go.

You make a good point.

I've thought about compromises between the two, ST150 fiesta or Swift Sport, or some rwd old bmw that's probably been thrashed to an inch of its life already.... But it just doesn't do much for me. It's either a fun car for being fun, or a comfy car for being comfy.

[Farmer Geddon]

Sometimes you've just got to go for it and buy something. If it's not for you, sell it and move on, cross it off the list.

I was in a similar situation to you until yesterday, had a piece of crap daily which I'm very bored of, can't use my 540 for work, too thirsty and don't want to ruin it. So instead of part exchanging my daily and putting extra cash on too, I've used the extra cash to buy a mega cheap and surprisingly rust free puma, to see if I like it and can rely on it. My daily is now up for sale privately, win win. Cheap can be the best way sometimes especially if you don't know if you can live with a car. This way you could buy a cheap mx5 with the money you were going to add to your current one for px. Selling used cars in this price bracket is a mega ball ache admittedly but worth thinking about.

[Ghost91]

IME

I bought a Fiat Panda 100HP for a fun daily. Was fun but intolerable on the motorway and very uncomfortable.

The only way I'll ever own another small, fun car is if it's not my only car. I have a CLK which is fun in a different way, but it's much easier to live with a comfy car wishing it was more fun than a fun car wishing it was more comfy. There was nothing worse after a long day at work than getting in the Panda and having to rag it in every gear to make progress and smash over every tiny bump on the smoothest of surfaces. And the road noise. As a weekend hooner it would of been brilliant.

Some may disagree, maybe if you drive an mx5 and fall in love with it none of that will matter, but it will grate on you eventually take it from me!

Perhaps you don't have to go to the extreme of an E class diesel though, an old SLK 230 Kompressor would be a comfy cruiser if you're keen on a convertible.