What car for a grand

Author
Discussion

twoblacklines

Original Poster:

1,575 posts

162 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Possibly £1250.

Something...out of the ordinary but cheap to buy and fix.

So far I am watching out for

Golf V6 4mo
Golf Vr6
Lexus LS400

I am selling my car but starting yet another new business so I have about £1500 left.

What shall I get?

I do a long, 300 mile each way motorway run once a month but other than that is is pottering round.

Has to be petrol.

I am 6ft 8 so I need to fit in it, the golfs - the way the dash slopes down near the gearstick mean I can fit in them, but a lot of cars, like a civic ep3, I can't because of where the dashboards sit.

Thanks

CX53

2,973 posts

111 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
I found the V6 4mo very expensive to fix, and it needed fixing a lot.

I would recommend at this money that you go Japanese. What about a Corolla 190 T Sport?

defblade

7,443 posts

214 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
I'm 6'4" and don't need the seat all the way back/down in my E39 530; there's lots of E39s around at your budget. Nice places to be, too.



But, given your size and budget, overall I'd have to say "whatever's around for a grand that you actually fit in"

Oh, and have you seen this week's SOTW? Lots of headroom wink

gazzarose

1,162 posts

134 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
What about a Lexus IS200. Not the fastest thing in the world but totally bullet proof. Simple mechanicals and plenty of used parts available if needed. Plus it's red. Lowish mileage ones can be had for around your budget.

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Saab 9-5. You'll get a good one for that sort of money.

Behold: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/saab/9-5/use...



Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 23 July 07:21

VF7

3,165 posts

216 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
I have just bought a mk IV Golf GTI 1.8T for £650. ( see my Reader's Car Thread)

A very underrated car indeed!!
It gets misunterstood by most people. It sure can't keep up with the new (or last) generation of hot hatches.
It gets described as a warm hatch at best. But you have to keep in mind they are almost 20years old by now!
The 1.8T engine is a peach and can be tuned inexpensively to 200 bhp (or far beyond that, but then it gets expensive).
The interior is rational (some might say dull), but of great quality and functional. It gots tons of headroom and the GTIs have great Recaro seats! So really suitable for M-way driving.
The fuel economy is good while cruising, less so if you're in a hurry (but still miles better than any Golf V6 4M or VR6!).
Also they are quite simple and easy to work on. Spares are readily available and inexpensive.

Don't compare it with a modern day GTI, because it's not. What it is is an inexpensive, quickish, comfortable, good looking (to my eyes), reliable, safe hatchback. Nothing more, but that's quite something for a grand, isn't it?

g7jhp

6,970 posts

239 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Great little cars. We've had a 5 door 1.8T GTI for 10 years as a family hack (no point spoiling an expensive car with kids).

As others have said MAF sensors, dropping window glass and sealing up the ducts into the boot to stop the spare foot well filling with water.

Other than that it's been used as a daily, for holidays and even a camping trip..kids, tent and all.

Amazing how much you can fit into them.

It's well built, a pleasant place to be and has a useful turn of pace.

Edited by g7jhp on Saturday 23 July 08:12

InitialDave

11,946 posts

120 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
VF7 said:
I have just bought a mk IV Golf GTI 1.8T for £650. ( see my Reader's Car Thread)

A very underrated car indeed!!
It gets misunterstood by most people. It sure can't keep up with the new (or last) generation of hot hatches.
It gets described as a warm hatch at best. But you have to keep in mind they are almost 20years old by now!
Isn't the primary reason for the mk4 GTI being looked down on because of the ghastly 2.0 version, with its 115 recalcitrant horses?

ZX10R NIN

27,648 posts

126 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Krikkit

26,553 posts

182 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Lexus LS or GS imo. Some real bargains out there.

Vitorio

4,296 posts

144 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Alfa 156 2.5 V6?

Otherwise i kinda like the lexus suggestions

Ian Geary

4,498 posts

193 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
quotequote all
Vitorio said:
Alfa 156 2.5 V6?
There's not many of these around for that money. Loads of twin sparks though...