Uber-banger?
Author
Discussion

Alan420

Original Poster:

5,618 posts

289 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
quotequote all
I'm currently trying to sell my two cars and start over (no, it's not an advert thread!).

Together with tax returns from the last three years (expected soon) hopefully I can get together about 1.5 - 3k to blow on a replacement, but that has to include insurance, running costs and anything that breaks.

I was thinking about a calibra or somthing (please don't flame me! I realised my mistake!) but then started to think what's avalaiable at banger money.

What I mean is, rather than get a recent, sensible car for about 2k, I'll buy a rapid old banger and throw the balance at insuring it. If the banger dies I'll just replace it. I'd much prefer 'throwaway motoring' after a complete disaster with the Escort Convertible.

I was inspired to do this by a friend who has three Nissan Silvias. He didn't pay for any of them. They are all MOT failures which he simply takes off the owner's hands to save them the effort of scrapping it.

He then does them up to roadworthy and he sells them on (or runs them till they die).

Does anyone have any input on this?

I'm 21 with 4 years ncb and pass plus, no points (touch wood). What would it cost me to insure a silvia/evo 1/subaru legacy?

What sort of cars are available at virtually no money which are also fast/fun? The only consideration is that I may be doing a lot of mileage next year, so I worry about fuel economy (hence no V6s, just 4 pot turbos) and NO CONVERTIBLES.

Input appreciated.

apache

39,731 posts

315 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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the bigger saloons and execs, specially Italian ones have big depreciation, try going to some auctions for an idea

wedg1e

27,044 posts

296 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Nissan Silvia must be the daftest name for a car since Triumph Gloria...

No valid input though, I'm afraid!

Ian

deltaf

6,806 posts

284 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Celica turbos are going for about 2.5k...depends if thats cheap to you...??

egomeister

7,613 posts

294 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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How about a S13 Nissan 200SX? I am in a similar situation to you (22/4yrs NCB) and i'm looking at one of these - admittedly a more expensive one at 2-2.5k which is pretty much top whack for these. They start at under a grand for the earlier ones and should provide a bit of RWD fun!

Superflid

2,254 posts

296 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Would definitely recommend the Legacy. See profile.

£650, goes like **** off a shovel, 100% reliable.

Alan420

Original Poster:

5,618 posts

289 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
quotequote all

deltaf said: Celica turbos are going for about 2.5k...depends if thats cheap to you...??


I'm a student for another year yet, and whilst I'm perfectly happy to spend every spare penny on a decent car I can't run to 2.5k as I have to cover the insurance out of the 3K as well.

What insurance group is the legacy, and how the hell did you find one!?!?!?

£650 is an absolute bargin for that car, I was thinking about one of the really old ones! What engine's in that?

Edited coz: My brain types much faster than my hands

Edited coz : I typed before looking in the profile. Silly I.

Edited coz : There's something wrong with me today.

>> Edited by Alan420 on Saturday 29th March 12:10

>> Edited by Alan420 on Saturday 29th March 12:13

>> Edited by Alan420 on Saturday 29th March 12:14

Superflid

2,254 posts

296 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
quotequote all
The engine is 2 litre, there are plenty of 1.8's which would be cheaper to insure. Not sure on insurance group but it cost me £274 (TPFT) with no no-claims (but I am an old git)
Found the car on fish4.

mikeylad

34,512 posts

284 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
quotequote all
E30 BMW 318is or 325i sport.

318is fits your 4-pot requirement and isn't slow.

325i is a 6, but not too thirsty. and is fast.

good examples of both available in your budget.

ps dont get a red one, they go pink in the sun. even in the manchester sun.

granville

18,764 posts

292 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Well Al, for this kinda wonga, one has to be looking in the older Audi/BMW category - some truly insane, over-engineered Third Reich metal to be sure.

Miles didn't count as the Kaiser and his progency annexed the Sedaten lands, nor should they concern your good self when considering all manner of almost indestructible mid-late 80s Munchen taxi fodder, as it were.

I know a geezer at work with a 1990 525i with several million miles up; 'tis as sweet as you could wish for inside & out and the mechanicals will outlast us all; it's worth about a fiver so insurance IS the main cost.

Anyway, you can't lose, you lucky sod - when I was a hippie wastral all I could muster funds-wise, post ale, was a bloody rusty Italian!

Good luck.

Ahonen

5,032 posts

310 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Yep, go with something made by 'ze Germans'. An old 525i is a great idea - they're damn cheap and sound great. Friend of mine inherited an E-plate shark-nose 520i with 250,000 miles that cost nothing to run, but it wasn't that fast; so try a 525.

cinqster

1,057 posts

310 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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How about 2 x 16V Lancia Thema turbo's (one for spares!)

twit

2,908 posts

295 months

Saturday 29th March 2003
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Alfa 155 Q4 if you can find one?

In fact any alfa, what about a V6 75 (pre 155, I think they were called 75s) Fantastic engine....

Twit

chris.mapey

4,778 posts

298 months

Sunday 30th March 2003
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Get thee to the Auctions my good man.

Subaru Legacy Turbo, 91J Saloon, MOT & Tax for 3m, Some history, Decent condition, £395.

Buy bigger saloon cars like this, no one wants them. BMW & Mercs will always find a home some tend to go for a bit more money.

Turbo saloons that are over 5 yo are almost worthless in the trade now as the only people that want them can't afford to insure them and those that can insure them buy newer cars anyway.

I recall an Alfa 164 V6 super going for £1500 on a 98 R reg recently at East Coast Salvage in Mark's Tey Essex recently (these guys sell off all the HM Custom & Excise seizures).

Bargains are out there, but remember...

EYES OPEN & CAVEAT EMPTOR are quite important at this price range!!!

Chris

Alan420

Original Poster:

5,618 posts

289 months

Sunday 30th March 2003
quotequote all
I tend to have the Caveat Emptor (sp?) problem when I buy anything. In the last 12 months I've had a computer blow, two digital cameras die, the escort fall apart, the cav die...

That's why I want to spend virtually nothing on the car. If it breaks I can just throw it away. I paid over the odds for the escort as I thought it was in good condition and got done-over royally.

Some very good suggestions here but I don't quite have the budget to pull it off. For example, the V6 alpha. Buy it, insure it, tax it, mot it then I'm utterly spent, if anything important dies I'm bu66ered.

I do like the Legacy idea. Just depends on insurance. BMWs appeal to me LOTS, but I'm just worried about it getting picked on (vandalised) as I've heard horror stories with them before. Parts aint cheap either...

mikeylad

34,512 posts

284 months

Tuesday 1st April 2003
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My BMW has been parking in manchester (not on its own, i help) for 4 years now with no problems at all.

Only problem i have ever had with it was when i caught some pond-life that had developed opposable thumbs taking a screw-driver to the doorlock in a shitty part of essex.

My boring old MkII volkswagen golf got broken into 6 times in 18 months in stoke on trent. go figure!

rob.ellis

2,863 posts

309 months

Tuesday 1st April 2003
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Alan420

How about a Mistubishi Starion. I looked at one of these the other day. Cheap as chips and pretty quick.

Have a look on autotrader:

incorrigible

13,668 posts

292 months

Tuesday 1st April 2003
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Won't be the last time anyone mentions a Capri 2.8i either

Dunno what insurance is like for you young-uns, but classic polar sea was about £150