Best bargain barge?

[freecar]

I know, another what car!

I am in need of a car, I don't need to commute as I don't work right now, I don't really need to ferry others around as I use my Mum's car when I need to run them around so....

I want a big beautiful barge!

I like....

Toys! (heck it's one of the reasons we pick barges right?)
Good size engine
Preferably coupe

I have about £1000 but would be rather happy to spend less.


Must

Have AC
Have MOT
Be old! (Ideally qualify for classic insurance)
Be RWD/4WD (not starting a debate, hate FWD especially getting up the steep hill to my house!)

Ideally

Have leather


I really have the lust for an SEC merc after seeing SOTW the other week (still tempted to check the old sec out from there if the ad is still current in a few weeks!) but they don't necessarily represent the best value for money (wont depreciate though!)

So PH what have you got for me?

[RB26DETT]

Ford Granada Mk3 ?? Maybe a Cosworth which is a 2.9 v6 RWD Auto. 194BHP, can get them with all the toys, electric windows/seats front and back, on board computer.

[king arthur]

Jag XJ40 Sovereign 4.0, preferably a 93 or 94 car. You can get one for a grand if you look around, and it probably won't lose value unless you let it go rusty/rustier. Obviously it's not a coupé though.

[useyourdellusion]

(Very) leggy Lexus LS400?

Or a soarer? I know you said £1000, but you never know....

[BarnatosGhost]

ls400. Clearly the best option at that price.

[freecar]

useyourdellusion said:

(Very) leggy Lexus LS400?

Or a soarer? I know you said £1000, but you never know....

No, good point, a soarer can be had for under a grand quite frequently!

I don't want to sound the snob but I have ruled out pretty much every ford! I had a granada as my first car so 2.9 or otherwise, it'd still be a step back. Plus no matter how much leather it had I'd still not consider it luxury!

Still, good ones so far, jag seems like a good prospect!

[useyourdellusion]

freecar said:

useyourdellusion said:

(Very) leggy Lexus LS400?

Or a soarer? I know you said £1000, but you never know....

No, good point, a soarer can be had for under a grand quite frequently!

I'm not up on their values tbh. They look a hell of lot of car for under a grand though!

[freecar]

useyourdellusion said:

freecar said:

useyourdellusion said:

(Very) leggy Lexus LS400?

Or a soarer? I know you said £1000, but you never know....

No, good point, a soarer can be had for under a grand quite frequently!

I'm not up on their values tbh. They look a hell of lot of car for under a grand though!

Hmmm, thinking about it, the imports have the good engine (1UZ-FE) but probably wouldn't be able to be insured as "classic" vehicle, UK cars have a 2.5TT but would be harder to find as they didn't sell many here.

So, bump for today, any more ideas? I'd like to see some cars I haven't thought of before.

[paoloh]

Scorpio
Granada Cosworth

[djt100]

This beign PH you've got to include an alfa
Alfa 166

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1759049.htm

[S3_Graham]

old 7 series?

[Tedswagon]

S3_Graham said:

old 7 series?

or even an old 5 series

[BriC175]

S3_Graham said:

old 7 series?

This ^^^

[cpl_payne]

In a similar situation to OP, having pondered on the same subject I'd probably add BMW 7 series (e32) to the list, very cheap for what they are and cheaper to maintain than old S-class Merc.

I'd probably narrow my search to 735i, Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS400. There probably are other candidates but for that price range these spring to mind first.

[WildCards]

Honda Legend Coupe? This one looks a belter, you'll need some decent haggling skills though;
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C160041/

Or

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by WildCards on Tuesday 8th June 14:10

[Tom_G]

BriC175 said:

S3_Graham said:

old 7 series?

This ^^^

Shocker.... BriC goes for the BMW.....

[WildCards]

Or a Mazda Xedos 9 Miller. IRC it had a supercharged 2.3 V6 which was silky smooth.

Aha -> http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[theironduke]

The holy trinity of bargain barges IMHO is...

W126 S Class

E32 7 Series

XJ40 Jag

[yinujim]

Late E32 3.0 V8

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

SE
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1632119.htm

[8400rpm]

freecar said:

Be RWD/4WD (not starting a debate, hate FWD especially getting up the steep hill to my house!)

Am I the only one that has read this statement and got a question mark above my head?

If I was you OP with those requirements, I'd go for a big Jag or Lexus.