What Car? £2k Need ideas!

[jonnydm]

I'm looking for a new car and need some inspiration. I was leaning to BMWs but most in my range seem to be fairly ropey. So, I'm looking for any decent suggestions.

Should be fairly 'modern' - no classics.
Needs to have a decent level of comfort - A/C etc.
Should have a bit of poke.
Fuel economy shouldn't be too bad.

There you have it, I'm trying to keep my options as open as possible. Insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue.

[Xaero]

What size car are you after?

What about an Alfa of some sort?

[jonnydm]

Xaero said:

What size car are you after?

What about an Alfa of some sort?

Not too bothered about size. So far this year, I've had a Volvo V40 and an MX5. I've thought about a Jag XJ or BMW 7er although terrible mpg and possible big bills scare me somewhat.

As for Alfas, I like to drive my cars - I'm not keen with spanners at all. For that reason, I'm fairly wary about an Alfa. Recently I've been looking at X type Jags and Volvo T5s, I think I just need to wait for something good to come about.

[jonnydm]

Bump for the daytime crowd.

[alfa pint]

S type Jags are coming down into that sort of price range. I'd seriously look at an Alfa 147 too - the 156s at that sort of price can be a bit dubious, but the 147s are pretty reliable. 2k would get you a decent GTV twinspark as well if you didn't mind the tiny boot.

[cmackay81]

quite alot of e36 beamers in that price range. some will be a bit higher mileage, but should be able to handle it.

[300bhp/ton]

jonnydm said:

I'm looking for a new car and need some inspiration. I was leaning to BMWs but most in my range seem to be fairly ropey. So, I'm looking for any decent suggestions.

Should be fairly 'modern' - no classics.
Needs to have a decent level of comfort - A/C etc.
Should have a bit of poke.
Fuel economy shouldn't be too bad.

There you have it, I'm trying to keep my options as open as possible. Insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Reckon you should be able to get an MG ZS180 for that money. Should tick all you boxes and as not all that old should still be tidy and rust free, unlike the BMW's in your price range.

It's fairly pokey (7.3 sec 0-60mph and 135mph+ flat out) and has a good fun engaging chassis, so is a hoot to drive.

[missing the VR6]

Audi A3 1.8T Sport, had one myself for a year did 20000 faultless miles, not the most thrilling thing but more than capable of doing the job.

[S3_Graham]

cmackay81 said:

quite alot of e36 beamers in that price range. some will be a bit higher mileage, but should be able to handle it.

+1million It depends what you call ropey. Mines fantastic.

[Arese]

alfa pint said:

S type Jags are coming down into that sort of price range. I'd seriously look at an Alfa 147 too - the 156s at that sort of price can be a bit dubious, but the 147s are pretty reliable. 2k would get you a decent GTV twinspark as well if you didn't mind the tiny boot.

In my experience 156's are a lot cheaper than a similar aged 147. You could easily get a decent specification 2003 156 for £2k.

Good shout with the GTV

[djt100]

Can I jump in and hightjack this thread a little, Are Alfa GTV's any good, What sort of mpg on a run, I'm thinking along the same lines as the OP but MPG needs to be 40 ish on a MWay run. and seen a few nice GTV's / Spyder's

[Arese]

djt100 said:

Can I jump in and hightjack this thread a little, Are Alfa GTV's any good, What sort of mpg on a run, I'm thinking along the same lines as the OP but MPG needs to be 40 ish on a MWay run. and seen a few nice GTV's / Spyder's

You might get 40mpg from the 2.0 TS on a motorway run, but I doubt the V6 would return that. Mrs Arese had a 'phase 2' 2.0 Spider for a couple of years, beautiful car and great fun to hoon around with the roof down in the summer.

[davidjpowell]

Saab 9-5.

Difficult to age, mine will do close to 40 on a run. Comfortable, climate well specced etc.

[alfa pint]

djt100 said:

Can I jump in and hightjack this thread a little, Are Alfa GTV's any good, What sort of mpg on a run, I'm thinking along the same lines as the OP but MPG needs to be 40 ish on a MWay run. and seen a few nice GTV's / Spyder's

Well hijacked! You won't get 40mpg out of a GTV / spider on a motorway. 35mpg if you're lightfooted and stick to 70mph. Lovely lovely cars to drive and be in, provided it's been looked after, but you don't buy one for economy!

[jonnydm]

£2.5k for a basic spec BMW 330i SE
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
or fully loaded SAAB 95HOT Aero at £2k - with a waaranty?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Or something much cheaper / more sensible.

Edited by jonnydm on Monday 12th July 17:23

[Arese]

jonnydm said:

2.5k basic spec BMW 330i SE

Yeah right.

[550Hep]

davidjpowell said:

Saab 9-5.

Difficult to age, mine will do close to 40 on a run. Comfortable, climate well specced etc.

Agree with this, just got one myself (well 4 months ago!) based on the same criteria. V reg 9-5 2.0SE manual with all the toys. 111k on the clock got it for £1500. Had to have some new shocks on the back and it needed a new A/C display due to pixels shot etc.

Shocks were £250 mates rates job with a service thrown in. New A/C unit was £30 of Ebay and is a clip in unit. It could do with the same treatment on the trip computer screen too but it is readable for now.

I am averaging late 30's on M-way runs and it has enough poke for a daily hack. Also has all the toys and they all work.

[theironduke]

Arese said:

jonnydm said:

2.5k basic spec BMW 330i SE

Yeah right.

seems too cheap..

[raf_gti]

jonnydm said:

£2.5k for a basic spec BMW 330i SE
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
or fully loaded SAAB 95HOT Aero at £2k - with a waaranty?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Or something much cheaper / more sensible.

Edited by jonnydm on Monday 12th July 17:23

That 9-5 looks very, very tempting!

[jonnydm]

raf_gti said:

jonnydm said:

£2.5k for a basic spec BMW 330i SE
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
or fully loaded SAAB 95HOT Aero at £2k - with a waaranty?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Or something much cheaper / more sensible.

Edited by jonnydm on Monday 12th July 17:23

That 9-5 looks very, very tempting!

Just worried that it may be too cheap, looking at similar ads.