Considering options - £3k daily runner

[pstruck]

I'm currently thinking seriously about changing career and possibly re-training. This could mean a fairly large drop in salary for a while and one of my options for freeing up some money is selling the current car and buyig a cheaper one.

What then would you buy for say £3k that would meet the following requirements:

Enjoyable to drive
A bit of performance
Reliable
Relatively inexpensive to maintain (or simple enough to DIY)
Four seats (can be 2 or 4 door)
Enough boot space for weekends away, etc

I'm on my third BMW and like the marque, but worry a bit about maintenance/repair costs for older/leggyer examples. There are some clean, un-modded 6cyl E36's around at this price, but I'm struggling with what else might fit the bill.

I don't like astronomic mileage on a car, unless I know it can easliy deal with it and that it has been well looked after.

None of this may happen, but I'm keen to have a plan in case it does.

[aka_kerrly]

Id expect there to be plenty of E36s for that money , depending on which engine you would like you even venture into E46 money or a rather nice E39 5 series - a 528I sport with lots of toys would be worth looking at.

[300bhp/ton]

pstruck said:

I'm currently thinking seriously about changing career and possibly re-training. This could mean a fairly large drop in salary for a while and one of my options for freeing up some money is selling the current car and buyig a cheaper one.

What then would you buy for say £3k that would meet the following requirements:

Enjoyable to drive
A bit of performance
Reliable
Relatively inexpensive to maintain (or simple enough to DIY)
Four seats (can be 2 or 4 door)
Enough boot space for weekends away, etc

I'm on my third BMW and like the marque, but worry a bit about maintenance/repair costs for older/leggyer examples. There are some clean, un-modded 6cyl E36's around at this price, but I'm struggling with what else might fit the bill.

I don't like astronomic mileage on a car, unless I know it can easliy deal with it and that it has been well looked after.

None of this may happen, but I'm keen to have a plan in case it does.

If I'm honest I feel that £3k can buy you a lot of motorcar in this day and age.

Here's some that I like at this money or under that I think fill your brief:

MGZS180 - why? Because parts are easy to get, its cheap and it's reliable (brother had one). It's also a very good drive with quite a well sorted chassis. Has 4 doors, a decent boot, ok mpg and makes a great noise. The KV6 also means it's fairly rapid. You'll get an 04 model in budget.

Honda Prelude - I like the look of them. AWS is funky. It's a Honda. 2.2 VTEC is fast and sounds good.

MGZT190 - Very nice inside and comfy. More luxury, comfort and space than the others. But still a good all rounder.

Rover 200BRM - often forgotten. But fairly fast and a good drive. Plush custom interior and with a close ratio box and limited slip front diff make it a cut above many other hatches for this money.

BMW e30 - Personally like the 6's so 325/320. Yep they are older, but they are cooler and look great and I don't think you'll lose money on one. £3k should get you something pretty tidy too.

I have some more left field suggestions too, but maybe best if I don't.....

[cmackay81]

I got an e36 328i Touring for under a grand, high mileage, but hasn't skipped a beat.

for that money you could easily get an e46.

[edo]

1998 BMW 3 SERIES 328I SE 4DR AUTO ONLY 39.000 MILES FSH

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 39,000 miles, Orient Blue Metallic. Heated door mirrors, Height adjustable drivers seat, Steering wheel reach adjustment, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Immobiliser, Side airbags, Front electric windows, Electric door mirrors, Rear electric windows, ABS, Alloy wheels, Front fog lights, Passenger airbag, Remote central locking, Drivers airbag, Service indicator, Trip computer, Space saver spare wheel, Alarm, Electric sunroof, Traction control, Body coloured bumpers, Front armrest, Headlight washers, Rear armrest, Radio/Cassette, PAS. This Vehicle is in superb condition and comes with ONLY 39.000 miles from new with Service History, Its Loaded with Full Sand Leather Interior, Cruise control, Climate control, 16" Alloy wheels, All our cars come with a new M.O.T, a service and safety check and A.A warranty.Excellent Finance Rates Available, Part Exchange Welcome. £3,775

[pstruck]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. In response to some of the points/suggestions so far:

There are plenty of E36's around in budget, but not many are clean, orginal and un-messed with.

I might go for an E39, but I'm not sure a big wafter is what I'm after. Complexity worries me a little (rightly or wrongly).

MG's - cannot get over the whole 'Rover' thing. Perhaps I should.

Honda Prelude - complexity/styling - not my thing.

E30 - yes, maybe. Clean ones (not rusty) getting more difficult to find.

E46 - had two. Early ones worry me a bit - rear subframe/boot floor tears, etc.

This must sound like nothing other than a BMW will do, but that may not be the case. Keep up the suggestions.....

[road_rager]

Impreza Turbo Wagon?

[aka_kerrly]

few more suggestions
Saloons/hatches
Civic VTI-S
Octavia VRS / leon Cupra
mondeo ST24 / focus ST170
Galant VR4
Audi A3/4 quattro sport
Lexus IS200

Coupes
Merc CLK
Alfa GTV
Celica VVTI
nissan 200SX touring

[T84]

You'd get a Mondeo ST200 for that money, let alone an ST24.

[pstruck]

Now thinking I could up the budget to around £4k.

As this is a cost cutting exercise I don't want anything too costly to run and maintain.

So far, I have been reading up on:

Focus ST170 - will I find the performance underwhelming?
Leon Cupra 20VT - not sure about styling
Fabia vRS - diesel, and a stretch at this budget

Thanks for other suggestions above. Some would worry me on maintenance costs, some just don't do it for me. Any others which might along the lines of those mentioned above?

[Rammy76]

pstruck said:

Now thinking I could up the budget to around £4k.

As this is a cost cutting exercise I don't want anything too costly to run and maintain.

So far, I have been reading up on:

Focus ST170 - will I find the performance underwhelming?
Leon Cupra 20VT - not sure about styling
Fabia vRS - diesel, and a stretch at this budget

Thanks for other suggestions above. Some would worry me on maintenance costs, some just don't do it for me. Any others which might along the lines of those mentioned above?

I can only comment on the ST170 as I had one for a couple of years.

It was utterly reliable, comfortable (make sure and find one with Recaro leather seats) and good to drive.

Performance wise, they seem to vary. It certainly won't stand a chance against a Civic Type R or Leon Cupra etc but keep the revs up and they go quite well.

The trade off for the average performance is a well sorted FWD chassis that is great fun with superb feel, yet a nice compliant ride.

Edited by Rammy76 on Monday 18th October 07:05

[Dalou]

I was going to suggest a fabia vrs if u can find one in your budget.

Fits all the criteria. I averaged 48mpg mixed driving in mine.

The only 2 gripes with mine were poor door/window seals causing a moisture build up inside the car. During the winter the windscreen would freeze on the inside and would be a pain to clear. I believe this is a common problem though and relatively easy to fix.

The second is the seats. The support for your legs and backside is great but I used to get terrible cramp, even on quite short journeys because there was no lower back support whatsoever in the seat.

[pstruck]

My main concern about the Skoda (apart from it being a diesel) is the size. I think it might just be a bit too small for me and what I am used too.

Any thoughts on the Leon Cupra 20VT? Would it lose out much on the ride/handling/dynamics to the Focus?

[MoonMonkey]

If you fancy a Leon Cupra I would personally go for the Octavia vRS instead - I found it was nicer to drive.

Other alternative is the 9-5 Aero although I think they can be a bit hit and miss reliability wise. I have one and it's been great over the 8k miles I've had it and only cost me a new battery and a diy oil and filter change.

[theturbs]

How about an Accord Type R?

[carmadgaz]

Octavia 2.0TDi?