What decent cheap car? Lend me your brain cells.

[2 Wycked]

So, here's the dealio. My insurance has bumped the premium I pay up from £660pa to £1870pa on my E36 325i and, after much searching, I'm unable to find it cheaper elsewhere. I can't really understand why they've done it - I'm 22 with five years no claims, no points on my license and plenty of experience of driving these and more powerful cars in the past - but it is what it is and I'll have to adapt. So I've given the car to my Dad, as his six year old Corsa 1.2 (Rover Special Edition) has HGF and he can't be bothered to fix it, and I'm going to buy myself another one.

My requirements are below:
- Less than £1000.
- Not too slow.
- Reasonably comfortable, I do approximately 20000 miles per year.
- Fuel economy not a big deal but this is the reason I sold my 4.0 Jag, so do take it into consideration.
- If there are any reasonable "classics" available (pre-1990 apparently) then that'd likely make a nicer car more readily available.
- Reasonably easy home maintenance.
- I don't mind if it's manual/auto or petrol/diesel.

I know that's pretty broad, but I'm kind of hoping you can throw me some oddballs. I've considered MX5s and they seem to be readily available in my price bracket at this time of year but I just want to be sure I've exhausted all options before I jump at something. I've spent years finding a reasonable compromise of performance/economy/usability and came to the 325i which I'm very happy with, so anything now will probably be lacking in some area.

I can't have a 320i, which costs £1000pa less to insure, because my Dad'll take the piss so it has to be something entirely different; preferably not a BMW at all, much as I've enjoyed every one I've had.

It should also be noted that there seems to be no logic to the insurance quotes I'm receiving. Some quicker cars are cheap to insure where something slow is expensive, so any ideas you have please put forward as I'll just get a quote and see what's what.

Thanks in advance,
Adam.

[jains15]

Some sort of old merc?

[Willy Nilly]

Nicely run in

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2190660.htm

[Fleckers]

Rover 75 / MG ZT

[Willy Nilly]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2179003.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2236310.htm

V6

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2096571.htm

[GTIR]

That's quite an increase in premiums!

Adams' have always got a discount on everything as far as I'm aware.
Try again elsewhere.






My names Adam, not Dave.

[RB26DETT]

Ford Puma ?

Or mayby an old Ford Granada with a v6 and all the toys?

[lordlee]

This ex-Ferrari 156 would be a good alternative. The 2.0 is a revvy and fun lump.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2297506.htm



Or...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2236879.htm

[simonej]

Rover 75, if you can live with the image. Or a ZT if you can't (but you may have to find a bit of extra cash).

[2 Wycked]

GTIR said:

Adams' have always got a discount on everything as far as I'm aware.

We are a truly remarkable bunch.

I should make it clear that £1000 is a firm limit and that I'm not willing (able) to go above it at all.

A Puma costs £895 to insure for the year, after years of small premiums this seems like a lot to pay for a small 1.7 litre coupé, but I've not driven one so will probably give it a go before writing it off completely.

The Prelude is something like £1300 to insure.

Rover 75s are surprisingly expensive to insure too. It was one of my first thoughts.

Old Mercs have been considered. W102s, W202s and W124s are all on the "maybe" list.

Cheers for the suggestions so far.

[2 Wycked]

Cheeky bump. Don't know if that's allowed on here really but there must be something interesting/fun/cool out there for this sort of money, surely?

[y282]

you had a quote for an mx5?

[lordlee]

take it the last ones I mentioned werent any good. this any better?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2262991.htm

[2 Wycked]

y282 said:

you had a quote for an mx5?

Yup. Just shy of £900 for a late mk1 1.6 UK car, the 90bhp one. Earlier 115bhp cars are over £1000 to insure and I don't wish to pay that.

I know that the earlier cars are much preferred by the masses, but is it safe for me to presume that the late cars can be just as much fun because cornering is the true appeal of the MX5?

[Chapppers]

For £1k all you'll get is a MK1 restoration project. Go drive some pumas, you'll be happy with one of those. The 1.7 is very composed and pretty rapid.

Edited by Chapppers on Sunday 5th December 12:04

[Jasandjules]

A Passat TDi "Sport"?

Not exactly a young bloke's car but comfy, nippy enough for an overtake or three, and good fuel economy. I would hope the insurance wouldn't be a killer either?!?

[2 Wycked]

lordlee said:

take it the last ones I mentioned werent any good. this any better?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2262991.htm

They were just out of budget is all. I've always liked the 406 Coupe, but insurance again is upwards of £1200 for reasons beyond my comprehension.

[2 Wycked]

Chapppers said:

For £1k all you'll get is a MK1 restoration project. Go drive some pumas, you'll be happy with one of those. The 1.7 is very composed and pretty rapid.

You reckon? What about an MGF?

[lordlee]

2 Wycked said:

lordlee said:

take it the last ones I mentioned werent any good. this any better?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2262991.htm

They were just out of budget is all. I've always liked the 406 Coupe, but insurance again is upwards of £1200 for reasons beyond my comprehension.

Fair enough but I reckon you would get either of them for a grand if you bargained well.

Mk1 MX5 - this would go for a grand all day long...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2014217.htm

[2 Wycked]

lordlee said:

Mk1 MX5 - this would go for a grand all day long...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2014217.htm

Yeah I do like that one, but Eunoses (Eunos's? Eunii?) cost twice as much to insure as UK MX5s.