£3k to spend...what to get?

[Miss Music]

As the title says really. After a change of car. Currently have a Saab 9-3 turbo convertible with a few bits of cool kit on; previous car was a Nissan 200sx turbo and other cars I've had include an MR2 turbo and a mk2 golf GTI 16v.

I'm probably asking a lot really but ideally it'd be great if it would be something that has a good chance of not losing too much more value. LOVE jap stuff but had a bad experience with the Nissan (intercooler had gone - the garage I haven't much choice but to take it to took 9 weeks and a lot of wasted money trying to diagnose it; me and husband ended up eventually diagnosing it and doing it at home...). Needs to be realiable.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[cheesesliceking]

WRX?

[300bhp/ton]

Miss Music said:

As the title says really. After a change of car. Currently have a Saab 9-3 turbo convertible with a few bits of cool kit on; previous car was a Nissan 200sx turbo and other cars I've had include an MR2 turbo and a mk2 golf GTI 16v.

I'm probably asking a lot really but ideally it'd be great if it would be something that has a good chance of not losing too much more value. LOVE jap stuff but had a bad experience with the Nissan (intercooler had gone - the garage I haven't much choice but to take it to took 9 weeks and a lot of wasted money trying to diagnose it; me and husband ended up eventually diagnosing it and doing it at home...). Needs to be realiable.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Number of seats? Boot yes/no? To do what with? For fun? Weekend? Daily? Types of roads you drive on? Intended use? Driving style? Preference to handling traits and power delivery? Running costs? Cost per mile/MPG?

£3k can buy you quite a bit but narrowing it down a tad might help somewhat

[Jezz172]

MX-5!!

Sorry what was the question again?

[Miss Music]

300bhp/ton said:

Number of seats? Boot yes/no? To do what with? For fun? Weekend? Daily? Types of roads you drive on? Intended use? Driving style? Preference to handling traits and power delivery? Running costs? Cost per mile/MPG?

£3k can buy you quite a bit but narrowing it down a tad might help somewhat

4 seats (can be a 2 plus 2); boot - yes. Mainly for weekend use. Similar mpg to what I'm getting now (28-30). Just after something different that's fun and might stand a good chance of holding it's value. Was considering a porsche 944 turbo/s2 but think I'm probably looking at a bit more than £3k for a half decent well looked after one.

[Pontoneer]

A Mercedes W124 Coupe - they come with various engine options , although I'd suggest one of the six cylinder models would be best , also these tend to be better specced than the smaller engined ones .

You should get a good one for about £3K and , since they are beginning to gain recognition as Classics , they should be starting to appreciate rather than depreciate .

Here are a few pictures of a fellow club member's car /













You really couldn't do any better for lasting value and reliability for that sort of money !

Without looking hard at all , here are a few examples from the classifieds on this website - some well within your stated budget , and a couple a little above ....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2969196.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2323247.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2876781.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2744729.htm

Edited by Pontoneer on Monday 18th July 14:20

[Miss Music]

Thanks for the reply - nice car but not really my cup of tea.

Forgot to add, no autos and no imports.

[dr_gn]

I'm looking for a 2000/2001 BMW 330i / Ci. c£3000 Loads around, but not too many manuals.

[300bhp/ton]

Miss Music said:

4 seats (can be a 2 plus 2); boot - yes. Mainly for weekend use. Similar mpg to what I'm getting now (28-30). Just after something different that's fun and might stand a good chance of holding it's value. Was considering a porsche 944 turbo/s2 but think I'm probably looking at a bit more than £3k for a half decent well looked after one.

Do you mind a bit of spannering? Also how many miles are you doing a year in it?

I know mpg is important. But if you are only doing say 5000 miles a year, then the cost difference between 22mpg and 28mg is fairly minimal.

As for holding its money, that's always a tough one. Older and more niche is likely the best answer. But often niche cars are harder to sell or might like a bit more TLC to keep them going.

Honda Integra Type R (2000)
135,000 miles £3,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986174.htm


FORD CAPRI 2.8i SPECIAL,LONG MOT AND TAX,FULL HISTORY,VERY CLEAN CAR (1984)
98,577 miles £4,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3006917.htm


Pontiac Firebird Formula (1988)
£2,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1846465.htm


1994 PONTIAC TRANS AM 5.7L V8 (1994)
35,500 miles £4,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2847000.htm


ROVER 220 COUPE TURBO (1996)
58,000 miles £1,400
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2542996.htm


JDM STI, Version 3, 300bhp (1997)
84,000 miles £2,750
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986002.htm


Celica GT4 ST205 **UK Car** (1994)
104,000 miles £3,200
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2978406.htm


Skyline R32 GTS-T with 2 way, bigger turbo etc (1993)
£3,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2883839.htm


R33 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-S,TURBO , BLACK, LOW MILES 58,000 MANUEL BOX (1995)
58,000 miles £2,750
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3022103.htm


MG ZS 180 2.5 V6 MANUAL (2004)
71,614 miles £2,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2853066.htm


LOTUS EXCEL (1987) 2.2 HC ESSEX BLUE (1987)
96,000 miles £3,800
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3041444.htm


JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L SPORT MANUAL SOFT TOP (1997)
83,000 miles £4,250
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2861717.htm


JAGUAR X-TYPE 3.0 V6 SPORT
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2976352.htm


Accord Type R (1999)
120,000 miles £2,400
Accord Type R Accord Type R Accord Type R
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3040093.htm


Chevrolet Camaro American Muscle! (1984)
98,000 miles £3,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3037893.htm


325i Convertible, 1991, superb original condition (1991)
81,000 miles £3,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2945281.htm
http://cdn.images.pistonheads.com/aimg/2945/294528...

1998 BMW 3 SERIES 328I MTECH SPORT - LEATHER - STEEL SUNROOF +++ (1998/S)
80,405 miles £2,550
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2808774.htm


mustang gt for sale (1996)
136,534 miles £4,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2995275.htm

[Liquid Knight]

My Rover and keep the £2500 change.

[m44kts]

My money would be on an Accord Type R, owned one a few years back and they're fantastic.

[Cockey]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3004223.htm

Standard trim:
0-60mph 6s
0-100mph 14s.

Reliability is good as long as you dont buy a lemon, which most of the cheaper ones are.

Edited by Cockey on Tuesday 19th July 08:51

[300bhp/ton]

Cockey said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3004223.htm

Standard trim:
0-60mph 6s
0-100mph 14s.

Reliability is good as long as you dont buy a lemon, which most of the cheaper ones are.

Edited by Cockey on Tuesday 19th July 08:51

Good shout, I forgot about these. Really fab looking cars IMO.

[Liquid Knight]

swerni said:

Liquid Knight said:

My Rover and keep the £3950 change.

EFA

Git

[smash]

300bhp/ton said:

Do you mind a bit of spannering? Also how many miles are you doing a year in it?

I know mpg is important. But if you are only doing say 5000 miles a year, then the cost difference between 22mpg and 28mg is fairly minimal.

As for holding its money, that's always a tough one. Older and more niche is likely the best answer. But often niche cars are harder to sell or might like a bit more TLC to keep them going.

Honda Integra Type R (2000)
135,000 miles £3,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986174.htm


FORD CAPRI 2.8i SPECIAL,LONG MOT AND TAX,FULL HISTORY,VERY CLEAN CAR (1984)
98,577 miles £4,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3006917.htm


Pontiac Firebird Formula (1988)
£2,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1846465.htm


1994 PONTIAC TRANS AM 5.7L V8 (1994)
35,500 miles £4,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2847000.htm


ROVER 220 COUPE TURBO (1996)
58,000 miles £1,400
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2542996.htm


JDM STI, Version 3, 300bhp (1997)
84,000 miles £2,750
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2986002.htm


Celica GT4 ST205 **UK Car** (1994)
104,000 miles £3,200
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2978406.htm


Skyline R32 GTS-T with 2 way, bigger turbo etc (1993)
£3,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2883839.htm


R33 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-S,TURBO , BLACK, LOW MILES 58,000 MANUEL BOX (1995)
58,000 miles £2,750
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3022103.htm


MG ZS 180 2.5 V6 MANUAL (2004)
71,614 miles £2,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2853066.htm


LOTUS EXCEL (1987) 2.2 HC ESSEX BLUE (1987)
96,000 miles £3,800
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3041444.htm


JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L SPORT MANUAL SOFT TOP (1997)
83,000 miles £4,250
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2861717.htm


JAGUAR X-TYPE 3.0 V6 SPORT
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2976352.htm


Accord Type R (1999)
120,000 miles £2,400
Accord Type R Accord Type R Accord Type R
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3040093.htm


Chevrolet Camaro American Muscle! (1984)
98,000 miles £3,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3037893.htm


325i Convertible, 1991, superb original condition (1991)
81,000 miles £3,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2945281.htm
http://cdn.images.pistonheads.com/aimg/2945/294528...

1998 BMW 3 SERIES 328I MTECH SPORT - LEATHER - STEEL SUNROOF +++ (1998/S)
80,405 miles £2,550
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2808774.htm


mustang gt for sale (1996)
136,534 miles £4,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2995275.htm

Might have been easier to post THIS LINK

[300bhp/ton]

smash said:

Might have been easier to post THIS LINK

And there was me thinking I was being helpful offering up some different directions for the op to look in

[Jacob S]

300bhp/ton said:

And there was me thinking I was being helpful offering up some different directions for the op to look in

I thought it was a pretty good post tbh!