£4k what car

[AlecG]

Hello, another what car thread!

I've currently got a mk3 mr2, the OH has a smart convertible. I'm thinking the mr2 should go for something that is big enough to swallow a mountain bike or two, and/or the dogs plus some weekend away stuff!

I like rwd, and have the green light to get anything "so long as I'm happy" which in an ideal world would be a z3m coupe/sagaris and the same problems...! However my budget is £4k and I need a bit of space, and would like over 30mpg, plus it'll be my only car, although I only commute 20 miles or so a day!

Current thoughts are e36 328i sport (but don't know if they'll fit a bike in the boot?) or maybe a e46 330ci?

[T16OLE]

This is my current BMW 330ci Sport Auto

I couldn't recommend one enough

Shop around for a decent one, I saw a fair few before settling on this one.

Manuals are pretty good on juice too for a 3.0, which I must say is exquisite and a pleasure to drive.

Watch for, rusty body work, suspension issues mainly wishbones M sport ones are £200 each and will probably need doing, other items include the cooling system.

On the point below, mileage agreed, however, mine is absolutely mint, it doesn't have a single scratch or dent, just make sure you shop around as I view some right pigs

Edited by T16OLE on Monday 3rd October 14:34

[AlecG]

Nice! What sort of mpg are you getting? I'd prefer a manual I think...

[T16OLE]

AlecG said:

Nice! What sort of mpg are you getting? I'd prefer a manual I think...

Depends on how you drive it. Mine is an auto so not as good MPG wise.

A long journey at 80mph to 85mph about 30mpg.

Stick to 70mph and i`ll get 35mpg.

Around town will be low 20`s.

Average overall is roughly 26mpg to 27mpg

Remember though, no injectors, turbo`s or fuel pumps to worry about exploding and costing hundreds if not thousands.

Edited by T16OLE on Monday 3rd October 14:40

[AlecG]

The Crack Fox said:

I've also got a 330ci, mine is a manual, sport. Good on fuel, quick, reliable, practical etc etc.... but you won't find a good one with sensible miles for sub £4k IMO.

How much are good ones do you reckon?

Any opinions on the 328i sport e36?

[T16OLE]

AlecG said:

How much are good ones do you reckon?

Any opinions on the 328i sport e36?

I paid £3300 for mine, 2001 wth 140k, my friend paid £3800 for his, although his is manual and has the harmon karden stero and a sunroof and only had 110k

[300bhp/ton]

AlecG said:

Hello, another what car thread!

I've currently got a mk3 mr2, the OH has a smart convertible. I'm thinking the mr2 should go for something that is big enough to swallow a mountain bike or two, and/or the dogs plus some weekend away stuff!

I like rwd, and have the green light to get anything "so long as I'm happy" which in an ideal world would be a z3m coupe/sagaris and the same problems...! However my budget is £4k and I need a bit of space, and would like over 30mpg, plus it'll be my only car, although I only commute 20 miles or so a day!

Current thoughts are e36 328i sport (but don't know if they'll fit a bike in the boot?) or maybe a e46 330ci?

Have you considered a bike rack? Might be the best bet for moving a mountain bike about.

To get dogs in really limits it to a large hatch or an estate though, depending on how much space you want.

If an estate and RWD it leaves BMW, maybe a Merc or perhaps an old Volvo.

If a hatch and rwd.... umm well yeah!

[AlecG]

A bike rack is a good option, haha!

We've got two Jack Russells (a Parsons and a normal one) which fit in the smart boot, but then we've leg space for "other stuff" if we go anywhere... Or in my car I can take the dogs, and dispose of their stuff in cubby holes and lose the OH (which can sometime work...).

[300bhp/ton]

AlecG said:

A bike rack is a good option, haha!

We've got two Jack Russells (a Parsons and a normal one) which fit in the smart boot, but then we've leg space for "other stuff" if we go anywhere... Or in my car I can take the dogs, and dispose of their stuff in cubby holes and lose the OH (which can sometime work...).

Suspect you'll struggle to better a BMW. Guess you might find something like a Civic Type R almost in budget. FWD, but plenty speedy for what it is.

[AlecG]

T16OLE said:

I paid £3300 for mine, 2001 wth 140k, my friend paid £3800 for his, although his is manual and has the harmon karden stero and a sunroof and only had 110k

Stupid question, but where did you get yours?

[T16OLE]

AlecG said:

Stupid question, but where did you get yours?

Locally advertised on Autotrader, bought from Chepstow S.Wales

[AlecG]

Thanking you, I'll keep an eye out on Autotrader!

I'll put my car up for sale tonight methinks...

[Chris71]

AlecG said:

Current thoughts are e36 328i sport (but don't know if they'll fit a bike in the boot?)

I've been looking at these recently. Personally I've all but given up as on my (much lower) budget they all seem to be baggier than MC Hammer's parachute pants, but at that sort of money you should get a good one, which I can imagine would be a great car.

Bike transport is a key thing for me too and I'd say you'd probably get one in there, but you'd have to be pretty creative to manage two. The aperture between the boot and the rear seats is pretty tiny and the boot lid is pretty low for access. I haven't tried an E46, but I can't imagine they're much better.

To certain extent that's common to all 'three box' saloons. We gave up trying to take my MG ZS on a trip to North Wales a few years back and took a mate's 106 instead, because the two bikes would fit in the diminutive hatchback, but not in the full size saloon!

Coincidentally, you can get one bike quite happily in the back of a 944 with the seats down.

[AlecG]

I'll have to add that to the "possibly" list, thanking you!

[dooosuk]

AlecG said:

How much are good ones do you reckon?

Less than people think at the moment. I bought a 52plate with 107k on it for £3300 in March.

I think you'll be able to bargain with anyone selling at the moment as there won't be too many takers for a 3litre petrol engined car at the moment.

[AlecG]

dooosuk said:

Less than people think at the moment. I bought a 52plate with 107k on it for £3300 in March.

I think you'll be able to bargain with anyone selling at the moment as there won't be too many takers for a 3litre petrol engined car at the moment.

Nice! I take it these don't mind lots of miles then?

[Yiliterate]

My Dad has a 330ci and while it's a great car, the only way you'd get a bike or two in there would be to strip them down into their component parts!

Would you consider 4WD? If so, and you were willing to compromise on the MPG a bit...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3241534.htm

[AlecG]

Any other suggestions/thoughts?

[mikey P 500]

Rx8 might be worth a shout £4k will get you a less than 5yr old car with less than 40k miles these days. Mpg is more like 25 than 30mpg but on your fairly low annual mileage that’s a difference of less than £400 a year surely worth the extra considering you would be get a car half the age compared to a BMW or similar. It also feels far closer to a proper sports car than a coupe.

[andy-xr]

Throwing bikes in the back rules out pretty much all the cars mentioned so far....I was thinking something Mondeo'ey or 5 series estate until bike racks were brought into it