500 Quid Barge Challenge

[SkintEastwood]

I will soon have 500 beer tokens to spend on a car that will only be needed for six months.

So can it be possible to find a suitable barge with six months ticket for this budget that wont fall apart like a clown car?

Or maybe I should just get a Corsa 1.1 or summat?

Any suggestions welcome.

[NadiR]

Honda Civic 1.4 EJ9, a couple of these have been bought by family members in the past few months for less then £500. I can tell you that they are very reliable, reasonably quick if you get a manual and they will get you around 65 miles on £10 (or 50 miles if you get an auto). Hope this helps, and good luck with the search!

[McSam]

A Civic a barge?

I bought a 2.8 Audi A4 for £500 recently, that had decent MOT on it but did need tax. Car still running well, no trouble at all, as far as I know - didn't hang about either, at 190bhp/1280kg.

V6 A4s are generally a good idea for this, actually, nobody wants them at the moment!

[EDLT]

This Honda Accord looks suspiciously cheap:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/blac...

Or maybe a "broken but totally ok really, honest." Mercedes C200
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/merc...

You might wait six months for a decent condition cheap barge to come along. Or just get any hatchback that looks half decent.

[matthias73]

McSam said:

A Civic a barge?

I bought a 2.8 Audi A4 for £500 recently, that had decent MOT on it but did need tax. Car still running well, no trouble at all, as far as I know - didn't hang about either, at 190bhp/1280kg.

V6 A4s are generally a good idea for this, actually, nobody wants them at the moment!

Cheap to insure too.

Dick.

[McSam]

matthias73 said:

McSam said:

A Civic a barge?

I bought a 2.8 Audi A4 for £500 recently, that had decent MOT on it but did need tax. Car still running well, no trouble at all, as far as I know - didn't hang about either, at 190bhp/1280kg.

V6 A4s are generally a good idea for this, actually, nobody wants them at the moment!

Cheap to insure too.

Dick.

See, everyone's jealous too

[MX7]

matthias73 said:

McSam said:

A Civic a barge?

I bought a 2.8 Audi A4 for £500 recently, that had decent MOT on it but did need tax. Car still running well, no trouble at all, as far as I know - didn't hang about either, at 190bhp/1280kg.

V6 A4s are generally a good idea for this, actually, nobody wants them at the moment!

Cheap to insure too.

Dick.

Where did the OP mention insurance?

[McSam]

MX7 said:

Where did the OP mention insurance?

He was being serious, they actually are quite cheap to insure, and the insult was for me having one while he doesn't, not for a daft suggestion

[edo]

MOT till end of the year. Japanese reliability. Barge. Should be able to haggle to budget.

£599

Lexus LS 4.0L V8 4dr Auto Saloon 1993

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 150,000 miles, White. 4 Door Saloon, White, Petrol, Automatic, 150,000 miles, Service history, Full Black leather trim excellent condition, Power steering, Remote central locking, Front and rear electric windows, Electric mirrors, Electric sunroof, Electric front seats, Heated front and rear seats, Climate control, Air conditioning, Rear heaters, Stereo, Cruise control, digital dash, cup holders, Front and rear arm rests, over drive, Front and rear heated screens, head lamp washers, alloys, Towbar, December 2012 M.O.T, drives and feels like new, everything works, must be seen and driven. £599






http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[SkintEastwood]

edo said:

MOT till end of the year. Japanese reliability. Barge. Should be able to haggle to budget.

£599

Lexus LS 4.0L V8 4dr Auto Saloon 1993

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 150,000 miles, White. 4 Door Saloon, White, Petrol, Automatic, 150,000 miles, Service history, Full Black leather trim excellent condition, Power steering, Remote central locking, Front and rear electric windows, Electric mirrors, Electric sunroof, Electric front seats, Heated front and rear seats, Climate control, Air conditioning, Rear heaters, Stereo, Cruise control, digital dash, cup holders, Front and rear arm rests, over drive, Front and rear heated screens, head lamp washers, alloys, Towbar, December 2012 M.O.T, drives and feels like new, everything works, must be seen and driven. £599






http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Insurance btw is not an issue as I'm old.

[McSam]

That LS has blown me out of the water, great find!

Though the angel on my shoulder does remind me of Garlick buying his and immediately spending an undisclosed but presumed four-figure sum fixing the suspension..

[rockandrollmark]

One of my neighbours has just replaced his modified T5 V70 with one of those. I thought he was mad when I first saw it and thought it was a bit of a step down, but having a nose around it I have to say it looks immense and for a 20 year old car, once you get past it looking a bit dated still looks box fresh.

Good barge hunting!

[NadiR]

SkintEastwood said:

Insurance btw is not an issue as I'm old.

Ah I didn't realise that while i suggested a Civic. Allow me to make up by recommending this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

I find this an interesting car because it has all the goodies you'd want and I've only ever seen a few of these (last one I saw being last week) and they have a road presence of a car such as an old Jag XJ.

[edo]

Didnt even know they did 3.0i engines in these....

CITROEN Xantia 3.0i V6 Exclusive 1998

5 Doors, Automatic, Hatchback, Petrol, 53,000 miles, Red, MOT-04-2012. Excellent service history, Timing belt replaced at 46000 miles, Full black leather, MOT April 2012, 6 months road tax available, PAS, Electric windows, Electric mirrors, Electric slide & tilt sunroof, Multi adjustable electric heated seats, Stereo radio/cassette & multi CD changer with steering wheel audio controls, Airbags, Front & rear centre armrests, Air conditioning, Automatic with sport & snow settings, Full set carpet overmats, Front & rear headrests, Split folding rear seats, 3x3 point rear seatbelts, Front & rear heated screens, Adjustable steering column, Front & rear heated screens, Interior security locking, High & low suspension settings, Rear wash wipe, Front & rear fog lights, 15" alloys with excellent tyres, Remote central locking, Alarm & immobiliser with 2 sets of keys, An absolute beautiful car, A credit to its previous owner, A pleasure to drive, A very rare model, A giveaway at. £495 p/x welcome

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[SkintEastwood]

Citroen looks ok but possibly a bit fragile?

[NadiR]

edo said:

Didnt even know they did 3.0i engines in these....

CITROEN Xantia 3.0i V6 Exclusive 1998

5 Doors, Automatic, Hatchback, Petrol, 53,000 miles, Red, MOT-04-2012. Excellent service history, Timing belt replaced at 46000 miles, Full black leather, MOT April 2012, 6 months road tax available, PAS, Electric windows, Electric mirrors, Electric slide & tilt sunroof, Multi adjustable electric heated seats, Stereo radio/cassette & multi CD changer with steering wheel audio controls, Airbags, Front & rear centre armrests, Air conditioning, Automatic with sport & snow settings, Full set carpet overmats, Front & rear headrests, Split folding rear seats, 3x3 point rear seatbelts, Front & rear heated screens, Adjustable steering column, Front & rear heated screens, Interior security locking, High & low suspension settings, Rear wash wipe, Front & rear fog lights, 15" alloys with excellent tyres, Remote central locking, Alarm & immobiliser with 2 sets of keys, An absolute beautiful car, A credit to its previous owner, A pleasure to drive, A very rare model, A giveaway at. £495 p/x welcome

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

+1
These also have hydro pneumatic suspension which would mean that you would waft over pretty much anything.

[twazzock]

You could probably get a Merc 190E for that money.

[neil_bmw]

SkintEastwood said:

Citroen looks ok but possibly a bit fragile?

Decent enough for wafting and quite comfy, but a 3.0 V6 with 190bhp and 0-60 in 9 secs.....that is seriously slow?

My money would go on the lexus, despite the potential bills.

[AtticusFinch]

Omega?? Should have plenty of choice

[ED209]

Give it another month and you can have my 2001 mondeo hatch for £500 (or maybe less) full mot on it from last thurs, taxed until end of June 2012. Only one owner from new before i bought it as a stop gap car, 102k miles and full (and i mean 100% full service history)

I got it back in sept for £650 and apart from getting a puncture it has been utterly faultless so far.