Biggest sub £2k bargain?

[white_goodman]

By biggest, I don't mean size but I'm talking more along the lines of which car could you buy within this budget that you could realistically run reliably as an every day car that's not going to cost a fortune to fix, yet if you stuck a private plate on it, it would still look the part and the average man (or woman) in the street wouldn't realise how little it cost you. I consider myself a past master at this, as I owned 3 sub £3k cars in the past that people were envious of yet cost significantly less than their newer cars (laser green 205 GTi, E30 325i Convertible, Corrado VR6).

I've always thought that of the mainstream brands, Volkswagen (with the Polo and Golf thanks to their evolutionary styling)and Peugeot (205/306/206 because they're quite pretty) have done rather well. Admittedly, the bubble has probably burst on the 205 now and with the current design direction at Peugeot, I can't see the trend continuing).

Considering the more premium alternatives, I guess the E46 3-Series, E39 5-Series and older 7-Series models are all handsome cars (although the 7-Series may be too complicated and the 3-Series would tend to attract the "wrong" sort at this sort of money.

An old Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class would still look the part if you can find a non-rusty one and Jaguar XJs and S-Types have also been quite cheap.

What else?
Perhaps a Rover 75 or a classic-shape Saab 900 Turbo (hardtops are still quite cheap but convertibles are fetching quite big money now)

Volvo 850/V70 T5 Estate?

And because this is Pistonheads then a Mazda MX-5 (although MGFs are really cheap as well).

So what are your biggest sub £2k bargains? Feel free to post pics if you think your car qualifies!

[jas xjr]

I would say x308 jaguar . Simply because the public are not familiar with them. They still look more expensive than they are .

I know I am biased but take a look

[ali4390]

I always think Jaguar X-Types are good value for less than 2 grand. Any old BMW's and Mercedes as mentioned. And won't be long till RX8s are sub 2k bargains.

[tercelgold]

The saving between 2 and 3K Isn't going to be huge, a 2K car could cost the difference in fuel and servicing alone.

Edit: However

How about an Audi A4 , under 2K 34mpg combined along with low power.



Edit: changed to a cheaper Audi.

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

Edited by tercelgold on Tuesday 14th February 16:23

[rajkohli81]

Benz - R129 SL500...CLK Cab...300TE Estate..post-2000 C220 CDI..post-01 S320 CDI
Jag - X300 series XJ8 LWB/XJR...XK8
BMW - post-02 E46 320d, E39 530d
Audi - Allroad 2.5TDI..A6 TDI Avant..A8 3.7
Jeep - post-99 Grand Cherokee Ltd with LPG
Lexus - LS430
Saab - 9-5 Aero Estate
VW - Corrado VR6

for starters

[hairykrishna]

Sub 1k is my speciality. I think probably the best deal was a tweaked Saab 9000 Aero for 800 quid, which was a truly astonishing car for the money. Largely 'quirk' free too.

My £250 Mercedes 500SEL was a high point too. Couple of 944's in not bad nick. There's a lot of choice.

[djt100]

MY S-type, £2150, and everyone comments on how can i afford to drive a jag .... always funny from people with £20K plus new cars.

[rajkohli81]

djt100 said:

MY S-type, £2150, and everyone comments on how can i afford to drive a jag .... always funny from people with £20K plus new cars.

they probably mean running costs, lol

[jas xjr]

rajkohli81 said:

they probably mean running costs, lol

no worse than equivalent merc or bmw

[rajkohli81]

jas xjr said:

rajkohli81 said:

they probably mean running costs, lol

no worse than equivalent merc or bmw

Believe me, Im a huge Jag fan, but a £2k S-Type is going to be petrol and from experience they are not as frugal and often less reliable than equivalent 530d/E270 CDI which are within budget.

I absolutely loved my '04 XJ8 4.2 and the chap that bought it from me found it more economical than his 3.0 S Type by miles (owing to the fact its lighter, I imagine).

A good friend of mine swapped his E270 for a S-Type 2.7D and also found it significantly less economical, but wouldnt go back owing to its superior levels of comfort and refinement.

Would personally always choose an XJ over an S Class/7 series, but from experience, there are fewer Indies around to service them and parts are a little pricier, so even I can't argue their case on the running costs front.

[CzechItOut]

Assuming it's had a fairly recent cambelt change (it says full service history) it's got the right alloys, gorgeous red leather and reasonable mileage.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3641804.htm

[Mastodon2]

My vote would probably go to the MR2 Turbo. You can get a fairly ratty one for less, but around the £2000 mark you can get a lovely one. They have a lot going for them - small, still look stylish today, a fair turn of pace, as you'd expect of a 240bhp 2 seater.

If you are looking for a cheap car to carry the kids and the dog around in it's obviously no good, but if I had to do the two car thing, or just just fancied something a bit different, where else can you get a mid engine, rwd turbo car for two bags of sand?

[RKDE]

I am a little bias but I was in a similar position but with £3.5k to spend and I opted for an MG zt-t diesel which is a very well kitted out car with many options. I have had it for a couple of years now and its been a truly excellent car. value for money I would really consider looking at the rover 75 / mg zt as its very often overlooked and is a super car for the money.

I would buy another... Not sure what else, I had a golf gti before and it was just trouble, maybe I would consider something more basic and small

[Chris Peacock]

Cat d civic type r...

[robsco]

Alfa 166. All that Italian style and flair, and a proper Busso V6.

[NadiR]

Chris Peacock said:

Cat d civic type r...

Funny that one, I saw a CTR a couple of weeks ago on Autotrader for 2k that looked really mint, and only right at the end of the (lengthy) advert does the seller mention that its a cat c/d. So if your looking at cheap CTR's, start reading them from the last line.

[samdale]

Mastodon2 said:

My vote would probably go to the MR2 Turbo. You can get a fairly ratty one for less, but around the £2000 mark you can get a lovely one. They have a lot going for them - small, still look stylish today, a fair turn of pace, as you'd expect of a 240bhp 2 seater.

If you are looking for a cheap car to carry the kids and the dog around in it's obviously no good, but if I had to do the two car thing, or just just fancied something a bit different, where else can you get a mid engine, rwd turbo car for two bags of sand?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639396.htm

Though it's much harder to find one thats completely standard

[cptsideways]

Something like this, http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3640075.htm when compared to an equivelant costing VAG Tdi: apart from fuel it basicly wont cost a fortune in Diesel repairs eg Fuel pumps, DPF's, every switch will still work (unlike every VAG car I've ever owned) and there is no money to loose on it.

10k miles in an LS will cost 2500k in fuel & thats about all it will cost as you wont have to repair it ever!!!

An equivelant VW Tdi doing double the mpg might only cost £1200 in fuel, but you'll spend the same again on fixing the bloody thing every week (in my experience) thats bottom arms, ball joints, window switches, hazards switches, airbag faults, abs faults, a/c faults, ignition switch faults you name it I've had to fix it.

At the budget end of motoring I guarantee an LS or GS will be cheaper to run long term.

[bamberwell]

MG ZT 190+ does everything , reliable,comfortable,quickish , handles well, handsome in an old school kinda way etc all for less than £1500....

[zaphod42]

A Saab 9000 or 9-5 with some fettling at Abbott Racing would be my choice. Epic Q-Cars.