Car Ideas
Author
Discussion

craig51

Original Poster:

62 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Ok,

I have a Merc ML320 which i love.

Soon, i will require another car! Why?

Well, I will be working in the middle of Edinburgh and dont really want to take the ML in. Dont want door dings on it, the fuel is heavy when in town, and parking spaces can be tight and small.

So, what I am after is a runabout, purely to get me from home to work and back. Doesnt need to have any comforts,even a maniual choke is ok. All i want is a semi-realiable car which i can service myself, and can park anywhere.

Does anyone have any good ideas! Budget wise, cheaper the better, just as long as its realiable. I was thinking abot Nissan Almeria as i used to own one but had to scrap it due to rust issues. Or a wee POLO. I even thought about a Micra. I hate these cars, but, my mind tells me it makes sense.

Also, what is the CHEAPEST OTR price for a new car, any new car? Thought i saw one for £5k recently.

HustleRussell

25,951 posts

180 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
If you're used to an ML Merc, are you sure you want to start rattling around in some old stbox? I'd suggest something with at least a little interior quality and comfort... Something like an old normally aspirated Audi A3 or something out of the same family? A Mondeo? Old Citroen C5? 406? All bargain money, superb ride comfort and easy to maintain.

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

202 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Bus or train. Only a crazy person takes a car into the centre of Edinburgh these days.

infradig

978 posts

227 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
How about a Merc 190 or BMW e30? Reliable,cheap and as long as completely standard,preferably on steels with plastic trims,totally classless and cool.

em177

3,143 posts

184 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Papa Hotel said:
Bus or train. Only a crazy person takes a car into the centre of Edinburgh these days.
Em... I have done most days for the past 3 years!! lol.

I can sell you a nice new Honda Vision scooter! £1800 brand new, 141mpg, under 20 quid a year to tax and pennies to insure. Can park it anywhere for free, and they hold there value well...... Nothing better for the job.

Shameless marketing plug over, I dont work at a motorbike garage in Edinburgh or anything wink

ewenm

28,506 posts

265 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
craig51 said:
Also, what is the CHEAPEST OTR price for a new car, any new car? Thought i saw one for £5k recently.
Something from Dacia? Or is the Tata Nano available in the UK yet? G-Whiz? hehe

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

202 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
em177 said:
Em... I have done most days for the past 3 years!! lol.

I can sell you a nice new Honda Vision scooter! £1800 brand new, 141mpg, under 20 quid a year to tax and pennies to insure. Can park it anywhere for free, and they hold there value well...... Nothing better for the job.

Shameless marketing plug over, I dont work at a motorbike garage in Edinburgh or anything wink
You're not talking proper city centre then, the OP sounds more like he's talking about the bits just north of Princes Street.

HustleRussell

25,951 posts

180 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
infradig said:
How about a Merc 190 or BMW e30? Reliable,cheap and as long as completely standard,preferably on steels with plastic trims,totally classless and cool.
Old and rusty, corroded brake lines, fuel lines as well as bodywork. A 80s/early 90s German car would not be top of my list if ultimate reliability and longevity was my only requirement.

Dalto123

3,198 posts

183 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Smart car? Not the mostinteresting car in the world and probably not the best to drive but in its favour you get lots of mpg's, good reliability, its easy to park, and it's an automatic which is probably nicer than manual to drive in the city centre. Plus from first hand experience there is far more room inside than you would expect.

craig51

Original Poster:

62 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Two wheels, I did think about that, but I would like to give my girlfriend a lift in and back, plus it means she won't have to pay a bus.

5ont worry about comfort, I really only need a box with 4 wheels on it to get in, knowing that if people are bashing it etc, I won't care. Even an old audi I will care too much for etc.

Just as relaibale as a cheap car can be.

I will be parking as close to lothain road as possible. Have some spaces lined up.