So I'm about to go shed/barge shopping. Too much choice!
Discussion
Firstly, apologies for not using the search feature, as I'm sure this will have been covered before. However the forum search is down and the google search is crap, anyhow - my point.
I've spent the bulk of my mid twenties out of the UK, doing an extended gap year/working holiday type affair, and it has been amazing. In a months though its time to return to the UK, with barely any money and no hopes of a good job any time soon. When I was in the UK before I enjoyed drivers cars, but having got used to the Australian and Canadian way of driving I've decided its time for a barge, at least until I get a job that will warrant buying new rear tyres every few months.
My wants:
Automatic and cruise control - the two most important for me.
Big enough for my 6foot3 18 stone frame (my old e34 5 series fit the bill, my e36 3 series coupe didn't)
Not too horrific on fuel, so i guess ls400's are out.
Quiet enough to enjoy having the radio on low
I'd like a nice light coloured leather interior.
Sub £1000
I don't think it's too much to ask for.
At the moment, i've been looking at:
E39 5 series, I would need a 528i minimum, would i not? My brothers mate had a 520i and it was gutless, so im told, but 523i's as well? 523's seem to offer more choice. Also as an estate, which would be great with my lifestyle.
Jaguar S-type, not sure about the image or reliability, but like the interior, looks like you can get nice ones for a grand. How do they compare to an E39 to drive?
Volvo S80, they just don't seem that special, and can a barge be front wheel drive? Very comfortable seats apparently!
Lexus GS300, can they really compete with the E39?
E38 728i, too big? Too many problems? They seem to be better value than a E39 right now!
Jaguar XJ, love the idea of being that guy who dresses like a 15 year old (i'm an avid snowboarder) driving around in an XJ, but I fear the fuel bills! I hear later models are very reliable, I love the look of the interior are they really as small on the inside as people say?
I know to expect the answer - "just go test drive them", but I need a car within a couple of days of my return and is it rude to waste the time of people by test driving so many, so low priced vehicles? So why not ask people who are just killing time on the internet!
I've spent the bulk of my mid twenties out of the UK, doing an extended gap year/working holiday type affair, and it has been amazing. In a months though its time to return to the UK, with barely any money and no hopes of a good job any time soon. When I was in the UK before I enjoyed drivers cars, but having got used to the Australian and Canadian way of driving I've decided its time for a barge, at least until I get a job that will warrant buying new rear tyres every few months.
My wants:
Automatic and cruise control - the two most important for me.
Big enough for my 6foot3 18 stone frame (my old e34 5 series fit the bill, my e36 3 series coupe didn't)
Not too horrific on fuel, so i guess ls400's are out.
Quiet enough to enjoy having the radio on low
I'd like a nice light coloured leather interior.
Sub £1000
I don't think it's too much to ask for.
At the moment, i've been looking at:
E39 5 series, I would need a 528i minimum, would i not? My brothers mate had a 520i and it was gutless, so im told, but 523i's as well? 523's seem to offer more choice. Also as an estate, which would be great with my lifestyle.
Jaguar S-type, not sure about the image or reliability, but like the interior, looks like you can get nice ones for a grand. How do they compare to an E39 to drive?
Volvo S80, they just don't seem that special, and can a barge be front wheel drive? Very comfortable seats apparently!
Lexus GS300, can they really compete with the E39?
E38 728i, too big? Too many problems? They seem to be better value than a E39 right now!
Jaguar XJ, love the idea of being that guy who dresses like a 15 year old (i'm an avid snowboarder) driving around in an XJ, but I fear the fuel bills! I hear later models are very reliable, I love the look of the interior are they really as small on the inside as people say?
I know to expect the answer - "just go test drive them", but I need a car within a couple of days of my return and is it rude to waste the time of people by test driving so many, so low priced vehicles? So why not ask people who are just killing time on the internet!
E39 523i is pretty slow to be honest.
I'm currently smoking around in a 2.0 Merc E Class. It is dog slow, but a grand ought to put you in a 280 and it does tick all your other boxes.
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
I'm currently smoking around in a 2.0 Merc E Class. It is dog slow, but a grand ought to put you in a 280 and it does tick all your other boxes.
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
Sub grand will buy you a high mileage XJ6 1995-1997. These tolerate high miles and neglect well and are virtually bombproof mechanically. It'll be shabby round the edges and starting to rust but it'll do what you want. Expect rather slothfull barge like performance and 28 MPG from the 6 cylinder engine 3.2 at very best with similar leg and headroom as a Renault Clio. Pay a grand or so for one with 12 months MOT and half decent tyres and the worst case scenerio is youll get £250 back when you take it to the scrapyard in a years time.
Thanks guys.
Miniman, E classes of that shape do seem to offer great vfm and I could possibly afford to get a nice diesel, but are they as badly built as people say? I like the idea of the one of the previous shape E classes, but they seem to have all been exported, they also look a little low on toys, cruise control in particular.
Magpie - I had thought about a Honda legend, I just wasn't sure if I would enjoy the experience as much as I would a car from a premium marque. Has anyone driven one? What are they like?
Jaguar Steve, thanks, that's what I expected, probably for the best.
Miniman, E classes of that shape do seem to offer great vfm and I could possibly afford to get a nice diesel, but are they as badly built as people say? I like the idea of the one of the previous shape E classes, but they seem to have all been exported, they also look a little low on toys, cruise control in particular.
Magpie - I had thought about a Honda legend, I just wasn't sure if I would enjoy the experience as much as I would a car from a premium marque. Has anyone driven one? What are they like?
Jaguar Steve, thanks, that's what I expected, probably for the best.
Ive had a legend,it was great,very competent reliable and well built so i would recommend....
A 3.2 xj8, sooo smooth and not too thirsty,annoyingly many dont have cruise though.
Ive had a sub bag xj8,e38 740,legend and now an ls in a row and they were all excellent.
Need to try an e39 and maybe a caddy sts next.
A 3.2 xj8, sooo smooth and not too thirsty,annoyingly many dont have cruise though.
Ive had a sub bag xj8,e38 740,legend and now an ls in a row and they were all excellent.
Need to try an e39 and maybe a caddy sts next.
The XJ8 is a big step up in terms of refinement and real world performance compared with the earlier XJ6.
However the V8 version is also a lot more fragile and a cheap one may well end in tears - have a look in the non runner/ spares and repairs category on ebay to see what I mean. Lots of gearbox failures, slipped timing chains and turning over but won't start examples to see there. The only safe way to get a strong XJ8 is to buy a lower mileage one and sort the issues yourself or buy a really well cared for one with a sound history and that's already had the work done. Both of those will be outside the OPs budget
For around a grand or so it'd have to be a XJ6 IMO. Providing its not completely shagged and has a long MOT and reasonable tyres it'll do what the OP wants
However the V8 version is also a lot more fragile and a cheap one may well end in tears - have a look in the non runner/ spares and repairs category on ebay to see what I mean. Lots of gearbox failures, slipped timing chains and turning over but won't start examples to see there. The only safe way to get a strong XJ8 is to buy a lower mileage one and sort the issues yourself or buy a really well cared for one with a sound history and that's already had the work done. Both of those will be outside the OPs budget
For around a grand or so it'd have to be a XJ6 IMO. Providing its not completely shagged and has a long MOT and reasonable tyres it'll do what the OP wants
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