£1500 London banger suggestions please
Discussion
I am moving to London in a couple of months and I think the reality of not getting secure parking has set in.
Therefore I will be reduced to residents parking and given I generally care a bit too much if somebody decides to carelessly take a swipe at my car whilst parking next to it, it has got me to thinking I need a £1500 street banger that can take the odd knock and I don't think too much for it.
Ideally would be something pretty reliable (as I will probably pop over to France every so often), economic and rubber bumpers almost a benefit!
Current thoughts (as can't really see myself in a Corsa):-
Mercedes 190E
Alfa 145 (3 year cambelt for such a cheap car is the only thought here)
MX5 (Had one before and loved it, but a boot would be nice)
Saab 9-3 Coupe (1999/2000 ish vintage)- Literally just thought of this, like this idea
Any other interesting cars out there that I haven't considered?
Therefore I will be reduced to residents parking and given I generally care a bit too much if somebody decides to carelessly take a swipe at my car whilst parking next to it, it has got me to thinking I need a £1500 street banger that can take the odd knock and I don't think too much for it.
Ideally would be something pretty reliable (as I will probably pop over to France every so often), economic and rubber bumpers almost a benefit!
Current thoughts (as can't really see myself in a Corsa):-
Mercedes 190E
Alfa 145 (3 year cambelt for such a cheap car is the only thought here)
MX5 (Had one before and loved it, but a boot would be nice)
Saab 9-3 Coupe (1999/2000 ish vintage)- Literally just thought of this, like this idea
Any other interesting cars out there that I haven't considered?
What you want is a shed, but a shed you'll care about even though you really need a shed that you're not emotionally bothered about. I recommend this as a compromise:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-146ti-Long-MO...
Why spend £1500 on a shed when it's going to get trashed? Do people drive around London? Is there anywhere to park when you get to the part of London you've driven too?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-146ti-Long-MO...
Why spend £1500 on a shed when it's going to get trashed? Do people drive around London? Is there anywhere to park when you get to the part of London you've driven too?
Edited by carinaman on Saturday 28th June 00:16
W202 merc. Awesome turning circle. Might be a bit rusty. Sport model much nicer interior than the old biddy versions. Mine does OK and did I mention the amazing London cab turning circle. Amazing in town. Oh, pre facelift less likely to be rusty. Suppose a 190 would be cooler though.
Emeye said:
W202 merc. Awesome turning circle. Might be a bit rusty. Sport model much nicer interior than the old biddy versions. Mine does OK and did I mention the amazing London cab turning circle. Amazing in town. Oh, pre facelift less likely to be rusty.
Does that London taxi rivaling turning circle also apply to the C36 and C43? When was the facelift? A friends P plate C36 had orange stains seeping out from the wheelarch trim part of the bodykit. Shame, it was more unseemly than the average VPL. 
carinaman said:
What you want is a shed, but a shed you'll care about even though you really need a shed that you're not emotionally bothered about. I recommend this as a compromise:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-146ti-Long-MO...
Why spend £1500 on a shed when it's going to get trashed? Do people drive around London? Is there anywhere to park when you get to the part of London you've driven too?
I like that! Perfect runabout, only problem with it is that it will probably need a cambelt kit which is another £250-300 fitted straight off. I guess still cheap motoring at £500 all in.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-146ti-Long-MO...
Why spend £1500 on a shed when it's going to get trashed? Do people drive around London? Is there anywhere to park when you get to the part of London you've driven too?
Edited by carinaman on Saturday 28th June 00:16
I am possibly being unfair as its not the worst location in London, but I know peoples parking ability in tight situations often leaves a lot to be desired. So more something that can take a few touches/knocks and I won't be upset about it (hence the white car is perfect!).
Mostly tube travel, but its for driving back home, going for trips out of London and little visits across the pond. Parking outside central central isn't too appalling, i.e spaces around residential roads where the permit parking limits are no longer in force.
Emeye said:
W202 merc. Awesome turning circle. Might be a bit rusty. Sport model much nicer interior than the old biddy versions. Mine does OK and did I mention the amazing London cab turning circle. Amazing in town. Oh, pre facelift less likely to be rusty. Suppose a 190 would be cooler though.
I was thinking of a W202, could be a possibility but quite large. There is something about the 190's though, a friend had one as a hack for a couple of months in Silver, lovely condition for a £600 car and gave him zero grief.Jaguar XJ8.
Comfortable interior and suspension great at absorbing London many pot holes and poor maintained roads . Automatic so your left leg doesn't fall off due to the amount of stop start driving. Depending on where you live, you'll most likely be doing short trips so your fuel economy will most likely be garbage anyway.
Comfortable interior and suspension great at absorbing London many pot holes and poor maintained roads . Automatic so your left leg doesn't fall off due to the amount of stop start driving. Depending on where you live, you'll most likely be doing short trips so your fuel economy will most likely be garbage anyway.
JoshyS said:
Jaguar XJ8.
Comfortable interior and suspension great at absorbing London many pot holes and poor maintained roads . Automatic so your left leg doesn't fall off due to the amount of stop start driving. Depending on where you live, you'll most likely be doing short trips so your fuel economy will most likely be garbage anyway.
I haven't tickled the Jaguar itch yet, good call.Comfortable interior and suspension great at absorbing London many pot holes and poor maintained roads . Automatic so your left leg doesn't fall off due to the amount of stop start driving. Depending on where you live, you'll most likely be doing short trips so your fuel economy will most likely be garbage anyway.
Just looked at the classifieds and astounded at the value of those XJ8s with V Plate - 100k cars going for 1-1.5k.
Lovely things but unsure of practicalities such as amount of space it takes and reliability.
V6Alfisti said:
Blue Oval84 said:
I bought a Mondeo for this job. Not sure it'll be interesting enough for you but it's a great car.
The 02 onwards Mondeo's are good cars but your right not quite sure it will keep me interested.I can put some pics up if you're interested.
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