What car? Something interesting...

What car? Something interesting...

Author
Discussion

mk1matt

Original Poster:

405 posts

180 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
So, long story short, the 330ci needs to go and I'll have about £1500 (absolute max) to buy another car. I'll be walking or cycling to work, and we've got the Galaxy for family duties. That said, I still occasionally need to pick the kids up from nursery, so I can't get away with a 2 seater.

Total annual mileage will be around the 4000 mark, so fuel economy isn't massively important. The important cost is going to maintenance. I'm a reasonably competent home mechanic, but don't want to be shelling out £100's a month in parts.

So, the criteria is £1500 max, 4 seats, relatively reliable, interesting. Interesting could mean fast, rare, beautiful etc.

I'm looking forward (genuinely) to some bonkers left-field suggestions. I'll probably end up ignoring them and getting a bland eurobox, but please humour me for now wink

Risotto

3,931 posts

227 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
How much is a straight MkII Golf GTI these days?

DickSkruttock

4,530 posts

183 months

Friday 28th January 2011
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E30 BMW ?

mk1matt

Original Poster:

405 posts

180 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
Risotto said:
How much is a straight MkII Golf GTI these days?
Too much for a decent one without rot. I might be able to pick up an 8v, but having had a 16v before, I'm not sure I could do it!

Bill

55,837 posts

270 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
boredofmyoldname said:
A pair of £1500 Porsches
biggrin Those make my Jag XJ suggestion look positively sensible.

boredofmyoldname

22,655 posts

214 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
Bill said:
boredofmyoldname said:
A pair of £1500 Porsches
biggrin Those make my Jag XJ suggestion look positively sensible.
They tick all the boxes.

At least when you look at the photos or if you happen to be an ace welder.

Chris71

21,548 posts

257 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
Bill said:
boredofmyoldname said:
A pair of £1500 Porsches
biggrin Those make my Jag XJ suggestion look positively sensible.
Why not! smile

I'd go for a manual and I'd suggest you might be better off with a cooking 924 rather than an S if you're spending £1500 or under, but they're solid, relatively fuel efficient and cheap to insure. You might have to remove the children's legs if they're more than about 8 years old, but hey; we all make sacrifices.

uremaw

301 posts

212 months

Friday 28th January 2011
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Range Rover Classic 3.9 V8

Slow, bouncy and thirstier than the queen mum. But packed with more character than the entire far eastern motor industry rolled into one and multiplied by Pi.


300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

205 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
mk1matt said:
So, long story short, the 330ci needs to go and I'll have about £1500 (absolute max) to buy another car. I'll be walking or cycling to work, and we've got the Galaxy for family duties. That said, I still occasionally need to pick the kids up from nursery, so I can't get away with a 2 seater.

Total annual mileage will be around the 4000 mark, so fuel economy isn't massively important. The important cost is going to maintenance. I'm a reasonably competent home mechanic, but don't want to be shelling out £100's a month in parts.

So, the criteria is £1500 max, 4 seats, relatively reliable, interesting. Interesting could mean fast, rare, beautiful etc.

I'm looking forward (genuinely) to some bonkers left-field suggestions. I'll probably end up ignoring them and getting a bland eurobox, but please humour me for now wink
so when you say things like different and left field and bonkers, are we by chance going to end up looking at a MKIV Golf???

That seems the norm.... frown


Not too sure if any of these take your fancy or not.


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2389209.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2423016.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2419830.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2364023.htm
Although you should be able to find one with T&T


This ones out of budget, but a 2000 or 2500 would be possible if you look
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2082208.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2321909.htm




http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2380346.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2378280.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2447312.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2237146.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2410398.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2436560.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2404049.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2010415.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2365653.htm

louiebaby

10,653 posts

206 months

Friday 28th January 2011
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I'm in a similar situation to the OP, so I'll keep and eye on this thread.

I've been thinking about an old XJ, S Class or 7 series, as economy isn't a big deal for me...

Liking the Primera GT idea...

Keep the ideas coming...

Gruber

6,313 posts

229 months

Friday 28th January 2011
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Merc W124? wink

mk1matt

Original Poster:

405 posts

180 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
Some great suggestions people. Of the cars suggested so far, there's a few I really like.

Porsche 924 - good shout actually (kids are 6mnths and 4 years, so they'd probably fit). How quick are they? 2.0 8v yeah?

Range Rover V8 - Mmmmm. Good shout. I love the way a good rev in neutral gets it properly rocking side to side! Not sure it would be a keeper, but I'd be happy to change every 6 months or so.

300 - Lovin' the SVX. That's something I'd never have even considered. Tomcat looks ok too, and I'm quite surprised that soarers are in that kind of range. Not keen on the classics. No way on the Mk4 Golf! Done that twice. I'm determined not to get an ordinary FWD hatchback, they may consider something classed as 'hot'.

Wannacoop - Good find on the 7 series. That's a huge amount of car for the money! Liking the AX too, but I've owned two AX GT's already.

Gruber - Interestingly enough I've been looking at Merc CE's. The pillarless look is a good look!

Keep 'em coming!

Gruber

6,313 posts

229 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
mk1matt said:
Porsche 924 - good shout actually (kids are 6mnths and 4 years, so they'd probably fit). How quick are they? 2.0 8v yeah?

...

Gruber - Interestingly enough I've been looking at Merc CE's. The pillarless look is a good look!

Keep 'em coming!
The standard 924 isn't all that quick - approx 120bhp (if memory serves) from a VW 2.0 lump. But they carry their speed very well, and being low to the ground they feel quicker than they actually are. And very cheap to run, with classic car insurance and plentiful parts supply. I loved mine.

Then there's the 2.5 Porsche engined 924S. Quicker but less cheap / easy to maintain.

As for the W124... I know where there's a nice saloon for sale well within your budget, but if you'd prefer a coupe then I can't help you.

waterwonder

1,002 posts

191 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
Will keep an eye on this thread as well.

I'm kind of looking for the same thing, would have had the SOTW if it wasn't sold by the time i was saw it.

If it helps a few of my ideas so far are:

Jag S-type or XJ
Volvo C70 (t5)
VW corrado
BMW e46 3series 323/325/328
MG ZT
Nissan 200sx



MG CHRIS

9,298 posts

182 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
MG ZT/ZS V6 or diesel im sure that you can pick them up for £1500. I got the 1.8 zs been very good, the car and handless well for that sort of car

Edited by MG CHRIS on Friday 28th January 17:41

Chris71

21,548 posts

257 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
mk1matt said:
Porsche 924 - good shout actually (kids are 6mnths and 4 years, so they'd probably fit). How quick are they? 2.0 8v yeah?
Not very in 2-litre form. The S is a very different animal - a lighter, more aerodynamic 944 in effect, with an extra gear and an extra 40hp over the standard 924, but neither is rip snorting by modern standards. They are supremeley well balanced cars, though, you can trace a very obvious lineage right up to the hallowed 968 CS.

You're right on the cusp between a good non-S model and a potentially respectable S for £1,500. If you're looking for a runaround I'd probably play it safe with a non-S example, where your money will go further. I ran a slightly tired S without any huge bills - OEM-style shocks were less than my colleague's Toyota Avensis, for example - and I'm led to believe the Audi-engined base model is cheaper still.

Oh, and, seats aside, they're pretty practical for a coupe. The boot is a half decent size and if you can leave the kids at home the rear seats fold to give a load area like a miniature pick up!

alcovrugbyfan

351 posts

174 months

Friday 28th January 2011
quotequote all
bit random I know but what about something like a Ford cougar? Or an FTO??

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2072393.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2408765.htm

Edited to add links


Edited by alcovrugbyfan on Friday 28th January 19:57