£2k - cheapest, waftiest motorway barge

[caelite]

As per title, asking for ideas for a friend, he has asked me for advice, or more, he asked me how much an old 740i would cost to run since there is one for sale locally I told him it'd kill him. He has had an old mk4 Golf 1.9 diesel pretty much since he passed his test ~5 years ago, but it's been having problems and failed its last MOT in a big way. He is not so much a car guy but likes big German saloons, although based on his Golf it will be run as cheaply as possible.

So I was thinking something big with a fairly common diesel powerplant, I suggested a Passat or Skoda Superb 1.9tdi (I'm thinking what suits taxi drivers would be perfect for him) but he shunned them both as being too much like a big Golf.

Also he is fairly adamant that it has to be black, so something fairly common would be best, I'm pretty sure he intends to limo tint it and go for the Russian mobster look, he also does oodles of miles, he lives in Perth and has a girlfriend in Manchester, he wants something comfier than his golf for this trip, so Cruise and waftinest is a must, The only vehicle he has expressed an interest in is a late 90s petrol 7 series that is for sale local for £1700, all I can say about that is it is most definitely bad news, it's been sitting at a local dealer for over a year.

[ewald]

Just don't get involved in any way - it will be a total disaster and you will be blamed for any advice or help, however well intentioned!

[kiethton]

^^^^^^

This but for something that better matches the requirements I couldn't look past a Volvo S80 D5

[S10GTA]

Citroën C6

[Kegs]

Lexus ls400 the end

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mercedes C Class fits the bill for your friend but I'd tell him to get over the colour thing.

C270
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

C220 SE Coupe

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

C220

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Alternatives:

407 Coupe 2.7d (same engine as in the Jag XF) 82k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

607 2.0d 54k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

MG ZT 2.0cdti (detuned BMW 2.0d)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Volvo S80

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Mondeo Ghia

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Passat 2.5tdi

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Croutons]

S10GTA said:

Citroën C6

For 2k?

[S10GTA]

Croutons said:

S10GTA said:

Citroën C6

For 2k?

Granted it might need a little work, but I've seen 2 go for less than this in the past 10 days.

[sparks_E39]

Why would the 740i be so bad apart from the fuel consumption? Parts are readily available and are quite cheap now and apart from a possible dodgy fuel tank (circa £600 fix nowadays) I can't see it costing more than my old E39 530i did to run (reasonable)

In fact they don't rust as bad as an E39 can and are screwed together better. Maybe a nice 728i would fit the bill as a compromise? Loads for under £2k that look okay.

Edited by sparks_E39 on Sunday 11th June 22:36

[Accelerated]

End of thread


http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C876551

[caelite]

Accelerated said:

End of thread


http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C876551

Oops, thread ended yesterday. He showed up in aforementioned e38 735i (which I had misidentified as a 740), other than getting half the mpg of his golf... Which he still maintains that he is 'OK' with but I know he is going to whinge in future, asides from that it is a rolling timebomb waiting to go off, all the electrics work for now but he says he is getting a slight 'hesitation' sometimes whilst maintaining speed at low RPM. I can only imagine it is something trivial on such a vehicle.

I did suggest a ls 400 to him though, he didn't see one he liked.

The 7 series is beautiful though, absolutely dwarfs my Mx5.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Those lpg up nicely, and sidesteps the petrol tank issue.

[AndrewCrown]

sparks_E39 said:

Why would the 740i be so bad apart from the fuel consumption? Parts are readily available and are quite cheap now and apart from a possible dodgy fuel tank (circa £600 fix nowadays) I can't see it costing more than my old E39 530i did to run (reasonable)

In fact they don't rust as bad as an E39 can and are screwed together better. Maybe a nice 728i would fit the bill as a compromise? Loads for under £2k that look okay.

Edited by sparks_E39 on Sunday 11th June 22:36

Agree Sparks...we have a 1995 730i as a pool car...has been remarkably cheap to run.. we pick up bits on eBay...for age related faults like light lens, switches, trim... there are plenty well looked after examples around...

[MorganP104]

caelite said:

he says he is getting a slight 'hesitation' sometimes whilst maintaining speed at low RPM. I can only imagine it is something trivial on such a vehicle.

If he's a very lucky boy, it will be something trivial. There are two usual culprits for this on the V8s as fitted to the E38:

- Throttle position sensor (TPS). Not particularly expensive or tricky to replace.
- Mass Air Filter (MAF). Again, not mega-money or difficult to replace.

If he's feeling lucky, get him to buy a can of electrical switch cleaner or MAF cleaner (same stuff, different label), remove the MAF, and spray the crap out of it with the aforementioned cleaner. DO NOT be tempted to touch or scrub at the MAF's delicate internals - aerosol spray only.

Let it dry out naturally, put the MAF back in, and go for a "spirited" drive.

If that works, the next stop should be his local newsagent for a Lottery ticket.

[caelite]

Aye MAF and TPS are a good shout, I've given him a tub of injector cleaner to put in the tank as I figured a dirty injector would be the most obvious cause

[RPastry]

Might just need taking out for a long blast. £300 of fuel should do it.

[Joe5y]

728i would be my suggestion.

We have one in the family as a pool car and I have done a number of 3000+ mile jaunts round Europe in it.

[feef]

Croutons said:

S10GTA said:

Citroën C6

For 2k?

They aren't cheap to run, and at £2k, I'd expect the bills to start rolling in soon.

[RPastry]

I like a 7-series and best of luck to the buyer, but couldn't help but think an S-Type Jag is both cheaper and waftier. 50k examples are around the £1500 mark.

[MorganP104]

RPastry said:

I like a 7-series and best of luck to the buyer, but couldn't help but think an S-Type Jag is both cheaper and waftier. 50k examples are around the £1500 mark.

I'll agree on cheaper, but waftier? There's not much waftier than an E38 7-Series!

Plus, you'd have to look at the bloody thing parked on your driveway, and put up with your hilarious neighbours making Inspector Morse jokes.

I know which I prefer the look of.