£3k-£4k Budget: Need some ideas

[SteS]

Hi!

So my previous car was recently written off so I'm now in search of a new car. My budget is £3,000 up to a maximum of £4,000.


I'm basically looking for an upgrade of my previous car (MG ZS 2.5 V6/175 BHP) So similar or better performance, preferably better. Fuel economy doesn't matter, I would prefer RWD/AWD over FWD but again, I'd take FWD as a last resort. The sound is probably most important to me, loved the sound of my V6 MG so something equally as nice sounding or better. Nothing too unreliable such as RX8 etc.

Any suggestions welcome as I have no idea currently!

Thanks.

[nunpuncher]

Impreza of some sort, E46 or the 6 cylinder variety and maybe just about squeeze in some sort of 3.2 V6 equipped VW group car. Definitely get a 3.2 mk1 TT. Those are are my instant unoriginal thoughts.

ZX10R NIN will be along in a minute with a long list and some links to a much wider variety of cars.

[ZX10R NIN]

On Q

A3 3.2 get the timing chain checked & make sure the Haldex unit has been serviced same for the DSG if you go for one of those:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350GT Skyline (this car became the Infiniti Coupe)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK350 Sport (you have to put an X pipe on these to release the exhaust note) check to see if the chain has been done.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK500 V8 Rumble

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK280 Avantgarde Sport very rare spec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C280 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i Clubsport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330ci Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you can live with a convertible then there's the S4 again check the chain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[nobrakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

On Q

A3 3.2 get the timing chain checked & make sure the Haldex unit has been serviced same for the DSG if you go for one of those:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350GT Skyline (this car became the Infiniti Coupe)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK350 Sport (you have to put an X pipe on these to release the exhaust note) check to see if the chain has been done.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK500 V8 Rumble

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

hwttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808239777828?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&body-type=Coupe&advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&price-from=2000&price-to=4500&aggregatedTrim=Avantgarde&sort=price-asc&postcode=m239rw&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&fuel-type=Petrol&model=CLK&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=100000&page=1

CLK280 Avantgarde Sport very rare spec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C280 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i Clubsport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330ci Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you can live with a convertible then there's the S4 again check the chain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Discretion assured Sir with that CLK 500
hwttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808239777828?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&body-type=Coupe&advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&price-from=2000&price-to=4500&aggregatedTrim=Avantgarde&sort=price-asc&postcode=m239rw&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&fuel-type=Petrol&model=CLK&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=100000&page=1

[SteS]

I'm quite liking that CLK350 Sport. How are they reliability-wise? I'm gonna guess big bills if anything goes wrong with it.

[vsonix]

SteS said:

big bills if anything goes wrong with it.

That's a quite a vague worry - every car mentioned so far has the potential to be ruinous if 'something' goes wrong but then also we're into 'glazed conservatory' (a couple of steps up from shed but still in the same garden) territory here. All of those cars will probably need a bit of work done to them in order to be able to fully enjoy them, which should really be factored into the budget. Some are going to be more reliable than others, and of course the bigger and more complicated the engine, the more that servicing and maintenance is going to cost, both routine and unscheduled.

[ZX10R NIN]

nobrakes said:

ZX10R NIN said:

On Q

A3 3.2 get the timing chain checked & make sure the Haldex unit has been serviced same for the DSG if you go for one of those:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350GT Skyline (this car became the Infiniti Coupe)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK350 Sport (you have to put an X pipe on these to release the exhaust note) check to see if the chain has been done.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK500 V8 Rumble

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

hwttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808239777828?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&body-type=Coupe&advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&price-from=2000&price-to=4500&aggregatedTrim=Avantgarde&sort=price-asc&postcode=m239rw&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&fuel-type=Petrol&model=CLK&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=100000&page=1

CLK280 Avantgarde Sport very rare spec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C280 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i Clubsport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330i SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

330ci Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you can live with a convertible then there's the S4 again check the chain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Discretion assured Sir with that CLK 500
hwttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808239777828?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&body-type=Coupe&advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&price-from=2000&price-to=4500&aggregatedTrim=Avantgarde&sort=price-asc&postcode=m239rw&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&fuel-type=Petrol&model=CLK&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=100000&page=1

Here's the other CLK500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

The 350's are reliable but they can have an issue with the balancer shaft which is a £1500 job if your car is affected, so half the cost off the price if the one you're buying is in the affected engine number range.

If it's not in the range then you'll have landed yourself a good car if it is in the range then haggle hard unless they have a bill for it being done.

As a sidebar the 500 suffers none of these issues & would be where my cash would go.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a BMW E91 325i for £50 under the bottom of your budget in February OP.

Straight 6 petrol, RWD and 218 bhp works for me!

[SteS]

There's a surprisingly high amount of choice when you have barely any criteria.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'm liking the idea of one of these Jags quite a lot but the price is a bit low. The next lowest is £1,250 more than that.

XK8's seem nice as well.


I do like the look of those 325i's but feel it wouldn't be much up an upgrade performance-wise.

Edited by SteS on Saturday 15th September 18:25

[Mr Tidy]

SteS said:

I do like the look of those 325i's but feel it wouldn't be much up an upgrade performance-wise.

Edited by SteS on Saturday 15th September 18:25

I think you'd find 218 bhp more sprightly than 175 bhp, but good luck on your search.