£1000 shed

[iacabu]

Yes yes, I know, buy the best you can find at this price. But I'm still going to ask.

A cheap hatchback may be the sensible choice but my favourite options up to now are:

Mercedes C W202 / 203
Saab 9-3 or 9-5 aero (previously owned the latter)

I've also recently seen a 330d with 210k miles. Should that scare me off at this price? It's a manual.

It seems a number of cars previously available at this price have crept up in recent years leaving it a bit thin on the ground for cars that catch my eye.

[exelero]

Get the 9-3. I have one now for a year and a half. It has its niggles but overall I can’t fault it. Only issues I had was ABS wiring and the intercooler pipe was blown from the throttle body( 5 min fix). Liked to eat tires too. I have a vector 1.8t but it’s been noob mapped to 220bhp an Aero would go 250 with no issues. Mine averages about 34-35 mpg

[mikeyr]

Know nowt about the relativity of the cars but, judging by every 3 series/Merc of that age depends on your feelings towards rusty panels.

sidenote; Rusty Panels clearly a character from Carry On Mechanic.

[ZX10R NIN]

C230 Coupe SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008072...

C180 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008082...

C200cdi Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009284...

C220 Avantgarde SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201908161...

Vectra Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008232...

Primera SVE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

[Walter Sobchak]

Get a Volvo V70/S60/S80 don’t worry about high miles if it has service history, wouldn’t be fussed about petrol or diesel, unless you want the added economy.

[iacabu]

exelero - will definitely keep my eye on them. I saw one for £500 with 12 months mot recently. Whether it was a good buy or a dog remains a mystery

mikeyr - you're not wrong about rust. Many seem to have arches in a sorry state. I'm not sure how bad they get underneath/structurally

ZX10R NIN - thanks for the time taken to send those links. I do like the coupe although would look for an estate if possible. Perhaps saloon/hatchback if something nice turns up. Having said that, I bet the load space in the coupe with the seats down is pretty decent.

Walter Sobchak - I was looking at T5 and D5 V70s recently but not any other models. I even quite like the S/V40s but not sure yet what is available at this budget.

My commute is only 2 miles each way and 95% local driving at other times so a diesel isn't necessary. Wouldn't pass up a good one though.

[ZX10R NIN]

Petrol Options

The S/V40 are basically a Focus, the C Coupes have more practical boot space than the saloon.

C200 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009274...

160 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008082...

Focus Ghia Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

Mondeo Ghia X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006240...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006049...

407 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...

Vectra SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009224...

Mazda6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008272...

[exelero]

iacabu said:

exelero - will definitely keep my eye on them. I saw one for £500 with 12 months mot recently. Whether it was a good buy or a dog remains a mystery

Parts are cheap and they are not that hard to work on. Just watch out for the higher tax bracket on the 06plate onwards automatic ones. A lot of car for the money if you ask me

[Walter Sobchak]

iacabu said:

exelero - will definitely keep my eye on them. I saw one for £500 with 12 months mot recently. Whether it was a good buy or a dog remains a mystery

mikeyr - you're not wrong about rust. Many seem to have arches in a sorry state. I'm not sure how bad they get underneath/structurally

ZX10R NIN - thanks for the time taken to send those links. I do like the coupe although would look for an estate if possible. Perhaps saloon/hatchback if something nice turns up. Having said that, I bet the load space in the coupe with the seats down is pretty decent.

Walter Sobchak - I was looking at T5 and D5 V70s recently but not any other models. I even quite like the S/V40s but not sure yet what is available at this budget.

My commute is only 2 miles each way and 95% local driving at other times so a diesel isn't necessary. Wouldn't pass up a good one though.

I got a starship mileage V70 D5 (212k) with loads of history a few months ago and have done 5k in it already, been absolutely faultless so far and returns decent MPG, only faults I’ve found have been a slow puncture on a tyre and the heated seats unfortunately don’t seem to work.

[bluezedd]

I went down the 9-3 route for a shed, and I would go down that route again. Parts availability was a concern for me before I bought the 9-3 5 years ago, but I've been able to get any part I've needed second hand for cheap pretty easily.

Only major problem I've had with my 9-3 is its rotten arches and knocking DMF.

[iacabu]

Just to close the thread off, I bought a 328i touring

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a great car for the money - enjoy.

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP

[iacabu]

Thanks, it isn't the most sensible car available for £1000 but it's just what I was looking for

[Shaw Tarse]

Looks good

[0a]

That '28 engine is a peach

[anonymous-user]

Buy a minty volvo 850, even in 2.5 n/a form they are a lovely steer. If you can find one!