Interesting second car for up to £5k
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking at getting a second car for mostly for fun/weekend use with the occasional daily duties when the other half needs the main car.
- 4 seats and safe-ish (kids will be in the car too)
- To be "interesting"
- Age not important (meaning more recent stuff also ok)
- Convertible would be nice, as would cruise control, but "interesting" would top both of these
- Petrol (MPG not massively important as won't do a high mileage)
- Something fast-ish/B roadable would also be nice, but happy to have something slower and with worse handling if "interesting"
- Not a total money pit or unreliable
- up to 5k (bonus points if it's something that may appreciate in the future)
Initial thoughts:
- Mazda 6 MPS (have had 3 MX5's, so Mazda has a place in my heart)
- late Saab 9-5 Aero convertible
- early Saab 900
- Mark 2 Golf GTI (a dog at this price?)
- MB 190e
- MB W124
- BMW e39 - 530i or above (always wanted an M5 e39 as a dream car, but obviously out of price range for 5 grand)
- BMW e46 convertible
- BMW Mini Cooper S
- Original Mini (if can be found without rust at this money)
- Ford Focus ST
- Volvo Amazon
- Volvo C70 T5
Cheers,
MrZ
Looking at getting a second car for mostly for fun/weekend use with the occasional daily duties when the other half needs the main car.
- 4 seats and safe-ish (kids will be in the car too)
- To be "interesting"
- Age not important (meaning more recent stuff also ok)
- Convertible would be nice, as would cruise control, but "interesting" would top both of these
- Petrol (MPG not massively important as won't do a high mileage)
- Something fast-ish/B roadable would also be nice, but happy to have something slower and with worse handling if "interesting"
- Not a total money pit or unreliable
- up to 5k (bonus points if it's something that may appreciate in the future)
Initial thoughts:
- Mazda 6 MPS (have had 3 MX5's, so Mazda has a place in my heart)
- late Saab 9-5 Aero convertible
- early Saab 900
- Mark 2 Golf GTI (a dog at this price?)
- MB 190e
- MB W124
- BMW e39 - 530i or above (always wanted an M5 e39 as a dream car, but obviously out of price range for 5 grand)
- BMW e46 convertible
- BMW Mini Cooper S
- Original Mini (if can be found without rust at this money)
- Ford Focus ST
- Volvo Amazon
- Volvo C70 T5
Cheers,
MrZ
I had actually been thinking Alfa GTV, heard the v6 was a good noise. Is the back not a bit cramped? Kids are smallish at the moment, but would like them to have some room so that we can do road trips.
Had forgotten all about the Honda EP3 (or even FN2) Type R - good shout.
Thought also about a Clio Renaultsport (182 or similar), thought it was a bit too boy racer and for the money i'm talking most looked a bit trashed. Will take another look.
Had forgotten all about the Honda EP3 (or even FN2) Type R - good shout.
Thought also about a Clio Renaultsport (182 or similar), thought it was a bit too boy racer and for the money i'm talking most looked a bit trashed. Will take another look.
[quote=mrzuckinihead]I had actually been thinking Alfa GTV, heard the v6 was a good noise. Is the back not a bit cramped? Kids are smallish at the moment, but would like them to have some room so that we can do road trips.
The back is indeed cramped - it's your typical 2+2, plus the back windows don't open. The sound, though, is glorious; my radio doesn't work, and I don't care.
The back is indeed cramped - it's your typical 2+2, plus the back windows don't open. The sound, though, is glorious; my radio doesn't work, and I don't care.
mrzuckinihead said:
I had actually been thinking Alfa GTV, heard the v6 was a good noise. Is the back not a bit cramped? Kids are smallish at the moment, but would like them to have some room so that we can do road trips.
Had forgotten all about the Honda EP3 (or even FN2) Type R - good shout.
Thought also about a Clio Renaultsport (182 or similar), thought it was a bit too boy racer and for the money i'm talking most looked a bit trashed. Will take another look.
Alternatively, there is this...Had forgotten all about the Honda EP3 (or even FN2) Type R - good shout.
Thought also about a Clio Renaultsport (182 or similar), thought it was a bit too boy racer and for the money i'm talking most looked a bit trashed. Will take another look.
Merc CLS500. Adults have nodded off in the back of this.
mrzuckinihead said:
Had forgotten all about the Honda EP3 (or even FN2) Type R - good shout.
I'm kind of idly looking at the minute, initially for an EP3 but the more I read about them the more I lean towards an FN2. Decent FN2s seem to be cheaper and more plentiful than decent EP3s, in my opinion look better and have a nicer cabin. Massively practical as well. £5k seems to give you a bewildering choice too.Alfa Brera S 3.2 this is a properly interesting car
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006150...
3.2 SV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...
2.2 JTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011256...
CLK500 convertible or coupe both have a stonking V8 & nice handling when you want to get a lick on
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...
Hot hatch wise the Focus ST-3 is a cracking choice (I had one & loved it) at this price point & that 5 pot is a peach but I think the R32 is the more interesting choice it just feels more special although dynamically it's not as good the Focus but I'd suffer that for the V6.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006150...
3.2 SV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...
2.2 JTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011256...
CLK500 convertible or coupe both have a stonking V8 & nice handling when you want to get a lick on
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...
Hot hatch wise the Focus ST-3 is a cracking choice (I had one & loved it) at this price point & that 5 pot is a peach but I think the R32 is the more interesting choice it just feels more special although dynamically it's not as good the Focus but I'd suffer that for the V6.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...
Be brave.............£200 for a Idrive repair and then just drive with your fingers crossed!!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005299...
Soooo, couple of questions after a weekend of autotrader searching...
- The Honda FN2 Type R, read that it's all at the top end (VTEC, yo) and not so much torque, so it is 7000rpm to make progress? Mostly had turbo cars since my mark 1 Octy vRS...
- The Mercs - lots of good cheap interesting options, but fearing the reliability? And I dunno, get the feeling that modern MB stuff isn't going to be so "classic" as some of the older stuff...
- 6 series BMW - so much car for the money (if ahem, not exactly pretty) - but again, reliability?
- And Alfa, I mean always wanted one. Just look at them
Cheers,
MrZ
- The Honda FN2 Type R, read that it's all at the top end (VTEC, yo) and not so much torque, so it is 7000rpm to make progress? Mostly had turbo cars since my mark 1 Octy vRS...
- The Mercs - lots of good cheap interesting options, but fearing the reliability? And I dunno, get the feeling that modern MB stuff isn't going to be so "classic" as some of the older stuff...
- 6 series BMW - so much car for the money (if ahem, not exactly pretty) - but again, reliability?
- And Alfa, I mean always wanted one. Just look at them
Cheers,
MrZ
I know I'm biased, but: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E39-BMW-530i-M-Sport-Ch...
It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
d_a_n1979 said:
I know I'm biased, but: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E39-BMW-530i-M-Sport-Ch...
It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
That is absolutely lovely. I do love a late facelift e39. That price though - looks like these are already on the rise...It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
mrzuckinihead said:
d_a_n1979 said:
I know I'm biased, but: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E39-BMW-530i-M-Sport-Ch...
It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
That is absolutely lovely. I do love a late facelift e39. That price though - looks like these are already on the rise...It's a £4.5-£5k car every day of the week; not nearly £6k
Looks in great fettle; needs to be checked over carefully. But if as described, that's a superb car
Looked after, well fettled and cherished E39s are starting to become far and few between, so their prices are on the up and I'd say that now is the time to buy really...
d_a_n1979 said:
They are; more so the rarer ones like the Champagne edition, the 540i E39s & the Jap imports (like mine)
Looked after, well fettled and cherished E39s are starting to become far and few between, so their prices are on the up and I'd say that now is the time to buy really...
I've seen a number of very tidy Jap imports as some e39's do seem to be rusting - do you have to get specialist insurance? It's not a massive issue as i've had a Jap import before, but curious if it's an issue...Looked after, well fettled and cherished E39s are starting to become far and few between, so their prices are on the up and I'd say that now is the time to buy really...
mrzuckinihead said:
I've seen a number of very tidy Jap imports as some e39's do seem to be rusting - do you have to get specialist insurance? It's not a massive issue as i've had a Jap import before, but curious if it's an issue...
Not at all; I use Chris Knott for my insurance and have an agreed value on my touring with them alsoJust needed to send them pics of the car and also other 'examples for sale', to which there were no Jap import 530i Sport Tourings up for sale then, there's only one now at £9k and that'll more than likely need all the work doing to it that mine did, for peace of mind etc
My insurance is the same price as previous UK E39s I've owned too
The issue for me with the current Jap import E39s is that their prices are a bit silly-high at times, more so as they will need to have some work done to them at a minimum (cooling system, brakes, tyres, maybe some suspension parts and the autobox will need a service too); so that does need to be taken into account when buying one.
Plus the stereo and nav won't work as it should (radio can soon be changed via the dash hidden menu to access the UK station frequencies etc); but the nav is set for Japan, so useless in the UK and well out of date anyway, so that's not really a major issue.
But on the flip side; they're absolutely spotless, better than any UK E39 you'll buy when it comes to bodywork and corrosion and a great platform to maintain (stuff comes apart very easily due to no corrosion etc)! So, they are great to work on
Edited by d_a_n1979 on Monday 7th December 11:41
mrzuckinihead said:
Soooo, couple of questions after a weekend of autotrader searching...
- The Honda FN2 Type R, read that it's all at the top end (VTEC, yo) and not so much torque, so it is 7000rpm to make progress? Mostly had turbo cars since my mark 1 Octy vRS...
- The Mercs - lots of good cheap interesting options, but fearing the reliability? And I dunno, get the feeling that modern MB stuff isn't going to be so "classic" as some of the older stuff...
- 6 series BMW - so much car for the money (if ahem, not exactly pretty) - but again, reliability?
- And Alfa, I mean always wanted one. Just look at them
Cheers,
MrZ
The Brera S don't seem to suffer with big reliability issues from what I've seen & read about (this would be my first choice) them.- The Honda FN2 Type R, read that it's all at the top end (VTEC, yo) and not so much torque, so it is 7000rpm to make progress? Mostly had turbo cars since my mark 1 Octy vRS...
- The Mercs - lots of good cheap interesting options, but fearing the reliability? And I dunno, get the feeling that modern MB stuff isn't going to be so "classic" as some of the older stuff...
- 6 series BMW - so much car for the money (if ahem, not exactly pretty) - but again, reliability?
- And Alfa, I mean always wanted one. Just look at them
Cheers,
MrZ
The Mercedes are bulletproof & with those being 500's parts are sensibly priced with only big ticket item being the spark plug as their are 16 of them.
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