Cheap cabriolet

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Discussion

Croutons

Original Poster:

9,807 posts

165 months

Wednesday 17th October 2018
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4 seats, so no mx5 this time.

Been offered a 2005 Saab 1.8 petrol for £750 with a new mot and sensible miles (85k). Heated leather, roof is ok, does it need a cam belt? Mot has a few advisories but cheap enough to fix (rear pads, tyres are cracking with age).

It’s a bit slow and unexciting, so got me looking at alternatives, early A4 cabs are similarly priced, or a few Volvo C70’s pop up locally.

For under a grand what would you have? Will run it for 6-9 months as a station car and offload when sunny, not expecting to make, but would like to cover costs if I can.

Toed64

299 posts

119 months

Wednesday 17th October 2018
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You can't lose on that Saab - you'd probably cover your Winter fuel costs if you sell it in the early Summer, so long as it's shiny.

Croutons

Original Poster:

9,807 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
quotequote all
Well, if it needs a cam belt it might cost me half the purchase price!

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
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If it needs a belt then the cost will be around half the purchase price but this will make it more sellable in the summer, you'll probably lose that cost but it would cost you more than that to hire a car for 6 months.

boyse7en

6,671 posts

164 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
quotequote all
The 1.8 is actually a low-tune 2.0 litre engine.

Have a visit to Karl at Noobtune for a remap and it will go from a lethargic 150hp to a more sprightly 220hp for about £95. No loss of economy.

nitrodave

1,262 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
quotequote all
they have a cam chain too and don;t need changing