Best buys around £3000?

[Martin_Hx]

The Civic (EP3) which i own, has no creature comforts at all (A/C is as technical as it gets...) and will more than likely sting you with high insurance costs!

How about a BMW 330?

[edo]

Nice MR2

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

Not so "cool", but 240bhp...

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

[alec.e]

2003 onward Jaguar XJ V6. Bought one at 19, used it while I was at college. Some people called it a old mans car, but changed their mind one they had a ride in it. 240bhp, combined with alloy bodywork meant it got moving fairly quickly for such a big car, 0-60 in about 7 seconds, but still could get over 30mpg on the motorway. Very cheap insurance.

[VF7]

I have always liked the mk1 TT.
Although it will never be a drivers car, they aren't that bad as standard and with a couple of tweeks (ARB, decent dampers, good tyres) can be made even really good.
Also there is a kit that alters the 4wd system, so it sends more power to the back all times. Maybe worth looking into.
And of course they can be remapped easily!

And they come with a nice, quality cabin and great Recaro (?) seats. You should get all the toys you'd like.
In a dark colour with some smart wheels they look great, IMO!

[anonymous-user]

Bit over budget,

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248...

2005, 67k miles manual Volvo S60 T5. With a cheeky remap to 310bhp.

I found powerful Volvos to be remarkably cheap to insure for younger people, a 23 year old friend insured her C70 T5 cabriolet for a grand a month after an at fault insurance claim and zero NCB,

[Smokey32]

Clio 182? Megane 225?

[CS Garth]

I'll be the boring one then. I'd be tempted to get to uni and see how much you actually get home and use the thing. You're obviously paying for insurance for something you're not using.

Some sad sacks at my uni used to take their washing home at weekends, most normal people were getting hosed and using the opportunity to practise their sexual moves

[rb5er]

Out of that list it would be the 200sx for me.

[Hrimfaxi]

Impreza?

£3,000 will get you a decent bugeye WRX.

[bungz]

bks to having a car at uni.

Don't think I was sober enough at any point to drive

[ZX10R NIN]

In my totally biased opinion I'd say look at a CLK you have three engine choices with between 160-220bhp so insurance shouldn't be an issue, while not being as sharp as a hot hatch or an E46 3 Series they're still decent & normally come with good spec, sunroofs are a rare find.

CLK200 1.8 You don't normally get Xenons on the 200's but they're a good reliable car.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

CLK240
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

CLK320
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

One with a sunroof
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

325i
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

[HustleRussell]

I love my E34 525i, it ain't a sporty drive in any way though.

[RS Grant]

dme123 said:

I found powerful Volvos to be remarkably cheap to insure for younger people, a 23 year old friend insured her C70 T5 cabriolet for a grand a month after an at fault insurance claim and zero NCB,

We have a different idea of what qualifies as cheap insurance, to me a grand a month is a little on the steep side?!


Cheers,
Grant

[grayze]

dme123 said:

Bit over budget,

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248...

2005, 67k miles manual Volvo S60 T5. With a cheeky remap to 310bhp.

I found powerful Volvos to be remarkably cheap to insure for younger people, a 23 year old friend insured her C70 T5 cabriolet for a grand a month after an at fault insurance claim and zero NCB,

thats 12.. 12 grand for a years insurance? hope they got a meercat.

[Yex 450]

grayze said:

dme123 said:

Bit over budget,

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248...

2005, 67k miles manual Volvo S60 T5. With a cheeky remap to 310bhp.

I found powerful Volvos to be remarkably cheap to insure for younger people, a 23 year old friend insured her C70 T5 cabriolet for a grand a month after an at fault insurance claim and zero NCB,

thats 12.. 12 grand for a years insurance? hope they got a meercat.

Might need a re-read, albeit perhaps a comma is missing......expect more from a fellow Chimaera owner

[grayze]

Yex 450 said:

grayze said:

dme123 said:

Bit over budget,

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248...

2005, 67k miles manual Volvo S60 T5. With a cheeky remap to 310bhp.

I found powerful Volvos to be remarkably cheap to insure for younger people, a 23 year old friend insured her C70 T5 cabriolet for a grand a month after an at fault insurance claim and zero NCB,

thats 12.. 12 grand for a years insurance? hope they got a meercat.

Might need a re-read, albeit perhaps a comma is missing......expect more from a fellow Chimaera owner

Commas make all the difference. I once helped my uncle Jack off a horse...

[schmalex]

ZX10R NIN said:

In my totally biased opinion I'd say look at a CLK you have three engine choices with between 160-220bhp so insurance shouldn't be an issue, while not being as sharp as a hot hatch or an E46 3 Series they're still decent & normally come with good spec, sunroofs are a rare find.

CLK200 1.8 You don't normally get Xenons on the 200's but they're a good reliable car.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

CLK240
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

CLK320
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

One with a sunroof
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

325i
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

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

Don't forget the CLK500!! Over 300bhp and a real sleeper...

[ZX10R NIN]

schmalex said:

Don't forget the CLK500!! Over 300bhp and a real sleeper...

I wouldn't normally not list it but I don't think he'll get insured on one plus I don't think there are any for sale without starship mileage.

[Mr Tidy]

Not sure how it is for insurance as I'm old, but my daily 325ti Sport Compact is a great car to drive in a vigorous fashion!

And a good one is easily in budget!

[big trousers]

grab yourself a nice 106 gti while you can, barely see them for sale, good condition ones seem to go for alot, theres a track 106 on ebay for 15k at the moment lol.