Bangernomics

[iggletiggle]

Right,

I have been playing bangernomics for a while now, my last buy has lasted me almost 18months with tons of life left in it. My problem is i am bored.

Looking to spend around the £500.00 mark (want to stay as close to this as possible), need something reliable and interesting (not necessarily fun, just interesting)

I am sick of trawling through local ads/PH/AT and looking at the same old "sensible" stuff and need some help thinking outside the box.

I do about 20,000 per annum, have to do a 60mile daily round trip to work and do a few blasts down to cornwall in the summer months so needs to be able to cope.

Not too bothered on what it is - van, coupe, estate, saloon, hatch - just something that doesnt suck the life out of me and doesnt use too much fuel

Currently i have a 1995 N Reg Clio 1.2 5dr, doing around 50mpg and i've covered 23k in it so far (bought at around 45k i think for £250.00, currently 76k) it has done the job but am bored - Please help!!!

Cheers

Mike

[Woodstar]

Does the £500 BMW still exist?

i.e - E30 3-Series, E34 5-Series etc.

[iggletiggle]

theres a few tatty ones around but nothing that sparks my enthusiasm.. the only reason i went for the clio was cos it was ultra cheap, long MOT and low mileage. To be honest its been an awesome car for racking up miles to work and back..

Should have mentioned, the longer the MOT the better !!

[Syndrome]

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

[Woodstar]

Syndrome said:

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

Really? These days the cheaper the car, the bigger it will be i would rather be in a big Volvo/BMW/Audi than a small new Kia/Tata etc.

[Tangent Police]

Syndrome said:

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

Are you a crasher?

You could also get struck by lightening or accidentally drive into a ferrari garage!

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

I'm currently running a 1.4 Clio banger which returns just 40mpg - I doff my cap to your 50mpg!!
At £500 your options are limited if you want something truly 'interesting'. Instead of interesting, think 'left field'...
Something with cool pop-up lights perhaps...Volvo 480 Turbo, Celica Gen 5 (maybe even a GT4 if you're lucky), MR2 etc.

[edo]

I'd not really want to rely on a £500 car to do 20,000 miles a year.

Add to that the fact a lot of bangers have been crapped recently, and there aren't as many £500 cars as there used to be.

Might get this for close to £500....

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW/...



1993 BMW 520i SE Auto
Price: £695
Features:
60,000 milesAutomaticRedPetrolSaloon1990 cc
Full Description:
Glossary of Terms
1993, K reg. unmarked Red, Grey trim, ewx4, em, cl, PAS, bespoke alloys, aircon, Cd player, looks and drives like new, original 60k miles, 2 owners, never to be repeated, totally unmolested example, priced to sell. £695. may px. 07814 763631 or

[kbf1981]

Why not just get a promotion? I don't understand people trying to save THAT much money when if I was that tight up....I'd be trying to earn more of it.

You're on the planet for a very short period of time - might as well have nice things whilst you're here.

[Muzzer]

Syndrome said:

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

That's quite a pessimistic view on car ownership, like not buying a Smart Car for example, in case you get hit by a truck.

The chances of you having an accident are quite low, even at 20k miles a year, and the chances of you having an accident whereby the safety features of your car are a factor in said accident, I'd venture, are a lot lower still.

[iggletiggle]

right to clarify, im doing this for fun..
re the : just get a promotion comment.

I have my 165bhp VTS track car back now as bought it back, an almost finished Golf mk2 GTI shell with a 2.0T 230bhp engine going in summer 2010 and am also looking to get a cooper S GP in the next month or so...

i enjoy seeing how far i can go in a cheap car as it is only for getting to work and the odd longer journey as the VTS isnt road legal and the Golf wont be finished this year..

Thanks

ETA - ref the accidents comment.. i could get hit by a bus crossing the road tomorrow too eh?

Edited by iggletiggle on Monday 15th February 15:34

[hairykrishna]

Syndrome said:

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

If this genuinely worries you get something like an old Volvo or Saab 9000. How much protection do you really need?

[anonymous-user]

Syndrome said:

The main trouble with "bangernomics" is that the cars are old sheds which wouldn't offer much protection against a modern car in a crash. fk that for a game of soldiers.

New car or old car, crashing into curbs in the snow and ice has the same outcome

[Garett]

Saab 9000, lots of car for the money, if its been looked after it should see 20k a year no worries

[Syndrome]

hairykrishna said:

If this genuinely worries you get something like an old Volvo or Saab 9000. How much protection do you really need?

If you were sat in a queue of traffic on a foggy motorway in an old Volvo or saab and were hit from behind by a new car with a decent NCAP rating, I wouldn't fancy your chances in the Volvo / Saab TBH. Plus the fact an old shed is more likely to not be in the best structural condition. It's just not worth it.

[Syndrome]

MSTRBKR said:

New car or old car, crashing into curbs in the snow and ice has the same outcome

Even if that wasn't such a ish comment, it's hardly true either.

[patmahe]

kbf1981 said:

Why not just get a promotion? I don't understand people trying to save THAT much money when if I was that tight up....I'd be trying to earn more of it.

You're on the planet for a very short period of time - might as well have nice things whilst you're here.

Some people put more value in other things, seeing the world, buying a home etc... we all like different things. Personally I see no value in owning a shiny new car when a shiny, older, simpler (read easy to fix) one will do the same job at a lesser cost.

[anonymous-user]

Syndrome said:

MSTRBKR said:

New car or old car, crashing into curbs in the snow and ice has the same outcome

Even if that wasn't such a ish comment, it's hardly true either.

The 'outcome' I'm referring to isn't the damage done to the car

[missing the VR6]

How about a MK2 golf diesel? or a Driver?

[Woodstar]

Syndrome said:

hairykrishna said:

If this genuinely worries you get something like an old Volvo or Saab 9000. How much protection do you really need?

If you were sat in a queue of traffic on a foggy motorway in an old Volvo or saab and were hit from behind by a new car with a decent NCAP rating, I wouldn't fancy your chances in the Volvo / Saab TBH. Plus the fact an old shed is more likely to not be in the best structural condition. It's just not worth it.

Yeah, or when a meteorite falls from the sky i want to be in an NCAP rated.....zzzzzzzzzz