Bangernomics

[hairykrishna]

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.

I wouldn't fancy your chances in a new car either.

[seany87]

citroen xantia mate - quirky, interesting and full of idiosyncrasies. Definitely a car with character. Cheap as chips now, mine cost me nothing as it was given to me but most are sub £500

HDI engine u want - i get about 40-45 mpg with a bit of a lead foot, they are comfy, roomy, reasonably torquey, oh and the hdi engines themselves are absolutely bombproof. Not bad handling as well!

[motoroller]

iggletiggle said:

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 said:

Does the £500 BMW still exist?

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

£500 E32 730i?

[iggletiggle]

motoroller said:

iggletiggle said:

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 said:

Does the £500 BMW still exist?

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

£500 E32 730i?

Now... That i like the sound of...Although if someone hits me in a new Kia picanto, i'll die.... going to have a look at these later

cheers for the help so far

[davidspooner]

edo said:

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

Awesome car, surely? What's the problem?

[Devil2575]

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.

LOL, yes i'm a bit short of cash so i'll go and ask my boss for a promotion. It really is that simple isn't it.
Forget the fact that many businesses are struggling and letting people go. Forget the fact that many people are just thankfull that they still have jobs, i'll go and ask for a promotion. Even though the chance of a promotion existing in many companies is very slim, if one does come up there will be another 50 people interested. Now i'm good at my job but banking on being better than the other 50 people on the day is a bit of a gamble.

I don't know what planet you're from but back here in the real world life just isn't that simple.

[Emubiker]

205 STDT?

basically the same car as the 1.6 GTi, but with a diesel engine.

There are also a few GTi's with the 306 dturbo engines in, but they will be above the £500 budget.

[iggletiggle]

Wow! Three responses.. although the comment was worth it ..

[edo]

davidspooner said:

edo said:

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

Awesome car, surely? What's the problem?

Nice straight 6 too.

[anonymous-user]

I shall put forward the Fiesta 1.25 Zetec. Imo these are great fun to drive and will do 45mpg no problem.

[SamPet]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-MERCEDES-C280-ELEGANCE-...

I just bought one of these. OK, a bit juicy on the fuel but a great solid performer...I wouldn't be too worried by the mileage either, as long as the S.H is there.

[Muzzer]

Devil2575 said:

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.

LOL, yes i'm a bit short of cash so i'll go and ask my boss for a promotion. It really is that simple isn't it.
Forget the fact that many businesses are struggling and letting people go. Forget the fact that many people are just thankfull that they still have jobs, i'll go and ask for a promotion. Even though the chance of a promotion existing in many companies is very slim, if one does come up there will be another 50 people interested. Now i'm good at my job but banking on being better than the other 50 people on the day is a bit of a gamble.

I don't know what planet you're from but back here in the real world life just isn't that simple.

What's wrong with asking for a promotion?

Demanding one is something else entirely. I also wouldn't put the house on getting one but, in my experience at least, if you don't ask then you don't get.

[shouldbworking]

MSTRBKR said:

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

Woah woah there. snow and ice AND oil!

[richardxjr]

Isn't it the No1 rule in bangernomics that you HAVE to run it until it dies?

Sorry OP but better the £500 devil you know etc.

[Lucie W]

I've just bought a '94 Civic 1.6 for about that price. Quick, good on fuel and I don't mind if it gets car park dings in it (the boyfriend can get them out but I wouldn't care even if I didn't have that luxury!

[GreatGranny]

This does look a little tatty but sounds solid enough with 12 months MOT and sensible mileage for a 23 year old car.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C138457/

[KaraK]

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.

I'm in the process of picking up a banger myself at the moment - I've recently got a new job (which was a promotion over my last job) and doing 90miles a day in the scooby is eating up silly amounts of the nice wage increase I managed. Putting large amounts of dull miles on my "fun" car doesn't offer good VFM in my eyes!

[Jamus]

Adv get this

[deeen]

Are we going to see a lot more sub £500 bangers again, when the scrappage scheme finishes? Might be worth hanging on a month or 2?

[kbf1981]

Devil2575 said:

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.

LOL, yes i'm a bit short of cash so i'll go and ask my boss for a promotion. It really is that simple isn't it.
Forget the fact that many businesses are struggling and letting people go. Forget the fact that many people are just thankfull that they still have jobs, i'll go and ask for a promotion. Even though the chance of a promotion existing in many companies is very slim, if one does come up there will be another 50 people interested. Now i'm good at my job but banking on being better than the other 50 people on the day is a bit of a gamble.

I don't know what planet you're from but back here in the real world life just isn't that simple.

When my old company said they weren't promoting people one year or giving pay rises due to the economic climate (this was back in 2007 I think), I put my CV together and interviewed elsewhere, assisted by headhunters.

I got an offer for a role that paid 42% more.

I never ended up taking that and went off and started a business myself, but the point still remains. Not everyone's business is doing badly at the moment, I know of many that are growing in double digits. To believe there's any limitation on your earnings potential outside of your time, health, and willingness to persevere is false from experience.