Best banger for £1500
Discussion
Paid £4k for a 118d about 6 months ago and the timing chain went last night.
I dont have the money to replace the engine so looking to stick it on ebay as a non-runner. Been offered £1200 so far and have a few £100's in my savings.
My plan was to chop the 1 series in, in 8 weeks when i sell my house and take some money out of the house to get a decent family wagon.
So my question would be, what's the best motor I could get for £1500. Do I go bulletproof golf and sensible taxi wagon galaxy?
The car will mainly be used by the wife for the school run
I dont have the money to replace the engine so looking to stick it on ebay as a non-runner. Been offered £1200 so far and have a few £100's in my savings.
My plan was to chop the 1 series in, in 8 weeks when i sell my house and take some money out of the house to get a decent family wagon.
So my question would be, what's the best motor I could get for £1500. Do I go bulletproof golf and sensible taxi wagon galaxy?
The car will mainly be used by the wife for the school run
Get yourself a Mondeo in they're a very good car:
Ghia X
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Ghia X
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I would go Japanese at this level.
We picked up an early Accord Tourer for £1600 about 3 years (45k) ago and aside from a sticky calliper it's been faultless.
Rides and handles well, well equipped in exec spec (heated leather, cruise, great stereo). Ours is just the 2.0 VTEC but goes well enough if you keep the revs up with an easy 35 mpg.
Definitely doesn't feel like a shed!
We picked up an early Accord Tourer for £1600 about 3 years (45k) ago and aside from a sticky calliper it's been faultless.
Rides and handles well, well equipped in exec spec (heated leather, cruise, great stereo). Ours is just the 2.0 VTEC but goes well enough if you keep the revs up with an easy 35 mpg.
Definitely doesn't feel like a shed!
ZX10R NIN said:
Get yourself a Mondeo in they're a very good car:
I echo the above except I'd be choosing a 1.8/2.0 Manual, chain driven, mechanically simple and reliable. or the newer mk4, such as this :
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Its a very large car granted but again, very reliable, nice steer and very spacious (Not to mention lees prone to rust and looks better on the drive etc)
Afromonk said:
Volvo V70
Non turbo
Petrol
Easy
My Father in Law ran a 2.4 non turbo S60 and it was seriously thirsty. Plus, they're a bit large for the usual school run schenanigans. My local "cars for sale" facebook group has a constant procession of Focus 1.6s for around £500.Non turbo
Petrol
Easy
Or just put up "£500 cash wot u got??!?" post (acoompanied by a string of meaningless emoticons), and I'm sure all manner of cheap motors will be dangled before you.
just answer everything with "200£ cash collect 2nite"
Ian
£1500 will give you the moon on a stick. It's a huge budget to buy something reliable and half tidy.
Saab is always worth a shout, they seem pretty good.
Volvo is getting a big towards the limit of the budget.
Almost any Ford is good bet.
Avoid the German stuff, and there's a whole world of decent stuff.
How about this for example Estate, rapid, flexible engine, and frugal. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-X-type-estate-2-...
And well within budget - leaving a suitable bork fund
Saab is always worth a shout, they seem pretty good.
Volvo is getting a big towards the limit of the budget.
Almost any Ford is good bet.
Avoid the German stuff, and there's a whole world of decent stuff.
How about this for example Estate, rapid, flexible engine, and frugal. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-X-type-estate-2-...
And well within budget - leaving a suitable bork fund
Saab 9-5. Super comfy and still cool imho. Here’s an Aero for 250hp of petrol goodness.
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-5-HOT-aero-estate/...
psAAOSwcFBbnjMv
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-5-HOT-aero-estate/...
psAAOSwcFBbnjMvHow long would you be looking to keep the car? Is it a stop gap filler or something more long term?
I would personally avoid SAAB - great cars for the money, and the hots can be rapid. In my experience they can have issues - oil starvation/sludge in pickup. Turbo issues. Electrical gremlins. You can get mixed reviews but if you are emptying your bank account to buy a car and have no money to back you up for repairs. Then i'd be wary of anything too complicated.
VW Passat? can be had and never really had a major issue with a PD VW. Not the classiest or the nicest to look at but they go on and on.
I've had issues with the larger engined Mondeos in the past so i would stick to the 2.0 not the 2.5. They can have oil pump issues and other faults, but the smaller petrol is much simpler and reliable again in my experience.
Subaru Legacy - Japanese reliability and build so dull as dishwater but the shed of the week is even one today. THey are good cars and great over the winter.
I've had a volvo v70 and it drank fuel but never threw an issue other than a bulb. Not saying they aren't overly complicated but they do big miles and wear them reasonably well.
Hatchback wise. A ford focus is a good car and well rounded and quite reliable.
I'd personally stick to japanse. Honda Civic. is a good shout. Practical and fairly bombproof.
At this price. Expect anything you buy to have a few niggles here or there. Just try to minimise them as best you can by doing your research and checking the car over. I've had a lot of £1500 - 2000 cars and you can find real gems. Just have to take your time and not rush into one. That's when you can find yourself with a bigger bill and woe than when you started.
I would personally avoid SAAB - great cars for the money, and the hots can be rapid. In my experience they can have issues - oil starvation/sludge in pickup. Turbo issues. Electrical gremlins. You can get mixed reviews but if you are emptying your bank account to buy a car and have no money to back you up for repairs. Then i'd be wary of anything too complicated.
VW Passat? can be had and never really had a major issue with a PD VW. Not the classiest or the nicest to look at but they go on and on.
I've had issues with the larger engined Mondeos in the past so i would stick to the 2.0 not the 2.5. They can have oil pump issues and other faults, but the smaller petrol is much simpler and reliable again in my experience.
Subaru Legacy - Japanese reliability and build so dull as dishwater but the shed of the week is even one today. THey are good cars and great over the winter.
I've had a volvo v70 and it drank fuel but never threw an issue other than a bulb. Not saying they aren't overly complicated but they do big miles and wear them reasonably well.
Hatchback wise. A ford focus is a good car and well rounded and quite reliable.
I'd personally stick to japanse. Honda Civic. is a good shout. Practical and fairly bombproof.
At this price. Expect anything you buy to have a few niggles here or there. Just try to minimise them as best you can by doing your research and checking the car over. I've had a lot of £1500 - 2000 cars and you can find real gems. Just have to take your time and not rush into one. That's when you can find yourself with a bigger bill and woe than when you started.
stevekoz said:
How long would you be looking to keep the car? Is it a stop gap filler or something more long term?
I would personally avoid SAAB - great cars for the money, and the hots can be rapid. In my experience they can have issues - oil starvation/sludge in pickup. Turbo issues. Electrical gremlins. You can get mixed reviews but if you are emptying your bank account to buy a car and have no money to back you up for repairs. Then i'd be wary of anything too complicated.
Technically correct although the sludge issues were down to poor breather pipe design affecting cars from 2002 and before. Post 2003 cars like this don’t have this issue and even if they do, it costs £250 to fix permanently. I know because I had it done to mine last month. I would personally avoid SAAB - great cars for the money, and the hots can be rapid. In my experience they can have issues - oil starvation/sludge in pickup. Turbo issues. Electrical gremlins. You can get mixed reviews but if you are emptying your bank account to buy a car and have no money to back you up for repairs. Then i'd be wary of anything too complicated.
Read the advert and you’ll see it’s had a new turbo and has full history which is worth a lot. Saab owners tend to look after their cars and all evidence is there. I’d take a serious look at this one.
Condition is everything at this price.
A happy Saab 9-5 owner.
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