£2000 what car thread?

[Rollcage]

I'm thinking of upgrading from my Mondeo ST24 in a month or two, and I'd like to get the ideas of the PH massive.

My shortlist so far would be a Mondeo ST220, Impreza Turbo (UK), E36 328i (any variant) or an Alfa 156 V6 (no jokes please!)

My ideal candidate vehicle can be pretty much anything, as long as it should be reliable. I'll be carrying out my own maintenance, so this would be a factor. Not too bothered about insurance ratings, and it needs to be capable of 25mpg in lightish use, which is what I get from the Mondeo currently. It will probably be my only car, so needs to be vaguely practical.

I could go for pretty much anything, but ideally I'm after something that is a bit PH. No boring diesels!

Any suggestions will be gratefully considered!

[liquidken]

The E36 would certainly fit all criteria - particularly the reliability against the others. You'd get a decent example for that money, too.

[Rollcage]

That is my gut feeling about the E36 as well - the only minor consideration with it would be character. I'd like something makes me give it a backward glance in the car park, that sort of thing. An E36 M3 would do that, but they are a bit too much money to buy.

[RallyeS1]

A looked after Impreza would be a good call, super reliable, cross country pace is unreal. 25mpg is achievable but ul have to be steadie!

[VeeFour]

Well, the E36 was a pretty poor car by BMW standards- interiors fall apart and even late cars are showing signs of rot around the arches.

The 156 is likely to need more maintenance (They're reliable cars, but do need more TLC than others in their 'class'), and a cheap Subrau will have spent the last couple of years being thrashed around the local council estate by a small time drug dealer / 'doorman'.

[Rollcage]

I'll add into the mix a couple I had forgotten about - Audi A4 2.8 30v Quattro Sport, and an E39 528iSE .

Also, cars would preferably have leather where available and climate.

[junglie]

I have owned an ST24, ST220 and E36 328i so understand your choices.

With a £2,000 budget I would definitely go down the BMW route. The ST220 would be the older 5 speed, pre face lift model and very leggy - not an issue and they do have all the kit. A completely different car from your ST24.

The E36 328i is brilliant - the straight 6 feels muscular, smooth, sounds great and will go on forever. I averaged around 35 mpg (mostly motorway) and rarely went less than 30 mpg in mixed driving. The cabin is well put together and all the controls feel solid, well damped and ergonomically right.

I bought mine as a motorway hack (save miles on the Z4 and TVR) and I always enjoyed driving it. Bought for £1,700 with an amazing Service History folder and 112k. Ran it for over 2 years and 35k miles and only serviced it - nothing else needed doing.

I would find a well cared for example for £1,500 and spend the rest sorting the bushes and track rod arms, some new rubber and brakes and settle in for years of good motoring.

Let me know if you want more advice.

[junglie]

And an E39 523i SE........

[Rollcage]

Thanks Junglie.

I see this on ebay - perhaps a 328i Sport would be the best compromise. The economy of them does appeal - I know a Z3 2.8 will achieve 30mpg without much problem.

The M-tech kit on the Sport does give it some added kerbside appeal. I guess the problem with Sports is finding a proper one!

[Ricky_M]

Honda Accord Type-R?

Seems to be a few around the £2k mark on Autotrader.

[junglie]

Looks nice.

Registered later in 1998 so no nikasil issues. Idle looks slightly low but could be paralax error. Has FSH and recent clutch which is good.

For a bag and a half that could be great.

[Rollcage]

Ricky_M said:

Honda Accord Type-R?

Seems to be a few around the £2k mark on Autotrader.

Nothing wrong with a Type R , but I'm more of a torque than horsepower type of guy.

[mikial]

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1996...


A saloon but nevertheless worth a look ?

[Rollcage]

mikial said:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1996...


A saloon but nevertheless worth a look ?

I'm not sure, price looks a trifle optimistic to me. Also, I did think SEs had climate?

[firman]

What about a Jag XJ? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2752473.htm

[The fatboy]

surely subaru for me, performance, dull but easy to use interior. reliable as well.

[sparks_E39]

E39 528

Miles better than an E36 in terms of build qauility and refinement, you will get a nice one for £2k but you will get a mint E34 525i with change.... a 528 will average 25 mpg if you drive it carefully.

[Rollcage]

I would have thought that a 528i would return at least 30mpg driven carefully - the last one I drove achieved that pretty easily?

[Riknos]

The Subaru would be a bit risky for that money in my opinion. It's at the bottom end of the price range so would probably need money spending on it, something to take into consideration.

[McSam]

Rollcage said:

I'll add into the mix a couple I had forgotten about - Audi A4 2.8 30v Quattro Sport, and an E39 528iSE .

Also, cars would preferably have leather where available and climate.

I can recommend the A4 2.8 30v for you, most definitely. The B5 A4 feels a very solid and well-put-together car inside and out, and yours would be a late facelift model, which is great. I'm not sure if I'd bother with quattro on this one, I'd prefer to save the weight but it's down to your preference and quite a few 30vs had it. All the toys you could need in these, the only thing you'll lack is a bit of steering feel.

Most definitely condition and history rather than mileage for these. And listen very carefully for any noise at all from the suspension when testing, they're a quiet car when they haven't half-eaten their suspension components. Which they do fairly quickly.