In the Classifieds, suffering from 'search drift'...

[Matt UK]

So, I need a daily beater and the criteria is simple - I even set up a thread to mull it over...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

£4k max; frugal, reliable, daily beater for mway commute


So, better get cracking as I need to sort it - time for some considered resarch.

First port of call was the VAG 1.9tdi brigade - a Golf seemed a good option. The Germans built the Mk4 to a good standard and there are lots about. So I'm browsing as the Mrs looks over my shoulder.
"You going for a Golf then?"
"Yeah, reackon so, there are loads and they are pretty tough little cars"
"Fair enough, happy hunting"

Then I notice a simiar age/miles Passat is the same price - fair enough, a larger car will probably by more comfy on the 110 miles a day commute. Push the budget up and the Highline versions are knocking around with the nice heater leather seats...

Yes, seats are important as I'm in the car up to 3 hours a day. The Swedes make nice seats. So I look at Saab 9-3. Nice but the Vauahall era ones don't do much for me.

But the 9-5 looks to have even better seats, maybe the 9-5? But then I remember a pool car 9-5 I used to borrow and it was a bit creaky and wallowy. No maybe not.

OK, Volvo. The S40s all look a bit basic and I had one 10 years ago.

So we move onto the S60. Yes, this looks good. The Swedes make a nice car and have nice seats. And all the SE versions are well specced. Push the budget a bit and there are plenty of nice ones.

Hang about - the S80 doesn't seem that much more expensive. Now they do look like nice seats and all the spec is there. Push the budget a bit more and there are some really nice ones. Can't really put a price on comfort.

Wasn't the S80 having a go at 'the teutonic establishment', yes I think it was. Wander what the price gap is. The Merc S Class was always the ultimate wafter, so we may as well do this properly if there's not much in it. Hang on, a 2001 Mercedes Benz S320 CDi Diesel is not as much as I thought. If I'm going this route I'm sure I could find some extra budget, these are a bargai...

<knock, knock.....Mrs pops back in 15mins later with a brew...>

"Mercedes S Class? Why are you looking at them"
"Well, it seems like a good alternative"
"What, to a VW Golf?"
"Err.. well yeah"
"Are you serious?"
"Well, it sort of makes sense..."

<snap> the spell seemed to break.

She did seem to have a point, how did I go from a Golf 1.9tdi to a Merc S Class in less than 15mins?
It all seemed so, so logical, it was a perfect decision making process that all made sense.

"Matt, I think you need to focus a bit more..." and off she wandered laughing but no doubt probably a bit confused...

C'mon PH, say it's not just me.

Do you suffer from search drift?

I want to hear from someone who went out to buy a brand new Korean hatch with a 7yr warranty and drove home in a 60's muscle car

[vit4]

You're not trying hard enough OP, get one bought

I do this though. Not bought anything, yet Matter of time though I'm sure!

[WillowPillow]

This happens to me every time i look for a replacement car.

I was looking at Audi A4 Saloons, then realised i'd get more A6 for my money. Oh, hang on A8s are even cheaper and more waftable....ah, but i may as well go for a 7-Series instead since it's RWD....but i don't need all that space so a nice 5 E39 will do the trick, ooh lots of lovely Sport models....no a newer 3-Series will be more nimble...erm, i fancy a coupe and something rarer....i'll have a look at Mercedes CL500s now... they're 'in budget'...argh!!!

and so it goes on....

[monthefish]

Yes. Was looking for a diesel runabout. Budget of about 5k. So I thought about a golf gt tdi, drifted towards a BMW e46 320d, ended up buying an e92 msport 320d coupe, blowing the budget spectacularly in the process..

[Mikeyplum]

I started off looking at an old LR Disco as a replacement for our second car. The drift went as follows:

- Circa 1995 Disco 300tdi <£1k
- Disco 2 Td5 = £1k
- The thought of replacing our main car with a 7 seater Disco 2.5 Td5
- Disco 2.5 V8
- P38 Range Rover 4.0 V8
- P38 Range Rover 4.6 V8
- P38 Range Rover 4.6 V8 Autobiography

Soon got snapped out of it by the Mrs

[judas]

Ah, the dreaded 'scope creep'. When it happens in a project it's not on and gets slapped down good'n'hard.

But when it comes to choosing a car it's perfectly natural That's why I'm tooling about in an old Jag instead of a Smart Car

Edited by judas on Friday 18th November 15:49

[300bhp/ton]

Gaz. said:

I started off looking at diesel 9-5 Estates and ended up buying an S2000 for twice the price

I like your thinking.

[AClownsPocket]

Yep. Came home 4 months ago, was looking for a cheap Corsa diesel to run around in until I got myself sorted properly. Scope crept and crept and I ended up with a low miler E39 530D Sport Auto with Satnav and a sunroof

Spectacular blowage of budget. Was worth it mind you.

[Matt UK]

judas said:

Ah, the dreaded 'scope creep'. When it happens in a project it's not on and gets slapped down good'n'hard.

But when it comes to choosing a car it's perfectly natural ]

Agreed, if I put out a brief for a VW Golf and the supplier pitched up with a Merc S Class, they'd get a right good kick in the 'nads

[jas xjr]

Watch out for rust on merc of that era