Badge snob with small pockets!

[maxp]

Looking for a car for ~£1750 or less, made from 2000 onwards.

Mostly for a 20mile daily roundtrip, with the odd motorway slog thrown in.

2 seat minimum, luggage space not important, build quality very important(i.e. nothing french, korean, vauxhall and ford).

I must say, ive found a few bmw 3 series in that range which look like excellent value. Any others im missing?

[jonstable]

Saab?

[falkster]

jonstable said:

Saab?

That's where I'd be looking!

[maxp]

Spotted a few alfa 147's in that bracket. Are they to be avoided?

[williredale]

Volvo?

[falkster]

maxp said:

Spotted a few alfa 147's in that bracket. Are they to be avoided?

I've had 2 and, although they were newer than that, I don't suppose it matters whether they are 2 years old or 6 years old. If they're gonna be unreliable they would have started causing problems by now.

[jonstable]

maxp said:

2 seat minimum,

No motorbikes then?
Friend had a 147 and loved it, but that was when it was new. Not sure about one for close to shed money.

[maxp]

jonstable said:

No motorbikes then?
Friend had a 147 and loved it, but that was when it was new. Not sure about one for close to shed money.

I already have one

[jas xjr]

Jaguar ?

[Matt UK]

maxp said:

2 seat minimum, luggage space not important, build quality very important

Even if you had added 'great handling', 'ragtop' and 'fun to drive' to your list - the answer would still be Madza MX5

[sjc]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3556353.htm

[Mr2Mike]

maxp said:

I must say, ive found a few bmw 3 series in that range which look like excellent value. Any others im missing?

BMWs which are cheap to buy are rarely cheap to run in the medium to long term. Generally a poor choice on a very small budget.

[maxp]

Matt UK said:

Even if you had added 'great handling', 'ragtop' and 'fun to drive' to your list - the answer would still be Madza MX5

I like your thinking. Its probably horses for courses, but mk1 or mk2? I am a sucker for those popup headlights

[maxp]

Mr2Mike said:

BMWs which are cheap to buy are rarely cheap to run in the medium to long term. Generally a poor choice on a very small budget.

My work colleague has an e36 3 series which he has been thrashing on a daily basis and its still going. Is this a rarity?

[jonstable]

maxp said:

I like your thinking. Its probably horses for courses, but mk1 or mk2? I am a sucker for those popup headlights

MK1 all day long. So good I have 2

[maxp]

jonstable said:

MK1 all day long. So good I have 2

If I remember the one to go for is a 1.8? and is sill rust still a problem?

[jonstable]

maxp said:

If I remember the one to go for is a 1.8? and is sill rust still a problem?

I prefer my 1.6, but opinions vary wildly. Best bet is to try both. Rust is an issue, on the sills and around the rear arches seem to be favourite spots. There are very good ones out there though for not much money at all.

[kambites]

Can you get a mk3 MR2 for that yet?

[maxp]

kambites said:

Can you get a mk3 MR2 for that yet?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3556356.htm

Looks like it. I wonder how these compare with the mk1 mx5...?

[kambites]

maxp said:

kambites said:

Can you get a mk3 MR2 for that yet?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3556356.htm

Looks like it. I wonder how these compare with the mk1 mx5...?

They drive better than any (standard) MX5, IMO. No boot to speak of though, which puts a lot of people off.