My first what car!

[3000GT ANT]

Hi Guys,

This one is going to be pretty simple i imagine as i dont think theres many options but i am counting on PH to produce some car ideas i havent thought of.

Heres the info, £2000 max and 4 door, i would like a rwd as i havent owned one before, but i'm open to any suggestions. Please no silly suggestions about V8's as much as i would like, around 1.8 or 2.0 litre will be more suitable.

so far i'm considering a vectra, a bmw 320 and a lexus is200

cheers
Ant

[alfa pint]

I'd go slightly bigger and look at a 5 series.

Other slightly left field options - jaguars. S types with either of the V6 petrol engines are available at that sort of price, as is a bomb proof XJ.

The 3 series is an obvious choice, but a bit of a reps car, hence I'd want either a bigger 3 series like a 328 / 330 or a 5 series.

Lexus is ok, but my mate's just looks tired inside now. Have you thought about a C class Merc at all?

[mnkiboy]

For a start the Vectra isn't RWD. Maybe throw the Merc C-Class in there, but I wouldn't touch them at that price.

[3000GT ANT]

mnkiboy said:

For a start the Vectra isn't RWD. Maybe throw the Merc C-Class in there, but I wouldn't touch them at that price.

thanks i know, but my wife likes them, like i said i'm open to anything, mondeo etc, but would prefer rwd. Thats what i thought about the mercs and they look more dated compared to the BMW etc. I do like the look of the jags, so i'll add to my list cheers

[RobCrezz]

E36 325i. There are plenty around so you can be very picky, go for the 2.5 as you can pick one up for a good price as many people class them as a big engine and will avoid, but they can return good mpg and are super smooth and have a really nice power delivery.

[Chris71]

3000GT ANT said:

so far i'm considering a vectra, a bmw 320

Don't discount the bigger engined 3 Series. You get a lot more performance with a 325 or 328 for a pretty small increase in running costs. A while back when I looked some insurers actually offered lower rates for the sixes than they did for a 318iS.

They're still very well mannered and you'd have to be trying pretty hard to make a 328 misbehave in the dry, so it'd be fine as a first RWD car too.

There's a distinct shortage of affordable RWD four doors. I think a BMW of some description is the way forward.

[VolvoT5]

OP's requirements are almost exactly what I am looking for when I come to change. I have settled on a 3 series compact, probably a 325ti, if I needed 4 doors I would look for the standard saloon.

There are also a lot of 5 series about for that money. Also what about an Omega?

[300bhp/ton]

3000GT ANT said:

Hi Guys,

This one is going to be pretty simple i imagine as i dont think theres many options but i am counting on PH to produce some car ideas i havent thought of.

Heres the info, £2000 max and 4 door, i would like a rwd as i havent owned one before, but i'm open to any suggestions. Please no silly suggestions about V8's as much as i would like, around 1.8 or 2.0 litre will be more suitable.

so far i'm considering a vectra, a bmw 320 and a lexus is200

cheers
Ant

What do you need/want from it? 4 doors is a bit vague, is it going to be for family use? Does it need to be sporty, luxury, comfy, fun, well specced, minimal?

Is boot space important?

Also when you say 1.8 - 2.0, is there an mpg target or £/month fuel cost to aim at? Sometimes bigger engines don't use more fuel or maybe actually less.


RWD restrictions mean you are more than likely looking at classics or a select few newer cars from people like Jag, BMW, Lexus, Merc.

AWD will open the field up to a few more possibilities and there are plenty of very good FWD cars to consider.

In the absence of knowing what you want it to do, how about going retro with something like a Rover P6, SD1 or Triumph 2000?

[3000GT ANT]

300bhp/ton said:

What do you need/want from it? 4 doors is a bit vague, is it going to be for family use? Does it need to be sporty, luxury, comfy, fun, well specced, minimal?

Is boot space important?

Also when you say 1.8 - 2.0, is there an mpg target or £/month fuel cost to aim at? Sometimes bigger engines don't use more fuel or maybe actually less.


RWD restrictions mean you are more than likely looking at classics or a select few newer cars from people like Jag, BMW, Lexus, Merc.

AWD will open the field up to a few more possibilities and there are plenty of very good FWD cars to consider.

In the absence of knowing what you want it to do, how about going retro with something like a Rover P6, SD1 or Triumph 2000?

i want 4 doors as will be used for family.

Boot space not so important.

I am looking at 1.8 - 2.0 litre purely from a cost point of view (mpg, insurance)

I prefer rwd, but am open to suggestions for any driven wheel type, as i havent owned one before.

Nothing too retro as it must be reliable.

I am after a reliable £2K car with four doors that i will use going to work (short journeys) and any general tasks i.e taking dog out, going to the skip, a car which i wont be too pissed off if some scratches it.

cheers
Ant

[300bhp/ton]

3000GT ANT said:

i want 4 doors as will be used for family.

Boot space not so important.

I am looking at 1.8 - 2.0 litre purely from a cost point of view (mpg, insurance)

I prefer rwd, but am open to suggestions for any driven wheel type, as i havent owned one before.

Nothing too retro as it must be reliable.

I am after a reliable £2K car with four doors that i will use going to work (short journeys) and any general tasks i.e taking dog out, going to the skip, a car which i wont be too pissed off if some scratches it.

cheers
Ant

I have to say for family cars I'm a big fan of 4x4's, they are normally more roomy inside, you can pull off the road anywhere. Kids love them, the higher up ride height offers a better view to passengers and if you are lugging a baby in/out of a car seat, not having to bend down to do so might be a back saver.

£2k will get you a descent Freelander, the 2.0 L Series diesel is a nice motor and will do 35-40mpg. The 1.8 isn't bad either so long as you accept a HG might need doing at some point.

If you want bigger then Disco's are in budget as well as a variety of Jap and American 4x4's. They might not be the best to drive dynamically, but they all have their own charm, which can make them more fun than a lot of other "normal" cars.

The shape of them has to be a bonus for putting dogs in and doing tip runs too.

[crofty1984]

A well looked after E36.