Best car for under £700

[NathanWright]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 21 April 2012 at 19:39

[varsas]

5 Series BMW's (E34 and E39) are good value, I dare say the vendor would have accepted £700 for the E39 528i that featured as last weeks SOTW? Seems to tick all the boxes, assuming insurance is reasonable.

[tbc]

Ford Puma

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3824932.htm

MG ZR

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3771886.htm

[NathanWright]

looked at a e39 528i when I had the alfa for a grand, was all set to buy it until admiral turned around and quoted me £2400 to insure it! i'd love one, but insurance is a tad pricey on them. I'd love a e34 525 but finding a decent one for this money is difficult

[NathanWright]

I didnt listen to sensible advice when buying the last 2 cars, so maybe I should listen this time!
But i agree, i have seen some honda legends etc, great condition for no money at all.
The cool factor to me doesnt bother too much, aslong as i know how good it is, i dont care
But thanks for the advice, taking more care looking into the service history etc would save me later.
Puma is a good idea, but I think its a bit too girly! constantly trying to persuade the girlfriend to buy one!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Just get the HG done!

[NathanWright]

Maybe. I dont actually know if its the headgasket yet, waiting for it to be diagnosed but assuming it is that!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Symptoms?

[EDLT]

What else is wrong with the Saab, most £700 cars will need something replacing in the near future. If you do decide to buy a new car to avoid a £300 repair bill then don't look at old German barges, a service is going to put it very close to your "The car isn't worth it" limit, and that is without replacing worn out suspension bushes/brakes/tyres.

[edo]

I cant see any of the cars you have listed not being pretty likely to throw up a service or fault with a bill to the value of the car to be honest.

[Gorvid]

You're telling someone who bought a SAAB and fancies an Omega to be less concerned about brand?

[NadiR]

Seeing that you like saloons, why not get an Accord? I'd be surprised if anything major goes wrong with it as its the most reliable car in its class, they are pretty much bombproof. You can get one (just) for under £700, and that's the 1998+ model.

[McSam]

Look at V6 A4s. There are a lot around for this money. I found a 2.8 30v one for £500 and it's still knocking around now, no problems at all, a year and 10,000 miles later!

These are also far cheaper to insure than 5ers, and should also be less than the Saab.

[not260]

Fix the Saab, better the devil you know etc

[Wild Rumpus]

The Crack Fox said:

At £700, with seemingly little in reserve for repairs, you can't afford to be picky. As nice as these cars sound, and as reliable as they once were, it's pot luck in finding a good one to your spec. Your safest bet would be to find something less cool with fewer owners and a better service history. Something like a Honda Legend or Nissan QX or Volvo 850 saloon for example, there are a few FSH'd cars of these about being sold by pensioners and ex-caravanners that should have looked after them, don't get hung up on a badge, do be picky about service history. Sorry for the sensible advice

Let us know what you end up with and good luck

This.
A volvo 940 saloon might be a good idea, too.

[SirSamuelOfBuca]

There is a Volvo t5 for 600quid by me looks tidy! That's Stourbridge west midlands

[Johnboy Mac]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Just get the HG done!

Exactly.

[caprirob]

An E39 is a lovely car but a £700 example will be very ropey and the E39 came out just at the time when BMW started using coding/sensors started to control everything.

An E34 in contrast can be fixed with a hammer and strong language.

If you want something you don't have to throw away when something breaks the E34 is the one to have ( although unfortunately many of them are getting frilly underneath now )

[BorkFactor]

Have you had a quote for the work needed on the Saab? I would be inclined to get it sorted, if everything else on it is fine. A cheap car is a gamble, and if this one is good (you did buy it, so it must be!) then stick with it

[NathanWright]

Still waiting on the diagnosis on the Saab, basically at about 110mph (silly i know, but not pushing it for the Saab) it just suddenly lost about 80% power, groaning from the engine above 2k (maybe turbo?) pulled over, the engine overpressurized, oil littered all over the engine, and oil steaming from the filler. It smokes heavy blue smoke when under load, and has a sweet smell, hence me thinking its something to do with the headgasket, although only being an amateur mechanic (if that!) I have not much clue.
I am inclined towards old german barges, as my father is a bit of a w124 enthusiast, owning a e320 coup, currently at 202,000, hasnt cost him a thing!
A jap barge would seem the better idea. I just can't help the lure of an old e34/E class! however a 850 sounds good also.. t5 maybe a bit much to insure sadly!