What banger?

[Madmatt74]

Having completed a few banger rallies around Europe over the past few years, im planning for next years.

Im looking for a car under £500 to drive 3000 miles in 5 days.
Only 2 of us so size not important.
Needs to be reliable and current MOT.
Not interested in anything boring like an old vectra or mundano.
Dont really want to get my hands dirty so no MOT failures again.
Previous cars used are 2.0 Mundano (Good car but boring)
BMW 530 V8 (broke down all the time)
Volvo 740 Limo (too heavy and broke down)

Cars im toying with at the moment are:

Rover 75 V6 for comfort.
MG ZR 1.8/V6.
Jag V8 (Always wanted one)
MGF (Would be good fun in the Alps)
MR2 (See above)
BMW E36 323/328 Conv
V6 Calibra
V6 Probe/Cougar
Hyundi Coupe (F2 Style)

Anything im missing?

MX5 and Chipped BMW's too expensive!

[DrDeAtH]

go for the jaaaag.... it will ruin you in petrol bills, but will be a comfy drive

[anonymous-user]

For £500 I'd have thought the old saying 'Beggers can't be choosers' should surely come into play?

[NadiR]

Honda Legend?

[tercelgold]

If £500 is the limit then does £2K in fuel matter?

[Condi]

Can you even buy a jag with MOT and Tax for £500?

[Madmatt74]

279 said:

For £500 I'd have thought the old saying 'Beggers can't be choosers' should surely come into play?

You get a suprising amount of choice.

I'll be buying between Nov and Jan where prices are cheaper too.

[anonymous-user]

saw a 1990 Sierra sapphire four door thing on the motorway the other day and thought it looked ace. white with the black and red trim on the doors and bumpers, I'd find one of these.

[CDP]

tercelgold said:

If £500 is the limit then does £2K in fuel matter?

Is this one of those banger rallies?

If not the fuel saving between an MX5 and a Jag would definitely fall in favour of the MX5. Also don't forget you can sell it afterwards.

[Madmatt74]

NadiR said:

Honda Legend?

I have thought of these but would get a V8 lexus for simular money which appeals more.
Also it just doesnt seem different enough.

[Madmatt74]

Condi said:

Can you even buy a jag with MOT and Tax for £500?

Not with tax too.

We not looking for "Shed" quality that you can run for a year, as we only need it for 5 days.
It will probably be scrapped afterwards.

So a dented door or bonnet will be fine as it will probably get covering in fur or gloss paint for the theme.

[Madmatt74]

CDP said:

tercelgold said:

If £500 is the limit then does £2K in fuel matter?

Is this one of those banger rallies?

If not the fuel saving between an MX5 and a Jag would definitely fall in favour of the MX5. Also don't forget you can sell it afterwards.

Fuel is not too much of an issue but dont want anything in single figures.

Yes it is a banger rally.
Not sure which one yet.
Have done the Ramshackle rally the last few years but might try Barcelona or Motoscape for a change.

I thought of an old Roller at one point.
Buy for around 4K and strip it to get hopefully 3.5k back.
But its a risk too far i think.

Also thought about an scooby but feel its too risky at this price as it would have to be a turbo version.

[dbdb]

Madmatt74 said:

Condi said:

Can you even buy a jag with MOT and Tax for £500?

Not with tax too.

We not looking for "Shed" quality that you can run for a year, as we only need it for 5 days.
It will probably be scrapped afterwards.

So a dented door or bonnet will be fine as it will probably get covering in fur or gloss paint for the theme.

I'm sure you will be able to find an MOT'd Jag somewhere for £500. Personally, I'd look at the six cylinder X300 or XJ40 since you need it to be dependable and robust. Even bad six cylinder Jags always seem able to drag their sorry shells around, so it won't strand you. Rust is what kills them, not mechanical failure.

[CDP]

How about a tatty LS400 with intergalactic mileage?

[Madmatt74]

CDP said:

How about a tatty LS400 with intergalactic mileage?

If we go for a big barge like that it will probably be a Jag we go for.
We know a Lexus will make it and takes some of the fun away.
The Jags look fantastic inside and both me and my co driver want one if we go that route.
And it has to be a V8 too

[CDP]

Madmatt74 said:

CDP said:

How about a tatty LS400 with intergalactic mileage?

If we go for a big barge like that it will probably be a Jag we go for.
We know a Lexus will make it and takes some of the fun away.
The Jags look fantastic inside and both me and my co driver want one if we go that route.
And it has to be a V8 too

I prefer the Jag too but bangering and scrapping an LS400 is less of a loss.

[richardxjr]

Volvo 7/9 or Merc S124 wagon, you can sleep in it too.

[CAPP0]

Madmatt74 said:

MG ZR 1.8/V6.

I'm fairly sure the ZR only comes as a 4-pot and that you need a ZS to get the V6.

[Madmatt74]

CAPP0 said:

I'm fairly sure the ZR only comes as a 4-pot and that you need a ZS to get the V6.

I meant ZS although the 218 Vi might be a laugh if i can get one at that price.

[Madmatt74]

richardxjr said:

Volvo 7/9 or Merc S124 wagon, you can sleep in it too.

Did the Volvo 740 limo last year and half the entries are Volvos so we want something different.
Plus ours didnt get out of Calias.
Merc's dont interest me and you dont get much for £500 unless its a C180 which is boring.
Anything older will have reliability issues and not be as much fun in the Alps.