Best value 5 grand cars currently on the market?

[Roger Woods]

We get offered a 5 grand interest free car loan over 3 years at work and it got me wondering whats good value out there at the moment, I'm thinking a SAAB something, rather like 93 aero cab or 95 aero estate.

The family are well covered with an XC90 so it can be anything really and as I only work 7 miles from home and getting a tad bored with a diesel V70 it could be any fuel and any size engine, what can you bunch come up with?

[kambites]

I'd probably be looking at something like a first-gen Boxster if you don't need practicality.

[Sir Humphrey]

kambites said:

I'd probably be looking at something like a first-gen Boxster if you don't need practicality.

Or a possibly a BMW 8 Series? I'd be torn between that and the Boxster.

[BritishRacinGrin]

SAAB are good value, but you must consider that they aren't making cars any more so although there are no parts supply / servicing issues now, there may be in years to come. That might partly explain the prices.
Can't go too far wrong with Volvo
I think if I were spending £5k on a normal every day car and wanted the best value for money I'd look at Ford, Seat, Skoda, Mazda and maybe Kia.

[PHmember]

Great big wafty 7 series.

[Roger Woods]

kambites said:

I'd probably be looking at something like a first-gen Boxster if you don't need practicality.

Eeeemmmm off I go for a mooch!

[Roger Woods]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxster-3-2s-FSH...

Bet I could get this on the 5!!

[kambites]

Roger Woods said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxster-3-2s-FSH...

Bet I could get this on the 5!!

Probably. There's a few on the PH classifieds for <5k on ~80k miles too (although not many manuals).

[I'm Rick james]

03/04/05 C class and E class mercedes offer a lot of bang for your buck as far toys and looks go.
Rj

[ZOLLAR]

Oooo I like this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Rarefied Brains]

OP says he only works 7 miles from home so I cannot see the logic in recommending big wafty barges that will take most of that journey just to warm up ??

What criteria here? is fuel economy a factor?

[Chongwong]

Rarefied Brains said:

OP says he only works 7 miles from home so I cannot see the logic in recommending big wafty barges that will take most of that journey just to warm up ??

What criteria here? is fuel economy a factor?

Roger Woods said:

...it could be any fuel and any size engine, what can you bunch come up with?

I'd assume not

[Mo D]

I'm in a similar position, looking at cars at £5k or below. I'm looking at Z4 3.0 or a 350z, but the more people mention the Boxster, the more tempting it becomes. Its just the horror stories you hear re the reliability issue, IMS etc, that puts me off. That and the higher service costs.

Will be following this topic with interest!

[pherlopolus]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Daimler Super V8

[james_gt3rs]

Sir Humphrey said:

kambites said:

I'd probably be looking at something like a first-gen Boxster if you don't need practicality.

Or a possibly a BMW 8 Series? I'd be torn between that and the Boxster.

Tempting, but the fear of big bills puts me off.

[kambites]

The problems with the Porsche engines of that era aren't half as common as you might think from reading the internet. These things tend to get blown out of all proportion.

Of course there's a risk, but there's a risk with most cheap interesting cars.

[Amebix]

E39 M5?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-BMW-E39-M5-5-0-V8-4...

£500 over budget but I reckon you could haggle it down...

Edited by Amebix on Thursday 13th March 10:23

[Sir Humphrey]

PHmember said:

Great big wafty 7 series.

Probably scraping the barrel at 5k but a Bentley Turbo R.

[Roger Woods]

Chongwong said:

I'd assume not

To be honest I'm open to any ideas, but must say Pork was not in consideration before.....

[Rarefied Brains]

Chongwong said:

Rarefied Brains said:

OP says he only works 7 miles from home so I cannot see the logic in recommending big wafty barges that will take most of that journey just to warm up ??

What criteria here? is fuel economy a factor?

Roger Woods said:

...it could be any fuel and any size engine, what can you bunch come up with?

I'd assume not

Ok ok fuel economy was a bad example.
The point I was trying to make is that there must be some criteria? For example is a maximum age of the car a condition of the loan ? Is sporty/handling a priority over comfort? are we looking for power over economy? etc etc