Reliable Motor for £2k all in.
Reliable Motor for £2k all in.
Author
Discussion

SpazaB

Original Poster:

29 posts

129 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
Hi All,

Due to moving houses I need to come off my work scheme and buy a car that's going to be a reliable daily for the next year or 2 whilst we find our feet, I do circa 10-12k miles a year.

My budget was £2k all in, including insurance and tax, but that can be negotiated a little depending on how well the car has been looked after / how much preventative maintenance has been done.

Basic wishlist:
Saloon
FSH
As few miles as possible
Long MOT
Manual
Generally a nice place to be/fun to drive

I was looking at BMW E46/E39 20-30i's and Lexus IS200's, as I'm well aware that despite the usual waterpump / cambelt issues, the 6cyl engines are extremely reliable. The BMW's are hard to come by without rust, and the IS200's are hard to come by not being sold on Gumtree.

I am open to suggestions, however, and I'm based in Oxford, so wouldn't mind travelling a little for the right car.

If anyone is selling in the next month or so, or knows anyone that is, I would appreciate the feedback!

Thanks, SpazaB

CivBrum

125 posts

101 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
SpazaB said:
Hi All,

Due to moving houses I need to come off my work scheme and buy a car that's going to be a reliable daily for the next year or 2 whilst we find our feet, I do circa 10-12k miles a year.

My budget was £2k all in, including insurance and tax, but that can be negotiated a little depending on how well the car has been looked after / how much preventative maintenance has been done.

Basic wishlist:
Saloon
FSH
As few miles as possible
Long MOT
Manual
Generally a nice place to be/fun to drive

I was looking at BMW E46/E39 20-30i's and Lexus IS200's, as I'm well aware that despite the usual waterpump / cambelt issues, the 6cyl engines are extremely reliable. The BMW's are hard to come by without rust, and the IS200's are hard to come by not being sold on Gumtree.

I am open to suggestions, however, and I'm based in Oxford, so wouldn't mind travelling a little for the right car.

If anyone is selling in the next month or so, or knows anyone that is, I would appreciate the feedback!

Thanks, SpazaB
Hmm. Two grand, including tax and insurance. That's effectively one grand for the car. Reliable, fun to drive, nice place to be, long MOT, low mileage. For a grand. And you are looking at BMWs and Lexus'. Hmm.

Buy a Toyota Yaris, save some money. You can't afford a BMW.

LordHaveMurci

12,273 posts

187 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 etc etc

Possibly a Volvo or SAAB of some description?

All petrol.

caelite

4,282 posts

130 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
Would never trust a BMW to be cheap in the long run, far too 'German'. A Lexus is a great idea.

My recommendation would be; go down to your local private hire taxi rank and see what they are driving, provided you are outside of London you are likely to see an array of old diesel saloons, any one of those would most likely work. (Avensis, Passat, Octavia etc etc).

Also, you best be checking Gumtree, nobody in there right mind is going to be shifting a cheap, private sale car on Auto trader with the way it is priced nowadays, Gumtree is by far the best market for honest private examples, AT is the domain of dodgy dealers in this pricerange, wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

Edited by caelite on Wednesday 21st June 15:41

SpazaB

Original Poster:

29 posts

129 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
As stated, I'd be willing to spend slightly more for a car with a better history that's been well maintained.

Lexus is taking my fancy at the moment, but it's trying to find one that's decent and not being sold by a wheeler dealer.. as I almost found out to my expense, if it wasn't for some eagle eyed Lexus forum members!

SpazaB

Original Poster:

29 posts

129 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 etc etc

Possibly a Volvo or SAAB of some description?

All petrol.
SAAB's have taken my fancy, although I don't know enough about them, exept they're based off the same platform as a Vauxhall. They seem to be extremely cheap, so much car for not a lot.

steve-5snwi

9,626 posts

111 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
Its a petrol powered Ford Mondeo that fits the bill.

anonymous-user

72 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
SpazaB said:
SAAB's have taken my fancy, although I don't know enough about them, exept they're based off the same platform as a Vauxhall. They seem to be extremely cheap, so much car for not a lot.
I have a Saab 95 with FSSH which I picked up for £1500 2 years ago. Basically a Vectra underneath but nicer to own and tend to have been looked after. Getting rarer to find a nice one and yes, you can get them cheaper but most will be neglected heaps. I like mine.

Something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263041551695


Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 21st June 19:02