Discussion
hi i am looking for a good fun banger to replace a BMW 135i.
looking to spend 1-2 grand. 3 tops. something i can throw around and park anywhere without worry.
off the top of my head i am thinking an old fiesta or golf. but what mk?
what other options are there? maybe even thinking an old WRX. insurance/running costs not an issue. no RWD.
thanks.
looking to spend 1-2 grand. 3 tops. something i can throw around and park anywhere without worry.
off the top of my head i am thinking an old fiesta or golf. but what mk?
what other options are there? maybe even thinking an old WRX. insurance/running costs not an issue. no RWD.
thanks.
Edited by rubez on Wednesday 14th February 15:51
I'm looking for something that matches this description myself, (although I'm hoping to spend more like £500-£1000.)
So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
Bennet said:
I'm looking for something that matches this description myself, (although I'm hoping to spend more like £500-£1000.)
So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
In your budget I've managed to get a Saab 9-5 aero , BMW 325ci and ford puma in the last couple of years.So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
For £500 if it's got a long mot , starts stops steers and the clutch is ok what more do you expect.
I generally look for a petrol jap motor at this price.
However (as ive posted a few times now) a mk2 focus is a good shout at this price, plenty of choice and some well looked after cars.
If the focus is too big and a fiesta is preferable I think mk7's are starting to slip into the 2k price bracket and seem pretty solid. A nice mk6 can be had in any flavour, the zetec s is a good little car as is the st although it is juicy.
However (as ive posted a few times now) a mk2 focus is a good shout at this price, plenty of choice and some well looked after cars.
If the focus is too big and a fiesta is preferable I think mk7's are starting to slip into the 2k price bracket and seem pretty solid. A nice mk6 can be had in any flavour, the zetec s is a good little car as is the st although it is juicy.
egor110 said:
Bennet said:
I'm looking for something that matches this description myself, (although I'm hoping to spend more like £500-£1000.)
So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
In your budget I've managed to get a Saab 9-5 aero , BMW 325ci and ford puma in the last couple of years.So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
For £500 if it's got a long mot , starts stops steers and the clutch is ok what more do you expect.
For anyone not finding "nice" sub-£1k cars, you may have to wait a while but the good ones do come up. Also, you can't be fussy. At this end of the market, things won't be in perfect condition - they will have rust patches, the odd scrape, bits missing - as long as it has a long MOT (9+ months) and seems to go fine, then grab it. The aim is to last a year then you scrap it and get another. If it is with you longer than that without needing much work (new tyres is fine because it's a legal requirement, replacing the dashboard due to a scratch is daft) then bonus.
Bennet said:
I'm looking for something that matches this description myself, (although I'm hoping to spend more like £500-£1000.)
So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
If everything is priced 30-50% above your valuation, including when moving up a price bracket, I suspect your market evaluation needs recalibrating! So far, I find that no matter what I look at, virtually everything being sold for about 30% to 50% more than I personally think it's worth, no matter what it is.
Upping the budget just moves the exact same problem up the price scale.
For the OP - R53 Mini Cooper S, some decent cars around for under £2k, great ones under £3k and even still possible to find some non-basket cases in need of TLC around the £1k mark.
Toed64 said:
This ^^
For around £1000, there's little to touch them.
You must be joking??!! They are a complete dud, the only reason to buy a £1,000 Corolla T sport would be to remove the engine and put it in an Mr2. (I had one of these duffers years ago it came in p/x v's a Golf Gti, who ever signed off that car at Toyota should have been fired.) Bizarrely a base model Corolla 1600 of the same vintage is a much better thing to drive (I had one of those around the same time).For around £1000, there's little to touch them.
Cooper S
Celica 190
Mg ZS180
Xsara VTS
Accord Type R
Civic Type R
Why not rwd in which case
MR2 mk 3
BMW 325i ti hatch
rallycross said:
You must be joking??!! They are a complete dud, the only reason to buy a £1,000 Corolla T sport would be to remove the engine and put it in an Mr2. (I had one of these duffers years ago it came in p/x v's a Golf Gti, who ever signed off that car at Toyota should have been fired.) Bizarrely a base model Corolla 1600 of the same vintage is a much better thing to drive (I had one of those around the same time).
Cooper S
Celica 190
Mg ZS180
Xsara VTS
Accord Type R
Civic Type R
Why not rwd in which case
MR2 mk 3
BMW 325i ti hatch
I was thinking for added reliability at the price point... Cooper S
Celica 190
Mg ZS180
Xsara VTS
Accord Type R
Civic Type R
Why not rwd in which case
MR2 mk 3
BMW 325i ti hatch
How was the 1.6 better? Genuine question as I’m in the market for something in the price range soon
rubez said:
looking to spend 1-2 grand. 3 tops. something i can throw around and park anywhere without worry.
As mentioned briefly above, a 'MINI' (R53) can be had easily within that budget, and they are (in my experience) a lot of fun to drive and own.They're not without flaws/weaknesses, but then so is anything you'll be likely to look at.
ZX10R NIN said:
182 Clio
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
206 GTI 180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Pre-plexed GTIs (138s) are a better buy imohttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
206 GTI 180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
CX53 said:
..
How was the 1.6 better? Genuine question as I’m in the market for something in the price range soon
The 1.6 was a perfectly decent small family hatch it did that job just fine and was comfy, good on fuel and seemed quite happy flying down the m6 at 90+. A bit soft and vaque compared to a Focus but generally was nice to drive.How was the 1.6 better? Genuine question as I’m in the market for something in the price range soon
The 190 model misses the point of it being a Gti almost 100% - it's a great engine but you'd struggle to enjoy it with its soft wobbly handling, steering that had no feel and is overly light, silly gear ratios where 6th is barely any higher than 5th and it just feels like an unrewarding effort to make it go properly. Add to that poor front seats with very little support and a dull exterior this was the failed hot hatch.
The celica 190 on the other hand is an absolute cracker- the one I had was not that far off being similar to my old favourite the integra type R Dc2 just a bit more refined and modern. Still capable of having some fun with nice controllable lift off Oversteer.
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