Any decent used cars for 2/3k?

[Warcloud36]

I'm trying to gain some knowledge on some decent cars out there to buy used that don't have huge issues to worry about as long as they are looked after, if even possible.

I currently have a Mini Cooper D 2007. It's not too bad but I do not like the Peugeot engine in them as they can be a pain in the backside with leaking injectors which lead to oil starvation of the engine and turbo. I've already changed 1 set of seal injectors along with an engine flush with seafoam, seems inevitable it will happen on the other 3 at some point, plus turbo going bang in the future.

Only looked at the Civic ep2, I think it's 2001-2005, they have problems with gearbox bearing but otherwise seem good, would be the 1.6 se or Sport if I could find one.

Also looked at the Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S Mk5 but don't know a lot about their reliability.

Don't really want to touch diesels, I don't do the mileage but would like something that is 100hp+

Any information on those 2 or some others to look out for would be great.

thanks.

[Second Best]

I have a £3k Subaru Impreza WRX. Dealer bought so you could get a good example for less. 265bhp and 133k miles, it gets used more than the rest of my fleet with no issues to report at all. The battery looks to be a few years old so I'll probably replace it soon, but as cars go, it handles abuse very well and is pretty much a turnkey car 24/7.

[Mr Tidy]

I sold a BMW 325ti Sport Compact for less than £1,500 last week - 192 bhp straight 6 petrol engine and RWD for added entertainment.


And I replaced it with an E91 325i SE Touring just under your top budget, complete with heated seats - lovely just now! Plus it has a 218 bhp straight 6 petrol engine and RWD.

[MissChief]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... Mondeo 3.0 V6?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... Clio 182?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... Saab 9-5 Aero HOT? (Cat D but at this price shouldn't be a problem)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... Leon Cupra 1.8T 180? There was a shed of the week not long ago with one of these. Look there for tips and experiences.
A few mark 5 Fiesta ST's in budget too. 148HP.

[Warcloud36]

Oh I should have said I'm getting raped by insurance, must be a London thing.

I.d love Clio Sport or Type r but I'm paying £800 tpft for the Mini D and didn't really want to give insurance companies any more cash.
I'm 32 and paid £250 on a FZ1, expected car insurance to be okay, guess it's the norm.

E90s seem very cheap, I will be avoiding anything with an n47 engine but will see what the quotes say for their petrol range.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are lots of decent cars for your budget depending on what want from your car also going away from the normal choices you can find some good options that don't cost the earth to insure.

Alfa Romeo 147 Collezione

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus IS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

IS200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.6T Astra GTC SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mazda3 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Focus Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Volvo C30

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Insignia SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Clio Initiale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

All the above are reliable cars (yes even the Alfa) & dependent on insurance costs all will be reliable cars.

[dieseluser07]

I say this in every one of these 3 grand car threads.

Suzuki swift sport.

Mega fun.
Mega reliable
Rare-ish

Cheap to run. Feels faster than the 8.7 to 60 thats quoted.

[Warcloud36]

dieseluser07 said:

I say this in every one of these 3 grand car threads.

Suzuki swift sport.

Mega fun.
Mega reliable
Rare-ish

Cheap to run. Feels faster than the 8.7 to 60 thats quoted.

Is is basically a Mazda 3? Interior looks familiar.

[ZX10R NIN]

No the Mazda3 is based on the Focus as is the C30.

[Warcloud36]

The 147 is very beautiful but I feel resale would be a pain, is it difficult to sale an Alfa compared to a Civic, in terms of not loosing too much money and not waiting forever for someone to turn up.

[dieseluser07]

Warcloud36 said:

dieseluser07 said:

I say this in every one of these 3 grand car threads.

Suzuki swift sport.

Mega fun.
Mega reliable
Rare-ish

Cheap to run. Feels faster than the 8.7 to 60 thats quoted.

Is is basically a Mazda 3? Interior looks familiar.

No not at all lol.

[ZX10R NIN]

Warcloud36 said:

The 147 is very beautiful but I feel resale would be a pain, is it difficult to sale an Alfa compared to a Civic, in terms of not loosing too much money and not waiting forever for someone to turn up.

You're wrong on that thought, they're not difficult to sell (by the way the first one I listed has sold) because there aren't many for sale in the first place anyone looking has limited choice so if you look after it you'll sell it on just fine.

[SebringMan]

Potentially double, yes.

But, how willing are you to get your hands dirty? In which case I would certainly consider something newer than this price range ; mechanic rates can soon make things get pricey!

Some good suggestions already.

I'd ignore the 147 myself. Unless you go genuine/uprated in some areas like the upper arms and can live with sub 30MPG on petrols short of going for a diesel I'd leave it. With a specialist who can talk Italian cars however it can make life easier. I've owned a petrol 2.0 and a JTD 8V The 2.0 was the nicer drive but the diesel made sense in almost every way; no 36k cambelts (ok, it was a 60k cambelt and easier to change, but you get my point), no 8 spark plugs which massively bumps up the price of a major service on a petrol and other things. It was great fun and surprisingly spacious for the passengers.

Clios are great fun. Alot of their reliability foibles comes from inept garages breaking them; a friend of mine had a cambelt done from his local garage and he had an incurable vacuum leak with new injectors etc. being sugguested. The cause? Overtorqued manifold nuts; they stripped 3 of the 5 bolts for the UIM; with a decent mechanic the car was golden again.

Mondeo V6s are awesome ; A fantastic all rounder ; I loved my 3.0 V6 Manual estate and vowed to keep it for a long time. BUT, ignore cooling woes on those at your peril. All of the issues the engines have are down to people 'living' with coolant faults. Keep on top of them and those engines will go on forever ; I did 262k in mine before an inconisiderate lady rear ended the car, writing it off for good.

[Warcloud36]

Yeah I'd hope for something that could do 30+ mpg as the Mini will do 50+ so didn't want to take too much of a hit on fuel but my mileage is limited.

In terms of Alfa then, you do actually need a specialist? I thought it was just some marketing bs so Alfa garages could charge you a premium.

I'm still leaning towards the EP2 at this stage, reliable, okay mpg, good one for 2k but big gear box issues, £500 repair but otherwise they are said to be solid.