need inspiration - looking buy, dont know what

[ritch]

needing some inspiration please. Sold my 340i and looking buy something outright (rather than Lease / PCP / HP) preferring something a bit older, not high value but a decent drive.
Car will be most likely on the drive for most of the week (I have another 2 cars I can use), maybe some occasional use, and used mostly at the weekends. I don't think I'll do the mileage to justify a diesel, but it seems the only choice with some cars in the age/price range....

Trying to stick to a limit of £7500 or less.

Been browsing the following, but either cant find something within 100 miles (west of scotland), or I'm just not feeling it enough to pick up the phone!
Alfa 159 sportwagen estate 2.0 diesel
Alfa GT
E36 328i
Alfa Guilietta Veloce 1.4 turbo
Merc c/e350, c/e250 saloon or estate
Volvo V60 T4

Is there anything else the PH massive can suggest to get the juices flowing?

[DoubleD]

I would be looking for something a little more fun if its just a weekend car.

You can get some nice 2 seater cars for that sort of money.

[ritch]

DoubleD said:

I would be looking for something a little more fun if its just a weekend car.

You can get some nice 2 seater cars for that sort of money.

Ideally yes, but should have added - need to get something with 5 seats for family trips etc. The other 2 cars in the household are 4 seaters (Aygo & Fiat 500) so my car has always been the one for those duties.

[ritch]

so looked at an Alfa GT 1.9 JTdm £3200 2008 89K, and a Jag XF 3.0d Luxury £7K 2010 74K, today, both private sales.
Liked the Alfa GT, but seemed over well over dealer money and needed some TLC, felt it would always be a "work in progress".

The Jag was a lovely drive, but had aftermarket alloys. good history, but had turbos replaced. More bills to come? price guides are more in line with £5.5k - £6k

any other suggestions or inspiration for me?

[The_Nugget]

I wouldn’t get an Alfa GT. you mention getting 5 people in it - they are pretty small.
I found mine uncomfortable - narrow seats.
They are based on a 147 and quite generationally old now.
You’d be better off with a Brera as a similar option - but still small.

The 159 is a better bet. I’ve always fancied one of those - as an estate - in white.
The front end looks great (same as a Brera).

[The_Nugget]

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

Also in diesel...

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a BMW E90 330i for less than half your budget earlier this year - it's fairly entertaining!

[ritch]

still trawling Autotrader, Gumtree, Ebay and facebook marketplace etc everything is either too expensive, too many miles, or too far away....

[DoubleD]

ritch said:

still trawling Autotrader, Gumtree, Ebay and facebook marketplace etc everything is either too expensive, too many miles, or too far away....

You need to up your budget then im afraid.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd be looking at some of these:

Focus ST-3

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

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

Civic Type R GT

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

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

Insignia VXR

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

3.2 JTS 159

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

CLS500

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

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

540i M Sport

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

R32

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

Giulietta Cloverleaf

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

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

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

[Mr Tidy]

If you can live with some mileage a BMW Z4 Coupe might be an option, or perhaps a BMW E92 3 Series 330i.

Good luck anyway.

[ritch]

thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully looking at another Alfa GT tomorrow

[torx_whisperer]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[ritch]

So far this week I have looked at 2 Alfa GT's, 1 Jag XF, and 1 Mitsubishi Outlander. Not pulled the trigger for varying reasons on each vehicle.
Torx_whisperer is very naughty man, as I've now started looking at X5s.
I've found one in the classifieds about 20 miles away, a 2010 3.0d SE with 85K and FSH for a shade under £10K ono. Its over my intended budget, but I'm losing the will to live scanning all the usual places and not very little of interest so up the budget for research purposes ;-)

I dont need a 4x4, but an X5 and FFRR are on the motoring bucket list. What are the problem areas on a X5 that needs carefull checking? Any tips or advice appreciated.
I'm I wrong in discounting X5s with over 100k miles if they have a full history / evidence of regular maintenance etc?

[lornemalvo]

Some of those choices indicate that you like to waft along. Consider a Lexus LS, the best you can afford. The V* engine is among the best ever made, and a well maintained car will be reliable, regardless of age

[ritch]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions on this thread.

To bring some closure to this thread, I missed out on a 2010 Alfa GT with 42K and FSH :-( but bought a high mileage bargy wafter F10 BMW 520d SE saloon for tooling about in. Thanks for all the help and suggestions on this thread.

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP

[Mr Tidy]

ritch said:

To bring some closure to this thread, I missed out on a 2010 Alfa GT with 42K and FSH :-( but bought a high mileage bargy wafter F10 BMW 520d SE saloon for tooling about in. Thanks for all the help and suggestions on this thread.

Wow - 2 very different options!

But it's good to read you seem happy with what you bought, and to find out the end result of one of these threads. :thumbsup: