Invest In Old Car Or Buy Something New
Discussion
I live in continental Europe but prices and cars available are roughly the same as in the UK.
Currently own a Lexus IS200 (first gen) - engine fully rebuilt 15k miles ago, suspensions (bushes, rods, shocks, etc), brakes and other stuff changed 6 months ago. Got the car in the current state (driving like new) and it all cost me around 2.5k EUR (that's about 2.2k GBP). Oh and the car is fitted with LPG so it's cheap to run. The car is like new, except the bodywork - has a lot of dents and scratches but does not bother me.
Problem is it only has 150 bhp (and on LPG that drops to around 120 or so).
I need a daily driver - but i also need more power - something around 180-200 bhp should be fine - and if there's room for improvement to 250 that would be great (won't need more than 250 bhp).
So the dilemma is - what should i do?
1) keep the lexi and invest in a supercharger or turbo kit (around 1.5-2k) and get it to the 200 bhp i need? would love that, but investing 2k into a 20 yr old car that's worth, 2.5k to get an extra 50 BHP does not seem reasonable to me (however i do love this car)
2) sell it (or keep it - i have the budget to do it, i just don't want to waste money) and buy something else (not a BMW) - looking at a Skoda Octavia VRS (petrol or diesel), Seat Leon FR (also petrol or diesel) or an Alfa Romeo 159 TI (this would be my first choice) - all for around 5-7k EUR (all around 2008-2011).
3) i can even go for a 2012 - 2015 Ford Focus RS (or ST, don't know much about the new models), a BMW 3 series (325 or 328) or an Audi A3, A4 or A5 - for around 10-13k EUR
Yes, i'd buy a new car but the thing is (and main reason i bought the lexi) i don't do many miles, probably 5-8k miles per year. New cars lose value if they sit - and i hate losing money. That's the main problem.
Not sure which would be the best way to lose less money and get more HP - upgrade the lexi or buy something newer? Any other alternatives?
Currently own a Lexus IS200 (first gen) - engine fully rebuilt 15k miles ago, suspensions (bushes, rods, shocks, etc), brakes and other stuff changed 6 months ago. Got the car in the current state (driving like new) and it all cost me around 2.5k EUR (that's about 2.2k GBP). Oh and the car is fitted with LPG so it's cheap to run. The car is like new, except the bodywork - has a lot of dents and scratches but does not bother me.
Problem is it only has 150 bhp (and on LPG that drops to around 120 or so).
I need a daily driver - but i also need more power - something around 180-200 bhp should be fine - and if there's room for improvement to 250 that would be great (won't need more than 250 bhp).
So the dilemma is - what should i do?
1) keep the lexi and invest in a supercharger or turbo kit (around 1.5-2k) and get it to the 200 bhp i need? would love that, but investing 2k into a 20 yr old car that's worth, 2.5k to get an extra 50 BHP does not seem reasonable to me (however i do love this car)
2) sell it (or keep it - i have the budget to do it, i just don't want to waste money) and buy something else (not a BMW) - looking at a Skoda Octavia VRS (petrol or diesel), Seat Leon FR (also petrol or diesel) or an Alfa Romeo 159 TI (this would be my first choice) - all for around 5-7k EUR (all around 2008-2011).
3) i can even go for a 2012 - 2015 Ford Focus RS (or ST, don't know much about the new models), a BMW 3 series (325 or 328) or an Audi A3, A4 or A5 - for around 10-13k EUR
Yes, i'd buy a new car but the thing is (and main reason i bought the lexi) i don't do many miles, probably 5-8k miles per year. New cars lose value if they sit - and i hate losing money. That's the main problem.
Not sure which would be the best way to lose less money and get more HP - upgrade the lexi or buy something newer? Any other alternatives?
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