Looking for my first 'big' engines - 1-3k budget

[vibies]

I have always driven smaller engine cars - MX5, 124 Spider, Mini - but have decided I would like a larger saloon car with a nice engine, but still a bit of speed.

So far I have been looking at:

BMW 3/5 Series - all a bit ratty and rusty and have probably been thrashed by idiots like me.

Subaru Legacy 3L - cool, but not many near me in North Scotland

Alfa with 3.2L engines (Brera, GT etc) - cool but none near me without rust issues

Audi A4 - more on the boring side, but perhaps in better nick than a cheap beamer

Mercedes CLK240 - a bit smaller, but look quite fun. a little nervous about cost of repair with the Mercedes tax.

Saab 9-3 - a little bit different, but once again finding one that isn't rusty seems to be an issue

Jag X / S type - same issue as above...

I'm open to suggestions, I'm not locked to any car in particular, and I'm basically looking for a car that can do 0-60 within 9 seconds so it isn't painfully slow, big engine, petrol preferable but could do diesel, and no rust (mx5 has given me PTSD).

Cheers loons

[Scootersp]

Lexus IS250? If you get a SE-L one they have loads of toys too?

[GreatGranny]

Just set your search area to the max. you're prepared to travel, put in other criteria which are a must and press search and save search.

See what comes up. Don't think you can be too fussy with particular makes/models at your budget and location.

[Roboticarm]

The legacy is a great car, if you can live with the fuel bills and depending on dates, the higher road tax bill.

I was looking for either a 3.0 or a 2.0 twinscroll, ended up with the latter simply as it came up 1st

If you are seriously looking at a legacy have a browse of the uklegacy site

This looks reasonable

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Legacy-3-0r-Spec...

Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 1st April 13:43

[ZX10R NIN]

Rust will always be something to look out for on older cars but navigate carefully do your checks & you can get some gems as long as you don't mind traveling.

Chrysler Crossfire basically a Mercedes SLK320 underneath but a pretty sound car overall

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103210...

Cadillac BLS Sport Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103130...

CLK320 check for rust on the front of the rear arches as they get peppered with stones more so on the pre 2003 cars as they aren't galvanised.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...

CLK280 newer but high road tax:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101268...

C280 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103290...

C350 Sport Edition high tax & be aware of potential balancer shaft issues they've normally shown themselves by 100k though:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103180...

Vectra VXR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vectra-vxr/254901662258...rYAAOSwhYdgFv9X

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-vectra-vxr/174...

GS300

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103170...

V6 Hyundai Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103039...

IS250 smooth decent steer that can get a move on when you want it too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103300...

V8 S Type

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

V6 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...

3.0 407 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

I;d say if you want a big engined car I'd go for this 2.5T Mondeo (I know it's not a big engine per se but the turbo makes it feel like one) it has a good amount of go as standard & has the potential for more, plus you can put the money saved into making sure it's tip top:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103099...

2.5 MG ZS a surprisingly fun car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103180...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Build-MG-ZS-180-Sa...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZS-180-V6-Saloon/154...

3.2 A3 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103220...

3.2 A4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103240...

Golf VR6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007060...

[anonymous-user]

E90 330i N52

[fflump]

Lexus do some 4 litre barges in budget.
V8 S -types worth considering too?

[plasticpig]

Go bigger and get a Jaguar XJ X350 https://www.gumtree.com/p/jaguar/2003-jaguar-xj-se...

The X350 will not rust as its an all aluminium platform. The V8 one in the link will do 0 to 60 in just over 6 seconds. V6 engined ones are more likely to fall into your budget and will do 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds as will the diesel.

[griffsomething]

Lexus IS300/GS300 with the 2JZ.

3.0 may not be THAT big, but you get the wonderful straight six that is torquey and sounds so bassy even from idle.

Plus, they never, ever break.

[mikey_b]

griffsomething said:

Lexus IS300/GS300 with the 2JZ.

3.0 may not be THAT big, but you get the wonderful straight six that is torquey and sounds so bassy even from idle.

Plus, they never, ever break.

If you’re going to get a GS, look for a 430. Even better engine, but only about 2mpg worse than the 300 the real world. I loved mine.

[l354uge]

I'm selling my Ls400 soon, if a 4 litre v8 is big enough for you...

[Mr Tidy]

Super_G said:

E90 330i N52

+1.

[vibies]

l354uge said:

I'm selling my Ls400 soon, if a 4 litre v8 is big enough for you...

Not sure I could afford to run it is the issue, or repair it!

[vibies]

Roboticarm said:

The legacy is a great car, if you can live with the fuel bills and depending on dates, the higher road tax bill.

I was looking for either a 3.0 or a 2.0 twinscroll, ended up with the latter simply as it came up 1st

If you are seriously looking at a legacy have a browse of the uklegacy site

This looks reasonable

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Legacy-3-0r-Spec...

Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 1st April 13:43

Came across this one a few times - the oil leak and suspension advisories on it's MOT were putting me off, not sure though - maybe not as big an issue as I think?

[vibies]

griffsomething said:

Lexus IS300/GS300 with the 2JZ.

3.0 may not be THAT big, but you get the wonderful straight six that is torquey and sounds so bassy even from idle.

Plus, they never, ever break.

What age would I be looking at, and how are they for rust (as an ex mk2 mx5 owner, rust scares me more than anything...)?

[vibies]

plasticpig said:

Go bigger and get a Jaguar XJ X350 https://www.gumtree.com/p/jaguar/2003-jaguar-xj-se...

The X350 will not rust as its an all aluminium platform. The V8 one in the link will do 0 to 60 in just over 6 seconds. V6 engined ones are more likely to fall into your budget and will do 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds as will the diesel.

From what I'd read - these would be quite expensive to run and repair - otherwise they are pretty cool....

[vibies]

Super_G said:

E90 330i N52

I did fancy one of these - all examples I've seen have pretty bad bubbling and rusting around the arches though.

[griffsomething]

vibies said:

What age would I be looking at, and how are they for rust (as an ex mk2 mx5 owner, rust scares me more than anything...)?

I had a 2001 IS300 for a few years, 3 years ago and it didn’t have a single blemish on it. It felt very solid and much newer than its years would suggest. And it was over 130,000 miles, so not babied. Lexus’ do generally tend to be very easy to live with.

And that 2JZ, despite lacking the turbos its famous Supra cousin has, was still a lovely engine.

[stevekoz]

vibies said:

I did fancy one of these - all examples I've seen have pretty bad bubbling and rusting around the arches though.

Not as big a problem on the e90 by far compared to the arches on the e46.

For the budget you are likely going to be getting an older car so some small rust may be present if poorly maintained or down to blocked drainage but the e90 is pretty good generally.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-BMW-3-Series-330i-...

[paradigital]

Mk1 TT 3.2 VR6. Cracking sound from the intake and exhaust, no Golf R32 scene tax, so the cars are cheap.

Your choice of coupe or convertible, but given neither are the sharpest tool in the driver’s car arsenal, assuming you don’t need the infant-sized rear seats I’d get the soft-top.

Mine still gets about as much use as my 440i, and the engine and throttle/power delivery are far nicer in the TT, even if it is down on power in comparison.