£4000 'Interesting' Daily
£4000 'Interesting' Daily
Author
Discussion

aojb

Original Poster:

23 posts

114 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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Fellow PH'ers

I've been a long time lurker and am a big fan of PH.

I'm thinking of making the most of current used car prices and getting rid of my very capable but dull A4 Avant.

Having previously had an E46 M3 and an M140i, I'm thinking of using the capital from the A4 to get something a bit more interesting on the cheap.

My mileage has gone down significantly although I still have a 100 mile round commute a couple of times a week. I also need a big boot to carry gear for work.

So far I'm thinking of an E60 535d, Porsche Cayenne, Risky FFRR/RRS, an E65 7 Series, maybe a B6 S4 or a more sensible Touareg...

Does anyone have any bright ideas? I'm aware that everything is going to have reasonably big miles for that budget and I'm prepared for some associated running costs although I'd rather avoid anything with obvious big issues (Range Rovers...?)

Cheers!

carl_w

10,696 posts

286 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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Can you get a 640d for that sort of cash?

Nicks90

854 posts

82 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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Kinda doesn't have a big boot for his work stuff though.

Big boot - so probably estate - interesting means big engined petrol - about 4k to spend.
Equals, go to the barge thread and see what pops up. Probably a silly Merc or bmw touring or something weirdly French.

Or go all out and buy a big old volvo and tune the crap out of it.

Edited by Nicks90 on Tuesday 12th October 19:01

alec.e

2,149 posts

152 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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Jaguar XJ (X350) V8 Petrol for that kind of cash, interesting/rare enough, but pretty reliable and a good drive. Boot ok, but not the best.

davek_964

11,185 posts

203 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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Had an early 4.5 Cayenne for about 8.5 years now - only bought it initially because I needed it for 6 months.

Really is a very good car - and in manual mode with air suspension set to sport - it's far more fun than it has any right to be. They are a pretty good choice I think.

Mine has cost me virtually nothing for years although that's because I rarely use it and neglect it a bit I guess. It did have 4 new discs and pads last year, but that was under £500 (parts).

I have reached the point where I'd like to get rid of mine, but it's useful occasionally - especially winter - and not worth the hassle of trying to sell. I expect I'll own it until it dies or has a bill that's more than I'm willing to pay.

georgeyboy12345

4,581 posts

63 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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An E60 535d is far too sensible - what about this 545i? MOT history doesn't look the greatest, mind
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106173...


Never mind the ugly E65 7 series, what about this magnificent E38 740i? Again, a somewhat patchy MOT history
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


Mercedes E500 - bodywork looks a bit ropey, and the advert isn't very well written, which makes me a bit cautious recommending it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107205...


British alternative - Jaguar XJ8
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108176...


Very cheap Volvo S80 2.5 T
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110028...


Or how about the same engine in a hot hatch? Ford Focus ST. The rear seats fold down, so may actually have more load room than some of the others
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...


Actual sensible option - Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108226...





Sir Bagalot

7,055 posts

209 months

Tuesday 12th October 2021
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georgeyboy12345 said:
An E60 535d is far too sensible - what about this 545i? MOT history doesn't look the greatest, mind
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106173...
Anyone else look at that and then look at the mileage, then the number of owners, and then think I wonder how many times thats been clocked?laugh

aojb

Original Poster:

23 posts

114 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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Thanks for the suggestions!

I’m definitely items taken with the idea of a Porsche Cayenne…

Comfy, practical and a V8 is ticking quite a few boxes.

How ridiculous a prospect are they? Is there anything major I should be looking for? There seem to be quite a few reasonably priced early 4.5s knocking around with decent history and spec..

aojb

Original Poster:

23 posts

114 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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Much as I’d love an E38 I think Mrs B would take some persuading… she seems relatively on board with an SUV type thing, probably more so than an ‘old man’ estate!

MattyD803

2,392 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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aojb said:
Thanks for the suggestions!

I’m definitely items taken with the idea of a Porsche Cayenne…

Comfy, practical and a V8 is ticking quite a few boxes.

How ridiculous a prospect are they? Is there anything major I should be looking for? There seem to be quite a few reasonably priced early 4.5s knocking around with decent history and spec..
Wasn't there a recent "Bork" thread on these where the acquisition of a 'cheap' Cayenne cost the purchaser dearly after something or other let go under the bonnet whilst on holiday in Europe leaving him effectively stranded? Possibly something else failed on him too? I can't remember the details and i'm also not sure if it was the same engine as you might potentially consider, but obviously "eyes wide open" on one of these....look like an excellent piece of kit if you can keep those costs down.....

Edit: Found the thread HERE

PS: Yes, it was a 2003 4.5 V8
PSS: Yes, it would appear the problems have continued
PSSS: An owner on the thread comments "You need to prepare yourself for a 4 figure repair bill every 2 years with these"



Edited by MattyD803 on Wednesday 13th October 08:45

davek_964

11,185 posts

203 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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When I bought mine, I needed to replace the suspension on one corner - that was fairly expensive as I recall.

Nothing else significant though.

As I said, I don't use it much so that no doubt reduces the running costs - but I have put about 25k on it in the time I've owned it, and have found it very reliable. It feels pretty quick, and is generally an excellent all round car - albeit a bit thirsty, but you'd expect that.

I really don't need mine anymore - but, despite being 18 years old and having ~110k miles on it, there's nothing wrong with it and it's a damn good car. Which means it's just not worth getting rid of.

MattyD803

2,392 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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I'd love to have a drive in one, but i'm certainly not brave enough to own one!

I mean, lets be realistic, the "low" purchase price of cars like this tend to be reflective of the sort of reliability/servicing/repair costs the new owner is likely to be picking up....that's just life. They usually have quite a high turnover of owners and the seller almost certainly knows that bills are imminent, and have likely used various sticking plasters to get the vehicle to a relatively 'safe' point of sale. (This is certainly not limited to Cayenne's by the way).

As was discussed in the thread I linked out to, the OP's £4k car very quickly became an £8-10k car....

Lester H

4,281 posts

133 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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On the Cayenne topic, don’t VW do the same car for two thirds the price? Old Volvo estates spring to mind, too: gas guzzlers, but isn’t there a really fast version -V something- that the police used to use on the M6?

aojb

Original Poster:

23 posts

114 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
quotequote all
Interesting read, thanks for the link.

I guess for the money there’s a risk with anything vaguely interesting…

I’m not planning on keeping it forever but will see where the market is come March and then spend a bit more on something sensible-ish. I’m looking at this as an opportunity to be a bit daft for 6 months.

Re the Touaregs - they’re pretty much the same price as the Cayennes and arguably a lot more mundane.

Another optio is a B6 S4 with the NA V8 but that has some real bork potential with timing chain guides.

MattyD803

2,392 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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I guess as long as you've got a full appreciation (and dedicated wallet-based provision) for potential bills (breakdowns & faults as well general servicing and preventative maintenance), then you'll be OK....but expecting a £4k Cayenne to be anything than a bit of a money pit however is probably just naivety...

davek_964

11,185 posts

203 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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MattyD803 said:
I guess as long as you've got a full appreciation (and dedicated wallet-based provision) for potential bills (breakdowns & faults as well general servicing and preventative maintenance), then you'll be OK....but expecting a £4k Cayenne to be anything than a bit of a money pit however is probably just naivety...
Not necessarily. Mine hasn't been.

MattyD803

2,392 posts

93 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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davek_964 said:
Not necessarily. Mine hasn't been.
Yes, fair enough, but you have at least owned yours for the last 8.5 years of it's life though....and as such bought it at 'half the age' of what we are looking at here. To my mind, that is 8.5 years of maintenance, mechanical sympathy and care that your aware of / have managed and also not done many miles in said period.

The OP is contending with 16-18 years of being potentially driven hard, not looked after etc, passed between owners, tinkered with by indy's to keep it running etc. which is a long old time if you ask me.

Anyway, I mean, like I say - an exciting purchase nonetheless, hope it all works out if you do go for it.....

ZX10R NIN

30,461 posts

153 months

Wednesday 13th October 2021
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