Cheap(ish) 4 seat cab

[Macron]

My daughter's A4 1.8T cab got wiped out by a bin lorry last week, she's after something similar.

5-8k, needs as much space for rear passengers as poss so nothing too dinky, petrol (ulez), sub £500 tax, smallish engine as not much NCB.

Choices seem to be:

-Another A4, they seem to have missed much of the whole price rise thing, esp privately. Just avoid multitronic of course.

-A5 cab, was surprised to see these in this price range, many listed on AT with problems tho.

-3 Series. Most seem rusty.

-CLK.

Not interested in a Volvo, focus CC or similar.

Is it just a case of check the roof works, look for rust, ideally find something with a cam chain or a belt which has been done? It will sit on the road in South London getting bashed about and go for girly weekends away so doesn't need to be the last word in driving dynamics.

[ZX10R NIN]

E200 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208299...

SE:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

CLK200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207318...

125i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208198...

120:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208269...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

320i M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208299...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208309...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059...

Leftfield

Volvo C70:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208028...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206217...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

ZX10R NIN said:

E200 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208299...

That looks good.

[Macron]

Thank you as ever ZX, really appreciate your help.

You're a Merc man right? Assume the E, despite the plastic dash is a cut above the CLK? Anything in particular to look out for?

The 3 series seems to rot. The 2.0 seems fragile, and big tax happens without big poweeeeer. A5 seems to get a good write up, but so many knackered ones at the bottom of the price curve...

[NiceCupOfTea]

What age 3er are we talking? E46s rust, I thought the e9x was better?

A couple of other suggestions - Saab 9-3 cab, you’d get a very good one for your budget.

Or, a bit left field - e64 630? Not huge in the back and maybe insurance would be a problem, but worth a shout.

[GreatGranny]

Even the E class is compromised in the back as I found out getting in the back of my mates last year.

5'-10" mate in passenger seat, me same height had to sit an an angle.

However he's very pleased with it and it look and feels a quality car.

Think his is the E250 diesel.

[Macron]

Stinky diesel out regardless, and ulez compliance is probably £12-15k, mile dependent on one that is.

But she knows I'd write her out of the will if she used the black pump

3 series would probably be the 9, although most seem to be the fragile 320i.

[ZX10R NIN]

Macron said:

Thank you as ever ZX, really appreciate your help.

You're a Merc man right? Assume the E, despite the plastic dash is a cut above the CLK? Anything in particular to look out for?

The 3 series seems to rot. The 2.0 seems fragile, and big tax happens without big poweeeeer. A5 seems to get a good write up, but so many knackered ones at the bottom of the price curve...

I have both & I feel the CLK feels better built but in convertible form has more scuttle shake than the E, the E is still a nice place to be though.

Make sure the seats work (if you're getting the Sport model, like all convertibles make sure the roof works & the drain holes are clear & like all 1.8k's make sure you use good quality oil.

[biggbn]

You get a huge amount of Swedish metal for your money. I can see why you might discount the focus based c70 but the previous model is a gorgeous car, a wafter not dynamically on point but 5k would buy you a low mileage minter and they are full four seaters. The Saab NG 93 is much better than people realise, larticulalry for the outlay.