Bugger it!

[Benp]

I had a blow out today in my car and the result is some extensive damage to body and suspension. Being a poor student type it may well make more sense to scrap it and invest in a `budget` motor of some sort what do y`all suggest. I like the idea of a sierra or cav for less than £500

[Farmer]

Whatever you do don't buy a Cavalier there are plenty of good bangers around at the moment without buying a car that was duff when new.

[wedg1e]

Even a Laguna or similar (slightly less prehistoric than either of your choices) could be had for that sort of money. Hunt for a Safrane and get a luxo-barge for buttons! How about a Xantia (HUGE cabin, especially in the back)...

Ian

[DanH]

Ian you are insane, all those cars devour petrol and have a billion electromathingies to go wrong!

[Agent006]

Something big and german. Preferably an ealy 80s merc.
A laguna for £500 quid will be knackered beyond your wildest fantasies, mine cost 3k and it's barely survived.
Or save yourself £400 and get a good old C reg fiesta.

[DanH]

All these old mercs etc. cost a fortune to keep on the road. Tyres will cost more than the damned car. Guess it would work if you are happy to ditch it and buy a different car when it fails its MOT/needs new discs etc.

Didn't some chap write a book on it and call it bangernomics or something daft. Works great if you are happy to spend your life in shit cars.

[theboymoon]

How about a 205 XS?
OK, ok the build quality isn't the best but otherwise for the money you can't do much better IMHO.

The XS has a 1400 on carbs - easily tuneable to 100-110 brake. All this in a car that is lighter than the GTIs. (I think the XS weighs less than a tonne)

My mate ran one for a couple of years, picked up some GTI alloys for penauts, shocks and springs for the same price as a bag of crisps, ripped out the back seats to save a bit of weight too. Insurance wasn't too bad either!

Many laughs for few pennies.....

Moonie

[elanturbo]

I'll sell you a 1991 imported turbo diesel toyota camry for £700. Ultra reliable, safe, comfy, no rust.
It'll go forever.

[plipton]

I have a slighlty shop-soiled unicycle for sale if that's any help

[Mad Dave]

A little out of your budget, but if youre prepared to stretch a little, i have an immaculate black '87 Golf GTI for sale for around £1500. Should prove a lot more reliable than a £500 shed.

[joust]

Mad Dave said: A little out of your budget, but if youre prepared to stretch a little, i have an immaculate black '87 Golf GTI for sale for around £1500. Should prove a lot more reliable than a £500 shed.

Famous last words.....

[Mad Dave]

[t1grm]

mungo said: Top tip - Mercedes 190 older than a D plate for less than £700 they are around! Should be bullet proof. Usually very well cared for too!

>> Edited by mungo on Monday 10th February 13:10

Just did a search on autotrader for 190's under 1K and got back the following:

1986 Mercedes-Benz 190 Cosworth, 1986, E, £1000

Merc Cosworth ??? WTF's all that about then ?

[Citizen Rat]

Picked up a J-reg 416 for £350 a few months ago. Solid, reliable, straight and rust free.

[Tabs]

I've used a 190e as a taxi and parts are no dearer than any other car. Major items last forever and consumables purchased from German and Swedish or Europarts make for economic motoring. Timing chains mean no snapped cambelts either! They are the last of the 'simple' cars before complicated electronics came along, and so are easy and cheap to fix on that side also. If you get a good 'un you'll never want to sell it!

[Farmer]

t1grm said:

mungo said: Top tip - Mercedes 190 older than a D plate for less than £700 they are around! Should be bullet proof. Usually very well cared for too!

>> Edited by mungo on Monday 10th February 13:10

Just did a search on autotrader for 190's under 1K and got back the following:

1986 Mercedes-Benz 190 Cosworth, 1986, E, £1000

Merc Cosworth ??? WTF's all that about then ?

surely must be 2 Merc cosies welded together for that money ?
great car if not

[mikes]

If youwant a luxo barge try a black Pug 605 -- and look like the French secret service

Mike.

[littlegearl]

t1grm said:

mungo said: Top tip - Mercedes 190 older than a D plate for less than £700 they are around! Should be bullet proof. Usually very well cared for too!

>> Edited by mungo on Monday 10th February 13:10

Just did a search on autotrader for 190's under 1K and got back the following:

1986 Mercedes-Benz 190 Cosworth, 1986, E, £1000

Merc Cosworth ??? WTF's all that about then ?

The Mercedes Benz 190 Cosworth Evolution 2.3-16

basically late eighties/early nintees (why can't i spell) merc where getting a bit pissed off with BMW always winning the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) so they get a standard 190 put huge wheels, an outrageous bodykit and a massive spoiler on their car...

oh, and they get Cosworth to build the engine, supposedly a gem!

the car you've found is the road going version of the DTM race-car that had to be built in sufficient numbers before you could go race

don't you just love homologation!?! without it you wouldn't have such greats as the audi quattro, lancia delta, scoobi's, evo's, porsche GT1, 2, 3... Viper GTS-R's, BMW M3's... in fact pretty much every fast car going has come about due to homologation...

btw, merc won the DTM in '92, '94 and '95 i believe with drivers such as Bernd Schneider, Klaus Ludwig, Jan Magnussen and Dario Franchitti winning races...

back to the topic: buy a cav... you know you want to!!!

[Benp]

It appears i was worrying over nothing, the little french beauty is just refusing to die. After careful inspection and a couple of new wheels it seems that i can piece together the appropriate new body parts for very little money. So if you see a multi coloured pug 106 1.4 zoomin down the road best get out of its way!!! many thanxs for your suggestions, worth bearing in mind for when i eventually graduate or when my car finnaly gives up the goast!

[Farmer]

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