What's the minimum amount to spend...

[T84]

...To get into the ballpark of a decent car that won't be showing it's age?

Obviously there will be exceptions, but generally, would you say a 2k car would start to be showing it's age? a 3k car?

[Cactussed]

Remember, some cars are cult classics, irrespective of age.
Mk1 MR2 supercharger...

[sleep envy]

Cactussed said:

Remember, some cars are cult classics, irrespective of age.
Mk1 MR2 supercharger...

of all the cult cars you could have picked, you chose one that isn't

ps - hope you like your trophy

Edited by sleep envy on Wednesday 10th November 14:38

[thinfourth2]

Define showing its age?

I've got a £400 car which works fine and has needed less garage time then my other halfs 7 grand car

[T84]

Well my problem is that I spent £2k on a lemon and I don't see the point in changing it for another cheap car that's also going to be a lemon.

Maybe I'm just crap at buying cars

[MarJay]

Cactussed said:

Remember, some cars are cult classics, irrespective of age.
Mk1 MR2 supercharger...

I'd say of any car that would definitely be showing its age, it'd be a Mk1 MR2. The shape is dated, and they rust to death.

I'd say you can get a half decent looking car for £1500... In fact, look at the Volvo in this weeks Shed Of The Week. That looks OK and cost £995.

[Matt UK]

T84 said:

Well my problem is that I spent £2k on a lemon and I don't see the point in changing it for another cheap car that's also going to be a lemon.

Maybe I'm just crap at buying cars

Tricky one and all down to a bit of luck I guess.

There are £50k+ lemons out there.
There are brand new lemons out there.
There are fantastic £1k cars that will see you though for many years to come.

[oOTomOo]

I spent £2400 on a lemon, needed a laundry list of things fixing on it but they are mostly sorted now.
All that is left is some rust on the rear arches.

I resigned myself to doing the work myself, my time is free and it's a feck sight cheaper just buying the parts needed.
It might take me about 5 hours to do something a garage could do in 2 but that's still £80 saved.

Gonna stick with this one till it rusts to bits, then it's going to be reborn into a kit car.

[300bhp/ton]

T84 said:

Well my problem is that I spent £2k on a lemon and I don't see the point in changing it for another cheap car that's also going to be a lemon.

Maybe I'm just crap at buying cars

Sadly I don't think there is any hard and fast rule. Condition is key and price is just what condition you can get for your money.

Older cars will eventually start to show more issues, but they might be simple to sort.

[stumpage]

I've just spent £1400 on this from a dealer. 2 owners 66K miles FSH, with all the proper cam belt changes etc. Everything works as it should, climate control icy cold, whisper quiet on the motorway no rust etc, etc. Does this count as the sort of thing you're looking for?

[Cactussed]

sleep envy said:

Cactussed said:

Remember, some cars are cult classics, irrespective of age.
Mk1 MR2 supercharger...

of all the cult cars you could have picked, you chose one that isn't

ps - hope you like your trophy

Edited by sleep envy on Wednesday 10th November 14:38

Bugger off. On both counts.

[Evil.soup]

The most car for the money in terms of not showing its age for me is the E60 BMW 5 series.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2093943.htm

I know its not 3k but look what you get for under 6k. Throw on a private plate and it could be an 09 car for all anyone knows for the price of a well used Fiesta.

[braddo]

T84 said:

Well my problem is that I spent £2k on a lemon and I don't see the point in changing it for another cheap car that's also going to be a lemon.

Maybe I'm just crap at buying cars

Weren't you recently going to buy a £5k car (Mondeo or Accord etc)?

Maybe you need to look out for a car dealer with a good rep in a particular line of cars (so they know very well the cars they are selling, which means they know what lemon issues to look out for and fix).

[OMNIO]

My 13 year old mondeo was worth £400 when we got it (free) its worth £295 now according to auto trader but aside from obvious cosmetic things for a car of that age like wear on the steering wheel and gear stick and a few scratches and dings its faultless. Will cruise the motorway at normal speeds with ease and just eats the miles tbh. 450mile round trips are a cinch.

It all depends on how its been looked after. If the previous owner takes care of the car then it could be 20+ years old and not be showing its age

Edited by OMNIO on Wednesday 10th November 15:16

[hairyben]

Evil.soup said:

The most car for the money in terms of not showing its age for me is the E60 BMW 5 series.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2093943.htm

I know its not 3k but look what you get for under 6k. Throw on a private plate and it could be an 09 car for all anyone knows for the price of a well used Fiesta.

he mentions several times it's "high miles" and several times it's "motorway miles" but doesn't tell you what the miles are.

I'd say it's probably overpriced, likely money pit and being sold by an idiot.

[T84]

braddo said:

T84 said:

Well my problem is that I spent £2k on a lemon and I don't see the point in changing it for another cheap car that's also going to be a lemon.

Maybe I'm just crap at buying cars

Weren't you recently going to buy a £5k car (Mondeo or Accord etc)?

Maybe you need to look out for a car dealer with a good rep in a particular line of cars (so they know very well the cars they are selling, which means they know what lemon issues to look out for and fix).

Yeah I was (am) at some point, I just either don't know what I want or want a combination of impossible things

[Evil.soup]

hairyben said:

Evil.soup said:

The most car for the money in terms of not showing its age for me is the E60 BMW 5 series.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2093943.htm

I know its not 3k but look what you get for under 6k. Throw on a private plate and it could be an 09 car for all anyone knows for the price of a well used Fiesta.

he mentions several times it's "high miles" and several times it's "motorway miles" but doesn't tell you what the miles are.

I'd say it's probably overpriced, likely money pit and being sold by an idiot.

I agree and you have to take an ad with no miles quote with a pinch of salt. It was the first on the list and there are others out there in the same ballpark, its just an example of the "old car looking like a new car" scenario. Miles seems to be average between 110k up to 200k but still a hell of a lot of car and certainly even today looks like it could be just 12 months old.

[Dab of oppo]

Err it must be you, my £300 van which is tidy apart from a dented wing (previous owner in the snow)
Was bought with 8 months MOT and 5 months tax, so far it has cost me £7 for an oil pressure sensor, £12 for a clutch cable and about £30 in uprated front bulbs as the originals are like candles!
It has covered 177000 miles, is showing little sign of rust apart from a little around the edges of the roof box but even that is good compared to others, its cheap to run (LPG) has payed for itself many times over moving stuff for mates as well as helping me move free firewood back home.
Now it may not be the most desireable vehicle on the road but it is cetainly very practical when you are a two dog, two person household, infact I'd go as fas as saying its our most used vehicle and we've got a couple of others to choose from which are much nicer!

[GTO Scott]

I drive a Y-reg 406 HDi at the moment as a daily nail - cheapest car in the fleet, in both purchase cost and per-mile costs. Set me back all of £400, including some rent and a full ticket.

[Galsia]

hairyben said:

Evil.soup said:

The most car for the money in terms of not showing its age for me is the E60 BMW 5 series.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2093943.htm

I know its not 3k but look what you get for under 6k. Throw on a private plate and it could be an 09 car for all anyone knows for the price of a well used Fiesta.

he mentions several times it's "high miles" and several times it's "motorway miles" but doesn't tell you what the miles are.

I'd say it's probably overpriced, likely money pit and being sold by an idiot.

In one of the images you can almost see the mileage in the service folder. Almost.