Need a car hint...

[ChevronB19]

I asked on here a while ago about possible solutions to a car choice. I currently have an MX-5 Mk 3 (06 sport) and have about 2 years left to pay off on it. I tried selling it in October for about 7K on eBay, but no bites, so have decided to keep it until April and try again (hell, it's been great fun in the snow with the roof down - I need windscreen wipers on the drivers window...). When I pay off the loan, I *think* all being well, I'll have about £1500 for a replacement.

At the time the idea of selling it was purely a money saving issue, and I was planning on buying a 1K car with some degree of 'PH' about it, possibly a fiat coupe or an Alfa 145, maybe stretch the budget to 2k for an alfa 156 sportwagon. Now, however, it looks like I am in the very early stages of becoming a dad (woo-hoo!) and am in the position where I can forever blame the impending sprog for forcing me to sell a sportscar. So, what I am *now* looking for is a c. £1500 replacement with space for a pram and various detritus that I won't get too upset about when it gets covered in jam (why are small kids so sticky?). Potentially the budget could go up to 2.5K. And it *still* has to have an aspect of PH about it - I'll save up (yeah right) and buy a 205 for fun.

So far:

alfa 156 Sportswagon
A BMW 3 series touring?
Subaru forester turbo
Volvo V40 (pushing the PH bit I know)
Audi A4 estate (expensive for what you get?)
Skoda Octavia estate (is there a VRS model of the estate?)

Any other tips? I live in the wilds of cumbria and 4wd would be good, but I don't want a trad 4wd - more like an Audi Allroad...

Sorry for the change in priorities! (I'm not, btw, I'm ecstatic!)

[Debaser]

E36 328i touring. It'll be better to drive than any of the others on your list.

[chrisispringles]

A Volvo 850 T5?

[5lab]

mondeo ST200?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



meant to be a good steer.

ETA - you might even get a slightly leggy ST220 for that money. I'd also consider a hatch if I were you - on a larger car like a mondeo I think there'd still be plenty of room for pram etc

Edited by 5lab on Friday 10th December 16:30

[danyeates]

ChevronB19 said:

Skoda Octavia estate (is there a VRS model of the estate?)

Yes, they do, but you'd be looking at the mk1 model with your budget.

Edited by danyeates on Friday 10th December 16:18

[Twincam16]

Jaguar X-Type AWD Estate? Early models are dipping into £2500 territory now.

[ChevronB19]

Twincam16 said:

Jaguar X-Type AWD Estate? Early models are dipping into £2500 territory now.

One of these would be very tempting - always remember the top gear with clarkson sticking an sas man in the back. I've a feeling they are a bit colour sensitive, but think one in black would look great!

[Twincam16]

ChevronB19 said:

Twincam16 said:

Jaguar X-Type AWD Estate? Early models are dipping into £2500 territory now.

One of these would be very tempting - always remember the top gear with clarkson sticking an sas man in the back. I've a feeling they are a bit colour sensitive, but think one in black would look great!

Might look like a hearse though. I quite fancy a 2.5-litre manual Sport saloon in red with the black mesh grille for some reason.

As far as Jags go you can't really beat the 'Le Mans' colour scheme of BRG with biscuit hide interior, or failing that, the 'Morse', in maroon with black.

[ChevronB19]

Twincam16 said:

ChevronB19 said:

Twincam16 said:

Jaguar X-Type AWD Estate? Early models are dipping into £2500 territory now.

One of these would be very tempting - always remember the top gear with clarkson sticking an sas man in the back. I've a feeling they are a bit colour sensitive, but think one in black would look great!

Might look like a hearse though. I quite fancy a 2.5-litre manual Sport saloon in red with the black mesh grille for some reason.

As far as Jags go you can't really beat the 'Le Mans' colour scheme of BRG with biscuit hide interior, or failing that, the 'Morse', in maroon with black.

Oooh, nooo! I have no logical reason why, but if a car has a leather interior, it *has* to be black!

[edo]

er, confused of surrey. You will have paid off the loan and want to replace your 06 mx5 with a £1500 car?

[fluffnik]

ChevronB19 said:

Oooh, nooo! I have no logical reason why, but if a car has a leather interior, it *has* to be black!

JDM turbo nutter 4x4 estate?

• Mitsubishi Legnum VR4
• Nissan Stagea
• Subaru Legacy

I had a Legnum for a while and it was a hoot.

They're a bit juicy and have shortish service intervals but they're also strong, spacious and quick and the Evo alike drivetrain with AYC means they're sure footed and more nimble than a big estate car with a V6 way out front has any right to be.

Gravel Ben may well come along to tell you that the Legacy is the better car and he's probably right, but the Legnum never failed to make me smile.

Interesting Stageas, the ones with the R33 GT-R running gear, are outwith your budget but even the boring ones are not dull...

[ChevronB19]

edo said:

er, confused of surrey. You will have paid off the loan and want to replace your 06 mx5 with a £1500 car?

I still owe about 5.5k on the car and am paying about 280 a month. The car is worth more than what I owe on the personal loan. Selling it means I get to pay off the remaining sum on a depreciating asset, and it leaves me with 1500 for a replacement and no more monthly payments. Am I missing something (serious question)? (other than the fact I've realised I'd prefer old heaps with minimal depreciation)

[sparks_E39]

E34 5 Series or a high mileage E39. You can get a V reg 528 with 120k on it for £1500.

[sn00per]

£2500 isn't going to get you much of a Forester at the moment barring a leggy/crap one (been in demand in the snow!) and particularly not a Turbo.

More around on the Legacy Estate side though, 98-01 ish age, always thought they are very smart looking Estates and very reliable as Subaru's tend to be. Plenty of Impreza 5dr's as well if they take your fancy, possibly a little on the small side.

[davepoth]

They did a slightly taller Legacy if memory serves. Skoda Octavia could be had in a 4x4 in mk1, there are a couple of saloons on autotrader in your price range, I guess there are some estates out there too.

[pauldc259]

If you can rustle up a little extra cash these are well worth considering.. they are capable if intergalactic mileage and are pretty nice to drive in the less common H6 format..



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2301434.htm