Trying to decide if its time for a change on the tintop.

Mines been no trouble, and is economical and practical but I fancy a change again

As I now have the bike as well, which is cheap to run (50mpg on a commute ride and £75 tax) and I only use the car maybe once a week even in winter I am thinking about going for something different car wise. With less emphasis on economy and more on something fun.

Not worried about age, infact pre-95 would be nice
Needs to be reliable(ish) and cheap/easy to fix at home if something goes wrong with it
Preferably rear wheel drive
Diesel or petrol
Needs to have a reasonable size boot
4 seats, even if its only a 2 door
Preferably sensible on insurance (which my current one definately isnt!)

Nothing french or italian!

So fire away chaps

10-ish year old Merc S-class for some proper pimpin . That's what I've decided I want next anyway. Pick your engine from V6 to V12 - the more expensive models have simply depreciated even more so they all cost about the same

Well it ticks some of those boxes...

Mercedes SLC or CE?

A wide range of JDM luxo-drift-barges (things like Lexus ES, Toyota Soarers etc.)

Jag XJS (although not fab in the reliability stakes!)

Alfa GTV coupe/Spider? Go for V6 with full spec if you do.

quote:

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Originally posted by Liam
10-ish year old Merc S-class for some proper pimpin . That's what I've decided I want next anyway. Pick your engine from V6 to V12 - the more expensive models have simply depreciated even more so they all cost about the same

Well it ticks some of those boxes...

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Big merc or bmw gets my vote,I was thinking gtv as well but fwd,itallian and def not reliable!

My sis in law has just got an Audi A2 at about your budget.

70 mpg, decent build, interesting (well, I quite like it anyway) - she loves it.

OK - above might not have been very thorough

So - lets think about driving must-try-before-you-dies

I can think of...

Merc S-class - as above

Original Mini - should be doable?

An Alfa Romeo (preferably V6) - spyder or GTV should be doable

Rally nutter mobile - old scooby WRX or evo doable in budget i think

Drifter - 200sx?

MX5 - not enough seats for you though


What else is there?

Thinking mainstream classic cars are the most appropriate to the whole list.

MGB-GT or Scimitar tick all those boxes if you can find one without rust.

Reliable(ish) only if maintained properly but that shouldn't be a problem.

M5?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/2362031.htm

530D with a remap!

Toyota Celica MK2 GT 2.0?

Skyline, SCooby or Evo?

FTO (not RWD but different)

I was going to vote WRX but then saw the bit about in insurance, so stopped there. I've had 5 I think, and they have all been fantastic, well up to 90,000 miles when I've swapped them:

awesome motors, mine have all been wagons and so have had reasonable boot space.

Honda Integra Type R dc2 great fun

quote:

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Originally posted by PSpirine

Keep in mind the high specs (S600) have things that you don't get on the lower models even when they're fully specced (leather wrapped dash, suede headlining, different type of leather trim etc.)

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Thanks for the suggestions so far. I am tempted by buying an old Camaro or similar. But I dont think I could live with <20mpg. Something that returns at least 30mpg would be fine though.

I have a feeling the insurance will be prohibitively expensive on a Scooby or Skyline. Needs to be less than £500/year, so will probably rule those out.

I do like the S14 200SX and the old wedge shaped Supras

My mate has a pretend M5, (basically a 535 with a few tweaks and M5 trim). Nice motors, I do like the big BMW's

Hmmm supra's a good idea. Probably hard to find one not tweaked to 400bhp . Mate had a wedgey RX7 which was nice too. Oooh what about a wedgey TVR?

I'd go for a 2002 bmw 530I sport. LSD, 230bhp IL6, 27+mpg ave, 34 on a run. Lots of toys too.... something like this:

BMW 530i Sport 4 Door Cream Leather in Black on eBay (end time 07-Apr-11 17:47:15 BST)

This will be for sale May/June


290bhp - 400nm


3" Abbott racing stainless DP/cat & system
2.5" Turbo Intake pipe
3.5bar fpr
Re-mapped to stage 4
Steering rack clamp
Mobil 1 changed every 6000 miles - no sludge
Vented drilled discs- EBC pads
KYB gas dampers
Eibach springs
22mm rear ARB
Continental RE050 225/45/17s replaced in Sept
mot till dec 2011 - Tax till Im not sure.



Full Aero leather - Comfortable fast , no wobbly Saab handling, this car is sorted, flat through the bends and very rapid.



Bit of paint bubbling on the rear arches, few dings here and there (wanker neighbours)



Happy at 80mph all day -


This is a lot of performance for offers around £1800.




Still too early to sell at the minute, but it will be going shortly if your interested.



Tax per year is £210 - Rodox number plate not included



PS And it does 30mpg round the doors, and 35mpg on a run.





[Edited on 30/3/11 by T66]

Mitsibushi 300gt.........not sure about economy!

Alfa GTV V6, or Fiat Coupe 20VT. You'd get a cracking example for well under your budget and the fuel economy isn't too bad, especialy the Fiat (over 30mpg on a run if you don't go mad)

quote:

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Originally posted by mackei23b
Mitsibushi 300gt.........not sure about economy!

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Well the 3000GT is looking favourite at the moment.

Kinda fits most of the criteria. I am going to a local area meet this sunday for a closer look at a few. Finding a UK spec car in good nick might be the challenge, but they are out there at sensible money.

Looks like £4k gets a nice example with low miles. Insurance isnt as steep as you might expect for a group 20 car.

4wd, 320bhp twin turbo V6, 4 seats (kinda), not too thirsty (35mpg) so its looking good...

Garage at the end of my road has a 02 Jag S-Type R for £5k. Supercharged V8........ Yum