Time to look for anything else? (Yes it's semi what car)

[farrendahl]

Okay here's the issue, the Saab is going into the Garage at the end of the month to have the handbreak replaced (it's currentyl operating on only one cable) and it's 82500 service, total cost roughly £230 which I didn't think was that bad all things considered. However, with the car itself only worth about £700 the inevitable question that has popped up in my head and been raised by the other half is if now is the time to think about swapping it for something different (he knows I get bored and like variety so doesn't have issue drooling over stuff in the classifieds).

So the question is, should I plonk the car on Ebay once it's service done, take the first offer I get at around the £700 mark and get something else? And if so, whats out there that is fun for only £700, I've tried looking for the likes of MX-5s and MR2s (if your going to change might as well do it properly) but it does seem to get anything decent I'm looking at an outlay of about £1200 which could be doable, but I'd rather not need to if you know what I mean (looking to move this year so car replacement shouldn't really be top of my list but 2010 was a stty year and could do with a little pick me up). No real vehicle specifics that I'm after, so be it a barge or a shed my main concern is something with a little bit of character to it, able to accomodate my 6'4 frame and a decent drive. Sugegstions folks

[farrendahl]

Okay I'm guessing a budget of only between £700 and £1200 has scared people off.

[TTwiggy]

It might (should) be possible to get into an X300 Xj6 for that budget (especially if you push it to £1k).

Jags from that era are pretty reliable, and a nice place to sit. Only concern is corrosion issues.

how about this, and haggle a bit:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2313686.htm

[yellowbentines]

£1200 should get you into a reasonably tidy MX5, important things are make sure there's no rust and the hood isn't torn or ripped, any other maintenance that may crop up isn't costly and if anything mechanical goes wrong they're easy to work on yourself and parts are plentiful and cheap.

[farrendahl]

TTwiggy said:

It might (should) be possible to get into an X300 Xj6 for that budget (especially if you push it to £1k).

Jags from that era are pretty reliable, and a nice place to sit. Only concern is corrosion issues.

how about this, and haggle a bit:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2313686.htm

TTwiggy you are terrible, that Xj6 is tickling my tastebuds far to much. The only thing thats stopping me picking up the phone is I'm guessing that I'll need shares in Shell to feed it?

[TTwiggy]

farrendahl said:

TTwiggy said:

It might (should) be possible to get into an X300 Xj6 for that budget (especially if you push it to £1k).

Jags from that era are pretty reliable, and a nice place to sit. Only concern is corrosion issues.

how about this, and haggle a bit:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2313686.htm

TTwiggy you are terrible, that Xj6 is tickling my tastebuds far to much. The only thing thats stopping me picking up the phone is I'm guessing that I'll need shares in Shell to feed it?

Well, it's not going to be frugal, but these things are relative.

No idea what the straight six returns, but my V8 3.2 averages just under 20mpg, with mainly town driving and the occasional foray from one end of the country to the other. I imagine the six should be comparable, if not a bit better.

They are wonderful cars, and the X300/308 are (IMHO), the last of the 'classic' Jags (pronounced 'Jaaaaaag' whenever there's fillies in the room)

[300bhp/ton]

farrendahl said:

Okay here's the issue, the Saab is going into the Garage at the end of the month to have the handbreak replaced (it's currentyl operating on only one cable) and it's 82500 service, total cost roughly £230 which I didn't think was that bad all things considered. However, with the car itself only worth about £700 the inevitable question that has popped up in my head and been raised by the other half is if now is the time to think about swapping it for something different (he knows I get bored and like variety so doesn't have issue drooling over stuff in the classifieds).

So the question is, should I plonk the car on Ebay once it's service done, take the first offer I get at around the £700 mark and get something else? And if so, whats out there that is fun for only £700, I've tried looking for the likes of MX-5s and MR2s (if your going to change might as well do it properly) but it does seem to get anything decent I'm looking at an outlay of about £1200 which could be doable, but I'd rather not need to if you know what I mean (looking to move this year so car replacement shouldn't really be top of my list but 2010 was a stty year and could do with a little pick me up). No real vehicle specifics that I'm after, so be it a barge or a shed my main concern is something with a little bit of character to it, able to accomodate my 6'4 frame and a decent drive. Sugegstions folks

£700 is a bit tough, but for around a grand it opens opportunities.


The other year for just over £700 I bought a Nissan 100NX, ok maybe it's a bit fugly looking, although that sort of appeal to be - I mean, why be the same as everyone else. And the more you look at it, the more it appeals

It's a bit grey 1990's Nissan inside, but you sit low down and it feels very different to a hatchback, much more special.

Handling wise, well it's quite fun, loaded up you can over whelm the suspension with easy and it gets a bit ungainly. But one or 2 up it can feel fairly sporty for a fwd coupe.

1.6 is a sweet revver. It's not slow and in isolation feels peppy, but in traffic you realise it isn't fast either and that you have to drive it hard to keep up/make progress.

The removable T-Top glass roof was nice though, proper open air experience in the summer! It also had a huge usable boot.

A review I wrote here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...



For more money you can get a Ford Puma. If I'm honest I think the Ford does look better and certainly has sharper handling. But they are more money and don't have a removable roof.


Honda Preludes - great value for money coupes and good looking too.


Rover Tomcat Coupe - good looking and the VVC or 220 Turbo ones are pretty darn quick too.

Rover 200VI - nice comfy hot(ish) hatch.


Lots of classics if you want something different, Morris Minor or Triumph Herald all in budget.


BMW e30 or e36's.


And another fav of mine. MG Montego or Maestro and even better if a turbo variant.

[farrendahl]

300bhp/ton said:

farrendahl said:

Okay here's the issue, the Saab is going into the Garage at the end of the month to have the handbreak replaced (it's currentyl operating on only one cable) and it's 82500 service, total cost roughly £230 which I didn't think was that bad all things considered. However, with the car itself only worth about £700 the inevitable question that has popped up in my head and been raised by the other half is if now is the time to think about swapping it for something different (he knows I get bored and like variety so doesn't have issue drooling over stuff in the classifieds).

So the question is, should I plonk the car on Ebay once it's service done, take the first offer I get at around the £700 mark and get something else? And if so, whats out there that is fun for only £700, I've tried looking for the likes of MX-5s and MR2s (if your going to change might as well do it properly) but it does seem to get anything decent I'm looking at an outlay of about £1200 which could be doable, but I'd rather not need to if you know what I mean (looking to move this year so car replacement shouldn't really be top of my list but 2010 was a stty year and could do with a little pick me up). No real vehicle specifics that I'm after, so be it a barge or a shed my main concern is something with a little bit of character to it, able to accomodate my 6'4 frame and a decent drive. Sugegstions folks

£700 is a bit tough, but for around a grand it opens opportunities.


The other year for just over £700 I bought a Nissan 100NX, ok maybe it's a bit fugly looking, although that sort of appeal to be - I mean, why be the same as everyone else. And the more you look at it, the more it appeals

It's a bit grey 1990's Nissan inside, but you sit low down and it feels very different to a hatchback, much more special.

Handling wise, well it's quite fun, loaded up you can over whelm the suspension with easy and it gets a bit ungainly. But one or 2 up it can feel fairly sporty for a fwd coupe.

1.6 is a sweet revver. It's not slow and in isolation feels peppy, but in traffic you realise it isn't fast either and that you have to drive it hard to keep up/make progress.

The removable T-Top glass roof was nice though, proper open air experience in the summer! It also had a huge usable boot.

A review I wrote here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...



For more money you can get a Ford Puma. If I'm honest I think the Ford does look better and certainly has sharper handling. But they are more money and don't have a removable roof.


Honda Preludes - great value for money coupes and good looking too.


Rover Tomcat Coupe - good looking and the VVC or 220 Turbo ones are pretty darn quick too.

Rover 200VI - nice comfy hot(ish) hatch.


Lots of classics if you want something different, Morris Minor or Triumph Herald all in budget.


BMW e30 or e36's.


And another fav of mine. MG Montego or Maestro and even better if a turbo variant.

Okay this is quite scary but I did see an add for a MG Montego earlier today and had a little bit of temptation creep in. I think my biggest problem is my heart is actually set on anything in particular jsut the need to change the car. I've enjoyed the Saab but something a bit lighter and peppier appeals, but then I look at the gorgeous XJ6 and that tugs at the heart. The only thing I do know I want to avoid like the plague is a Corsa or Vectra as neither have ever done anything for me to inspire that ooooo I want response. Of course in an ideal world I'd be able to sell off a couple of family members and finance a TVR purchase, but I hear selling family is frowned upon these days