5 cars you really want, for under £5,000 a piece...
Discussion
And you cannot have ever owned one of them before.
I've been really obsessing about cheap cars lately, something that can be fun and not mega fast so that it can be enjoyed a lot more. My list then starts here;
1) Honda Accord Type R.
I love these. I think they look spot on and I wish I had have bought one years ago when I had the chance. I had the money but I ended up choosing the wrong cars (Impreza WRX / Vectra 3.2 Elite). They all appear to be rusty wrecks if you believe the internet.
2) Alfa Romeo 166 (facelift) 3.2 V6
The facelift (imo) made the car much better to look at. I know it devalued quick, I know it's not fast, but it looks a lovely place to spend time in and has an Alfa V6. I aren't sure if the facelift got the Busso engine though.
3) BMW 740i (E32 and E38 - I know, 2 cars, but also the same cars). The E32 is a handsome thing and I recall my Godfather having a 735i and I really liked being in it. It is from an era when BMW still made good looking cars. The E38 is a car I have never been in, and I know that they have rusty fuel tanks etc, but in Sport guise they look good, and as with the E32, looks like a great place to spend thousands of miles in.
4) Ford Mondeo ST220. Probably my favourite looking Mondeo and appears to be a very good drive. The interior looks well appointed, has a decent V6 engine and goes quite well for its size. It is also a good looking car and can get away with being anonymous.
5) Last and by no means least, an R53 MINI Cooper S. I am not a huge MINI fan, but it is hard to not want one of these. Supercharger whine, wheel just about at each corner, a bit quirky (in its day) and looks like a car that can give you a fun drive.
Honorable mentions;
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Porsche Boxster
Toyota Corolla T-Sport
Renault Megane 225
I could go on and on, but I won't! Interestingly, my top 5 wanted cars that I have never owned before are all non-turbo (the MINI is supercharged, but it isn't the same as being turbocharged). I love turbocharged cars, but it seems that the cars I want do not have turbocharged engines, which is a little surprising. If I had have put the value up to £10,000 then I am sure that there would have been more turbocharged cars than not, but as it stands, naturally aspirated wins. I wonder how many people who reply to this post will lean to naturally aspirated as well?
I've been really obsessing about cheap cars lately, something that can be fun and not mega fast so that it can be enjoyed a lot more. My list then starts here;
1) Honda Accord Type R.
I love these. I think they look spot on and I wish I had have bought one years ago when I had the chance. I had the money but I ended up choosing the wrong cars (Impreza WRX / Vectra 3.2 Elite). They all appear to be rusty wrecks if you believe the internet.
2) Alfa Romeo 166 (facelift) 3.2 V6
The facelift (imo) made the car much better to look at. I know it devalued quick, I know it's not fast, but it looks a lovely place to spend time in and has an Alfa V6. I aren't sure if the facelift got the Busso engine though.
3) BMW 740i (E32 and E38 - I know, 2 cars, but also the same cars). The E32 is a handsome thing and I recall my Godfather having a 735i and I really liked being in it. It is from an era when BMW still made good looking cars. The E38 is a car I have never been in, and I know that they have rusty fuel tanks etc, but in Sport guise they look good, and as with the E32, looks like a great place to spend thousands of miles in.
4) Ford Mondeo ST220. Probably my favourite looking Mondeo and appears to be a very good drive. The interior looks well appointed, has a decent V6 engine and goes quite well for its size. It is also a good looking car and can get away with being anonymous.
5) Last and by no means least, an R53 MINI Cooper S. I am not a huge MINI fan, but it is hard to not want one of these. Supercharger whine, wheel just about at each corner, a bit quirky (in its day) and looks like a car that can give you a fun drive.
Honorable mentions;
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Porsche Boxster
Toyota Corolla T-Sport
Renault Megane 225
I could go on and on, but I won't! Interestingly, my top 5 wanted cars that I have never owned before are all non-turbo (the MINI is supercharged, but it isn't the same as being turbocharged). I love turbocharged cars, but it seems that the cars I want do not have turbocharged engines, which is a little surprising. If I had have put the value up to £10,000 then I am sure that there would have been more turbocharged cars than not, but as it stands, naturally aspirated wins. I wonder how many people who reply to this post will lean to naturally aspirated as well?
- A mostly out of focus 760iL:
- A nearly new electric truck for the commute:
- A potentially shagged Navarra for less than a Great Wall (whatever they are):
- A ticking time bomb of an SL500 with a slightly red interior:
- A V10 TDi Touareg for (when it works) family duties:
Good idea for a thread. I've spent a long time trying to solve the "pick two from cheap fast and reliable".
I've had a couple of those (Subaru WRX and Mondeo ST220) and they were both fantastic cars, hugely fun to drive. The Impreza was far faster, but the Mondeo was much more practical and comfortable.
So, still my cheap car bucket list.
I'm being deliberately vague on the model, as I'd take what's around in good condition at the time.
Not very practical.
MX-5.
Boxster.
A bit more practical.
Renaultsport Megane (Or Clio RS200)
Honda Accord type R.
Left field:
Subaru SVX.
Honorable mentions to:
Nissan stagea. If it wan't for the work rules about people on a car allowance having to have a car less than 10 years old this would be a strong contender for my next daily car.
I'd also like a Subaru Legacy 3.0 (manual, estate, Si Drive, sunroof), but it also don't fit in the work "Less than 10 year old" rule) And I've already had a legacy.
I've also got a hankering for a big old Lexus...
I've had a couple of those (Subaru WRX and Mondeo ST220) and they were both fantastic cars, hugely fun to drive. The Impreza was far faster, but the Mondeo was much more practical and comfortable.
So, still my cheap car bucket list.
I'm being deliberately vague on the model, as I'd take what's around in good condition at the time.
Not very practical.
MX-5.
Boxster.
A bit more practical.
Renaultsport Megane (Or Clio RS200)
Honda Accord type R.
Left field:
Subaru SVX.
Honorable mentions to:
Nissan stagea. If it wan't for the work rules about people on a car allowance having to have a car less than 10 years old this would be a strong contender for my next daily car.
I'd also like a Subaru Legacy 3.0 (manual, estate, Si Drive, sunroof), but it also don't fit in the work "Less than 10 year old" rule) And I've already had a legacy.
I've also got a hankering for a big old Lexus...
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 24th December 10:41
Cambs_Stuart said:
- lots of good car ideas*
I've also got a hankering for a big old Lexus...
And god yes, how could I forget about cheap Lexus barges! I'd quite like an LS400, and pushing the budget up a little, a Toyota Aristo Twin Turbo.
The 166 3.2 got the Busso, and is indeed a fine place to be. Fuel bills make it a slightly impractical daily driver, the consumption is awful because you’re flooring it every few seconds to hear that fantastic racket from the engine.
I’ve got pretty much every Alfa available for less than 5 grand.
I’d quite like a big Jag. Not sure if you can still get a V12 XJS for less than 5 grand. One of the supercharged saloons would also be nice.
I’ve got pretty much every Alfa available for less than 5 grand.
I’d quite like a big Jag. Not sure if you can still get a V12 XJS for less than 5 grand. One of the supercharged saloons would also be nice.
[quote=TheAngryDog]
1) Honda Accord Type R - I had one and they really are great but they were getting old in 08 when I had mine, they really will be mostly rust by now which is a shame. Euro R import might be better though
4) Ford Mondeo ST220 also had one in 08. Fast but don't handle well and have terrible brakes. Really disappointing, I paid just over 5k for a saloon with 31k on the clock in 08 at 5 years old, a bargain none the less.
1) Honda Accord Type R - I had one and they really are great but they were getting old in 08 when I had mine, they really will be mostly rust by now which is a shame. Euro R import might be better though
4) Ford Mondeo ST220 also had one in 08. Fast but don't handle well and have terrible brakes. Really disappointing, I paid just over 5k for a saloon with 31k on the clock in 08 at 5 years old, a bargain none the less.
2.5T Focus ST-3 not far of an RS250 in terms of handling & it has that 5 pot
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
CLK55 AMG over budget but haggling & a trimming the budget of one of the other picks, who doesn't want a pillar less coupe
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-CLK55-AMG...
GS430 for family duties
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-GS-430-2003-4-3-A...
3.2 Alfa Brera Just because
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
3.7 SL350 No ABC suspension issues to worry about so a far better bork light option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
CLK55 AMG over budget but haggling & a trimming the budget of one of the other picks, who doesn't want a pillar less coupe
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-CLK55-AMG...
GS430 for family duties
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-GS-430-2003-4-3-A...
3.2 Alfa Brera Just because
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
3.7 SL350 No ABC suspension issues to worry about so a far better bork light option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
TheAngryDog said:
Aw come on mods, this isn't a "what car should I buy" post, it's a discussion on what sub £5k cars appeal to us. Can it be moved back to General please otherwise it'll just languish in Car Buying and just disappear into the ether!
Great thread. I think I did basically the same one a year or so ago and mods moved it and it dried up. Shame as it’s a discussion and gives people like me ideas, rather than asking for car buying advice.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff