Sub £2k- What to look at?

[Goates]

I am looking to jump off the new/performance car train (I know sacrilege for this forum). I still have a passion for cars but other hobbies are now starting to take a precedent in terms of my disposable income so need to release some cash (If anyone ever says you should try flying, don't I thought nice cars was a moneypit, planes are in another league). I also now fully WFH, this isn't going to chance and so I can't justify the costs involved in keeping a nice car parked on my drive for usually 5 days+ a week.

So after years of fairly nice cars, currently have an Alpine A110 that I am looking to get rid of, I want to replace with something cheap, fairly reliable and cheerful. However, I literally have no idea what I should be looking for really. Any recommendations? No family or kids so doesn't have to be massive, likely a few motorway trips a year but apart from that local journeys etc. Not really bothered about performance, been there done that now.

[monthou]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
That thread is stuffed full of useful info / opinions.

[Lincsls1]

A noughties Vauxhall or Ford IMO.
Bought my 2005 Astra 5 years ago for a grand, relatively speaking best car I've owned and has saved me thousands over newer more prestigious dailies and hours of time not spent being precious about it.
Of course its needed maintenance, but its been peanuts - again relatively.
It has also been 100% reliable even with 160k+ miles.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a nice car that won't cost the world to run then in my bias opinion I'd say a W209 CLK is a very good place to start looking, 2-2.5k should land you something decent.

CLK240 Avantgarde:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

The Hyundai Coupe is another option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205215...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207217...

The Twin Spark 147 in Collezione spec is a nice reliable buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

Crossfire these are an SLK underneath so a proven drivetrain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106304...

Alfa Mito Veloce (these use the same chassis as the Grande Punto Sporting) 155:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...

If you want to go white goods then the MG6 is a very good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207117...

[Slowboathome]

Do a search for Bearman68's posts - he seems to know an lot about this end of the market.

[PositronicRay]

I have an old Hyandai.

Tough, forgettable, anonymous and buttons to run.

What's not to like.

[georgeyboy12345]

Old but gold (literally) low mileage BMW E46 318i with the reliable M43 engine and GM slushbox. Not going to set the world on fire but a nice thing to waft about in
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207268...


Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec Climate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...


Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207207...