£3500 - what to get?
Discussion
Hi All,
Possibly one of my favourite topics, and I’m glad that I’m posting for advice for myself.
I’ve just landed a new job, which means waving goodbye to my company van and finding myself a car for up-to £3500.
My new commute is 17 miles each way, all dual carriage way, so not picky on fuel type but out of the many cars I’ve owned, I’ve only ever had one petrol car.
My only real requirement is that I can chauffeur my kids (5&1) when the mrs’ (or her car) is elsewhere. I’d also like to keep running costs down, as my wife’s car is a VW Touareg which costs a pretty penny to run as it is.
I’ve previously had an insignia which I was quite fond of. And also a 2.2 Mazda 6 which was a fantastic car until the timing chain became problematic.
Basically, what left field cars can we think of before I end up getting another insignia or a mondeo titanium? (Although I don’t particularly need a big car? A hot hatch would be lovely though!)
Thanks in advance.
Possibly one of my favourite topics, and I’m glad that I’m posting for advice for myself.
I’ve just landed a new job, which means waving goodbye to my company van and finding myself a car for up-to £3500.
My new commute is 17 miles each way, all dual carriage way, so not picky on fuel type but out of the many cars I’ve owned, I’ve only ever had one petrol car.
My only real requirement is that I can chauffeur my kids (5&1) when the mrs’ (or her car) is elsewhere. I’d also like to keep running costs down, as my wife’s car is a VW Touareg which costs a pretty penny to run as it is.
I’ve previously had an insignia which I was quite fond of. And also a 2.2 Mazda 6 which was a fantastic car until the timing chain became problematic.
Basically, what left field cars can we think of before I end up getting another insignia or a mondeo titanium? (Although I don’t particularly need a big car? A hot hatch would be lovely though!)
Thanks in advance.
I've got some properly decent cars for that sort of money in the past.
For something leftfield that can still cart the kids around, I'd seriously consider a Volvo C70, 2008-9ish.
A mate paid £5k for one. It looks like it's worth three times as much and it's been a fun, reliable and cheap to run car.
This one is £600 over budget, but you would get similar with sensible miles and a warranty within your budget...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307019...
C30 of a similar age are also bargains and even more unusual.
As for hot hatches, probably a bit more of a minefield at that money but a mk2 Octavia VRS would be a good shout.
A good few years ago I got a 2001 mk1 VRS for £2400. What a bargain! Loved it. Cracking motor, looked hard as nails with its boxy, squat stance. I put more than 80,000 miles on it, running it up to 168,000.
It never missed a beat and needed virtually nothing outside routine maintenance. It could shift too.
Good luck!
For something leftfield that can still cart the kids around, I'd seriously consider a Volvo C70, 2008-9ish.
A mate paid £5k for one. It looks like it's worth three times as much and it's been a fun, reliable and cheap to run car.
This one is £600 over budget, but you would get similar with sensible miles and a warranty within your budget...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307019...
C30 of a similar age are also bargains and even more unusual.
As for hot hatches, probably a bit more of a minefield at that money but a mk2 Octavia VRS would be a good shout.
A good few years ago I got a 2001 mk1 VRS for £2400. What a bargain! Loved it. Cracking motor, looked hard as nails with its boxy, squat stance. I put more than 80,000 miles on it, running it up to 168,000.
It never missed a beat and needed virtually nothing outside routine maintenance. It could shift too.
Good luck!
YorksLS18 said:
I've got some properly decent cars for that sort of money in the past.
For something leftfield that can still cart the kids around, I'd seriously consider a Volvo C70, 2008-9ish.
A mate paid £5k for one. It looks like it's worth three times as much and it's been a fun, reliable and cheap to run car.
This one is £600 over budget, but you would get similar with sensible miles and a warranty within your budget...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307019...
C30 of a similar age are also bargains and even more unusual.
As for hot hatches, probably a bit more of a minefield at that money but a mk2 Octavia VRS would be a good shout.
A good few years ago I got a 2001 mk1 VRS for £2400. What a bargain! Loved it. Cracking motor, looked hard as nails with its boxy, squat stance. I put more than 80,000 miles on it, running it up to 168,000.
It never missed a beat and needed virtually nothing outside routine maintenance. It could shift too.
Good luck!
The earlier c70 and c70 convertible are amongst the classiest cars on the road in my opinion, loads of room in them! For something leftfield that can still cart the kids around, I'd seriously consider a Volvo C70, 2008-9ish.
A mate paid £5k for one. It looks like it's worth three times as much and it's been a fun, reliable and cheap to run car.
This one is £600 over budget, but you would get similar with sensible miles and a warranty within your budget...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307019...
C30 of a similar age are also bargains and even more unusual.
As for hot hatches, probably a bit more of a minefield at that money but a mk2 Octavia VRS would be a good shout.
A good few years ago I got a 2001 mk1 VRS for £2400. What a bargain! Loved it. Cracking motor, looked hard as nails with its boxy, squat stance. I put more than 80,000 miles on it, running it up to 168,000.
It never missed a beat and needed virtually nothing outside routine maintenance. It could shift too.
Good luck!
biggbn said:
The earlier c70 and c70 convertible are amongst the classiest cars on the road in my opinion, loads of room in them!
Don’t forget first generation S60 and second gen S80s might be available too - older Volvos are often used bargains. Shame the new ones have such strong residuals!LightningBlue said:
biggbn said:
The earlier c70 and c70 convertible are amongst the classiest cars on the road in my opinion, loads of room in them!
Don’t forget first generation S60 and second gen S80s might be available too - older Volvos are often used bargains. Shame the new ones have such strong residuals!biggbn said:
LightningBlue said:
biggbn said:
The earlier c70 and c70 convertible are amongst the classiest cars on the road in my opinion, loads of room in them!
Don’t forget first generation S60 and second gen S80s might be available too - older Volvos are often used bargains. Shame the new ones have such strong residuals!The market prices for that era of Volvo are crazy. Around 15 years ago Volvo were smashing it with some really great car design - C70, C30, S60, V70 etc
They were so good the police were buying them, they're extremely well built, stylish, bigger engines are still rapid, have a strong brand image and good ones can be had for under £5k. Crazy money!
The choice is vast.
You'll get a nice Ford Focus ST170 with that budget - a future classic.
Or a Mini
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...
Or a twin spark Alfa - 90s/00s GTV, 00s GT, Brera,147.
2000s Toyota Celica should be a good mix of driving fun and low ownership costs?
You'll get a nice Ford Focus ST170 with that budget - a future classic.
Or a Mini
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...
Or a twin spark Alfa - 90s/00s GTV, 00s GT, Brera,147.
2000s Toyota Celica should be a good mix of driving fun and low ownership costs?
Four years ago I got my manual E90 BMW 330i in that budget and it has been a pleasure to drive, as well as decently quick when I'm in the mood!
The only non-routine items it has needed are probably age-related like a couple of gaskets, new rear shocks and top-mounts and a split wire in the loom on the boot-lid.
Sadly some dope hit me in the rear a few months ago so it's now a Cat N despite having minimal damage, but I like it so much I've kept it.
The only non-routine items it has needed are probably age-related like a couple of gaskets, new rear shocks and top-mounts and a split wire in the loom on the boot-lid.
Sadly some dope hit me in the rear a few months ago so it's now a Cat N despite having minimal damage, but I like it so much I've kept it.
Some options.
CLK 200 Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308040...
Astra GTC SRI 2.0d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308110...
1.4T:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308070...
IS250:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...
2.0d Giulietta Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305147...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...
CLK 200 Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308040...
Astra GTC SRI 2.0d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308110...
1.4T:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308070...
IS250:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...
2.0d Giulietta Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305147...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...
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