Help me find/pick a car £16k or under

[TeePee]

I bought the E38 for $500 December with a blown engine. I swapped in an engine from a scrap yard and have about $1400 in it right now. With about 5000 miles on the new engine I'm feeling pretty good about it! It really is a high quality car, and even for being just over ten years old that quality shines through.

I am doing better generally, and stand by the advice that it's better to sacrifice everything to achieve your dream, or at least get a decent education. I'm hoping that as the economy improves I'll be able to get my income back to what it was before I moved here. But then, I do like helicopters...

[Rave]

I love E38s, but I can't justify buying one, even though they are dirt cheap now.

[dave87]

Another curveball:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1788679.htm






There are others that are cheaper if you'd want to have an ISA to insure yourself with whilst remaining in budget

[usxhe190]

If only Group Insurance and Car Taxes aren't so expensive for old models...but I guess new models are more efficient now but some oldies are really goodlooking cars

[jimborae]

Another curveball:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1788679.htm






There are others that are cheaper if you'd want to have an ISA to insure yourself with whilst remaining in budget

Sorry but definitely no TVR curve balls thank you.

[dave87]

Sorry but definitely no TVR curve balls thank you.

Though I can see where you are coming from

[Madafwo]

What about an Audi A4 2.0T FSI Quattro S-Line?

Normal version with 200 bhp comes in on budget with around 16k on the clock. You should be able to pick up the special edition/DTM with an extra 20 bhp if you dont mind slightly higher mileage. I think they are also offering a deal on servicing with approved used Audi's at the moment.

Found this one with a main Audi dealer so they should be able to get that to you at your local dealership.

Also the only difference between the 200 and 220 bhp engines is a remap, so if you were to go down that route it wouldn't make any difference as to which one you bought.

Or you could go with an S3, plenty of those with around 50k on the clock for about £15k.

Spent a lot of time looking at Audi's recently after my mate got an A4 Special Edition, such a lovely car.

[DanceswithUnix]

Now that is a very good suggestion as I am a former Alfa nut, owned 2 Suds, a 33 4x4 and a Sud Sprint. However left Alfa due to rust & reliability so I hope they've improved as that Brera is pretty, would have to be 4x4 though as there's too much power for the front wheels and the Brera is not the greatest of handling cars.

Rust is not a problem, both the wife and I drive 10 year old Alfas without a hint of the brown stuff anywhere and both utterly reliable. They have been full immersion galvanised for a very long time, since the last of the 33's I think (my first 33 bubbled around the rear hatch, the second didn't rust anywhere).

If you want 4wd then look for the "Q4" badge, only available on the 260bhp 3.2l V6 engine models which is a shame eh

The Q4 V6 setup is available on the Brera, Spider and the 159 so plenty to look at.

You will hear a lot of nonsense about weight, but whilst modern Alfas are heavier than the likes of the old 33 and 75 they are still lighter than the German rivals.
You will hear lots of jibes about the GM V6 engine, the manufacture of which is surreal but basically it is an Australian Holden block with an Alfa top end grafted on to make it rev & sound like an Alfa.

Just don't go near the 2.2JTS, lots of people think it is a dog of an engine to drive.

The Brera is nice, but I think the current spider is utterly gorgeous.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1705141.htm

[kalniel]

What about an Audi A4 2.0T FSI Quattro S-Line?

Normal version with 200 bhp comes in on budget with around 16k on the clock. You should be able to pick up the special edition/DTM with an extra 20 bhp if you dont mind slightly higher mileage. I think they are also offering a deal on servicing with approved used Audi's at the moment.

Doesn't have to be approved used even - any audi 2.0 or under gets cheap fixed price servicing now. Free MOT if last service was done by Audi.

Problem is Audi's aren't sporty. They're powerful, solid things that are well planted on the road, but you might prefer some driver involvement.

[DanceswithUnix]

If only Group Insurance and Car Taxes aren't so expensive for old models...but I guess new models are more efficient now but some oldies are really goodlooking cars

Both my cars are the flat £190 road tax as they are pre 2001. If they were new, their emissions would put them into the over £400 per year tax bracket. Sometimes old is good

[Shad]

Jim, do you have a garage? You'd get a Caterham R300 for that kind of money.

Of course, you'd have to man up and leave a few of your creature comforts behind. But you'll have better power-to-weight than just about anything mentioned so far.

Let me know if you want a demonstration

[jimborae]

Jim, do you have a garage? You'd get a Caterham R300 for that kind of money.

Of course, you'd have to man up and leave a few of your creature comforts behind. But you'll have better power-to-weight than just about anything mentioned so far.

Let me know if you want a demonstration

Cheers for the offer of a demo mate, but really looking for something a lot more refined than a Caterham. That's the problem with the Type-R I've outgrown it and want something a little less mental.

[jimborae]

So just to update this thread, at the weekend I picked up a Silver BMW 330ci M-Sport, SMG box & 03 plate but only 36,000 miles on it. Not the M3 as originally planned, but it's quick enough, in excellent condition and now where near the purchase price & running costs of an M3. In short I'm really growing to love the car, was uncertain at first as it's drives so different to the Civic & has less power & more weight but she's rapidly growing on me to the point when I'm just going out for a drive for the sheer hell of it. Pics will follow at some point

[aldojay]

Dont know if its been suggested but seat leon cupra k1, my brothers is 310bhp with only a remap, few other bits and your 380 bhp...


Just noticed you had got the new car lol. Enjoy mate

[Guy]

Nice one.

P.S This thread is useless without pics.