fivetide

iTrader: (1)

1. Not sure on BMW but lets not forget I did say another manufacturer too... Strangely they seem to get ignored on here PArts for an old C-Class are well cheap. Know a few of them, oil filter, £8 from main dealer, (weirdly £11 in Halfords). Chain driven engine so no expensive cambelt to service, possibly best to look up bits on EuroCar parts but they are rather cheap. don't forget they made millions and lots are still in use! Also, rear dive so you can still have some fun. I always forget that about MB for some reason. Plus, if you get a 190 diesel you can runit on chip fat and it'll not grumble.
2. Can't argue with that. Audi and MB don't seem to suffer that.
3. Deffo can't help you there!

5t.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Yeah sorry, I missed that bit

I never associated a Merc as a cheapish car to buy or run like an older Beemer. Growing up I always had Mercs as prestige without being supercars, Beemers just had the rep. Bit like Scoobs but I know what I'd rather have again eventually.

I'll look into them as didn't realise rwd...

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

You'd be surprised. Don't think they handle as well as the BM seems to, bit less of a sporting pretention back in the day but a decent w202 c-class should be available for that sort of money and be a comfy mile muncher. Not too hard on juice either if you get a c200. 130bhp i think when they were new but of course, it'll get left by anything remotely sporty at the lights. Not that you'd be entering the traffic light GP with a wee one on board though! Just check for rusty arches.

Seriously worth looking at more 'premium' cars though, I think they do seem to have less owners and be serviced more. Of course once it comes to you there is no need to worry. If it holds together for a couple of years it won't owe you anything!

5t.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Obvious choice on a Subaru Forum, but classic subaru wagons can be had for that money. Practical, quick, cheap to fix, fun and reliable. Put a sensible exhaust on it or leave standard and you don't even get tarnished as a boy racer.

dpb

For pitys sake if your spending 1200 on an everyday car you would probably be best advised not to get one which was premium to start with ..

The parts are bound to more expensive and even if your a dab hand at repairing the thing yourself your shooting yourself in the foot financially

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Was that aimed at me or someone else as I don't recall actually requesting info on cheap premium cars, more so just looking at whats on the field

Rob, doubt I'd get an Impreza Wagon for £1200 that's in any kind of condition unless really lucky

dpb

Just a general observation cob , the words cheap and premium rarely go together

Matteeboy

As do the words "sporty" and "cheap" too unless you're great with a spanner set.

Pricier brakes, tyres, suspension, everything.

For £1200 I'd avoid sporty or premium like the plague and get something reliable but okay to drive like an old Focus. Otherwise you'll be spending over £1200 a year to look after it.

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

Other than not being fun to drive, I would recommend a Nissan Almera. We had one as a second car for 3 years, did nothing other then 6 monthly oil changes, cost peanuts to run, 100% reliability, zero image so no one notices it.Went to France 5 up loaded with luggage 5 or 6 times without a grumble. If you're running a car on a budget, reliability and cost of parts should be at the top of your list. Almera has a chain driven cam too, so no belt to worry about. Friend of the wifes drove hers from new to 242,000 until cam chain snapped. Nothing other than service items ever changed .

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I'm not naive enough to assume a cheap luxo barge will be cheap to run unless you are exceptional with the spanners.

Not if I buy another Peugeot

rickya

iTrader: (18)

Agree

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Think you could be shocked by the 'luxo barge' cheapness

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2392209.htm

For that money it is almost a disposable car. Run it until the MOT comes up and then bin it - or spend a few quid and no doubt see your money back.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2543222.htm Tractor power but priced up bits below on a petrol. Driver's arch looks rough on that one but you'd have to check any motor at this price for the tin worm. Treat it ok and it should stay solid for a while!

W202 C-Class service bits for example (from EuroCarParts)

Pagid front discs £25 each
Pagid pads £35 for the set
Pagid rears £18.30 and those are the premium ones
Pads (Pagid) £21.50
Oil filter 8 quid, main dealer or £4.79 for the Guttmann one
Air filter (Guttmann) £8.28
Plugs (NGK) £1.56 each
Belt £14 main dealer

I would expect BMW or Audi would be similar pricing, they aren't that fancy and at that price you aren't going to take it to the dealer are you? Good indy will sort you out or a mate for a few quid.

Anyway, just a thought!

5t.

Matteeboy

Why not then? You clearly like them a lot and know loads about them. Get a good nick 1.9 and look after it yourself. Only the insurance will be grim. And the lack of security.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Bloody hell, thanks for putting your time into that research

I'm looking with an open mind currently but I'm suprised at the cheapness of those consumables really. The scary thing for me would be bigger issues like ancillaries. I read threads from others where these faults can cost hundreds. Electrics or Vanos? I dunno enough as luxo barge is out of my knowledge band.

Because unless I got a boring 406 or something the others seem to tinny and brittle. Seeing the damage on my 106 from a Vectra where Nat was sitting frightened me

And I'm not getting a 205 GTi as a sensible-ish family car un til he's older

The Zohan

FFS buy a Honda, you'll get equal if not better build quality the last better and the parts are not dear. The soilver Merc is suffering from what all late 90's mercs suffer from - Tin Worm, the wings are fecked ad require replacing to stop it looking like a real sh*tter, see how much they will set you back fitted and painted, around 500.00 which is more than likely why it is up for sale. Nice cars mind but late 90's mercs - steer clear.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Whoooooa, or I'll bum you into next week

Points taken though Paulie

The Zohan

Thats better

At least try one to see what i mean. Mine has leccy everything including climate, electric adjust leather heated seats and all the toys - and they all still work! in 30K of driving i have had to change the brake pads and front tyres along with the oil, nothing else and it has some 104k on the clock and really drives like new, no clunks or knocking from the suspension and the engine really is sweet as a nut. i could wind the speedo back 50k and no one would be any the wiser.

with either 138 (1.8) or 158 (2.0) bhp they are not exactly slouches either given they are 10+ years old.

Try a manual!

scoobiesteve103

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-Subaru-Im...item2a0e54c4fb

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

New front wing £80 http://cart.euromercmercedesparts.co...=3969&parent=6

Don't disagree that a Civic will do a fine job though. Still, with anything 10 years plus you need to watch for replacement bits and tin worm.

Servicing is important too as are potential fail bits. The only benefit with many a barge is that they have generally been looked after, low number of owners and like that Audi, disposable. Long MOT on it so run it until then. At that price it won't matter if it fails, just buy another and weigh in the previous one. Easy £150 at the moment from the scrappers! So £450 for almost a year of motoring. always worth checking, just in case you see a belter that some old bloke has had tucked up in a garage for years and hardly moved apart from MOT time and service.

5t.

lozgti1

Agreed on Mondeo suggestion.

They are good cars!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Bit of an anti climax buying a Sport

Caged "R"

iTrader: (4)

https://www.scoobynet.com/private-fo...ate-550-a.html

scoobiesteve103

might be a anti climax mate but its in the ball park of what you was asking for

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Hmm, maybe it's as I've owned 3 Scoobs previously, 2 which were turbo's. Think I'd rather wait and own another one and buy something different right now.

Still looking at Alfa's Just insurance as the claims dept are shut at weekends so can't discuss my NCB.

Jamz3k

Excellent, you may have a small budget but why buy something that you aren't actually going to like and maintaining an Alfa will be a doddle to a smart cookie like yourself. Head over to Alfa156.net and seen what the score is.

My 1.6 is slow but give it a back road and between 5 and 7k RPM its just pure comedy!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I've seen a couple of 156's, one in Manchester and one in Lincoln. Do these cars like miles?? As in over 100k on say a 9-10 year old car?

Still keeping my options open on other cars but I'd love to own an Alfa even for a short while. **** what Topgear say

Jamz3k

for you money, you should beable to get a sub 100k miler Twinspark. I haven't really seen many over the 150k mark if i'm honest, if you are after a high miler look for a 2.5 v6 Arese engined 156 as they just don't seem to die plus the MPG isn't a kick in the stones off the twinspark in real terms if driven sensiblely.

Oil and cambelts is what you need to be checking on the Twinspark. The cambelt needs done every 3years or 36kmiles, so don't bother buying one unless its got it done recently as its not cheap. If you start it up and it sounds like a tractor for the first minute or two, don't bother either as the Variator is bolloxed and its a cambelt off job to replace. They drink oil so if the car isn't on the max level or if the owner doesn't know what oil is used in it walk away.

The front suspension on the 156/147 is the weakest point but not expensive to put right, check for knocking from the front suspension which is generally the Upper wishbones needing replaced.


Mine now has 112k on the clock and i bought it with 68k, in that time i've changed the cambelt and variator to be safe(cambelt is overdue atm) replaced the clutch, replaced both front upper wishbones and a TDC sensor.

Every other problem i have had with my car has even been due to vandalism or my own stupidity as i show no mechanical sympathy for it.

my favourite bit is the interior, not too shabby for a sub 1k car!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Thanks for that James. I'll bare it all in mind should I go look at one. I need 4 doors regardless so open minded. I notice that the 156 models are cheaper than the 147's, any reason for that?

Jamz3k

The 156 is a slightly older model, the 147 was only introduced in 2001 but in reality they are identical in platform and engines but i think this reflects on the prices. 147's seem to suffer slightly more from electrical gremlins especially Body Control Unit Failures as it uses a Canbus system unlike older 156s. I had to replace my BCU after someone smashed my backlights and fried it.

Just one thing to consider the 156 saloon has a decent sized boot but you may struggle to get a baby walker into it so if you are looking at one, bring yours and try it out. I quite like the 156 Sportswagons myself

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

It's the sportwagons which have taken my fancy. Weeding through the usual overpriced Autotrader and Pistonheads stuff as well as eBay always being a minefield - interesting Saturday night reading.