Nice test for someone - car on a budget
#31
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Hmm, good points. Two things with Beemers though,
1. They usually cost a lot to bu new so would replacement parts be costly even when 10-15 years old?
2. The image that 10+ year old Beemers have, regardless of comment on here
3. I don't actually like Beemers for some reason, just not for me
Sorry, 3 points
1. They usually cost a lot to bu new so would replacement parts be costly even when 10-15 years old?
2. The image that 10+ year old Beemers have, regardless of comment on here
3. I don't actually like Beemers for some reason, just not for me
Sorry, 3 points
2. Can't argue with that. Audi and MB don't seem to suffer that.
3. Deffo can't help you there!
5t.
#32
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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.
2. Can't argue with that. Audi and MB don't seem to suffer that.
3. Deffo can't help you there!
5t.
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...
#33
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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.
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.
#34
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.
#35
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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
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
#36
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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
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
Rob, doubt I'd get an Impreza Wagon for £1200 that's in any kind of condition unless really lucky
#38
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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.
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.
#39
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 .
#40
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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.
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.
#42
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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.
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.
Last edited by fivetide; 25 February 2011 at 03:08 PM.
#43
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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.
#44
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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.
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.
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.
And I'm not getting a 205 GTi as a sensible-ish family car un til he's older
#45
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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.
#46
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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.
Points taken though Paulie
#47
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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!
#48
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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.
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.
#50
Agreed on Mondeo suggestion.
They are good cars!
They are good cars!
#54
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Still looking at Alfa's Just insurance as the claims dept are shut at weekends so can't discuss my NCB.
#55
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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!
#56
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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!
Still keeping my options open on other cars but I'd love to own an Alfa even for a short while. **** what Topgear say
#57
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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!
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!
Last edited by Jamz3k; 26 February 2011 at 08:35 PM.
#58
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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?
#59
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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
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
#60
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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
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