ritch
Part of things
Posts: 65
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 16:01:51 GMT
|
looks like i may be selling my very non retro VR4 soon, if i do sell it i will use the £ to replace the wifes car and make it the family car / business car, and get myself something a bit more retro - now this is where i'm getting stuck!! my criteria is this - should be reasonably economical 25mpg or more ( i get 18< at the mo  ) will be used for town driving mostly with the occasional motorway journey must be room for 2 small kids in the back (i do the school run) must be usable for the wife to drive when i use other car for business should be reliable for above reasons, prefer to drive it rather than fix it! prefer rwd for fun! prefer German or J for reliability - love eighties J stuff - but not their rust! now heres what i am thinking about and what i have found so far; E30 325 touring - possibly a bit thirsty for town driving but always fancied one. so far the ones ive seen on e-bay or the trader are either silly prices / mileages intergalactic or too tatty. E30 318is - economical? great handling, prices seem ok at less than £2K, but mileages a bit high Lancer EX 2000 Turbo - thirsty, hard to get hold off, parts drying up, could rust to bits with daily use and non garaged...... Starion Turbo - thirsty, parts drying up? Golf GTi (mk2) - good ones - mileages still seem to be high and over priced..... Old fords - seem over priced - especially escorts, tempted by capri......parts well catered for running out of ideas any advice / suggestions / word of encouragement appreciated |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 16:21:38 GMT
|
being a bit biased but i'd say, A Skoda Estelle  or if you can bare the fact that it's a coupe, the skoda rapid....  even as standard they are not slow and they are great to modify...getting thin on the ground too... |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 17:03:05 GMT
|
E30 318is - economical? great handling, prices seem ok at less than £2K, but mileages a bit high running out of ideas any advice / suggestions / word of encouragement appreciated Totally biased opinion, but you'll not go far wrong with an iS. It'll fulfil all of the criteria you've listed and more. I bought mine as I need it to be an "all things to all people" sort of car too - it's perfect for motorway cruising, family motoring and nutter b-road action when the mood takes you. Economy-wise I can average over 35mpg on a run down to London (at night!) in mine - the scary "swingometer" economy guage can put you off beeing to heavy footed! Also the parts, servicing and tuning side has proved to be ALOT less scary than I'd anticipated. Values are on the up though....get a good one, look after it and in a few years you'll be able to flog it for more than you paid! They certainly seem a bargain stood next to comparable "Valver" Golfs of the same vintage... Don't worry too much about mileage - there's iS's out there of well over 200k....mine has done a fair whack, but I observed the "golden rule" of service history - 15 years worth of bills, reciepts and stamps meant I could tell exactly what I was paying for...as long as the servicing ahs been done properly and frequently then you should be OK. Oh and they're the best handling e30's short of an M3 too, plus a top whack of 140ish and 0-60 in 7 is sure to put a grin on your face. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 17:57:40 GMT
|
|
only 2 door escorts are overpriced imo, a nice condition 4 door with t&t can be sourced for £500, i.e a 1.600 ghia (which has the same engine as the harrier, and sport models (711m)) tidy interior, loads of chrome, perfect for a retro ride!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 18:08:00 GMT
|
Volvo 760 or 960? The 760 is 80s, one of the most comfortable cars you'll ever sit in, is rear wheel drive, doesn't rust a great deal, even if it's been abused a little, believe me I've got experience with really abused ones that don't have a spot of rust on them and work mainly around the clyde coast where it's dead salty as well, the six cylinder 760 and 960s (or even the turbocharged 740s and 940s) are actually pretty rapid and very refined as well, they're incredibly reliable, there's loads of room in them, you can get 5 adults in comfortably let alone two adults and two kids, they're among the safest cars ever made, which is good for a family car, and very roomy and practical. And I'm not just talking about big estates either if that's not your thing, the saloons look better and are very practical too. Incidentally, the same applies to the 2 series.   |
| |
"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 18:38:28 GMT
|
you could always paint it like this ;D  |
| |
|
|
GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 19:49:16 GMT
|
sweeeet ;D ;D ;D always wanted a 240, pitty id need shares in shell and various insurance companies  Believe him when he says Volvos are the most comfy cars you will ever drive in, I looked at a 240 and instantly wanted to rip the seats out and take them home for the lounge  OK, heres my contribution, its not J or German but it is a Ford, the Cortina mk3 Great family car, 2 door or 5 door. Great coke bottle styling like the old American muscle cars, early ones had an interior to die for (especialy black with leather seats) Top of the range was the GXL which had 4 head lights. Range of power outputs, 1.3, 1.6 to 2.0 if you want some more grunt! Also an Estate version and at around 30mpg and prices starting from around £400 who can complain?   not the best pics but you get the idea. If ya want some more info/pics try www.buysellcortina.co.uk |
| |
|
|
Nick
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,483
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 20:23:14 GMT
|
i have an e30 325, i drive it like its meant to be driven ;D 20mpg average no matter what i do, but ive heard of people getting 330miles out of a tank when driving a 2.5 sensibly. its not impossible but just dulll  |
| |
idea stolen from rattely eddie.
this weeks car count "5"
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 20:37:26 GMT
|
|
Out of the cars you short listed I would go for the 318is. Quick economical (relatively) and great fun. Other options 200sx s13, mk11 mk111 supra, all pretty cheap, all got kids seats ;D in the back and they all can give mid 20`s mpg (more on a run)
|
| |
|
|
bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 21:26:55 GMT
|
|
Go for a bimmer, either E30 touring or the iS... Volvos drink fuel for what you're getting, before anybody moans I run a 240 everyday (LPG equipped ;D) I get the same mileage out of a 2.3 Volvo that I did out of my 2.8 BMW. Why not consider an E28 five series? Or an 80s Audi 80 Quattro... Or, or...
|
| |
Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2005 22:56:02 GMT
|
I've said it before but I think the BMW e30 touring and the 5 series (don't know the e-number  ) Touring are the best looking estates around and I'm a big fan. Plus you get a silky smooth 6 cylinder engine to boot . Another idea would be a Mercedes 280S (W126). OK not the most economical of cars but 25mpg shouldn't be impossible around town. Last of the bullet-proof Benzes too! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Believe him when he says Volvos are the most comfy cars you will ever drive in I second that - even on very long journeys, the seats in my Amazon are so much more comfortable than those in my mum's H reg VW Passat. |
| |
|
|
ritch
Part of things
Posts: 65
|
|
|
|
|
thanks for the replies guys;D
sorry norman but a skoda is not for me.
not so sure on the petrol old volvos - too slow & thirsty, would be better off with my current motor - thristy but fast (280bhp) & comfy, but an 850 TDi would fit the bill (had one for a couple of months and it was great!!! - but turned out to have a dodgy history and was returned for a refund - luckly)
liking the sounds of the BMWs (had an e36 316i a few years ago and it was a great car - if a little underpowered)
seen a few 525 TDS estates around £2.5K which could fit the bill
also like the sound of a s13 and possibly even a s14 if the budget will stretch - hoping to have at least £1.5K and possibly £3K
just need to wait and see if my car will sell...........
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2005 9:36:52 GMT by ritch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alfa 75. 2.5 V6, or perhaps a REALLY low mileage 164... 650sobs (for the 75) or 1500 tops (for the 164) and Italian 'quality' all the way.... Magic  BB |
| |
Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
|
|
)
) Touring are the best looking estates around and I'm a big fan. Plus you get a silky smooth 6 cylinder engine to boot 
