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Jun 14, 2022 12:41:21 GMT
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Guys,
I sold my W124 yesterday. After four years of fun and games, I thought it was time for another toy. It was my sixth W124 and I probably won't have another. We'll see!
I am hoping to spend up to £5k and it needs to tick the following boxes:
• Be in good condition, I don’t want a project car.
• Be as quick as possible.
• Be cool.
• Be ULEZ complaint.
• Be able to manage 30MPG.
• Have good parts availability.
• Be able to fit in my garage.
So far, I’ve only come up with some form of petrol-powered BMW 3 series, either coupe or cabrio. I thought about a Mk3 MX5 but finding one that isn’t rotten underneath is going to be a challenge. I don’t want an old Boxster, I’ve been there and done that. Bearing in mind that I have my Cooper S, which I love dearly, I’m not sure what else is out there.
I'm 48 so anything with an RS / ST / VXR / VTEC badge is probably best avoided.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
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Last Edit: Jun 17, 2022 17:25:10 GMT by Peter C
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Jun 14, 2022 13:10:27 GMT
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Mercedes clk ?
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Jun 14, 2022 14:03:30 GMT
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My brother in law had one a few years ago. I'm not a fan, they are pretty cars but I'm after a more sporty drive.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,636
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Jun 14, 2022 14:11:19 GMT
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MK3 MR2 is your answer (well I've no idea about ULEZ but anyway..)
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Jun 14, 2022 14:43:34 GMT
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Z4? Seem to be still in the cheap era. Most other things like that have shot up.
Have seen a couple of R129 SL's in your budget but no idea if they are ulez.
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Jun 14, 2022 14:58:35 GMT
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MK3 MR2 is your answer (well I've no idea about ULEZ but anyway..) Hmm. I've had 5 SW20s (Mk 2) over the years and I'm not sure that I see myself in a Mk 3. Don't they have something in the intake system that fails and self-destructs the engine?
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Jun 14, 2022 15:00:28 GMT
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Z4? Seem to be still in the cheap era. Most other things like that have shot up. Have seen a couple of R129 SL's in your budget but no idea if they are ulez. I've had an R129 500SL. Never again. Z4s are a very good idea, although the front end styling is a bit dubious and they look awful on the wrong wheels. If we are talking BMW then I quite fancy a 3 series cabrio in E90 flavour. There is a 335i on Auto Trader for £4k but it has 200k miles and a pimp red leather interior. Urgh.
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Battenberg
Part of things
Time for Cake....
Posts: 744
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Jun 14, 2022 15:07:55 GMT
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Suns out, birds are singing so has to be a e46 325 or 330 Cab in SE not Sport spec if you can find one, moving away from the Germans maybe an LS400....
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Current Fleet: 1968 Wolseley 1000 2022 BMW 430xd MHT Coupe 2007 L200 Animal - Dog walking transport 1998 318is Coupe 2007 Mini Cooper Supercharged 1989 BMW 530 - in storage
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,636
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Jun 14, 2022 15:30:46 GMT
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Z3 steering is better than the Z4. Go 2.8 and you can have fun. Not as good as the MX-5 or MR2 but ok.
I'm a bit thrown by the "sporty drive" requirement. If you want that then small 2 seater or a hot hatch is your play. As you have the Mini another hot hatch is overkill.
Alternatively, if you are more in the coupe/car cruiser space then an e46 with a 6 and a manual
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Jun 14, 2022 15:49:01 GMT
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Z4? Seem to be still in the cheap era. Most other things like that have shot up. Have seen a couple of R129 SL's in your budget but no idea if they are ulez. I've had an R129 500SL. Never again. Z4s are a very good idea, although the front end styling is a bit dubious and they look awful on the wrong wheels. If we are talking BMW then I quite fancy a 3 series cabrio in E90 flavour. There is a 335i on Auto Trader for £4k but it has 200k miles and a pimp red leather interior. Urgh. From what I've seen, avoid the n54 engine like the plague.
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Jun 14, 2022 17:03:19 GMT
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Suns out, birds are singing so has to be a e46 325 or 330 Cab in SE not Sport spec if you can find one, moving away from the Germans maybe an LS400.... E46 cab 👍 LS400, I had one about 15 years ago 🥱
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Jun 14, 2022 17:04:34 GMT
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Z3 steering is better than the Z4. Go 2.8 and you can have fun. Not as good as the MX-5 or MR2 but ok. I'm a bit thrown by the "sporty drive" requirement. If you want that then small 2 seater or a hot hatch is your play. As you have the Mini another hot hatch is overkill. Alternatively, if you are more in the coupe/car cruiser space then an e46 with a 6 and a manual I’d like a 2.8 Z3 but finding a nice one for £5k is a tall order.
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Jun 14, 2022 18:56:41 GMT
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I had a quick search on Auto Trader and there are an awful lot of 3.2 V6 flavoured Audi TTs (can you get 30 mpg out of one?) as well as lots of 3.2 Chrysler Crossfires. There's even a couple of S4s on there but I somehow doubt you'd see 25mpg, let alone 30...
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,937
Club RR Member Number: 77
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Jun 14, 2022 19:57:54 GMT
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I had a quick search on Auto Trader and there are an awful lot of 3.2 V6 flavoured Audi TTs (can you get 30 mpg out of one?) as well as lots of 3.2 Chrysler Crossfires. There's even a couple of S4s on there but I somehow doubt you'd see 25mpg, let alone 30... Depends on the road usage, but my friend had a 3.2 dsg TT that he used to get low 30 mpg from on the motorway at about 70mph cruise
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Jun 14, 2022 21:17:27 GMT
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I don’t mean to sound negative, but surely you can’t get a ‘dream’ car for £5k? A car yes, but a dream car , really?
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Jun 14, 2022 21:42:22 GMT
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Must agree, these days five grand doesn't seem to buy anything close to a dream car. Here's a few off the top of my head and some already mentioned. I don't know what's actually ULEZ complaint or the size of your garage. Alfa 156 2.0/2.5 V6 Merc SLK (Mk1) Merc 190E 2.6 Lexus GS300 or LS400/430 BMW E46 330i/330Ci - might be over budget? BMW E34 525i Porsche 924 Saab 900/9000/9-3/9-5 - don't know what sort of money they're making now? Honda Accord 2.0/2.2 CB7 (early 90's) - underrated car. Honda Prelude Toyota MR2 Mazda MX5 PeterC, here's a potentially nice car & rare too if slightly pricy. www.motors.co.uk/car-61926314/?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=marketplace&utm_campaign=all-vehicles
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Last Edit: Jun 14, 2022 22:16:04 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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squonk
Part of things
Posts: 855
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Jun 14, 2022 23:51:52 GMT
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My brother in law had one a few years ago. I'm not a fan, they are pretty cars but I'm after a more sporty drive. Well, my CLK320 does 0 - 60 in just over 7 secs and has a limited top speed of 150 mph. So I'm not sure what you class as a sporty drive but mine seems prety sporty to me!! Parkers tend to agree quoting it's pros as "Looks great with the roof up or down, very refined, strong performance, good to drive"Its quiet, comfortable and handles well. Does 30+ mpg on a run and best of all, being based on the C-Class is very cheap on parts. A good one can be bought for a little over £3k which is prety good for a car that cost near on £50k when new.
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2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71 2005 Mercedes CLK320 Cabriolet 1996 Mercedes C180 Elegance Auto Saloon 1996 Rover 620Ti (Dead fuel pump) 1992 Toyota HiLux Surf 1987 Range Rover Vogue (Rusty) 1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (More Rusty) 2006 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2008 Corsa 1.4 Design
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Jun 15, 2022 12:33:55 GMT
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I had a quick search on Auto Trader and there are an awful lot of 3.2 V6 flavoured Audi TTs (can you get 30 mpg out of one?) as well as lots of 3.2 Chrysler Crossfires. There's even a couple of S4s on there but I somehow doubt you'd see 25mpg, let alone 30... I've had a 1.8T 180BHP TT and I don't fancy another, regardless of engine spec. Crossfire not my cup of tea.
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Jun 15, 2022 12:34:38 GMT
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I don’t mean to sound negative, but surely you can’t get a ‘dream’ car for £5k? A car yes, but a dream car , really? Fair point. A dream car for £5k might turn out to be a complete nightmare!
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Jun 15, 2022 12:35:33 GMT
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Must agree, these days five grand doesn't seem to buy anything close to a dream car. Here's a few off the top of my head and some already mentioned. I don't know what's actually ULEZ complaint or the size of your garage. Alfa 156 2.0/2.5 V6 Merc SLK (Mk1) Merc 190E 2.6 Lexus GS300 or LS400/430 BMW E46 330i/330Ci - might be over budget? BMW E34 525i Porsche 924 Saab 900/9000/9-3/9-5 - don't know what sort of money they're making now? Honda Accord 2.0/2.2 CB7 (early 90's) - underrated car. Honda Prelude Toyota MR2 Mazda MX5 PeterC, here's a potentially nice car & rare too if slightly pricy. www.motors.co.uk/car-61926314/?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=marketplace&utm_campaign=all-vehicles You've listed some cool cars there but some won't be ULEZ compliant and some will definitely cost more than £5k!
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