The Merc has been awesome - I've done nearly 70k miles in mine (the car has done over 200k), and it's comfortable, quiet and reliable. People react very positively to it too, which is always nice. Although they do tend to ask how many bodies are in the boot.
to find a good one for my budget. My dad nearly bought a 190E new but got a Granada Scorpio instead! Idiot. That's a good price for that one but coolant leak could mean big troubles (head gasket perhaps) but maybe just a split hose I guess - and it's hundreds of miles away. But it's a good shout for the kind of thing to look out for.
1.3 Encore engine. With a bargepole. Due to a mystery cutting out habit that no-one was able to diagnose (including Ford dealerships). Have come across plenty of similar examples. If you really must have a Fiesta or a Ka, choose a Zetec over an Encore.
Reliable. Cheap to insure. Decent mpg. Low tax band etc.
So... Asian or German (includes VW-owned Seat & Skoda).
£1000?
Nissan Micra, then.
I ignored my own advice a year ago and bought a Peugeot 206. Verdict: ok, after some attention, but has been a bit niggly with a couple of things. Should have bought a Micra.
http://bcarwallpapers.com/contents/member/carwalls2/photos/best-ferrari-super-car-wa-795bd.jpg
Horrific
no way
that poor ferrari.
feel sorry for this lamborghini more
http://motrist.com/images/posts/1/9/827/19827_m.jpg
D;
at least that's only a dodgy paint job/wrap.
That Ferrari has been driven backwards through Halfords.
http://31.media.tumblr.com/d3072dd3feca78ed5c9d17e2aff6b7d4/tumblr_myaggqWDBs1sho0npo1_1280.jpg
Can't get tumblr at work. What is it?
it is a chromed mercedes slk
Not keen on the chromed look, too ostentatious.
https://31.media.tumblr.com/93382b0edf30897be3688184b5b519c1/tumblr_myabfrVQan1shb6cto1_500.jpg
Can't get tumblr at work. What is it?
a matt black lamborghini gallardo
customised to look even more like a modern batmobile
I can get more on board with matt paint cars
although everytime I see one I just want to go at it with some chalk.
like this
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/3/web/3171000-3171999/3171458_1_full.jpg
Yes I want to write Cock Piss Partridge on the side of it in chalk.
seriously tho
probably a 8-10 year old Punto or Fiesta.
what kind of car do you want? a hatchback? yep, either of those
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNl9fjGK3aGA1ck3NPyGrV9sAdsQUlYv1MK0GV3i8h9ru0Kd6C
That'd be pretty sweet, but where do I put the child seat?
Too small. I am a family man now as much as I'd still like to be a student
so I need something a bit more sturdy and capacious.
Honda Jazz
Often recommended as a reliable cheap city car...idk
I am a massive car geek.
Buy one of these:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310319568481/sort/default/usedcars/radius/1500/make/mercedes-benz/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/price-to/1000/postcode/cv377er/page/1/model/190?logcode=p
Or have a look at this for an idea of the kind of thing you can get for £1k - much more interesting than an 8-yr-old Punto.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?catId=162
That said, you can't go too far wrong with an old Fiesta or Ka if you want the "sensible" option.
Just seen you need something family-friendly...
...so the answer is definitely an old Merc.
Source: did the same thing myself, and ended up running one of these:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201220472065847/sort/default/usedcars/radius/1500/make/mercedes-benz/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/se_class/postcode/cv377er/page/1?logcode=p
for about three years (mine cost me £1,500).
Ace car. Never had a Merc. Had a couple of 5 series though, really wish
I'd hung on to one of them. Had a couple of classic Saab 900's as well which were great.
I'd love a 900 turbo - wonder how much they go for these days?
The Merc has been awesome - I've done nearly 70k miles in mine (the car has done over 200k), and it's comfortable, quiet and reliable. People react very positively to it too, which is always nice. Although they do tend to ask how many bodies are in the boot.
I do not want the sensible option. An E30 BMW would be great but hard
to find a good one for my budget. My dad nearly bought a 190E new but got a Granada Scorpio instead! Idiot. That's a good price for that one but coolant leak could mean big troubles (head gasket perhaps) but maybe just a split hose I guess - and it's hundreds of miles away. But it's a good shout for the kind of thing to look out for.
the kids would like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rOngZzhZI
Should be some wriggle-room in the price here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-3-series-91-99/enthusiast-owned-1998-bmw-323i-sport-touring/1909437
E36s are great value at the moment.
Yes these are on the list, but would prefer diesel (yawn) which are
a bit harder to come by.
yeah, this would be my second sensible answer.
I was considering one of those but I got a big fat c-max instead. Needed the extra extra space. s-max is the dream.
I wouldn't touch another Ford with a
1.3 Encore engine. With a bargepole. Due to a mystery cutting out habit that no-one was able to diagnose (including Ford dealerships). Have come across plenty of similar examples. If you really must have a Fiesta or a Ka, choose a Zetec over an Encore.
get a new viper
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/13q4/548491/2014-srt-viper-ta-photo-553677-s-520x318.jpg
Something...
Reliable. Cheap to insure. Decent mpg. Low tax band etc.
So... Asian or German (includes VW-owned Seat & Skoda).
£1000?
Nissan Micra, then.
I ignored my own advice a year ago and bought a Peugeot 206. Verdict: ok, after some attention, but has been a bit niggly with a couple of things. Should have bought a Micra.
I am not driving around in a Nissan Micra. Not now, not ever.
And there's nothing you can do to make me change my mind about it!
a bus pass
I had to get the bus today
it was horrible.
Have one of these already.
for that sort of money
you're probably looking at a blue car. maybe a red one if you're willing to front up an extra few bob, or stoop for extra mileage
ultimate dissers car:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Nissan_Figaro_Front.jpg
Terrible things
You might not have to stretch far to get a BMW E46
The prices are dropping quite a lot. I love mine, for what it's worth.
Though I'd be really tempted by one of the Merc's above...
You should probably get a car.
toyota celica
Great fun, big boot, rear seats fine for kids, rock solid reliability.