Ideas please - £2k limit, what shall I buy? Other than an e36?

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The E36s seem to date really, really poorly :(

I see a few now and then and they just look old.

I know mine's considerably older - but it still looks sharp. The E36 just doesn't have that edge, or definition to it!
 
[TW]Fox;13577338 said:
Better specified, more reliable, more modern inside and out, as well built.
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Driven at the wrong end. :(

s0ck said:
Given he sold his E38 (which are worth peanuts) and moved to a mondy once already, unless the E36s are bulletproof, he may find himself in the same situation again.

If it was me fella, I would get another E38 and stop eating but hey best of luck :)
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You have no idea how tempted I am to do just that! :o:D

If its budget motoring that I'm after then I'd simply throw some cash @ the Mondeo - despite its numerous issues, its been reliable and does what it says on the tin.

As I say, the issue is the Mondeo bores the pants off me to drive (a 1.8TD is hardly going to do little else I guess) and I'm hankering after something a bit more special.

Personally, I prefer RWD, and I do miss the smooth power of the M52 engine that my 728 had.

Running costs are not an issue, that said, I'm not looking for any old shed that'll need money spending on it every week or so.

More I'd rather keep what I'd otherwise lose in depreciation in the Bank which is why I've set what is a low budget (although double what I spent last time!)

After some digging around, it seems quite a few e46's are around for the budget albeit 318i 's and the like,on the other hand, £2k seems to give me the pick of the e36 range (bar an M3).

It would be plain daft for me to go and buy a £2k 7 Series especially given that i sold my own for a similar sum(!) that said, again, I seem to have the pick of the range if I so choose.....

I've shortlisted a Mondeo ST24, e36 323i & 328i to look at over the weekend along with a 3.0V6 (I think!) Pug 406 - although I'm a bit more wary of a £2k French car than a £2k German one....

Cheers for the comments chaps, I'll keep you posted.

And if anybody thinks of any other ideas, let rip please! :)
 
A v6 pug now should be really cheap surely? way below 2k if its the 4 door vesrion? Theres one in a local garage thats been sat there for a year and nobodies interested :p
 
LoL the mk3 Mondeo is night and day better than any E36 in terms of build quality and reliability,

I have a Mondeo Mk3 Zetec 2.0 TDCI 53reg, which I picked up for £1800, full mot and tax, this is the type of bargin that can be had for a Mondeo mk3,

they are very well speced too, I have an E36 M3 as well, which is fantastic but in terms of build quality and daily driver I would pick a mk3 Mondeo any day.
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
As I say, the issue is the Mondeo bores the pants off me to drive (a 1.8TD is hardly going to do little else I guess) and I'm hankering after something a bit more special.

Personally, I prefer RWD, and I do miss the smooth power of the M52 engine that my 728 had.

Running costs are not an issue, that said, I'm not looking for any old shed that'll need money spending on it every week or so.
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This is exactly why you should go for the better car, not the newer one. Why do you think you can get economical 2003 models as above for the price of a high end telly? There is a reason for it.
 
Jez said:
This is exactly why you should go for the better car, not the newer one. Why do you think you can get economical 2003 models as above for the price of a high end telly? There is a reason for it.
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The reason is that it has the wrong badge and people like yourself would buy a steaming dog turd if it had the correct badge on it.

The E36 was once a great car, but it was signed off in the 1980's! It's not a reflection on the E36 that the Mondeo caught it up, its just.. life.

E46 and I'd agree with you, but its a ropey budget for one of those. Frankly its a ropey budget for anything posh that isn't going to be shabby.
 
Old or not he wants a car which is dynamically good. The E36 fits this, old or not. The Mondeo is a great generic box on wheels for A-B and nothing more, while being cheap, but that isn't what it sounds like he wants from a car.
 
The E36 is by far the better drive with pretty much any of its engines, let alone the 2.8 straight 6 which is what is being considered. It doesn't matter what engine you put in the Mondeo. Mondeo is good for someone who wants the odd blast here and there while having ubercheap motoring, but dont want much else. The BMW while "old" goes far beyond this, you say you would agree if this was E46, they drive almost identically!
 
Is this another case of an "ive decided on a car, but ill ask advice anyway, and then disagree with anyone who doest suggest what ive already chosen" thread?

The fact you started this thread saying things like "currently econimic climate" and "out of work" goes against the argument that an e36 is a better choice than a Mk3 Mondeo. If you concern is money and costs, then the Mondeo is the flat out winner, but you have confused us somewhat by going on to say things like "running costs arent an issue"... You cant want to buy a cheap car because you have an uncertain financial future, yet not be concerned about possible high running and repair costs?

Nobody is disputing the fact the e36 may be a more satisfying drive, but taking the details in your opeing post on their own, it is definately not the correct choice. Are you adjusting your initial criteria for a car to fit better with what you need, or just trying to adjust the thread to fit with the choice of an e36?
 
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Jez said:
The E36 is by far the better drive with pretty much any of its engines, let alone the 2.8 straight 6 which is what is being considered. It doesn't matter what engine you put in the Mondeo. Mondeo is good for someone who wants the odd blast here and there while having ubercheap motoring, but dont want much else. The BMW while "old" goes far beyond this, you say you would agree if this was E46, they drive almost identically!
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He'll end up with a 323i on 15 inch wheels and you know he will.
 
Nissan Primera GT SE Limited Edition. Low miles and mint condition. 2k

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/896356.htm

896356-3.jpg
 
Skeeter said:
Nobody is disputing the fact the e36 may be a more satisfying drive, but taking the details in your opeing post on their own, it is definately not the correct choice. Are you adjusting your initial criteria for a car to fit better with what you need, or just trying to adjust the thread to fit with the choice of an e36?
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Admittedly this is a weird thread, wanting a cheap car for £2000 yet isn't concerned by running costs aren't things which usually go together. The Mondeo is by far the better value car, its hard to know what the criteria is. If it really is that he wants something fun yet doesn't really care about costs then the E36 wins.

Fox if he does then he fails :p
 
Listen, you're a truck driver who may or may not be a truck driver soon depending on how things go. You have in my opinion three choices:

A) Buy a ropey E36 for 2k which, will probably be a 323, and run the risk of something breaking either making the car a total loss or costing you a fortune.

B) Buy a Mondeo, a |4 Zetec S, V6 Zetec S, V6 Ghia X - Whatever takes you're fancy. Yes it may not be RWD but with it not being the BMW you have much cheaper running costs, increased reliabilty, massive saftey increseases and you will find one that will pass it's MOT's with ease being under half the age of the BMW. It's a good car for the price, no it's an excellent car for the price, which cannot be said for the E36 in the same price range.

C) Get a better job and get another 728i
 
Decides he wants a cheap car with cheap costs, buys a Mondeo, Fox gets Internet Cool Points

Decides he wants a cheap car that is a hoot to drive and doesnt care about the running costs, buys an E36, Jez gets Internet Cool Points

Decides to get a new job, gets a 728i, Muffin gets Internet Cool Points

VOTE NOW! :)
 
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