2k Budget - What next?

Phate

Phate

Phate

Caporegime
Joined
1 Nov 2003
Posts
35,691
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Decided to leave the MG as a very enjoyed memory :) - I drove another yesterday and it just wasn't 'the same' - So decided I'm not going to get another for the time being.

Having a think about what I want next now.

Budget is 2k...

Requirements - Comfort, reliability, quick(ish) - Doesn't need to be fast, but something with about 150bhp would be fine, also 4dr's (not 100% necessary but would make life easier), also something with Xenon headlights, or has the ability to be upgraded to Xenons later on in life (driving the Vectra with these has reminded me how much I loved them on the Astra so having them again would be great!).

Obvious suggestion here is a Mondeo :) - But I'm wondering what else.

Looking at Pistonheads now there are Audi A3 1.8T's for 2k - High mile ones but as long as its been looked after miles don't really bother me - Plus I've always really liked these cars.

What do we think people? Am in no rush to buy yet :)
 
Does your Vectra really have Xenons? The Life had projector halogens I thought - and the pictures you posted showed no headlight washers? Never underestimate the effect a brand new unpitted headlight lense has on light output :)

Anyway for this budget I'd be after a Mondeo ST but you can't retrofit Xenons to those. Or a Mk3 Ghia X.
 
[TW]Fox;15225340 said:
Does your Vectra really have Xenons? The Life had projector halogens I thought - and the pictures you posted showed no headlight washers? Never underestimate the effect a brand new unpitted headlight lense has on light output :)

Anyway for this budget I'd be after a Mondeo ST but you can't retrofit Xenons to those. Or a Mk3 Ghia X.
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I always get confused over this - your right, it has projector halogens - these I like :p - I'll change the OP.

A Mondeo is the best thing I can think of - comfort is a factor here. I didn't realise how comfy the seats in the MG were till driving other cars recently. So seats with decent bolsters and leather if possible would be nice!

What is an Audi A4 1.8T going to be like? reliability wise? providing it fully stamped up etc - You may be able to tell I have a soft spot for Audi's :p
 
mjt said:
i'd rather have an A4 over an A3.
it's bigger and it has the V6s along with the 1.8T

9-3s are cheap
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1291142.htm

as are alfa 166s if you like getting your hands dirty :p
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Had a Saab before, loved it - despite it being thirsty, was the cheapest 18months of motoring I've had. I drove that thing like it was stolen from stone cold for the whole time and it never ever broke! So, another contender :)

I have no problems getting my hands dirty, but I'd be shot on sight if I bought an Alfa, shortly followed by half my family having a heart attack :D (family of petrol heads here)

EDIT: It's bad enough my sisters bf drives a Fiat - he got a lot of evil looks first time he pulled up in it :D
 
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yeh i remember you had a 9-3, Westy's got it now iirc?

they are so cheap, it'd be silly not to have a look, especially that black one i posted. it's been on PH for a while now and it's just been reduced..

the 1.8T VAG lump is pretty solid, it's used in almost every VAG model ever :p
 
mjt said:
yeh i remember you had a 9-3, Westy's got it now iirc?

they are so cheap, it'd be silly not to have a look, especially that black one i posted. it's been on PH for a while now and it's just been reduced..

the 1.8T VAG lump is pretty solid, it's used in almost every VAG model ever :p
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Yeh he has it, might ask him if he wants to sell it back :p

So high miles shouldn't affect a VAG lump badly? when does the turbo normally go?
 
Mk3 Mondeo is the obvious choice here.

For this budget i wouldn't bother with a "premium" brand unless you go for an old barge such as an E38 or a W140 - which you probably wont want to do.
 
You can probably buy *any* rover now for less than this budget cant you? :D (i know nothing of the used rover market!)
 
A good ZT is still more than that (and just about the only ROver / MG worth having these days), for some reason i'd love a V8 ZT Estate and wack a mustang supercharger on it.....
 
ZT's look bloody awful though, as if someone has taken the jaguar-esque subtle rover 75 and crashed it into a low rent chav parts shop :/ Doesn't work on the 75's shape for me.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Good lad :)
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Not that I don't like them. Whilst I set things in motion with the studio I want something that just works everytime. Don't get me wrong the charactor of owning a Rover is always comical but I won't be thinking that if it breaks down on the way to a customer :p

Aetherisilia said:
what about a kia rio, i have driven one of the 1.3 engines and it was really pokey
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I'm not sure if you are being serious or not...
 
You could always get a Mk1 2003 MG ZS+ TD 115, and cost me the princely sum of £1800. :p

£2k I'd avoid the big engined Audis even though you can get some awesome ones for the money...2.8 V6 Quattro A6 are around £2000. :p

1.8T in the A3/4 should be ok, although if you want economies, the 130PS diesel is surprisingly nice. Comfy and easy to drive, although you do have to flog the gears...doing 70 in 6th and putting your foot down is upsetting, drop to 5th and it picks up well though....but I expect you can only get a ropey one for £2k really, more £3k+ I think.
 
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