£3.5kish saloon

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hurfdurf

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My friend is not a drivers driver. He loves having a car but is not into cars like the people who post here are. A year ago we managed to get a (edit:51 plate i r dumb Nissan Primera 1.8, 54k on the clock, for £1300. Since then its needed a minor service and brakes (£200ish) 2 tyres and a new battery. The wing mirrors have been taken off by a jilted ex and put back on with gaffa tape. Its got AC, a tape deck, electric windows, and the seats fold down at the back completely. It does him perfectly.

He has just come into some money, a small percentage of which he is going to spend now (the rest is going into a savings fund). Can he replace the Nissan with something equally cheap to run or there abouts, that is a bit nicer and more respectable? Why bother? Well, the Nissan has been a but to good to be true, an utter bargain imo but a major service is on its way. The body work and appearance are a mess, my thinking is, long term wise, it would be more sensible to trade it in now for something a bit nicer like.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1942017.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2026483.htm

or

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2187013.htm

Thoughts OcUK Motors people?
 
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If he's concerned about (or it's an issue) the running costs of a Nissan Primera then I'd avoid all of those.

Mondeo. A decent one.

Mazda 6 maybe, as that's a sensible alternative and a bit more 'interesting', if you care to call it that.
 
I can see absolutely no value in trading his 54 plate car in for something older, more complex and less reliable. None at all.
 
[TW]Fox;17691321 said:
I can see absolutely no value in trading his 54 plate car in for something older, more complex and less reliable. None at all.
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He wants a nicer car (the Primera is a complete state) and there is an expensive bill looming on this one. If its going to cost much more than 3.5k to have him in anything that is simply a change rather than any form of upgrade then I completely agree it would be a waste and will advise him to stick with the Primera.
 
Seems odd that he wants similar running costs as a Primera and yet you are suggesting a Lexus or a 3 series? Both of which are very high compared to a Primera.

As above Mondeo will be best option, can get a very good example for that money.
 
There is probably an expensive bill looming on the cars you've linked to as well, with the possible exception of the Lexus.

If he has:

a) A 54 plate car
b) Only £3.5k to spend

Then the chances of getting anything 'nicer' without it also being 'lots more expensive to keep' are virtually zero. You will get a Mondeo for the money, and it's a better car, but whether its different enough to justify the faff of changing I've absolutely no idea..

If he had an N reg Primera I'd see your point...
 
[TW]Fox;17691349 said:
There is probably an expensive bill looming on the cars you've linked to as well, with the possible exception of the Lexus.

If he has:

a) A 54 plate car
b) Only £3.5k to spend

Then the chances of getting anything 'nicer' without it also being 'lots more expensive to keep' are virtually zero. You will get a Mondeo for the money, and it's a better car, but whether its different enough to justify the faff of changing I've absolutely no idea..

If he had an N reg Primera I'd see your point...
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What if I'm a retard and thought it was a 54 plate and is in fact a 51 plate? That make much difference? Next service is a cambelt one.
 
Why couldn't you go further than 40 miles? Surely better to take a few hours one evening and get a good car? It is £3500 after all!
 
[TW]Fox;17691509 said:
The Lexus is 10 years old.

Fail.
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I don't think it is a fail. But its a only really a car for people who don't drive very much or for whom running costs aren't an issue. Fuel economy is around the 22/23mpg mark, and although hardly anything goes wrong, parts/dealers are expensive. I'd also steer well clear of the 01-05 cars as tax is about £400 a year AFAIK.
 
[TW]Fox;17691509 said:
The Lexus is 10 years old.

Fail.
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Yep. Absolutely ancient :rolleyes:.

IS200s aren't particularly quick or economical. I'd recommend stretching to a IS300 if he can put up with an automatic, but I'm not entirely sure what level of car he'd get for his budget, but a quick search shows that they are around for that sort of money. Great engines and a decent performer too :).

The rear legroom is a bit of a joke on the IS as well.

Not a massive fan of the IS series myself though. Feels perhaps more "Toyota" than "Lexus", if that makes sense?

Edit: Oh, and IBTDMSR (In before the Dimondmark Saab recommendation) :D.
 
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I think the IS300 is a bad idea. He clearly wants a cheap, reliable normal car. Not a 10 year old quick fast saloon from a premium brand.
 
Only automatic (going on what you said?), going to be older/higher mileage for the money, worse MPG, pitfals of a bigger engine and so on?

Personally I don't think any Lexus is a good idea, but an IS300?

This is someone who wants a 1.8 Mondeo/Passat/Mazda 6 or similiar surely?
 
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