£3.5kish saloon

Joshy · 1 Nov 2010 at 01:02

Peerzy said:
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?

I'm not expert when it comes to the IS series, but unless Toyota has managed to completely mess it up in that incantation the engine should be just about bomb proof.

Slightly less economical perhaps, but the lump in the IS200 certainly isn't going to be winning any awards for that, in fact given the "performance" I think it's thirst is horrendous, but that's just me.

So, you have to put up with a slightly older, slightly higher mileage car that gets slightly less MPGzzz in order to get the car with an engine it actually deserves. Doesn't sound like a bad deal to me.

Not saying that Joshy's "£3.5K saloon car pick" is a IS300, but if he's keen on a IS car, try to swing him over the the 300 :cool:

.

Peerzy · 1 Nov 2010 at 01:11

Joshy said:
I'm not expert when it comes to the IS series, but unless Toyota has managed to completely mess it up in that incantation the engine should be just about bomb proof.

Slightly less economical perhaps, but the lump in the IS200 certainly isn't going to be winning any awards for that, in fact given the "performance" I think it's thirst is horrendous, but that's just me.

So, you have to put up with a slightly older, slightly higher mileage car that gets slightly less MPGzzz in order to get the car with an engine it actually deserves. Doesn't sound like a bad deal to me.

Not saying that Joshy's "£3.5K saloon car pick" is a IS300, but if he's keen on a IS car, try to swing him over the the 300 .

I do see what you are saying, but why put up with an older, higher mileage car when a Mondeo or similiar (Maybe even one of those cheap Saabs?) will be cheaper to run and probably better for the OP's friend.

hurfdurf · 1 Nov 2010 at 02:55

What cheap Saabs?

Joshy · 1 Nov 2010 at 07:27

hurfdurf said:
What cheap Saabs?

It seems that £3,500 puts you into the driver's seat of one of the later shape cars with relative ease.

Looks at this fine, 1 owner, low mileage example at "Titty Ho Motors"

p)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-Saab-9-3...5397724?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item483d4241dc

Although I think the "aeros" look far sharper:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-SAAB-9-3...7742168?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f03dcced8

Unless I'm missing something absoultely massive, seems like a half decent slightly more interesting alternative to a Mondeo?

DM · 1 Nov 2010 at 07:57

You get a tidy 9-3 or 9-5 for that money. As Josh just found at Titty Ho Motors, that bloke must have been drunk registering that company name

iaind · 1 Nov 2010 at 08:33

Joshy said:
It seems that £3,500 puts you into the driver's seat of one of the later shape cars with relative ease.

Looks at this fine, 1 owner, low mileage example at "Titty Ho Motors" p)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-Saab-9-3...5397724?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item483d4241dc

Although I think the "aeros" look far sharper:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-SAAB-9-3...7742168?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f03dcced8

Unless I'm missing something absoultely massive, seems like a half decent slightly more interesting alternative to a Mondeo?

As you know, i owned a 93 aero and have a fair bit of experience of 95s too

The Arc is basic, the Aero is the top of the range and has the 210bhp engine.

As a car.....interesting. The engine is one of the best 4 pots Ive ever experienced - entirely silent at idle, exceptionally smooth and very little turbo lag. Once the turbo is spooled up, it really flies - it definitely feels faster than the 8.something seconds to 60 would indicate. Great on motorways, put your foot down in top gear, the turbo gauge hits the maximum and you're doing illegal speeds without any fuss whatsoever.

Build quality isn't great, I'd expect an 03 to be rattling a bit by now, but it's q nice place to be, if a bit of an acquired taste.

It's absolutely NOT a drivers car though. The best analogy to driving one of these quickly is like playing a video game, with a non force feedback steering wheel. You're conscious that you're making it happen, but it there's absolutely no feedback at all.

The 95 is more of the same, only bigger and often better value - although the 2.3HOT is absolutely brutal compared the the relatively subtle and progressive power delivery of the 2.0 in the 93.

Anyway, how on earth can the only mondeos within 40 miles be 2.5 autos? That's probably the rarest combination! Anyway. Buy a mondeo. Or a 95.

DM · 1 Nov 2010 at 08:38

And travel a bit more, search 100 miles, give yourself half a chance. You go 10 miles to buy trainers, this is 3500 quid remember.

hurfdurf · 2 Nov 2010 at 20:47

Thanks for the recommendations so far, I will pass all this on.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2210477.htm

What about these X-Type Jags?

iaind · 2 Nov 2010 at 20:49

Appreciate that he doesn't care about performance, but a 2.0 will be difficult to sell on

[TW]Fox · 2 Nov 2010 at 20:51

iaind said:
Appreciate that he doesn't care about performance, but a 2.0 will be difficult to sell on

It's a 3 grand car, it's already depreciated and anything will sell when youve finished with it if its the right price.

iaind · 2 Nov 2010 at 20:56

True, but I'd be a bit miffed if I had to let a grands worth of car go for 500 quid because I didn't hold out for a more desirable one

richolmes72 · 2 Nov 2010 at 23:14

MarkDavis said:
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.

The £400+ tax doesn't start until cars registered after mid-March 2006. My car is December 2005 so I'm just ok!

hurfdurf · 2 Nov 2010 at 23:54

iaind said:
Appreciate that he doesn't care about performance, but a 2.0 will be difficult to sell on

He is kind of seeing this as a car to keep for awhile, at least 2 or maybe even 3 years, which is why im suggesting something a bit more premium like a lexus or Jag, or maybe even Saab over the mondeo, as a 2.0 Ghia X with 6-80k mileage for £3.5K is a bit hard to find. Loads of Saabs and Jags in this price range though.

iaind · 3 Nov 2010 at 08:30

hurfdurf said:
He is kind of seeing this as a car to keep for awhile, at least 2 or maybe even 3 years, which is why im suggesting something a bit more premium like a lexus or Jag, or maybe even Saab over the mondeo, as a 2.0 Ghia X with 6-80k mileage for £3.5K is a bit hard to find. Loads of Saabs and Jags in this price range though.

He still may as well get the better engine - in both those cars there isn't much in terms of cost.

I'd look for a 2.5 jag or a 2.3t 9-5 (pro tip - the capitalization of the T on Saab engines denotes whether it is a high or low output turbo). Don't get too hung up on mileage either, insert usual spiel about condition here.

The jag has the better interior and a more premium image, the Saab will probably be higher specced for the money, more room and some may prefer the quirky image.

FWIW, Saab servicing can be very expensive - main dealer prices are on par with those at merc for example. Independents are plemtiful, but most fall into 2 camps - some think they are providing a better service than the main dealer, so charge even more. Others do what indies should do and charge reasonable prices - if he decides on a Saab it's worth phoning some local specialists to find out if you've got one of the latter nearby or it could become an expensive hobby!

They're quite fussy about things like oil and have some complicated electrics, so wouldn't want to use any old garage

DM · 3 Nov 2010 at 08:36

No difference between running a 2.5 or 3 litre X Type Jag mind.

If your mate dosent mind a manual X Type thats a pretty bomb proof car too.