After a sporty a car around £2k... what not to get? What to get :D

Both of those look ropey, I don't know why you keep trying to convince yourself and old premium car is the way to go when you haven't bothered servicing a Mondeo for years. Drive an MX-5 because they aren't as slow as you make out and they will take the abuse without giving you a headache for it, everything else you've posted will potentially just cost you in repairs what it would have cost to buy a decent one to start off with. Don't buy from the bottom of the market and don't even consider cars without service history because the buck will probably stop with you and you'll end up paying for someone else's neglect, much like the next owner of your current car.
 
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Naa not a ctr. At least I've doubled my search now to make things easier.
The mx5 is like a z3 or something, I'd have to get an old one for my budget & such a nice sports car does seem out of my league.
 
Personally, for the 2K I'd get a classic Impreza. Fast and reliable and not as bad on fuel as you might think. UK cars are group 17 so age dependent not too much of an issue.

If you need space for bikes etc get a wagon. Just the same but a bit more space.

Classics still look great IMO.
 
No Service history - you can therefore assume that the car is clocked and or hasn't been serviced for about 3 years at one point in its life.

What are you going on about r.e the mx-5 (/MR2 which is still what i'd have)??? you'd be talking about cars newer than that e46 compact.

Tbh I reckon you need to give yourself a bit of a shake, stop posting here and go out to actually look at / drive some cars. As I keep saying, buy what you like - if you end up hating it, move it on, buy something else.
 
If you're gonna go the 406 Coupe route, make sure you get the V6. It's not worth bothering with the 2 litre version, as you may as well be in a GTI 6.

As for the 6, I've had myittle 1.6 (albeit highly modified)XS for donkeys now, and while I have suffered with a few typically French issues, I'd still happily get a GTI 6 as a next car. They're just so much fun to drive!
 
MX5 vs an E46 of the same age (~10yrs as your budget seems to allow) I would be hedging my bets with the MX5 in reliability stakes.

Have a test drive in one, it will convert you - they aren't slow.
 
All the advice has been great, thanks. Certainly saved me from an old dodgy TT.
Its looking like a 325ti or Cupra now. The mx5 does not float my boat styling wise, I prefer something more aggressive looking.
I think maybe the BMW compact are cheap for what they are because they don't even qualify as a Marmite car, ie. everyone hates them & no one loves them... ha ha. Well I like them & think they look modern enough.
Maybe i'll get one & hate it then get a mx5. See how it goes.
The hunt is on now anyway :)
If I dont see anything worthwhile getting I've booked a another week off next month where i'll have another £800 perhaps.
 
Thoughts on these one anyone?
Please, no ropey or shed comments, obviously its not a £5k car. Genuine comments much appreciated. I'm learning though, these have a service history.

£2,490BMW 3 SERIES 325TI SE 3DR BLACK LEATHER 2.5 2002

Or world it be worthwhile & getting something like this in a month?

£3,495BMW 3 SERIES 325TI SPORT 3DR 2.5 2002


Need to Google the trim levels now, what the heck is SE lol.
Do they all have a CD changer cus most look like they have a tape player & that dash looks tricky to install a regular stereo, plus do the steering wheel buttons only work with the stock stereo?
 
£3.5k is a silly sum to spend on an eleven year old 325ti - £2.5k is plenty, nobody likes them. Don't know why you're insisting on cars from dealers though, it's near impossible to tell anything about the last person that owned the car (unless it's full of dents)
 
rodenal said:
£3.5k is a silly sum to spend on an eleven year old 325ti - £2.5k is plenty, nobody likes them. Don't know why you're insisting on cars from dealers though, it's near impossible to tell anything about the last person that owned the car (unless it's full of dents)
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Yes I agree, 3.5k seems a lot for a 2002 car, maybe its the colour lol.

There just are not really any private sellers, except 1 which is only 12miles away but theres no mention of FSH, I'll call them tomorrow & ask.

Oh, is the cambelt a big issue on the BMW?
 
Has a timing Chain

I seriously suggest you do a bit of searching on the e46. There is plenty of information on this forum let alone bmw ones
 
Looked at 4x Clio Sport 182 today.

One had a cracked steering wheel & snails living in the engine bay for £2k.

One in blue looked great on pics but engine had a loud rattle, very loud exhaust & all bits of Renault logo were painted over blue including the engine cover & it had been ruined, for £2.5k.

One looked like it had a bump on passenger door with no service history inc belts for £2.2k.

The last one for 2.3k I was tempted had the same loud rattle as another one but the pickup in 2nd felt slow (only 1 driven) & the power steering made a loud clicking noise (its just passed its MOT). A shame as that had a fsh & belts done last yr. This was the only car not to have illegal tyres up front!

Whats this loud rattle all about that 2 cars had when at idle that goes when revved?

Thinking need spend at lest 3k for one half descent like an 05 plate for 50k miles.
 
Of course you'll need to spend more.

Get a Civic Type R, less problems and stronger. Same kinda performance (if not faster ;))

I looked at all the options for 5k personally and to be fair 13k later within 10 months this car aint put a foot wrong and takes some abuse at times.

A clio would no doubt have been a nightmare but they're good fun definitely :) Rattle could be something as simple as a heatshield I guess. Hard to gauge without any of us being able to hear it.

PS: look privately mate, ALL of the small time dealers around here are useless...
 
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