Good car for about 3 grand

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2003
Posts
8,514
Location
Essex
I'm currently looking for a new car, budget is 3k, hoping to sell my car, which will cover insurance, which will be about 800 quid. Don't really know what car I want, something pretty quick, nice ride and looks pretty nice, can't seem to find anything I like for that sort of money though, most decent cars I can find are between 4 and 5 grand, will take me a while to save that up though :(

edit/ something like a hot hatch or escort sized
 
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I'd go for an e36 BMW 3 series - the 323i / 325i would be my choice,there well built & rear wheel drive! :)

Having gone from an M reg Escort TD to my J reg 318i, the BMW was 10 times the better car - lasted me until 175,000miles also. :cool:
 
yeah, I like the sound of that, always liked BMWs, insurance comes out at around a grand though tpft for the 323 so not too sure, think I'll have to work out my finances and see if I can afford that.

edit/ I'm begging my mum and dad to get insured on their 320i 51 plate until I can save more money, my mum says it's too fast though :rolleyes: I drive my Escort faster than she drives that thing so what does she know :p
 
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I was in just about the same position as yourself a month ago.... had about 3 grand to spend, and was prepared to spend about 700 on insurance...

Well, I sold my 1.25 fiesta and went for a BMW 323i SE. Found an R-reg one, absolutely mint with 150K miles on (had new engine at 80K due to Nikasil problem), plus all the review say they're built like tanks so that milage isnt really a problem. Got it for £2995. An absolute bargain IMO and I love it. The sound of the engine, the speed, the luxury, everything is pretty much perfect. Even the fuel economy is pretty good... am getting around 36mpg so far, so pretty chuffed, with only a few "yahoos"!

It's a little bigger than an escort, but handles very easily, a cinch to park and drive round tight corners, if you can find a decent one, I'd go for it. :)
 
Theres always the 318iS - the 16 Valve version of the 318i, very nice handling, good performance & iirc, cheaper to run than the 6 pots, although , e30 M3 excluded, a proper BMW should'nt have only 4 cylinders imo.
 
R124/LA420 said:
Theres always the 318iS - the 16 Valve version of the 318i, very nice handling, good performance & iirc, cheaper to run than the 6 pots, although , e30 M3 excluded, a proper BMW should'nt have only 4 cylinders imo.
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With regards to E30s:

M3 > 318iS > 6pots > other 4pots.

*n
 
Cheers guys, the 323 e36 is really tempted, think I'll just save as much as possible this month and I'll be able to get a nice one and afford the insurance, that'll show my parents up when I come along with an old Bimmer that's faster than theirs!
 
Make sure it is a good bmw though as a nackered on will cost you a fortune in repairs at that price. If you only have 3k to buy the car and run it for a while you need to think carefully about what you buy.

Have you considerd something like a civic vti 1.8?
 
Actually I'm wrong, I couldn't even get a quote, most websites said I had to be over 21 and some wouldn't even quote me, couldn't be bothered phoning any up, that was Admiral, Churchill, Direct Line, Norwich Union, couple of others, the car was a 1.8vti-s saloon shape if that is the same one you're speaking of, I've got nearly 3 years of driving and 3 years ncb at the age of 20.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
Actually I'm wrong, I couldn't even get a quote, most websites said I had to be over 21 and some wouldn't even quote me, couldn't be bothered phoning any up, that was Admiral, Churchill, Direct Line, Norwich Union, couple of others, the car was a 1.8vti-s saloon shape if that is the same one you're speaking of, I've got nearly 3 years of driving and 3 years ncb at the age of 20.
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Try a ZS perhaps

This is based on the 45, which in turn is a facelifted 400, which is practically identical to this shape Civic
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
Actually I'm wrong, I couldn't even get a quote, most websites said I had to be over 21 and some wouldn't even quote me, couldn't be bothered phoning any up, that was Admiral, Churchill, Direct Line, Norwich Union, couple of others, the car was a 1.8vti-s saloon shape if that is the same one you're speaking of, I've got nearly 3 years of driving and 3 years ncb at the age of 20.
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Seems odd that they won't quote you, you wernt looking at an import? (1.8 vti, yea thats the car) Ah the joys of being old, I pay £400 fc on mine :p

You really shouldn't have too much difficulty but meh. Endsleigh insurance, Adrian Flux etc?
 
I do like the ZS, my dad had a ZT at one point, I thought it was a really nice car, I think I'm still swayed by the BMW though but will look into a ZS, they should be quite affordable now shouldn't they? with rover going **** up and all...

mrk1@1 said:
You really shouldn't have too much difficulty but meh. Endsleigh insurance, Adrian Flux etc?
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I'll try them but they always phone me up and harass me after I do an internet quote :(
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
I do like the ZS, my dad had a ZT at one point, I thought it was a really nice car, I think I'm still swayed by the BMW though but will look into a ZS, they should be quite affordable now shouldn't they? with rover going **** up and all...
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Yep

I was very close to buying one before I got my ZR. I'd get the saloon ZS simply because I think it looks a lot better :)

The 1.8 was very reasonable to insure, the 2.5l V6 was a little pricey (but quick!)
 
mrk1@1 said:
Seems odd that they won't quote you, you wernt looking at an import? (1.8 vti, yea thats the car) Ah the joys of being old, I pay £400 fc on mine :p

You really shouldn't have too much difficulty but meh. Endsleigh insurance, Adrian Flux etc?
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Well I seem to have somehow completly made up the 2k figure, just got a quote with Endsleigh for 1K.
 
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