spec me a grandad car thread...

[Berger]

What about a Rover 75 Connoisseur SE? Top spec model will have loads of stuff inside and be comfy.

Choice of reasonable engines, either 2.5 V6 petrol or 2L CDTI from memory, might be a 1.8 turbo K series, but can't imagine it being much cop.

 

[GinG]

A lot of them Rover 75's on autotrader at very good money, seem a very very good second hand buy.

Obviously doesn't have a great image compared to the Audi, Merc etc. However you do get a newer car with a nice gadget list for very little money.

 

[dilated]

I have not so fond memories of the k series engine, but will look at the other 75 as they are a lot of car for the money and so is the MG ZT verison.

On another note, any here know about the Saab 95, even the 2.3 turbo or 3.0 derv is within my budget and it seems like the sort of cruiser Im looking for.

 

[DM]

I love Saab 9-5s i think they are excellent value for money.

 

[Moeks]

2nd part is right, first is wrong tbh. The engines in the Legend can munch head gaskets, the boxes are a little too delicate and there is a whole world of electrics to go wrong that not enough people know enough about.

The nature of the the ***** prestige market is this: It costs little to buy, it CAN cost little to run but don't bet on it. My 728 cost 1200 to buy and just over half that again in 14 months - suspension, alternator, battery... The 528 hasn't cost a penny in 8 months. Any car can cost big money to fix and look at it this way: Your cheapo ***** presitge dies a horrible death, you flog it for £500 on ebay to a breaker and buy another. Your nice, expensive car goes badly wrong, you've gotta fix it.

If you want a proper granddad car, buy on history, quality and keep a wad aside to fix it when it goes wrong.

Edit/ I do realise that the legend will probably be cheaper to run than a 7 series, but that's like saying a coke habit is cheaper than a crack habit

You make a good point there, however if you bought a 728i for £1200 and it 'only' cost you say £700 in a year I would consider you very lucky, I think you did well there. It might be more than half what the car cost you but it's not much really for what you get. The problems arise when they keep chucking 4 figure bills at you.

 

[dilated]

You make a good point there, however if you bought a 728i for £1200 and it 'only' cost you say £700 in a year I would consider you very lucky, I think you did well there. It might be more than half what the car cost you but it's not much really for what you get. The problems arise when they keep chucking 4 figure bills at you.

Agree with this, not so bad when you consider that a main dealer service on my 530 required discs/pads all around and cost almost as much as the car.

I do realise that the legend will probably be cheaper to run than a 7 series, but that's like saying a coke habit is cheaper than a crack habit

Classic, quote

I can up my budget, but I really planned to keep as much change from 5k towards running costs and repairs and I really dont wish a car to be costing any more than 5k in a year, anymore and id consider a lease.

 

[mjt]

Volvo S80 is a good call, will look into Volvos a little more.

I never mentioned S80s. I said S90/960.

S80s are not reliable and will cost lots on repairs.
The S90/960 on the otherhand is relatively bomb proof, although people on the forums claim they cost loads to maintain but indies aren't particularly expensive and generic parts aren't really all that expensive either, so I'm not sure why they think they're expensive.
The 2.9 I6 does drink like there's no tomorrow though. I'm averaging <25 MPG on mainly motorways with very little town use.

If age isn't an issue, you could even investigate 940s and 740s. These can be had for well under a grand too..

 

[morgan25]

For the money your looking to spend i would take a good look at a Lexus GS300 Mk2 ultra reliable and still a modern design-ish. i had a 1999 one for 4 years sold this year with 147k on it with no issues at all it was even still running on its original exhaust.

Pix of my old one

to give you some idea of what you can get for your money http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1860217.htm

That is just the first one i saw on PH you can get them with 70k on them for around that price.

 

[morgan25]

Avoid the Honda Legend. They're quite complex and cost £££ to fix.
I got myself a Grandad car. I don't really like it, but I can't really fault it.

I love these quotes yes they do cost loads if they go wrong but the point is they very rarely do go wrong.