Reliable, RWD, quick and good looking for under a grand?

[Neil]

After selling the XM I've got a few quid sat here for my next car. It has got to be RWD, manual and reliable. I would like it to be quick but not expecting a rocket ship for my money. I'm thinking a scruffy E46 325i in any flavour. Anybody care to make a suggestion? Cheers, Neil.

[gostin]

Good shout with the Bm or get a mx5

[PandaSelecta]

What about a convertible?

Buy cheap now and then sell in summer for a profit....



www.ebay.co.uk/itm/94-BMW-E36-3-series-320-Convertible-manual-leather-FSH-black-Mot-Oct-16-/231829600707?hash=item35fa1ef9c3:g:cm8AAOSwL7VWq3nV

[Neil]

That's a really good shout actually.

[ettorebugatti]

The E46 323i is worth a look too, is faster than the 170hp suggests. From personal experience I couldn't feel the difference between a 323i and a 325i.

Lexus IS200 might even be more reliable than the Beamers.

More retro, an MB 190E 2.6 would be very nice. Not sure if you can find these for 1000 pounds.

[stevepeanut]

Mx5 is a good car, but totally impractical, I had one and it was great for fun but try going shopping and it's a nightmare.

E36 bmws are going up in price, but the convertibles are the best buys at the moment. A similar condition standard shell car seems to sell for a lot more at the moment. E46 often seem better priced than the E36 but not as good looking.

If you can live with the fuel costs, jaguar xj6 and xj8 are both around for under £1000, crazy cheap if you look at how much they were new.

[qwerty]

Jag S type 3.0 V6 manual. Can't comment on reliability, but they're not too slow and rwd.

A BMW is always going to be a good choice though. How about an E39 528i?

[rjbell78]

Not many options under £1k. Check on the drift forums.

[pistonpopper]

Vauxhall Omega, Carlton, or Senator, they're all rear wheel drive and crop up for under a grand, especially the Omega. Ford Granada, or Scorpio, starting to get pricey, but can be had for under a grand. Failing that, some unloved, or unpopular American tin can be found for under a grand. Failing all that, if you miss your XM mine has eleven months MOT and can be had for just £500 lol.

[rustywagon]

Lexus IS400

[Battenberg]

A bit left field but either a SLK or CLK Mercedes?

[g40jon]

Jan 31, 2016 22:19:04 GMT stevepeanut said:

Mx5 is a good car, but totally impractical, I had one and it was great for fun but try going shopping and it's a nightmare.

You weren't trying hard enough! I've managed to lug building materials, pallets, bits of tree, sets of wheels, large amounts of beer, all manner of odd shape and size items. The trick to to put the roof down and accept you might get a bit wet!

Back on topic, for under a grand, fast and practical I think an e46 325 compact would be my weapon of choice. Only problem is the looks which some find a bit marmite.

[qwerty]

Feb 1, 2016 11:15:43 GMT g40jon said:

Back on topic, for under a grand, fast and practical I think an e46 325 compact would be my weapon of choice. Only problem is the looks which some find a bit marmite.

Good shout.

I would actually quite like an E36 318ti. Nice little revvy 4 pot and a decent chassis.

[georgexs]

Feb 1, 2016 11:15:43 GMT g40jon said:

Jan 31, 2016 22:19:04 GMT stevepeanut said:

Mx5 is a good car, but totally impractical, I had one and it was great for fun but try going shopping and it's a nightmare.

You weren't trying hard enough! I've managed to lug building materials, pallets, bits of tree, sets of wheels, large amounts of beer, all manner of odd shape and size items. The trick to to put the roof down and accept you might get a bit wet!

Back on topic, for under a grand, fast and practical I think an e46 325 compact would be my weapon of choice. Only problem is the looks which some find a bit marmite.

Agreed, i've had all sorts in mine, you just have to get creative with the space. I've had a 40" TV with passenger, rolled up mattress with passenger, mountain bike, 2 front wings + 1 towbar +1 front valance, full camping gear and gazebo for a week in Le Mans + passenger!

The only they're really poor at carrying is boxy items, the boot is an odd shape, but if you have soft stuff it's surprisingly capacious. 

Back to the topic, I think BMW's are probably going to fill the required role best, plenty of models fall into the sub 1K category.

[Davey]

Big fast but thirsty.
Sadly auto....

[retroade]

E36 318iS's pop up for around a grand occasionally. Great investment potential, E30 iS's have skyrocketed over the last couple of years.

E36 cab good call. Don't mess about, buy the biggest engine you can afford.

Depends whether you want a B road warrior in the light and nimble 4 pot iS or a posing cruiser with a 6 pot cab.

For some 70s cool you might find a shabby chic W123 Merc. Drop ride height and add white walls for a ghetto mod hood ride, or keep OEM and wear a kipper tie to look like a 70s businessman. Reliable? Well yes, but it'll be 40 year old reliable. Mind you, it's a big ask for any 20+ year old sub £1k car to be reliable. It's always going to be a gamble, but German engineering will always be one of the safer bets.

[Neil]

Thanks for all the ideas, keep them coming. Very interesting.

[Mercdan68]

W210 merc,even in diesel form they are a quick comfy old beast

[FOAD]

Volvo 200, 300, 700 and 900 series.

[Woofwoof]

Merc W202 C-Class 230K Sport manual. 190bhp out of the box, plenty of torque & a great mile muncher. Rust being the only real issue.