Quandry time again.

[Pete-M]

Right, the last couple of days have had my old head scratching again. It's not lice, there's barely enough hair for that.

 

The current fleet is the Jag, Jeep, 604, Escort, and they're soon to be joined by the cheap E39 528i I've bought to use as a smoker.

 

The Escort is still in bits, but allegedly work is slowly going on. That is going to be looked into again in the spring, so it's still out of the picture for now.

 

The 604 is in the paint shop, all the welding has been done, so now it's just a case of bulbs, steering rack gaiters and a wheel bearing then it'll be on the road.

 

Jag is epic, but the back arches are bubbling up and there's a bit of lacquer flaking on the bumpers. A-frame bushes are beginning to get a bit weak, and it's due back tyres in the next few weeks, otherwise it is still spot on.

 

Jeep I've got a box of bits that need fitting to it, need to weld up the exhaust manifold and fit the bits. Washed it the other day, it is staggeringly mint when it's clean.

 

Unfortunately, I've been surfing the evil auction site today and the train of thought that says "Sell the 604, Jeep (serviced) and Jag (as it is), run the 528i for a few months while I'm sorting and selling the rest then flog it on, put all the cash together and buy something brilliant". After Vek posted that Galegnum the other night I started looking around to see what the VR4's are fetching, as I know a chap who's got an immaculate UK spec nutter one and it has kinda made my mind up.

 

My valuations of the cars as they are is as follows. I don't think they're too far out. Jag £1250ish, Jeep £1200ish, 604 £1500ish (and that's at a big loss to me). 528i £550.. Correct me if I'm out on these. The Jag (158k) and Jeep (122k) are FSH and the 604 is solid, straight and tidy. The P reg 528i has done 305k but is straight, good spec and FSH. Jeep has LPG.

 

To replace them I want an fast estate car with full leather, aircon, rwd or 4wd, manual or auto, 300ish bhp, the capability to be fitted with a towbar, , UK spec if Japanese, LHD or RHD, but comfy enough to use every day.. Reliability is a must as is good handling.

 

I've been looking at VR4 Legnums, Subaru Legacy Turbos, Pisshat W8s, 540i Touring, E55 AMG Estate.

 

What else is there?

[trigger]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

 

An Omega 3.2 V6 MV6 Estate would be what you need in your life, This one abobe is at a dealer but has only covered 53000 miles and is £3995, I'm sure you got get one cheaper then that.

[Pete-M]

Nowhere near enough poke, and about £2k over the odds!

 

This is nearer the mark, but I'd not want a white one.

 

 

Or this. Which would leave a few quid to play with other things.

 

 

This if the arches and floorpan aren't made from bog (and it finishes at sensible money)

 

 

This would be a fun thing. Only the 4.3 too.

 

 

In fact, I think I'll ring about the C43 AMG tomorrow.

[Pete-M]

MG ZT-T tourer, how hard could it be to get another 40bhp from that engine?

 

Did Audi make an S6 wagon?

 

Chrysler 300c wagon, or Dodge Magnum wagon, whichever one was officially imported.

 

ZT-Ts are out of the budget. They're about £6-7k for a good SE one. Can get another 200 bhp from that engine without much trouble.

 

S6 wagons have VAG Scene Tax.

 

300Cs are above budget too.

 

I'm wondering if he'll take a £1250 and the XJR for the C43 now...

[whitevanman]

Leggy Turbo is a fantastic car for everyday use....but not that economical, about 29mpg

[Pete-M]

Leggy Turbo is a fantastic car for everyday use....but not that economical, about 29mpg

 

29 mpg is about 12 more than I get normally!

[andrew e]

W8 Passat is surely one to boast about come judgement day Pete.

[trigger]

Those W8's look like right weapons but from reading on da'web they can be quite expensive to repair as many garages don't know anything about them, VW included.

 

That C36 must be the best choice for all round capability,

[cort16]

That c43 is nice. What about this A6 with the 2.7 twin turbo engine?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/audi-a6-27-v6-bi-turbo-why/91186759

[trigger]

^ That looks like a breakdown waiting to happen!, Those Mercedes E420's look nice, if you can find a rust free one.

 

Also watch out for the road tax, I suspect anything 2001 or newer will be near on £450 to tax.

[andrew e]

Trigger fail! I think its the 20-something of March 2006 when the OMGTAX kicks in.

[trigger]

Oh, I thought it was March 2001, I have just looked, a 2001 Merc E430 would cost you £45 more a year to tax then a 2000 model so it's not so bad.

[fiatdaft]

Audi s4?

[Pete-M]

Heh, I could screw a towbar on the Jag. I've thought about that plenty of times, but an estate is really what is needed.

 

An A6 quattro bi-turbo would be ok, but the FWD ones are a no-no. I would consider an S4 avant as the A6 quattro 2.8 I had was a nice car.

[Pete-M]

Those W8's look like right weapons but from reading on da'web they can be quite expensive to repair as many garages don't know anything about them, VW included.

 

That C36 must be the best choice for all round capability,

 

The C36 is a C43. V8 FTW.

[TagoraSX]

£1995

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C261740

 

[RobT]

 

My valuations of the cars as they are is as follows. 604 £1500ish (and that's at a big loss to me)

 

That sounds worrying affordable. I can only hope it'd be too big for my garage, otherwise I may have to consider it once you come to sell.

[Pete-M]

That Audi. Dammit. That would do the job perfectly. I'd forgotten they exist.

 

Right, anyone wanna buy any cars?

[garethj]

A friend of mine's got an Audi A6 estate with the V8, I think it's called an S6 but not sure really. It goes like hell, it's quiet, reliable and reasonably spacious inside.

 

Another mate had a Legnum and it wasn't too reliable (compared to the Renault Safranne that came after it!), it also cost and arm and several legs to fix.

 

I think your value of the Jag is a shade high, no idea for the 604 because there's so few being sold. It's a problem I have often with my cars - there aren't many people who want one, but if someone does there aren't many to choose from. This means the price can vary by ±90% at least

[Cavcraft]

Of course what you really want is an Audi 80 TDi estate. In red. With alloy wheels. That may have been pictured on here recently with the bonnet up and an RAC van behind it. Oddly enough I know of one well within your budget

[cort16]

That v8 A6 looks great. The 4.2v8 is fanny tastic engine. I had the A8 with that engine and loved it.

[Shep Shepherd]

Nissan Stagea?

 

[Pete-M]

I think your value of the Jag is a shade high.

 

Funnily enough, I think the valuation of the Jag is a bit low if anything. After using it to go to the NEC today I'm seriously considering spending whatever it needs to get it immaculate again and bolting a towbar onto it.

 

Mint XJR-6s still fetch £4k and above. It's the dog rough ones that are in the bargain basement. Mine has had everything mechanical done, and as anyone who's been in it will know it's definately not a rough one. Just needs a few hundred quids worth of cosmetics and a couple of hundred quid chucking at the rear suspension. Then it's back to being utterly mint.

[Bren]

Pete - better the devil you know.

 

I would sooner invest a few hundred on bringing the jag up to scratch rather than buying somebody else's grief.

 

If you did sell, it would'nt be too bad if someone who frequents this site bought it. More likely you will have a queue of test pilots and tyre kickers.

[Timewaster]

I think your value of the Jag is a shade high.

Funnily enough, I think the valuation of the Jag is a bit low if anything. After using it to go to the NEC today I'm seriously considering spending whatever it needs to get it immaculate again.

 

I'm guessing you saw the £8K Xj40 Daimler then.

 

Yes, for those who didn't go, or didn't spot it... £8K for an Xj40!!

 

The show had some awesome cars and some comedy prices. Your XJR must be worth £eleventygazillion

[Pete-M]

Didn't spot the 8k XJ40, did spot a £21k Range Rover Classic...

 

To be honest, the six pot XJRs are the ones people seem to want as the early V8s had Nikasil issues that seem to have scared the shit outta lots of people. You know what it's like with British cars, one thing goes wrong and people taint them for life. The six pot has a reputation for being bomb proof.

 

Mine's had thousands spent on it within the last 20,000 miles. New rear diff, aircon, front suspension rebuild, new hubs, discs, exhausts, the list goes on, and on, and on. If memory serves me right it had £6k spent on it by the previous owner and all on the right bits. It's done bugger all mileage since, I've put six or seven thousand miles on it and it has been pretty bloody good.

 

Rear shocks are a bit tired and it needs the A-frame bushes doing. Two jobs that can be done together as it's easier to drop the a-frame to do the shocks anyway. Then it's just replacing the rear arches and paint. I've got one new rear tyre for it, just trying to find a matching one and it's good for another good few years. If I do this and keep it for a couple of years all the dog rough ones will have gone to the great graveyard in the sky, and the X300 is the last "real" Jag.

[Hertz]

These are getting stupidly cheap nowadays. 250 BHP out of the tin so 300 BHP should be no probs:

 

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3241621.htm

 

Not RWD/4WD though so could be a deal breaker...

[Pete-M]

I don't like Saabs. Comfy seats in quick but not very nice cars.

[Hertz]

Volvo V70 AWD then?

 

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3320834.htm

[Pete-M]

Volvo V70 AWD then?

 

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3320834.htm

 

Not enough poke, transfer box made of cheese, mainly FWD