Bangernomics best bang per buck?

[Bren]

I wouldn't trust 500 quid Mercedesesses as far as I can throw them. This kind of budget would relegate you to 90s or early 00s ware, which has a build quality like 1970s Hong Kong

toy robots, and makes 1980s Fiats appear rust resistant in comparison.

Saabs I cannot warm up to either. Part of me feels like I'm obliged to like them for some reason, another part of me thinks Saab owners are telling everyone who wants to listen that

no bolt was ever turned on their car, despite they are on the third engine and fifth gearbox. Add all Vauxhalls are shit to the equation for 00s Saabs.

Ditto Jag. Anything at this money is being moved on because it's going to die. If there are'nt mechanical issues there will be electrical. And possibly rust issues as well. And I'm not talking about XJ's - This applies to S and X types.

 

I am of the mind that fuel will not stay cheap forever, no good getting something that cripples you when the cost of fuel goes up.

[sierraman]

I'm not sure whether swapping a gearbox that costs 50 quid at the scrappy isn't justified on a 500 quid car.

It sure is for me, because I have to work for my money.

It's not just the gearbox though is it, that's £50 plus a clutch, plus some tranny fluid, a day off work to lay on my back doing what is at best a wanky hernia inducing task at the best of times. I'd probably get it done if the car was known to be good in other respects. If it was just a cheap smoker that was okish then I'd run it until it dropped.

[PiperCub]

Probably been said before but as luxo large barges go, I'd be looking for an early-ish Lexus LS400 or a V6 motored Toyota Camry. 

 

The Lex-arse will go on forever, a few years back a mate paid £1200 for one with near 250K on the clock, Chris drove it until recently pushing the miles to well over 300K with virtually no issues and only sold it on (for about £1K) because his job provided a company car and his missus doesn't drive. His FiL also had one for about ten-odd years - similar story. 

 

An uncle of mine had a V6 Camry for years, despite claiming to hate 'Jap-Crap', he was eventually persuaded to admit it was the best car he'd ever had! Needed it little more than servicing & replacement tyres etc. 

[Alan_Green]

Don't know what the official opinion is of these, but to me there seemed to be something especially pleasing about wafting around in the QX Maxima I had.  Thought it might have been because it was RWD, but apparently it's a FWD:  Ã‚£495, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Maxima-QX-V6-24v-SE-Automatic-Auto-V-Rare-75-000-Miles-13xService-Stamps-/201470339223?hash=item2ee8916897:g:bK8AAOSwEetV-zT1

[Junkman]

It's not just the gearbox though is it, that's £50 plus a clutch, plus some tranny fluid, a day off work to lay on my back doing what is at best a wanky hernia inducing task at the best of times. I'd probably get it done if the car was known to be good in other respects. If it was just a cheap smoker that was okish then I'd run it until it dropped.

 

What exactly is a "clutch"?

Something medieval?

For people who refuse to grow up?

I have seen cars with clutches on this there television.

I can't believe they still exist in real life.

[brownnova]

MX5???

 

Lots of fun, found below £500, only two seats so great excuse not to take kids/mother in law/hitchhikers if you don't want to 😊

[andrew e]

E39 in straight six flavour 523/525/528 automatic only. No V8's as the steering is a box and not as nice as the 6 cylinder set up.

[John F]

Junkman, on 11 Dec 2015 - 01:39 AM, said:

What exactly is a "clutch"?

Something medieval?

For people who refuse to grow up?

I have seen cars with clutches on this there television.

I can't believe they still exist in real life.

 

Are you seriously suggesting that automatic gearboxes are something worth aspiring to?

 

[Craig the Princess]

Rover R8, cheap to buy, run, repair or throw away and buy another one.

 

See also HHR Rover 400s

[I_am_Diesel]

Like Craig the Princess sez but Astra G instead.

[beko1987]

Xantia? I would say ZX based on my 100% positive experience of 2, but they may be a tad small for anything wafty, mine certainly isnt wafty...

[Lacquer Peel]

ZX should ride nicely. A 405 with a similar suspension setup, struts and torsion bars, matches a Xantia for overall ride quality, betters it in some respects.