If you had 40k for a brand new car.

[Zelandeth]

Today?  Buying new.  I honestly don't think there's anything out there for that money that interests me enough to be worth that much money to me.  We've got a top of the line Superb estate here as Chris' company car now, and I think as equipped it's somewhere around £43K.  Does it feel like a £40K car to me?  Honestly, no.  It's reasonably roomy (Xantia could still give it a run for the money without putting the seats down), it's reasonably economical, it's*almost* comfortable if you took the 19" wheels off and put 16" or even better 15" wheels on it might even ride properly, but it's still the automotive colour beige.  It doesn't feel in any way, shape or form special or fun.  It's just utterly forgettable other than when the infotainment system decides to randomly reboot and the adaptive cruise control periodically deciding that the speed limit on the motorway has increased to 100mph and attempting to accelerate to that on its own.  Generally it's a decent car, but for £40K I want it to have at least some sort of party trick, whether that be supreme comfort, the ability to make me giggle like a five year old when I put my foot down, or the ability to move a small country without breaking a sweat...it needs to do *something* other than just being An Car, which is all the Superb does - admittedly aside from the bloody software, it does it pretty well.

£40K feels like a decent chunk of cash for a car, bearing in mind that I bought my first new car in 2009, and that was a Pug 107 which I *just* managed to tip over £10K by basically throwing the entire options book at it.  Was a cracking little thing, and was what I needed at the time - but it means that even this many years on it means I'm looking for three times the car...and that's where I get stuck.

There's just zip on the new market that I see at the moment for that price which I feel is giving me anything for that.  

If I was given that budget, it would probably wind up being a couple of year old Tesla model S to be honest.  I've driven a couple, and while it's very different to most things on these pages, they at least felt in their own way special to drive, in a way nothing we've ever had on the drive from VAG, even at twice our budget has.  Possibly aside from the R8...Though that had impossibility uncomfortable suspension and an interior that rattled worse than the Trabant.

1995...No question.  Xantia please.

[Garythesnail]

Now - I'd just get something quirky I liked the look of - something that made me smile - and look after it. If it broke - fix it and keep it going. Waxoyl every year.... even wash the bloody thing.

No hybrid, no diesel. Estate body.

Metallic goldy-beige Outback with lineartronic?

Really like this 'Rebel Green' on Minis. Shame it looks bloody black most of the time.

 

I reckon a Focus ST in this colour would make me smile every time I looked back at it.

1995...... did Rover ever make a 420 GSi Turbo in estate tourer flavour? I'd go for BRG, Tahiti blue or Nightfire red. Such a good looking car.

[RichardK]

On 18/01/2024 at 21:55, Barry Cade said:

Something I was thinking about today..

You're in a position to buy a brand new car. today . You have £40,000. It's got to do  at least 250,000 miles and you will own it for 15 years. What do you buy?

Same question but it's 1995 and you have £25,000.

1995: Citroen XM V6 Exclusive, a bucket of waxoyl, and a stash of spares with "never take this to a dealer" sticker on the dashboard.

Now? If I have to spend the whole £40K I'm going to struggle. My first choice for "new car you can afford and live with" is a Puma ST, I like my current M135i but 15 years and 250K miles might hurt my spine (plus no option packs), can't have a CX-60 or RAV4 PHEV (or Across) and I kinda wish the Shogun Sport still existed.

If I could wrangle a discount on an Alpine A110...

[RichardK]

Dacia Joggers kick ass, BTW.

[Yoss]

I did buy this in 1995, the 1300, and still own it now. It cost £800. It was my everyday car for many years. I've done just over 100k with it, most of that in the first ten years. Now it only comes out occasionally or does back up duties if one of the Škodas needs work which isn't very often. My daily commute is about six miles so 250,000 is going to take a very long time.

If I had £40k today I'd buy the car behind it. A 2.5PI mk1. Although I'd prefer an estate. All the car you'd ever need. That's not really what you asked is it, but I'm not changing my mind.

[Metal Guru]

On 20/01/2024 at 22:39, Garythesnail said:

Now - I'd just get something quirky I liked the look of - something that made me smile - and look after it. If it broke - fix it and keep it going. Waxoyl every year.... even wash the bloody thing.

No hybrid, no diesel. Estate body.

Metallic goldy-beige Outback with lineartronic?

Really like this 'Rebel Green' on Minis. Shame it looks bloody black most of the time.

 

I reckon a Focus ST in this colour would make me smile every time I looked back at it.

1995...... did Rover ever make a 420 GSi Turbo in estate tourer flavour? I'd go for BRG, Tahiti blue or Nightfire red. Such a good looking car.

Lineartronic is Subaru speak for CVT. Granted better than most but CVT nevertheless.

Mrs has now seen the green ST and wants one. Next time she sees a Bini , she’ll change her mind.

[motorpunk]

On 18/01/2024 at 22:56, SiC said:

Actually I would get a Lotus Evora. The engine should easily do 250k ... it's a Toyota Camry V6 lump. In the low tunes it's identical. Higher tunes have a super charger slapped on it. 

Yes. This. I saw one with 130k on the clock and it was surprisingly fresh. Interiors can get tatty but yeah. One of those.

[New POD]

In 1995, a 3.0 V6 omega or 2.5 TD (BMW engine) would fit the bill. 

Fuck knows today. Can you get a new car for £40k.  Isn't a fiesta about £50k these days, or £350 a month ? 

[egg]

2 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Lineartronic is Subaru speak for CVT. Granted better than most but CVT nevertheless.

When I first saw it, I thought I'd swap my fictional MG5 for it, but yes...

Equally disappointing is the standard automatic gearbox. It causes the engine to drone loudly when you accelerate hard but at least it saves you from making numerous gear changes in heavy traffic.

https://www.carwow.co.uk/subaru/outback#gref

[bangernomics]

2 new lada nivas

In the past, 4 new lada nivas.

[Dobloseven]

13 hours ago, New POD said:

In 1995, a 3.0 V6 omega or 2.5 TD (BMW engine) would fit the bill. 

Fuck knows today. Can you get a new car for £40k.  Isn't a fiesta about £50k these days, or £350 a month ? 

A decent spec 1.0 auto Focus estate was around £38k last year.Think it came out around £600 a month with a 10% deposit for 3or 4 years.Fords tend not to do well on that sort of deal because of the depreciation.A Ssangyong Rexton SUV with a the same list price had a lower monthly payment because it'd be worth more at the end of the deal.

[georgeinabz]

I think the mileage would take me the rest of my life to clock up!  New cars do nothing for me, so I'd step sideways and go for a Transit: ideally L2H1 with twin sliders, windowed; and the extended cabin.  And a towbar.  Even with an auto box it should come in budget.
1995?  As others have discussed, a lovely RWD Volvo estate, job done.

This one I took last week , OK 1 year out 1996 , but 162K and not too much on the advisories , shame he's just outside the 30yr rule for our impending ulez doom which comes in force in June up here.

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

[eddyramrod]

Oh that's nice!  Please tell me it's available, and a 2.3 petrol auto...

[georgeinabz]

Oh that's nice!  Please tell me it's available, and a 2.3 petrol auto...

Not mine afraid , very tidy looking , no rust showing , yes an auto and cloth seats, seen it in a couple of different streets in Aberdeen, original Aberdeen registration too.

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

[catsinthewelder]

Today,  I'm fairly sure I could get a nice Peugeot 508 SW for 40k but the website is dreadful so I gave up trying to work out what it would be.

95, and I don't have to worry about maintenance or fuel?  Citroen XM V6 estate.

[UltraWomble]

On 18/01/2024 at 21:55, Barry Cade said:

You have £40,000. 

What do you buy?

 

A shitload of coke and a boat full of hookers.

[Barry Cade]

46 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

A shitload of coke and a boat full of hookers.

Probably the same end result. You'd end up at the side of a motorway somewhere, skint and alone with a throbbing headache and an itchy tinkle. Much like Range Rover ownership.

[Marina door handles]

Possibly not the most sensible choice but Morgan's Super 3 sits between 35 and 41 k. So I shall have one of those and immediately regret my choice every time it rains, snows, gets cold,  or when I need to do a tip run or a "big" shop.....  

[kevins]

5 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

Possibly not the most sensible choice but Morgan's Super 3 sits between 35 and 41 k. So I shall have one of those and immediately regret my choice every time it rains, snows, gets cold,  or when I need to do a tip run or a "big" shop.....  

could argue its the sensible option though,  one of the lowest depreciation brands.

[groovyboovy]

What about a XBUS, interesting and under £40,000,   well depending on the battery

https://electricbrands.de/en/myxbus/

 

[Barry Cade]

10 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

Possibly not the most sensible choice but Morgan's Super 3 sits between 35 and 41 k. So I shall have one of those and immediately regret my choice every time it rains, snows, gets cold,  or when I need to do a tip run or a "big" shop.....  

You'd be a hero putting a quarter of a million miles on that!

[Dobloseven]

3 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

You'd be a hero putting a quarter of a million miles on that!

Hasn't it got an Ecoboost engine?

[Burnside]

1995 If I'm trying to keep a vehicle going for 250,000, then I would go for a last of the line Vauxhall Cavalier 1.7 Derv CDX Hatchback. 

If I didn't have to worry about covering 250,000 though, then a Alfa Romeo 155 2.0 TS.

Today no idea as I don't have any interest in modern cars and the only ones I'd consider would be outside the budget.  

[Cento16v]

On 18/01/2024 at 21:55, Barry Cade said:

Something I was thinking about today..

You're in a position to buy a brand new car. today . You have £40,000. It's got to do  at least 250,000 miles and you will own it for 15 years. What do you buy?

Same question but it's 1995 and you have £25,000.

I'd say I'm happy with what I've got, 2023 Kuga ST Line Edition PHEV. Feels like it's well made, has the ability to cover a real life 40 miles on a charge, then has a 2.5 Petrol engine so its not stressed and revving it's nuts off to move, comfy, safe, even handles well for a big bus, has a great stereo, great seats, I can defrost it in a morning whilst in the house with the pre heat function, or when out and about using the remote start, same to cool it down in summer, it does 80 MPG yet is powerful enough to overtake slower traffic.

1995 I'd have a Xantia Activa, not using the full allowance but id be happy with it!

[barefoot]

A Toyota Corolla touring sports for me please, that should see me out.

And in 1994 I bought a 7 year old 944S (the one in my sig) for £7,000 plus a Cavalier 2, so I suppose with the extra £18,000 you're offering, I'd have been able to afford a 2/3 year old 964 which would have been even more fucking costly to run over the following 30 years.

[leakingstrut]

Now? Volvo EX30 Twin Motor comes in at a smidge over 40k. Same with the Golf Alltrack if I want a bit more space and less electricity.
 

In 1995 I’d be after a e36 325 TDS SE Touring. 35 quid over over 25k I think. I’d be wanting to option cruise and air con, which would probably blow the budget by at least a grand. In that case I might go for a 300 TDI Disco. 

[JeeExEll]

Oh Autoshite, what has happened to you . . .

Pistonheads discussing £40k Porsches is that way > >

[Barry Cade]

8 minutes ago, JeeExEll said:

Oh Autoshite, what has happened to you . . .

Pistonheads discussing £40k Porsches is that way > >

It's a hypothetical question.. all my life I've had a want list of cars I hope to own some day.. which were probably the equivalent of 40k new now... but I don't have any new stuff now that I'd put on my want list when they get older..  I'm around cars and owners of brand new stuff every day and everyone seems so.... Meh...

[Sigmund Fraud]

In 1995 it would have definitely been a Volvo 900 estate. Not a fan of the modular engine, so I would have tried to find one of the last redblock ones which had just gone out of production.

Today ? Three pre-registered base model Fiat Pandas... hoping that each of them would last 83k miles !

[AnthonyG]

It’s sad that £40k gets you so little these days. I would have plumped for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio but these are way over £50k, and I’m not sure you can get a nice Guilia for under £40k either. Obviously I am ignoring the 250k mileage thing as well! In the real world I will play it safe and go for a Lexus ES. 

I assume you could buy a BMW 325 Coupe in 1995 for £25k? If not then maybe a Jap luxury coupe like a Honda Prelude or Mazda Mx6.