Used cars
Posted by: Fisbey on 29 October 2004
OK so can anyone recommend a decent used car (4 door 1.4L/1.6L) for around 2.5k that will give me a few years good service?
Posted on: 29 October 2004 by HTK
Early E36 BMW 316/318? They just go on for ever, can be DIY'd and cost penuts to run.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 29 October 2004 by jlfrs
Ditto Harry but also Honda Civics - they're effectively bomb-proof IMO....
Posted on: 29 October 2004 by Jim Lawson
"Early E36".
Did BMW begin E36 production in 1991 ?
Thanks
Jim
Posted on: 29 October 2004 by Martin D
I thought the smaller BM's engines weren’t very strong coz they get panned as if they were bigger engines
Martin
Posted on: 29 October 2004 by JeremyD
Civic (for performance/economy, reliability and quality of dealer service).
Fiesta (for cheapness - especially if you know the sort of independent mechanic who really ought to have been a surgeon).
BMW (for comfortable seats).
[This message was edited by JeremyD on Fri 29 October 2004 at 20:55.]
Posted on: 31 October 2004 by Linds
Honda Civic...I'll second the "bombproofness" of the Honda Civic. Mine's a 5 door and it's 100% reliable, having taken it from 57,000 miles to 101,000 and counting!!!
Have a look on...
Parkers website Posted on: 31 October 2004 by Linds
Specifically, for the 5-dr Honda Civic...
Honda Civic 5-dr review!!! There's always money somewhere for the next upgrade... !!!
Posted on: 31 October 2004 by HTK
Yes I think it was around '91ish that the E36 appeared - maybe '90? Yes they do get thrashed - and they love it - if they're serviced on time. Unberakable. And pretty strong performers for their displacment. Re Hondas, if you're willing to get an old 'un why not look at something more interesting like a Prelude. The Mk2 wasn't half bad. Ran like clockwork, lovely engines (as has the Cicic) and probably pretty good value by now.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 31 October 2004 by bhazen
The most reliable car on the planet: the Toyota Corolla (it may be called something else in Britain); they make millions of 'em, you should be able to find one in your price range. Consumer Reports magazine is the source of my confidence, along with owning one. Pretty much anything made by Toyota will fit the bill if the Corolla is too small.
Posted on: 31 October 2004 by Steve Toy
A Mk2 Ford Mondeo 1.8TD.
Good on fuel, reasonably reliable, and because it's diesel you don't have to worry too much about high mileages.
The Mondeos are also spacious, comfortable and can be kept on the road with s/h parts taken from scrapped Mondeos.
quote:
Fiesta (for cheapness - especially if you know the sort of independent mechanic who really ought to have been a surgeon).
This goes for all older Fords. I use such a mechanic who also happens to be a scrap Ford dealer and he's kept my Mk1 Mondeo 1.8 TD (250,000+ miles on the clock) on the road for a few years now.
www.rsturbospares.comRegards,
Steve.
