Car buying help

[viper_man]

Need some advice on what cars to look into buying.

Basically Im after a cheap convertible/cabriolet runaround. Anything sub £1500, nothing fancy.

It can be a car or mini 4x4 or anything, just not sure what to go for so had a bit of trouble researching as Ive got no idea what to look for.

Any advice would be appreciated :)

[tannat]

Hmmmm.... 1500GBP ~ $3000 US dollars..

I'd look around for a decent Miata (do-able for $3000 in the US). Might need a bit of wrenching to get to that point for 3 grand, but it's a rear drive platform, light weight, and you can absolutely flog the hell out of it :up:

Tannat

[CarlMetro]

For £1500 you might be surprised just what you can get, especially this time of year, for convertibles. You're probably looking at Ford Escort, Rover 216 but might find a 306 or even the odd Golf for your money.

The best thing to do is use something like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/ Take two minutes to register with them then use the 'more search options' tab in the search box. You will then see a box on the left hand side which says 'trim level' just put cabriolet in there, set the max price to £2000 and you should come up with a couple of hundred cars nationally like I did below :up:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?page=0&searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=none&sort=5&hassearched=Y&make=&min_pr=75&source=0&model=&max_pr=2000&agerange=&mileage=&miles=1500&trim=cabriolet&keywords=&postcode=sg19+2td

[viper_man]

Cheers Carl should have thought of that! Ill get on it right away

[Daniel]

For £1500 you might be surprised just what you can get, especially this time of year, for convertibles. You're probably looking at Ford Escort, Rover 216 but might find a 306 or even the odd Golf for your money.

The best thing to do is use something like http://www.autotrader.co.uk/ Take two minutes to register with them then use the 'more search options' tab in the search box. You will then see a box on the left hand side which says 'trim level' just put cabriolet in there, set the max price to £2000 and you should come up with a couple of hundred cars nationally like I did below

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?page=0&searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=none&sort=5&hassearched=Y&make=&min_pr=75&source=0&model=&max_pr=2000&agerange=&mileage=&miles=1500&trim=cabriolet&keywords=&postcode=sg19+2td
My pick would be the 306 Cabriolet :)

Very pretty car and because it's a 90's Peugeot it will drive nicely because Peugeot built decent cars back in the 90's.

http://www.frenchclassics.co.uk/updates/peugeot306cabriolet.jpg

You'll probably get a mid 90's 306 for that money but 306's are good cars. Very good cars. The 306 was styled by Pininfarina and it shows :)

The Mazda is definitely the better drivers car but your money will probably buy you a car that's about 4 or 5 years older than a 306 though :) I don't think you'd be too unhappy with either of those cars though :)

[Dave B]

I'm sure this doesn't need saying, but....

Whatever you end up buying, invest in an HPI Check (http://www.hpicheck.com/newfrontend/hpi_check.jsp). It's £40, but well worth if you're buying privately. You'd be amazed at how many second-hand cars have outstanding finance (meaning they're still legally property of the finance company!) or have a history. :)

[Hazell B]

Try http://www.ylc.co.uk and click on motor auctions. There's often a few Rover 216s in there and they fetch so little money it's criminal. There's an auction every wednesday and the guy who's in the office is the most honest person in the business, he'll always give you sound advice and fair estimates. The auctioneer's a moron, but the car quality is good on the whole.

[viper_man]

Thanks for the advice all, didnt find too much of great interest on auto trader but Im checking ylc as we speak.

MX5s are out of the question unfortunately. Im not a hairdresser!

[viper_man]

Ooh I might buy a cow

[Captain VXR]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-VREG-NISSAN-200SX-200-SX-2-0-Tur-18-OZ-Split-Rims_W0QQitemZ110076571921QQihZ001QQcategoryZ18238 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If you can stretch to a bit more
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-Nissan-Skyline-R33-GTS-Turbo_W0QQitemZ160071408423QQihZ006QQcategoryZ1823 8QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Nice Skyline

[Robinho]

Thanks for the advice all, didnt find too much of great interest on auto trader but Im checking ylc as we speak.

MX5s are out of the question unfortunately. Im not a hairdresser!

if your after a cheap cabrio, and are looking at things like 306's and rovers then i certainly wouldn't rule out MX-5's purely on the style thing, you will not find a better rear drive, fun, good handling car for the money, and the other options are every bit as hair dresser like.

if it was me, for that money my first port of call would be an mx-5, loads of spares available, loads of mods available, plenty quick and stylicsh enough and handle far better than the other things listed and probably fairly easy to get hold of.

between £1500 and £2000 you may find one with under 100k miles and mosdt will have been pretty well looked after. just take care with imports and make sure you get it fully checked over and i think you may find its the best decision you've made - far better cars thanb a standard hatch butchered to maker a cabrio, rather have a bona fide sports car any day.

alternatively my girlfriend is selling her MG Midget.....

[viper_man]

VXR, neither of those are convertibles.

May well have a look at an MX5 if I can find one decently priced, got to take into account insurance too of course.

Robinho, MG Midget, whats the condition?

[Daniel]

I have to echo what Robinho says. Sure MX-5's are hairdressers cars to some and you'll appear sissy. But anyone who knows anything about cars will see that you have good taste in cars and that you're not ultraconcerned with what people think about your appearance. Think about it as the automotive equivalent to a pink shirt :) Some may think you're a bit girly but it's probably the best convertible you're going to get anywhere near your price range so what's the problem if you like it and it drives better than anything else for the price? :)

[Mark]

Wor lass really wants an MX-5.

Make of that what you will.

[Daniel]

She knows good RWD roadsters when she sees them? :p

[Dave B]

The MX5 is a surprisingly good car.

For a proper hairdressers' car get an SLK. Or, if you want the world to think you're a junior estate agent, a Mini convertable. :p

[Robinho]

VXR, neither of those are convertibles.

May well have a look at an MX5 if I can find one decently priced, got to take into account insurance too of course.

Robinho, MG Midget, whats the condition?

i've sent you a PM re. the Midget, if your interested i can let you have more details.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Need some advice on what cars to look into buying.

Basically Im after a cheap convertible/cabriolet runaround. Anything sub £1500, nothing fancy.

It can be a car or mini 4x4 or anything, just not sure what to go for so had a bit of trouble researching as Ive got no idea what to look for.

Any advice would be appreciated :)

Heres something perfect for you after a little bit of work on it ;)

[viper_man]

JB, that is a disgrace.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

JB, that is a disgrace.

Sorry........... :uhoh:

[CarlMetro]

JB, that is a disgrace.

Yeah, he should have posted pictures of the seriously mashed up front end :p :