Car for under £3000

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Badman_99

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Badman_99
Im looking at getting a car with some compensation from a robbery where I ended up with a broken leg.

Im 25, no full license so thats the first thing Ill be getting with my money. After I pass prices will have shifted a little but I have a small list of cars that are affordable and insurable.

- Alfa Romeo 147 Lusso (1.6 ltr)
- Mazda MX5 (1.6 Ltr)
- BMW 318 (1.8 ltr)
- Audi A3 (1.6 ltr)
- Ford Escort Xr3i (1.6 ltr)
- VW Golf (1.6 Ltr)
- MG ZR (1.4 Ltr)
- Ford Puma (1.6 ltr)
- MG TF (1.6 Ltr)
- Toyota Celica VVTI (1.8 Ltr)

Thats about it at the moment. What I am worried about is the price of repairs/parts for any MG/Alfa I think about buying.

I really like the look of a 147 or a ford Puma but getting parts may be a bit of a pricey thing. Insurance for all of the above is the same for me, so Its a matter of price for parts and repairs. I am slowly moving towards the Toyota Celica though, it has the heritage of Toyota, pleanty of garages around, and is unlikely to break often as is with most toyotas minus the prius.

Owning an alfa is something everyone should do I am told, but I don't want to buy one that will run for 6 months and die on me.

Anyone got some suggestions for a car £3000~, would love RWD but not a huge factor, age is not something too much of a problem I love older cars, got more character to them.

As it is Im loving the look and age of a Toyota Celica/Alfa 147/Puma for FWD, and 318/MX5 for a rear wheel drive option
 
Well my instant reaction is 'Puma', but it will rust away in front of your eyes. You can find a mint example, but give it 12 months of being parked outside and I guarantee at least one bit of it will have started to go. Parts should be cheap - the interior is lifted straight from a Fiesta, and most of the running gear is carried over too. In fact I think the only bit that they didn't borrow from another Ford is the 1.7 engine, although apparently it's all the better for it.

But they're all acceptable cars to be honest. Although I can't for the life of me see the appeal of an A3 or Golf. And you don't appear to be a middle aged woman, so I'd advise against a TF too unless you have some desire to become one.
 
Take them all for a drive. You'll know the one for you when you drive it, trust me. Don't rush.

Just be sure to check over the important things when you have found it, and prepare to walk away if it is a little sus, there will always be a better one.

Trust me, I have rushed into a purchase and regretted it, I'm much more careful now.
 
The Alfa will kill you. From the rest of them, I'd be tempted by the MG, despite what Jon says. It's a much undervalued car. Although the MX5 does everything it does, but more reliable. It'd be the MX5 for me.
 
I'd go for a FWD hatchback. Golf/A3/Celica.

You are older, you are more mature than most first-car buyers. But, I still think you're safer pushing the limits of your car in something that is FWD and less likely to bite back.
 
One of these.


  • Mazda MX5 (1.6 Ltr)
  • BMW 318 (1.8 ltr)
  • Audi A3 (1.6 ltr)
  • VW Golf (1.6 Ltr)
No full license? :confused:
 
I held a provisional lisence 6 years ago, lost it n havent needed drive again, I used to drive with my dad in the car bk from work but ive been a student and had transport for work but in light of my robbery and injury, Id like to get back to working somewhere further for more money now, so I need a decent businessy car.

A celica is what im thinking about, the insurence of all of those is the same.

I like the look of the interior, the exterior, the mpg isnt too harsh. Tax is a little bit harsh @ £200 for the 140.

The choice is really between a BMW 318 and Celicia 1.8 VVti

Both reliable, both the same insurance tax and parts. My cousins own an import tuning garage near maidstone, both had pulsar running high bhp roll cage etc, raced at brands hatch so parts and labour arent a problem.

Ill just wait til I can drive and take as man examples out as i can for a test drive.
 
With the Celica (and to a lesser extent, the MX5, MG, Escort and Puma), make sure either you know exactly what to look out for with the chassis and drivertrain, because for under £3000, a lot of them will have been run to within an inch of their lives.
 
Definitely the MX5. The only real cause for concern is the roof, so make sure it's in good condition before you buy one. My sister has one and a quote on a new roof was priced at around AU$800 I believe. Other than that there's no real technical dramas to report from them, they're actually quite solid and fun to drive considering their size.
 
Badman_99
- Alfa Romeo 147 Lusso (1.6 ltr) Don't. They're nice cars, but until you're absolutely sure you can afford to fix it when it goes wrong (like my brother's 156, which threw a conrod a few months back and left him with a pile of parts) then I wouldn't advise one as a first car.
- Mazda MX5 (1.6 Ltr) Well, I could safely recommend one as an ownership proposition as I have one, and even very cheap ones are good. If you go for one though, just bear in mind that it's RWD and it's your first car, so just take it easy :)
- BMW 318 (1.8 ltr) Ditto the BMW. Good car, less likely to bite back than the Mazda, reliable enough. Just find one that hasn't been thrashed, as the lower you get in the price point, the more likely somebody has abused it.
- Audi A3 (1.6 ltr) Another safe choice. Good quality, and seem to be generally reliable. I'd personally advise getting a diesel over the 1.6 - insurance would be cheaper, it'd be cheaper to run, and the 1.6 isn't a particularly pleasant engine and it's quite small to be pulling along a relatively heavy small car. Diesel is more suited to the task.
- Ford Escort Xr3i (1.6 ltr) You'd get a literally amazing one of these for your budget as most are easily available under a grand now. Just bear in mind that even the newest ones are over 15 years old, so they may have led a hard life. Also, insurance might be a killer as a new driver, even though you're older than the typical new driver. A nice one will be a proper investment though as older ones are going up in value
- VW Golf (1.6 Ltr) Not sure why you'd have this on your list alongside the others. Pretty dull. And again, the 1.6 isn't a very special engine.
- MG ZR (1.4 Ltr) I'd call avoid on this one. They're nice enough, but there are better options on your list. And again, they'll all have been thrashed by this point.
- Ford Puma (1.6 ltr) Can't fault this choice. Pumas are great. Unlikely to find something more fun to drive at this price without spending a fortune on insurance and fuel. As Jondot says though, they RUST. It's the main reason I gave up looking for one, though I was looking at circa-£1k rather than £3k. Parts are dirt cheap because it's a Ford.
- MG TF (1.6 Ltr) I wouldn't. The MX-5 is a much better prospect.
- Toyota Celica VVTI (1.8 Ltr) Nice choice. Looks great, reliable, quick, well equipped. No reason not to go for one, though I expect insurance might be a bit more than the others.
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Hope that helps! I'd mainly recommend the MX5, BMW, Puma or Celica from the above.

Other than that, just test drive as many as you can! Whether you buy a particular example or not it'll still be great fun, and you'll get a much better idea of what you actually like.
 
I'd go for the MX-5 for the reasons already stated. Fun, cheap, reliable.

But I reaLLy, really want a Puma ST160.

1997fordpuma61600x0w.jpg
 
I wouldn't go for the MX5 for the simple reason that it's a 2 seater. You never know when that back seat might come in handy. I'd imagine that the BMW has a bigger boot too.
 
Cale
I'd go for the MX-5 for the reasons already stated. Fun, cheap, reliable.

But I reaLLy, really want a Puma ST160.
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By name the ST160 was never produced, the production model was known as the Ford Racing Puma. Awesome car, but starts at double the OP's budget.
 

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