opinions on which european car i should buy(limited budget)

[CHEETR]

hey guys, i have just taken on a new job as a business development manager (on road sales) where i'll be meeting alot of high end CEO's in victoria and occasionaly flying interstate.

I'm after something european, and i plan on not leasing or taking out a loan for a car as me and my fiance' are saving to buy our own home (shes at university so funds are strapped) and we are only 22 so just starting out.

I'm digging into the savings as i'll be getting a car allowance with the new job.

so if anyone can recommend a car thats reliable and cheap on petrol (im very mechanicaly minded so maintenance is no issue cost wise) it would be very greatly appreciated, my budget is 10k but im hoping to spend around 7-8k if i can.

here are the cars i have found so far

1996 E36 bmw coupe (1.8l manual)with m3 bodykit,black with leather and sunroof and m3 wheels in 10/10 condition with 160,000kms - $9,000

1998 alfa romeo 156 sedan (2.0l manual) baby blue with tan leather trim and 180,000kms 10/10 condition - $8500

1996 Audi A4 (1.8l turbo manual) gunmetal grey 180,000 kms no leather or sunroof $8900



if anyone has suggestions on those cars, or can even suggest something else along those lines that would be great.


i owned a e36 coupe simular to the black one and it was one of the most reliable and cheapest to run i have ever owned over both ford and holden.

we have a BA XR6 that will be a family car eventually but for now im after euro, so please guys dont post about getting a ford, its definately euro for this one i just need some opinions on which way to go.

[hendrixhc]

None. Stick to an Aussie built ford and support australia!

[CHEETR]

we have a BA XR6 that will be a family car eventually but for now im after euro, so please guys dont post about getting a ford, its definately euro for this one i just need some opinions on which way to go.

[hendrixhc]

Can i ask why the need for euro? Didnt mean to insult, just dont understand the logic.

Driven euro myself and didnt find them anyhting special.

[CHEETR]

i have always been a broad minded person when it comes to cars, have owned skylines, bmws, fords, holdens ec..

and i find the euro cars alot more comfortable for long periods, i loved the beamer i had for driving around all day on the road for work, and leaving my v8 fords and holdens for weekend cars to play with.

[geckoGT]

The audi and bmw are good options.

Not the alfa, they have very poor reliability and earlier models are difficult and expensive to get parts. Dogs and Lemons Guide lists this as "avoid like the plague"

[hendrixhc]

Fair enough then. go the beamer looks good, are nice to drive.

Audi IMO for knobs! ( previous boss had one and he was a complete knob)

Alfas good car but expensive to repair

Have fun with your purchase!

[smally289]

I know you have your heart set on a Euro car, but think long and hard about it. The ones you mention are all 10 years old with near 200,000km on the clock. Ive been a mechanic for 22 years and have worked on just about everything imaginable. These cars have the potential to bite your wallet hard if things go wrong! I agree that they are nice to drive and look at, but scary all the same.

[xy500]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

The audi and bmw are good options.

Not the alfa, they have very poor reliability and earlier models are difficult and expensive to get parts. Dogs and Lemons Guide lists this as "avoid like the plague"

Fair call, the alfas are pretty bad, but i would take much of what the dogs and lemons guide says with a grain of salt, they write off some really tough cars, and talk up some useless ones. Interestingly enough when i checked the dogs and lemons guide gave a poor rating for audis?
i reckon the beemer is the way to go - especially as you already have experience with them.

[CHEETR]

thanks guys, i think i might drop the alfa then seems to be nothing but bad things about them on the net.

i'm leaning more towards the audi as it looks alot newer where as the e36 shape came out in 1990

[Iggypoppin']

I don't want to insult you, so take this with a grain of salt; it sounds a bit like you are trying to impress a bunch of high end execs by buying a euro car, often these sorts of cars are associated with execs so I see your reasoning, but really if you are after a nice day to day work car with impressive looks and a comfortable ride, it might be wiser to shop around a little more for something with more reliability and cheaper servicing costs.

The cars you have listed seem nice; I would love the bmw, but really, there are other options that suit your budget and lifestyle. I am looking at what you want it for, and really feel there are other cars better suited to your needs and budget.

Sorry if I offend you, it is not my intention to do so. Just trying to help out.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by xy500

Fair call, the alfas are pretty bad, but i would take much of what the dogs and lemons guide says with a grain of salt, they write off some really tough cars, and talk up some useless ones. Interestingly enough when i checked the dogs and lemons guide gave a poor rating for audis?
i reckon the beemer is the way to go - especially as you already have experience with them.

Very true, you do have to take their advice with a large grain of salt but I have not heard many good things about the reliability of any car they rate as avoid like the plague.

[CHEETR]

any suggestions 76txcoupe?

im not trying to impress anyone, i simply stated some cars that i find drive very nice and are very comfortable.

im very open to ideas on other cars.. although i do want to stray away from holden and ford as i'd like to keep them as hobbies for weekend cars in the future, and have something different to rack up kms in.

[4Vman]

Personally... with that kind of budget AVOID euro.. it will be a money pit.
Stick with Aussie or Japanese...

[Auslandau]

Don't laugh but I would have a look at a Volvo ..... very reasonable around your price range and some great deals. Fairly cheap to run, can go like the clappers, servicing is way better than all 3 thats been mentioned.

Have a look at the S80 6 cyl turbo. There are some under 10k, under 200k's and very well optioned.

I had an Audi for a while. Great car and the Mrs hates me for selling it but just too damn expensive to service.



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[CHEETR]

4vman - as stated up top, im not asking whether to buy aussie or euro, i have decided on euro.

im simply getting opinions on which euro to buy.

[CHEETR]

auslandau - thanks for that, i'll jump on now and check some out.
not really keen on driving a volvo or telling people i own one, but it is only a work car after all so i'll check that avenue out as well.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by CHEETR

4vman - as stated up top, im not asking whether to buy aussie or euro, i have decided on euro.

im simply getting opinions on which euro to buy.

No probs, my bad.
I hope you have a good mechanic.

[CHEETR]

also stated up top, i am very mechanicaly minded, having built 2 cars featured in magazines and multple other cars over the years in my single car garage from ground up, i do have a fairly good idea on what im doing and i do have the tools to do it myself.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by auslandau

Don't laugh but I would have a look at a Volvo ..... very reasonable around your price range and some great deals. Fairly cheap to run, can go like the clappers, servicing is way better than all 3 thats been mentioned.

A lot of logic there, reliability is pretty good, performance is good and they have a good level of features for their price. It is just a pity they didn't sack their styling department. In the late nineties - early 2000 the styling did improve and I would look at them in that price range. You would get a younger and better equiped volvo than bmw at that price range.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by CHEETR

auslandau - thanks for that, i'll jump on now and check some out.
not really keen on driving a volvo or telling people i own one, but it is only a work car after all so i'll check that avenue out as well.

Thats why I siad dont laugh Take one for a spin ..... if you can work out what all the buttons do ..... they are a great car.



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[CHEETR]

just had a look, a lot of car for your $$ there.. can pick up an S80 turbo 6 with full leather and sunroof around 100,000 kms for about 8k..

[GavL]

Volkswagen Passat like below maybe?

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7739383&__Qpb=true&Cr=9&__Ns=pCar_P riceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_Ma ke_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__No=13 5&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%20463%20408 &silo=1011&PriceTo=408&seot=1&PriceFrom=463&tsrc=a llcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=12406&__sid=1234DF33F4D7

[CHEETR]

thanks gav, i used to sell those, hadn't really looked into buying one though might check some out on carsales

that one is in act though so no good to me lol im in vic

[Iggypoppin']

Nissan maxima....?
Toyota celcior..
Honda integra...

Just a few spring to mind.

Edit: soarer, chaser etc do a bit of digging might find one around 10 k in good nick?

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by CHEETR

that one is in act though so no good to me lol im in vic

:eclipsee_ Road Trip!!!!!!! :eclipsee_

[Yaw]

I can give one very good reason not to buy euro.
Working in insurance I can tell you for fact if you are unforunate enough to have an accident Euro cars take longer to repair as quite often parts are not available in australia and need to come from overseas.

If you must go euro stick to BMW or Mercedes, they do have a decent range of parts in Australia.

[geckoGT]

If you were to have an accident in a Volvo, BMW or Merc that you bought for under $10k, it would be a write off and payed out, buy another.

[RSgerry]

if you buy the Alfa, it might be a good idea to have a spare car...

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by RSgerry

if you buy the Alfa, it might be a good idea to have a spare car...

And a really good tool kit, drive them one day, fix them the next :