I need to replace my knacked Toyota Carina daily hack.
Ive a budget of about 1k, and want a lazy auto,leather clad, petrol barge.

Any thoughts, opinions Needs to be ultra reliable, as I do a lot of trips to Santa Pod, Silverstone etc from Northumberland.

Been looking at things like the S80, Camry, Galant, A6, 156 Lusso.

All opinions welcome.

 

The Alfa 156s are a lovely car to drive. I would have one. Just make sure the timing belt has been replaced.

 

An Alfa 156 is not ultra reliable

Volvo S60/V70 T5. They go on forever, great 250bhp five cylinder turbo engine, loads of autos about. My ten year old V70 daily has xenons, dual zone climate, electric seats, leather, folding mirrors etc etc etc. See quite a few with sat nav and things too. Really great value cars at the moment. A remap will make it even more potent too.

Can't think of many cars where you'd get more for your money.

 

These.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS40...item19eeddced3

Offensively cheap.

 

Saab 9000, get a nice 2.3 for under a grand. Simple remap to 250bhp, mega comfortable and can classify for classic insurance now

 

Come on Passionbmw you havent mentioned one yet.

 

Can pick up a 2004 V6 Mondeo for sub £1000!

 

Ade (the ff snapper) has just bought a 166 and loves it

If you can find an ls400 they are good too but most barges will cost more to run than to buy over your ownership in my experience

 

This is what I would get. Looks pretty cool.
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thre...cc-4ltr-estate

 

I found with the manual 166s Alfas that the clutch pedal was awkward to press.

What about a mk3 mondy. The 2ltr petrols fly for a big car.

 

I was going to suggest a volvo T5 or a Lexus Ls400, but since both those have already been suggested, an older BMW 5 or 7 series?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-740i-o...item3ce2e40d93

 

Omega V6?

 

E39, bulletproof, parts are cheap and ultra reliable

 

Plenty of ideas there, cheers chaps.

Not a fan of Beemers or Vauxhalls, Saab 9000 is a good call, as is the MK3 Mondy.
Volvo's seem to be favourite at the moment.

 

Honda accord?

All the mk3 Mondingos I looked at in that budget were fucked. May be the odd good one if you look long enough or get a private cared for example but generally they were shit. Either they had ropey interiors or the outsides had had the shit kicked out of them. I know at that price it's never getting you into a minter but it doesn't have to look like it's been to the moon and back!

I looked at a nice v40 t4 estate at the time, on 130k and everything worked, climate full leather etc... Everything was tight as a button, was up for less than £900. Couldn't get a deal on the old smoker I had in time to get it.

 

yes he has and also has a 155q4 the lad is a glutten for punishment lol and a million other motors lol

 

If you can get a good brick type Volvo for the money, or as others say LS400.

 

jaguar xj?

 

E38 7 series. Mates got a 728 sport on coilovers and x5 wheels. All the toys and looks proper boss

 

Ive put a deposit down on this, pick it up Saturday.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1311222072...84.m1423.l2649
I went to look at a S40 he had and saw this parked in the corner. Never considered them as a viable option at all, as Im a Toyota man, but theres just something about it.
Comes with stacks of toys, one previous owner who has over serviced it, drives like a 1 owner VW product should. No one will ever guess this is my next daily.
Know its not a auto, but on the test drive, it just clicked. Nice way to offset the rawness of my Series 2

 

Jesus....from wanting a big comfy, automatic, leather cruiser....

To a manual, petrol, BEIGE, Toledo !!!!

Talk about a come down ! LOL

 

Something like this would have been more appropriate

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Lege...item3ce32a3d6e