Ok so, some friends and I have been doing our own Top Gear style challenge weekends. This coming March will be our third year doing one and the rules for a car are as follows...

Must be road legal for no more than £400 and must be rwd.

Now obviously being a zed guy I'd love to turn up for the weekend in a zed but in reality I'm not even going to get an NA auto with no MOT for that money. So let's hear some suggestions for potential cars that I can get in budget. Something random would be good. One of the days will include some drift challenges too but I really don't want to get an old e36 beemer.

 

One last thing, if anyone knows of a zed that's potentially within budget I will travel anywhere in the UK to get it. :-D

Any old Sierras knocking around.......:wink:

 

......For more performance, how about an old nail of a Jag or Merc? Pretty sure you can pick up a usable example of either, certainly with galactic mileage (ex-taxi E or S class?) for that money.

 

Failing that, and back with the Beemers, how about an old 5-series? Remember the TG challenge when JC had that 5-series estate - that thing was bullet proof!!

Prob pick up a 3l awd jaguar x type. Bias, my dad has one.

EDIT: they start around £600, my mistake

What about an mx-5?

 

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-MAZDA-MX-5-BLACK-RECENTLY-HAD-A-NEW-ROOF-NO-RESERVE-/272073835810?nav=SEARCH

All good suggestions. So far I've been looking at Merc and jags. I like the idea of an mx5 but I know I'll get a lot of stick for having a "hairdresser's car".

I'd considered an mr2 but don't know what it would be like to drift as I've never seen one at drift events etc.

I used to own a Mk 1 MX5 and at first was ribbed for having a hairdressers car, but after letting people have a go in it, some of my friends even went out and got their own! I loved mine to pieces and was very sad when it got chewed by the tin worm. I paid £350 for mine and sold it for £400. I took it to Monte Carlo (1994 miles in 5 days) and it never missed a beat. Also, as it was a 1.6L I could go everywhere with my right foot planted and not have to worry... It was worth every penny and I'd happily have another...

 

If you'd be willing to board a ferry, you can get great value on something with a large engine in Ireland. Nobody will buy something 15+ years old with a V8 or so, due to the tax rates.

If you'd be willing to board a ferry, you can get great value on something with a large engine in Ireland. Nobody will buy something 15+ years old with a V8 or so, due to the tax rates.

 

Any specific reason why cars in Ireland will be cheaper? Am I missing something obvious?

Any specific reason why cars in Ireland will be cheaper? Am I missing something obvious?

 

The answer was in his reply. Taxes on large engine cars in southern Ireland are utterly crazy. To tax a Z32 for a year is something close to 1000 Euro, thus, depreciation hits them harder than it does over here. Z32 is a specialist vehicle, so not sure it's affected in the same way, however something like an old luxo-barge will be worthless.

Here ya go - Cougar 2.5 V6 for £350

 

http://www.autotrader.ie/browse-used-cars/ford/cougar/used-1999-ford-cougar-coupe-1998-down-fpa-201214463410169200

Merc E-Class £288

 

http://www.autotrader.ie/browse-used-cars/mercedes-benz/e-class/used-2000-mercedes-benz-e-class-e-galway-fpa-201543237902591

Ah I hadn't realised he was being specific to tax in Ireland. I didn't even consider that it would be different.

Think I'll just stick with the ease of mainland. I'm not good with public transport at the best of times.

I think it's €1500 a year to tax a Z32 and that doesn't fall into the higher tax bracket as it's below 3000cc!!

I think it's €1500 a year to tax a Z32 and that doesn't fall into the higher tax bracket as it's below 3000cc!!

 

€1,688 if you pay by the quarter :( a 350Z is over €1,800

 

Wasn't aware we had Autotrader!

€1,688 if you pay by the quarter :( a 350Z is over €1,800

 

Wasn't aware we had Autotrader!

 

Woah! That's crazy expensive!