Having got sick and tired of sports cars and the fact i love my Calton, im going to go from 2 cars down to 1, im basing the above amount on the amount I will be able to sell a working 300zx for, plus a Carlton Diplomat, minus cost to fix said 300zx. Leaving me with 2-2.5k.

 

My Shortlist is as follows.

 

BMW E38 + Loved my old E32 - Would need to get a 740i again to get my prefered spec

Mercedes S-Class + Not Sure - Spec a bit low and dash looks naff

Lexus LS400 + Good Spec, its Jap - Again its a 4.0

Jaguar XJ + I like these alot - They rust and fall apart

Alfa 166 + My fave at moment - Alfa's did have a history of falling apart

 

I would like the following

 

6 - Cylinder Engine

Leather

Air-Con

Auto

In Built telephone (I dont know why it just a gadget i realy want)

Onboard Computer

A gadget that is really cool

 

Anything which meets the above spec :)

Yep you can't beat the LS400 or a GS300, the GS has the same engine as the Supra na, superb cars mate, cant beat them, only thing, really need them on LPG.

Out of your list - the Bmw 7 series (e38) would get my vote.

 

Although I would prefer the E39 5 series in Sport trim personally

 

Merc is a big brick.

Lexus is a bit plasticky inside, good engine though

I like the jag - dodgy image though

Im not that much of a 166 styling fan (like the 156 though)

I'd consider a Lexus GS300 at that price range, they seem very good value for money and meet 90% of your criteria. I've seen the newer shape 4.3 litre ones going for silly money considering their original sale price.

Best thing to do, go look/test drive them all then pick

I bought my missus the 740 E38 back in 1999. A 1998 car it was the mutts for going long distance like Italy or Spain, not the best round town. We tried the 728 which was the staight 6 and it really just didn't cut it. Though the one we tried had the Mspec handling kit on it and it was sharper than the 740, but not really any better on the fuel.

 

If your going for the E38 it's got to be at least the 735

99.9% of the milage will be on the motorway, the wifes car if for around town so im not worried about fuel consumption, around the low to mid 30's on a m/way would be nice.

99.9% of the milage will be on the motorway, the wifes car if for around town so im not worried about fuel consumption, around the low to mid 30's on a m/way would be nice.

 

We got that out of the 740 at and average 80mph

99.9% of the milage will be on the motorway, the wifes car if for around town so im not worried about fuel consumption, around the low to mid 30's on a m/way would be nice.

 

I doubt any of those cars would achieve that mpg. Zed will be more economical than them.

 

My 535i used to get mid 20's on motorway.

Problem with the e38 is I would want a 740i but id have to find one which was de-badged or wife would go nuts lol. I looked at the GS300, what kinds spec n toys do you get with it?

Thing with the Alfa it looks naff on the outside front, but where i would be sitting it looks so nice, especially the leather MOMO seats :). Ive seen a nice 3.0 Super Turismo with Sat Nav, phone everything for 2.5k on a 2000 model

My 2.6 carlton gets 38mpg at 80 and thats an old engine.

We got that out of the 740 at and average 80mph

Thats pretty good

We got that out of the 740 at and average 80mph

 

Think i remember my old e32 getting that too, pity at the time i work in the city and got about 8mpg most of the time LOL

Thats pretty good

 

It was ace on the motorway mpg wise and really suprised me. You can check what mpg is with the computor and cruising at 80 was the best mpg you could get.

 

Coming up from Southampton on a Saturday evening all duel carriageway and motorway I manage to average 31 mpg. That was with the odd blip to pass things and the accasional slowing off to wait for trucks to get out of the fast lane.

 

Nail it round the A roads would see it drop to around 15 mpg

My wife borrowed my carlton for the school run for 2 days, the ave MPG was showing 23 but when i got it back it was showing 14. back up to 23 now and still climbing every day LOL

Get all the toys with the GS including heated seats, air con, electric adjusting steering wheel etc etc, and basically 100% reliability, tough cars...

Get all the toys with the GS including heated seats, air con, electric adjusting steering wheel etc etc, and basically 100% reliability, tough cars...

Do you get an inbuilt phone? Apart from the electric steering wheel I get all that with my £103 ebay Vauxall Special LOL.

 

Any cool gadget toys, like Auto Wipers (Alfa), Phone (BMW, Alfa), Fire Protection System (Alfa), Sat Nav (Alfa), Self Closing Doors (Mercedes), Wafting Smooth Suspension (Jag), Electric and Heated rear seats (BMW LWB).

Remember i'm a typical bloke so I buy cars based on 1 of 2 factors. A: How fast it goes or B: How many gadgets i can show off to my neighbours. This purchase will be a B Level purchase LOL

 

i Already have the following gadgets in my fleet of cars

 

Auto Wipers (Citroen)

Air Con (Citroen & Carlton)

Cruise Control (Carlton & 300zx)

Leather (Carlton & 300zx)

Suspension that goes up and down via a button (Citroen)

Self Leveling Suspension (Citroen)

Manual Leveling Suspension (Carlton)

On Board MPG etc Computer (Carlton)

6 Cyl Engine (300zx & Carlton)

Elec Seats in front (300zx 7 Carlton)

Self close windows with Locking Car (Carlton)

Fishpond in boot (Skoda)

 

Want something that has a gadget or 2 more funky than these LOL :)

Bit of a wild card, but how about the Omega Elite 3.0? Always been a very capable car, good reviews written about it. Vauxhall always seemed to be able to build good RWD cars as the Carlton and Senator prooved.

 

You could probably get a 52 plate Omega Elite, fully loaded for that price I am sure there are the odd Irmscher dealership examples knocking about.

 

Bit of a wild card, but how about the Omega Elite 3.0? Always been a very capable car, good reviews written about it. Vauxhall always seemed to be able to build good RWD cars as the Carlton and Senator prooved.

 

You could probably get a 52 plate Omega Elite, fully loaded for that price I am sure there are the odd Irmscher dealership examples knocking about.

 

 

Engines are know to be weak, the V6's arnt a patch on the old Straigh 6 engines. The 12v Straigh 6 is better than the 24v straight 6 and the V6 is weak.

I do agree, but there is only one real issue with the V6 and that's the oil cooler which sits in the middle of the V. I've had a Calibra V6 and I also fitted a V6 engine in my old Astra convertible and both were good units proving reliable.

Most of the Carlton owners i know say to stay clear of the 3.0v6. The 3.2 V6 is supposed to be better, its the same engine they put in the 3.2 alfa 166 i have heard

Pretty sure the two are not related, it's an Alfa designed/built engine.

 

The V6 units fitted to Cavaliers/Calibras/Vectas and Omegas are shared with Saab. Alfa are not owned by GM either.

Think i was going by an ad for a 3.0 166, it said that it came with the 3.0 alfa engine not the crap GM sourced 3.2 of the later model.

E38 740i every day of the week, best build/performance/comfort/options packs/EVERYTHING!

E38 740i every day of the week, best build/performance/comfort/options packs/EVERYTHING!

 

I would actually get the 740iL, not because my 5 and 3 year olds need the leg room, but it has electric rear seats and window blinds LOL