Help! What car for 25K?

[zombie]

Hi guys,

I currently do not own a car and wish to acquire one for weekend driving. I think I should prefer a car with that is responsive and has good handling.

With my kind of budget, I guess only used cars are within reach. So far, I've been attracted to the contis for their low used price but am not sure what to get. To me, reliability is a must, but a slightly above average maintainence and FC cost is still acceptable to me.


Can you guys help me out with some suggestions on what I should look out for.
Tenkiu. :regular_smile:

 

[insomniac]

For 25k if you're talking about conti it would be cars such as the BMW E30 and the Alfa 146. As far as i know... maintenance for these cars can be quite costly and i'm not sure bout their reliability.

The best bet for you would be to go for a local car for now. U should be able to find a 97 Putra within your budget range. parts are cheap and easy to find and maintenance is not much of an issue.

Pls keep in mind that when u purchase a 2nd hand car it would be a good idea to send it into a workshop for servicing and all that.

Hope that info helps.

 

[razr_sped]

yo...i guess most second hand car
esp those older 1, way bac till early 90s also around that price...
if u wan ke 70 with 4ag also can get...

but the most important thing is whats in ur mind?
u want old skol look or 1 that slightly modern
if u go old skol den der will be more money left
for repairing and reconditioning...
as u say u onli wanted it as weeked ride, den it should be okie if u sent it to workshop for those "spa session" first loh

 

[ehaab]

i suggest Mitsubishi Galant VR4..

 

[imoloq]

A weekend car huh? Go for japanses cars if you want low maintenance.

Last I heard, there's a SR20DET converted Sentra going for around your budget.

 

[hobcai]

SLK from P2

Small little Kelisa !!

 

[imoloq]

CLK oso can.

Cute little kancil

 

[Kclee2002]

a GSR powered satria maybe?

 

[SkYwAlKeR]

i also support mitsu galant vr4.... even it is old, it is a mean beast.... vr4 is well known as a powerful engine... the block is vr strong... by jz increasing the boost, u gain alot of horsepower.... plus, the 4wd drivetrain keeps the car under control... vr good car....

 

[Fluffy]

if u like conti car..E30 is nice.

 

[KeV-TEC]

go for kelisa year 2002, Fc low, maintain fee also low...
can go genting also ma... no problem... 4 years old car only...
23k+

 

[expenditious]

you can get a used gti for around that price...

still a nice worthy car...

but for drift mayb ke70 or just a cefiro...

for conti..yeaa i'll agree wit e30...

 

[zombie]

Thank you all for all the very valuable suggestions and opinions.

I think I'm gonna pass on the older Japanese models since the older contis seems to have better value over the Japs. As for used locals, well better not.

razr_sped, I'm looking for a more modern one, and the E320 and Alfa 146 does seem to be pretty attractive.

But the E30 (early 1990s) is kinda old isn't it? Why do you guys say that E30 is a nice car? :omg_smile:

Alfa 146 is slightly newer around Y97. And the curves are nice.

Anyone got any idea on the monthly maintenance costs to run the each of these two models?

 

[andy_coupe]

The Jap makes are gonna be more reliable and maintenance is also pretty decent. As such, seeing that you like curves and all, I would suggest the Honda Civic EG models. If you're lucky, you can get one with a B16 or B18 readily converted with all the papers done up at about that budget you have there.

If you prefer contis, be sure to make sure that you have some spare cash for the repairs and parts- it's may be pretty costly. Both the E30 and AR146 have pretty decent handling-if it's a driver's car that you're looking at, why not consider the AR145 Cloverleaf or AR155 TS. Price range about the same as AR146 but drivability guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

I've had makes from Proton (Iswara and Waja), Fiat (Coupe) and Honda (SV4 and EG); and I can tell you that the one that spent most of my monies is the Italian make. But the more you drive the car, the more you'll love it. You have to experience it to believe!

 

[xerofighter]

if you are interested in the 146, i got one for sale.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=97929
expenditious, where did you see the 25k gti? you are talking bout the satria gti right?

 

[Ingolstadt]

Common guys, he want a conti. He want a 'fun' car; not a work horse (Kelisa pulak)

I do reckon that E30 is a damn nice car, small, nippy, RWD BMW. Just imagine that, there's almost no other small, zippy, raw BMW.... except the new Z4 M Coupe .....

Alfa Romeo 146 on the other hand, had many versions, heard that the Boxer engine ones had loads of problems, but i cannot stand firm on that coz i did also "~heard~" that contis costs a bomb to maintain and the fact that they aren't THAT hard is actually true. For the year of made, its a real bargain. Maintenance? Hell, 146s are not so hi-tech compared to other contis. I had a staff driving one, hell of a work horse, yupe a side mirror costs RM300 .... so does an Accord's.

I for one, think that perhaps if you could find a Alfa Romeo 145, you'd get both the balance of a cheap and fun to drive conti, and something that'll never ever look out of place in front of a Palace of Golden Horse's Jockey. (Try that with a 1994 Honda Legend and you'll know what i'm trying to comprehend); However, it's very hard to get one coz 145 had some cult status, and for everyone that was let go, it'll get picked up at once, market price is also alot stronger than 146.

Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili ROMEO 145:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/AlfaRomeo.png

http://www.alfa145.co.uk/alfa145-net2.jpg

Dunno whether still available, anyway, here's a hand:

http://autoworld.com.my/aw/list/car/SDSALE.ASP?LID=MYA075420&CATID=RT.AM.VHC.UC.PSG&AT=Sale&AWTOP=

 

[ehaab]

hey..isnt this the one with the boxer engine??..as Alfa 146 had one...
Contis are great as well..they have character...

 

[silver_dragster]

25k?

volvo 850...940...merc E30 also good....also agree with u guys alfa145 nice car..wth..dont expect alot from 25K

 

[Fluffy]

true.25k is a lil tight.but i would suggest the E30! hehe i love it.

 

[zombie]

Couldn't find much information on alfa. Why is the 145 better than the 146?

Ingolstadt, your 145 there is actually above my budget. :regular_smile:

Surprised to see so many recommendations on E30. Trying to dig more info on it now.