Recommend me a cheap, non-boring car (ages Audis reliable?!)

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I've just sold my car for financial reasons to move down to something around the 2 - 3k mark, and I really dont want to end up driving something in the Punto/Micra/Fiesta range so I was looking at older, higher milage cars with a bit of character like the below:

Audi http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=610025

Merc http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=672892

Pajero http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=663647

Wondering what the good folks here would make of going for a car of that age with that sort of milage? And how you rated the above makes for reliability at that age?

Have to think of resale aswell as I'll be emmigrating in 6 or 7 months so I want to make sure I can get rid of it again...

Leaning towards the Audis but admittedly dont know much about them (just stumbled across them on my searches by price range...)

Any recommendations?

HashSlinging

I'd go for the audi for tax reasons and that 1.6 will go forever, once serviced correctly.

peasant

Forget about "Jeeps" for that money ..they'll be tired, very tired from a lot of hard work.

The Audi A4 1.6? Nice enough car, not particularly exhilarating to drive, the 1.6 is a bit asthmatic

I'd go for the (a) E class Merc (provided it has no major rust and the engine has been serviced regularly) ...should keep going for another good while.

No race car either though, especially in 2.0 form ...but a nice, competent drive.

rebel.ranter

I think I would plum for the Merc too. I think they were still making decent cars back then.

A few years ago herself had a 1997 A3 1.6L that we got with 43k miles on the clock, it gave me nothing but trouble. It put me off Audis for life!! Could have been an unlucky car though, always problems. Head gasket went, electrics played up constantly, the instrument cluster had a mind of it's own. The immobiliser system also had a mind of it's own, sometimes it would let you start the car others it wouldn't, even a new key didn't solve the problem. It let water in & the floors were always saturated.

The only thing I think of when I see a Pajero of that vintage is a great big dirty black could of smoke coming from the exhaust. I have heeard that they burn oil (more than normal) once they reach a certain mileage.

BnA

How 'bout this

Nice Comfortable car. Full leather. Looks clean. Honda Engine.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=669777