Old Big Cars on a budget - am I mad??

mcirl2

Hi,

I am looking to buy a car right now and I really want to buy an older big car as there is way better value for money (less demand for one). They are way more comfortable, powerful etc and I dont mind paying the extra insurance / tax but I just got a few questions:

Im looking at the following car models: Saab 900 3dr 2L, Saab 9000 CSE 2L, Saab 95 2L or Volvo S70 2L.

I dont know much about any of these cars but which would you guys choose in terms of reliability. I heard Saabs can be a nightmare but I really want the 9000 as they are v good value - Im just terrified that if something goes wrong its cost a bomb.

Also is the MPG really awful on these 2L models. I know it wont be great. I do a mix of City / Longer drives but would 30MPG be ambitious.

My head says buy an almera / escort / astra but my heart tells me buy one these - I had an escort for yrs and hated it so much, so Im thinking if I had one of these cars I'd enjoy it much more.

My budget is about 1500 (not a lot I know but I dont mind driving 1995 saab 900 - dont care about the year).

What would you guys do - should I be as worried about the running costs as much as I am or should I just go for it?

Any advice / similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

Mike

Anan1

Buy a car that's been well cared for and you should be fine. Go over the service history with a fine-toothed comb, and have the car examined prior to purchase by someone you trust.

quarryman

Bigger cars mean bigger bills. Generally a big old BMW/Merc will be cheap to buy but tax, fuel, tyres, repairs will all add up.

Luxo-barges can sometimes be a false economy.

tfitzgerald

i know how you feel, i like to drive a big car too i had a 2 litre car before and the petrol cruicfied me every time i passed a petrol station i had to pull in and as for the tax it was like a second mortage to me i now drive a 1.6 mondeo and i still get the big car feel but with out the pain in the pocket,any way best of luck.

robtri

as you have pointed out, these are old cars.... very nice but old cars...
as a result you will have to expect repairs and maint. to be more frequent than newer models.

Unfortuantely repairs for these cars are more costly, but on the other side is that there are a lot of these cars in breakers yards so used parts are usually a good way to go.

as ANAN1 said, do your homework, service history is key here, with a full inspection by a mechanic and hopefully you could pick up a good one.....

BrianD3

Those cars are not really "big" by modern standards, for instance the Saab 900 and 9000 are smaller than a year 2000 Mondeo. The 9000 in particular is an old design - around 25 years - and things move on. You might be disapponted with the refinment, comfort etc. of these older exec cars compared to more modern family car.

In terms of reliability, the badge means very little in this price and age range, what does matter is condition of each individual car you look at. To put it bluntly, most cars that you'll come across will be crap. Multiple idiot owners, dodgy bodywork repairs, clocked, not maintained etc. Rather than restricting yourself to Saabs and Volvos in my view you should consider any decent example of any make that you come across

Anan1

tfitzgerald wrote: »

i know how you feel, i like to drive a big car too i had a 2 litre car before and the petrol cruicfied me every time i passed a petrol station i had to pull in and as for the tax it was like a second mortage to me i now drive a 1.6 mondeo and i still get the big car feel but with out the pain in the pocket,any way best of luck.

There's only €169pa difference between a 1.6 and a 2.0 for road tax.;)

mickdw

tfitzgerald wrote: »

i know how you feel, i like to drive a big car too i had a 2 litre car before and the petrol cruicfied me every time i passed a petrol station i had to pull in and as for the tax it was like a second mortage to me i now drive a 1.6 mondeo and i still get the big car feel but with out the pain in the pocket,any way best of luck.

I wouldnt call a 2.0 a big engine. I also wouldnt agree that a 1.6 mondeo would give you any kind of a big car feel. As for the fuel saving, it wouldnt be major between 2.0 & 1.6 if equivalent type/age cars were compared

tfitzgerald

well to me a mondeo is a big car and i cant think of any cars that are much bigger unless you go for a 4*4 which i cant afford

Volvoboy

I really dont think you can class a Mondeo or Avensis a ''big'' car.

Even a Merc E class i wouldnt consider to be a big car, what i would consider is a S-Class, 700 Series BMW.

Mr Benevolent

well to me a mondeo is a big car and i cant think of any cars that are much bigger unless you go for a 4*4 which i cant afford

You're not trying!

Lexus LS400
BMW 7 series
Mercedes S Class

All much bigger, heavier and better built cars for their age. Especially compared to a SAAB 900/9000. Point is you're not going to get a older luxury car with a 2L engine.

I hate to say this but if you don't have the cash to fix the problems that crop up with an old car then you're better off with a more modern car. Alternatively, wait until you have the money to buy something better than an old SAAB. An extra €2000 would give you so much more choice.

Barr

What about a 9-3 Diesel , cheap to run and are quite cheap like this one

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200928194555767

colm_mcm

that 2.2 engine isn't too hot though.

Barr

Performance wise they are slow and unrefined but at least their economical.

Tipsy Mac

I'd go for something proper big, 3-4litre engine big, here's a nice bargain that would cost close on 100k new, yours for €3950 and I'd say that's negotiable

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200929194643149

Some great deals out there on Lexus LS400's and S320's, really a buyers market for these cars. Bad thing is road tax at over €1500 a year but balance that out with the 3-4k depreciation on a Golf or Focus and they start to make sense for someone not putting up big mileage.

Mr Benevolent

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200929194643149

Whoa, that's some car

LS400 '00 69k miles

Maxima '00 61k miles

bazz26

Something like this is old, big and cheap:

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=130518&cat=2

old boy

quarryman wrote: »

Bigger cars mean bigger bills. Generally a big old BMW/Merc will be cheap to buy but tax, fuel, tyres, repairs will all add up.

Luxo-barges can sometimes be a false economy.

i drive a 190e, an i can safely say, your quote sir is bull****e.

Lancaster7

how about some real class?

I have a 96 Jag XJS 4.0 not long out of NCT and is booked in on the 18th Aug

average miles mechanically sound pictures available.....I'll let go for 1500€ just to make space on the drive for something more "exotic"

beertons

bazz26 wrote: »

Something like this is old, big and cheap:

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=130518&cat=2

Has a nice reg too!

Interceptor

It really boils down to your annual mileage and how much you know about cars. If you buy a really clean, well minded, low mileage old barge it will go for ages without much in the line of care - you're not planning on keeping up the main dealer servicing I'm sure. A €1500 car which gives a years service without breaking down owes you nothing - if it dies, buy another one!!

I have a '99 Subaru Outback 2.5 petrol manual (ELV from breakers yard - NCT fail for emissions - €40 second hand sensor fixed it) and it routinely returns 35mpg, I paid €700 for it and apart from oil/filters, petrol and the odd bit of roadtax it is as cheap to run as any '04 Focus when you factor in the lack of depreciation. (My annual mileage is less than 10k btw - I mostly use my mo'bike)

I like the Saab 9000 but the CSE's are getting rare. Oh and don't buy a 9-5 or 9-5 3.0 Griffin.

'cptr

Matt Simis

tfitzgerald wrote: »

i know how you feel, i like to drive a big car too i had a 2 litre car before and the petrol cruicfied me every time i passed a petrol station i had to pull in and as for the tax it was like a second mortage to me i now drive a 1.6 mondeo and i still get the big car feel but with out the pain in the pocket,any way best of luck.

Good god, how limited your car life must be to consider 2litre big. So sad.

quarryman wrote: »

Bigger cars mean bigger bills. Generally a big old BMW/Merc will be cheap to buy but tax, fuel, tyres, repairs will all add up.
Luxo-barges can sometimes be a false economy.

He isnt looking at luxo-barges cars, he is applying the label "big" to what is considered average elsewhere in a typically pedestrian irish manner.

Interceptor

Matt Simis wrote: »

Good god, how limited your car life must be to consider 2litre big. So sad. He isnt looking at luxo-barges cars, he is applying the label "big" to what is considered average elsewhere in a typically pedestrian irish manner.

The OP is a typical Irish motorist - his scope is limited by what he sees surrounding him. You on the other hand must have grown up in Dubai...

Do Texaco send you a Christmas card every year? Phaeton? Me like...

'cptr

coolbeans

old boy wrote: »

i drive a 190e, an i can safely say, your quote sir is bull****e.

Two point:

• A 190 is by no means a big car so I really don't know what you're trying to say.
• Mercs and Beemers of that vintage will, almost inevitably involve big bills. I just moved on a 300CE 24V. Cars like this cost a lot of money and unless you're buying something more like an LS400 or a Legend you're unlikely to get lucky.

Mr Benevolent

Interceptor wrote: »

Phaeton? Me like...

Did you sell it yet Matt?

AÆ

coolbeans wrote: »

Two point:

• A 190 is by no means a big car so I really don't know what you're trying to say.
• Mercs and Beemers of that vintage will, almost inevitably involve big bills. I just moved on a 300CE 24V. Cars like this cost a lot of money and unless you're buying something more like an LS400 or a Legend you're unlikely to get lucky.

Agreed on the 190 (used to own one)..

But older Mercs dont really cost that much...I used to have an 94 W124T and it cost me nothing except running costs...(does drink juice but ride quality is excellent...still miss it..) I would suggest the owner look into a w124 merc.....those CEs are very nice ...but probably better to look at a 2 litre with the lower tax...

OP...since u like saabs and volvos...i would look at a Volvo 850 estate...i was looking at getting one once and my research showed me that they really are a great solid car.

Here is one for 1500...probably could get it for 1200

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/850/200928194530342/advert?channel=CARS

Anan1

coolbeans wrote: »

Two point:

• A 190 is by no means a big car so I really don't know what you're trying to say.
• Mercs and Beemers of that vintage will, almost inevitably involve big bills. I just moved on a 300CE 24V. Cars like this cost a lot of money and unless you're buying something more like an LS400 or a Legend you're unlikely to get lucky.

A 190E is small. And, speaking from experience, you're right.

Seweryn

AÆ wrote: »

Agreed on the 190 (used to own one)..

But older Mercs dont really cost that much...I used to have an 94 W124T and it cost me nothing except running costs...(does drink juice but ride quality is excellent...still miss it..) I would suggest the owner look into a w124 merc.....those CEs are very nice ...but probably better to look at a 2 litre with the lower tax...

The W124 would be an interesting option. These cars are not expensive to run. There is no timing belt to change and all service and mainenance is limited to very simple DIY work (oils, filters, lubricate hinges, wiper and locks, etc.). Any parts are cheap and widely available.

Anan1

Seweryn wrote: »

The W124 would be an interesting option. These cars are not expensive to run. There is no timing belt to change and all service and mainenance is limited to very simple DIY work (oils, filters, lubricate hinges, wiper and locks, etc.). Any parts are cheap and widely available.

I dunno. In principle you're right, but the newest of the pre-facelift W124s is now 16 years old. They are great cars but they do cost money to maintain. I had a 320E with the 5spd auto (which made the car, IMO) but even a 230E will need money spent to keep it sweet. I wouldn't even look at a post-facelift W124, but maybe that's just me.

coolbeans

Anan1 wrote: »

I dunno. In principle you're right, but the newest of the pre-facelift W124s is now 16 years old. They are great cars but they do cost money to maintain. I had a 320E with the 5spd auto (which made the car, IMO) but even a 230E will need money spent to keep it sweet. I wouldn't even look at a post-facelift W124, but maybe that's just me.

Out of curiosity, what's your perception of a post facelift W124

Personally I'd be going for an LS, a Legend or even a Xedos 9 all with full service histories. All the good Benzs are too old and I've heard and seen too many problems with all Beemers, big and small. I'll admit I have no personal experience of any of these larger cars but the way the Japs put together their econo-boxes would give me great confidence in their luxobarges.

AÆ

The post facelift models are the 94/95 models....they have dual passenger airbags and (i think) led light on the drivers door handle....(well mind had anyway)

just reading this

All W124 engines use a cam chain rather than a cam belt. The chain has no specified replacement interval and should last the life of the car
http://www.w124.co.uk/modelrange.html