[idnan]

Due to change of work and life circumstances I'm finding myself doing 18k a year which is clocking up on my 335i and has put me on first name terms with my local Shell station. Therefore I have decided to get a second car to replace my very tired mk1 Fabia VRS.

My requirements are as follows:

Petrol (suitable for LPG conversion)
Comfortable and would prefer some refinement
Cruise control
Bit of room inside
Decent size engine

Budget £1500ish

Found a few Saab 9-3 2.0 turbos and a few nice Mazda 3 2.0 Sports but have drawn a blank after that. LPG makes sense as I have a spare kit so might as well make use of it (have 2 fitters in the family).

Cheers

Idnan

[stringy93]

I'd consider an E46, a 6 cylinder if your going down the LPG route. You can pick them up cheap as chips now and they munch the miles with comfort

[Shafz325]

Older Lexus LS400? Lots of car for the money and will munch away miles, good for LPG conversions too aren't they?

[idnan]

Originally Posted by stringy93

I'd consider an E46, a 6 cylinder if your going down the LPG route. You can pick them up cheap as chips now and they munch the miles with comfort

A 330i saloon would be perfect but finding one at that price without a million miles is difficult

Originally Posted by Shafz325

Older Lexus LS400? Lots of car for the money and will munch away miles, good for LPG conversions too aren't they?

I was thinking more along the lines of the newer GS300 but still a good shout. Only issue I know is parts can be expensive

[Russbmw]

e39 all day long

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/5?logcode=p

[Kerr]

£1500 to do 18,000 miles a year is a big ask.

I'd be looking at simple Japanese cars. Something like a Honda Accord.

[Sparky68]

Mk2 Focus and dont worry about the lpg

[idnan]

Originally Posted by Kerr

£1500 to do 18,000 miles a year is a big ask.

I'd be looking at simple Japanese cars. Something like a Honda Accord.

Bingo, looking at 2.0i or 2.4i Vtec Accords

Something like this but lower mileage:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-HONDA...item2a3cf20579

Sorry Sparky, never really had a desire to own a Ford, have exactly no idea why?

[idnan]

Car purchased last week and it was right under my nose all the time. My (now ex) boss had a 2002 Mercedes CLK 320 v6 elegance that he had been trying to get rid off. I asked him how much and all he wanted was a grand, needless to say I picked it up off him the next day. It has tax and MOT till October and best of all 42k on the clock and he's had it from new. Since he has 3 cars, this one hardly got driven at all.

Got it LPG converted the same day and have been enjoying wafting to work in it for the last week. First tank cost me £27 and I got 240miles out of it which was 70% local driving so not too bad at all

It's fairly high spec too with cream leather heated electric memory seats, folding mirrors, sun roof, electric steering wheel adjustment, cruise control, auto xenon lights, Nokia 6310i phone prep (wow!) and front and rear PDC.

Couple of niggles include (think they come as standard for mercs of this era) left indicator doesn't auto cancel, slight rattle from exhaust, weird speedo fault only in the morning (has digital readout so no biggie), clicking sound from heater flaps on startup, electric front headrests don't move and weird door lock behavior.

All are common and pretty easy to fix and the last 4 problems should cost about £20 in total to sort. Only one pic as I CBA to clean it and make it look nice:

[gIzzE]

Mercedes CLK 320V6 for a grand.

Superb mate!!

[misterS3]

Good find!! Nice car to cruise in.

[idnan]

Thanks guys, I find that I pretty much never break the speed limit in this car as it is so relaxing to drive. I feel like just wafting from place to place in comfort as it's a far cry from my 335i with coilovers and 19" wheels.

Someone pass me my pipe and slippers!

[hmi1750]

wow! bargain.... I might have to get similar for motorway miles, as my current lease is limited to 10K/yr and I am doing that in 6 months at my current rate!