After a daily driver for sons 1st car, range $2-3000 approx

[KillerX 40]

As per title, anything considered, Reliability not looks .

[lord_jagganath 421]

I have my dad's Windom still for sale, PM if interested. But I suppose you'd prefer something smaller both in the engine and size dept.

[KillerX 40]

Thanks for your offer, but yer right ,something a bit smaller ,Cheers

[JayCee 26]

have a 2001 320i msport e46 sedan, 154kms, silver, cloth/suede interI or, 1 year wof and rego till January. after 4k though but would be an awesome first car !!

[KillerX 40]

Bump, budget up to $4000

[HELLBM 1557]

E46 NZ new `99 318i manual sedan in within your budget.

[KwS 2425]

E46 NZ new `99 318i manual sedan in within your budget.

Thats a sweet deal, and a good first car. Be worth a look imo.

Anything in the $2,000-$3,000 range is a mobile death trap with numerous P.O. bodge repairs, poked suspension and budget tyres.

Not such an issue if only intended for rush hour commuting but a prominant contributor to our staggering rate of 'loss of control' crashes once travelling over 50kmh.

Going through the same exercise for my daughter , I either budget:

-- $3-5k to buy and $2-3 k to bring up to scratch or

-- $5- 8k and a grand to bring it up to scratch.

Either way a reliable and safe-ish first car is not a cheap proposition.

See above, doubt HellBM would be pushing dodgy death traps out the door. Youre so f**king jaded, get a grip.

[Nobimmer 694]

Don't forget to budget an extra $1500 for the bubble wrap and FIA helmet.

Jesus you must be fun at parties, Ron.

[Allanw 1071]

There are $20K cars around in as poor condiiton - at least the parts are cheaper for older ones (generally).

[aja540i 1906]

Hmmm, ive owned numerous cars in the "death trap" price range and i haven't died in any of them!

[KwS 2425]

Hmmm, ive owned numerous cars in the "death trap" price range and i haven't died in any of them!

Too right, a big part of the 45+ cars ive owned have been in that bracket.... i think im still alive. maybe.

[Young Thrash Driver 1020]

I think we are going to loose Ron to the Saab forum. (Does such a thing even exist???)

[andrewm 236]

No it was too obscure and no one could figure out how to use it.

[M3AN 4016]

Watching with interest because I want to retire the M3 from DD duties soon and just want a hack.

[coop 261]

Funny, old 3 pedals has the nerve to lecture someone on what their kid shouldn't be driving then goes on to disclose his own drives an old Pajero! If the shtf at any speed an unstable Pajero would be one of the last vehicles I'd want to be behind the wheel of.

He does have a point in that anything around $3k will need money spent.

For something safe and relatively reliable I'd be looking at a VT commodore or AU falcon. They go for ever and most parts can be bought from repco/supercheap on a Sunday arvo.

I had to buy the old lady a car as an inbetweener. It had to be reliable and decent on gas. Picked up a mid 1990s Honda Accord 2.2 for $2500. Spent $800 on cambelt water pump etc and that car just keeps on going and will probably outlive us all.

[KwS 2425]

I think we are going to loose Ron to the Saab forum. (Does such a thing even exist???)

Is this such a shame?

[M3AN 4016]

^ don't be mean. Variety is the spice of life.

[Rubix 434]

My first car was a '91 Subaru legacy RS Turbo manual. Was also free (thanks mum)- Must've been a horrible death trap.
Had plenty of power to keep me happy, was 4WD, had good tyres on 15x7.5 wheels.
Didn't cost $8k, hell I probably spent 2k on it total over the course of my ownership, before it was stolen and blown up.

Under $4k for Ray's 318i e46 5 speed is a ridiculously good deal and would make an excellent first car/daily. I'd put a lot of confidence in anything Ray sells also.

[KillerX 40]

Sorry guys and girls , son has decided to buy Rays E46 [bloody nice little gem it is]. Even a bit jealous of it myself. A big thanks to HELLBM