Guys as some of you now i'm in the market for a new car as the rusty has passed away.

I've been on the look out for something abit different, but at the same time drives well, looks good and is reliable

And on a budget- 3k at the extreme but near to 2 is better

Ive driven both of the above and have to admit i really really really like the lexus but its abit of a stretch on my budget.

The MG is was less impressed with but it went ok had a decent ammount of kit and handled ok

But what do you all think? Alan Patridge or Pipe and Slippers?

A re-badged Toyota or a car from a company that went bust, hmm hard one!

two totaly different cars for starters one is RWD and the other is FWD.

My mate had the IS300 and rated it very highly but that was an auto where as the IS200 is available in manual.

The MG......I've always been a fan, the ZT was probably the best of the lot though its the 1.8K unit and even though they kinda sorted the problems my experience of K-units is you will had a Head Gasket failure at some stage. I will also say that when I had my 1.6K unit I did find it hard to get some parts like the sealing ring for the fuel line that goes into the injector......I know its a simple thing and its probably not one you would need but its something I'd think about before buyin one "can you get the parts ok"

Saying all that I would not mind the diesel version of the ZT

at the 2 cars, they couldn't be more different

I'd sooner have the Lexus by a long shot.

After all the problems mum had with her MGs, i'd tell anyone to run a mile before buying one.

I quite liked the IS200 when i test drove one, just found i could get a lot more vRS for the money.

Get rollin' in the Lexo!

The 2.5 KV6 in the MG ZT doesn't tend to suffer from HGF like the standard K 1.8s, but they can occasionally drop their bore liners if the right tools haven't been used to secure them during previous work. I rate the 2.5l 190 engine more, and + spec is always worth going for. I think the ZT is a lovely car and drives like a classic British GT should - a big old bruiser with a smooth power delivery and great ride. Bear in mind that getting the belts replaced will cost you about a grand, as will the clutch - try to get one that's already had both done!

The IS is fun too, but very skittish in the wet. I wouldn't bother going for the bigger engines because they drink fuel, have silly (and expensive) emissions and aren't actually a great deal faster. The standard 200 is fine, the 250 at a push. It's worth looking for the sportwagons too as they look great and have a lot more space out back, but they are quite rare.

Rovers FTML

Don't know much about Lexus, appart from Alan Partrigde and Lynx deoderant!!

I had an MG ZT 180 Sport 2.5 V6 a few years back. It was a cracking car, but drank fuel like the space shuttle. My credit card bill went up by £300 a month :rotz: I let my heart rule my head as I was going to get the CDTI diesel version with the BMW engine.

I very nearly brought another one with the diesel lump and auto box when they were selling them off dirt cheap about 5 years ago, but the stealer in the show room was a total toss pot................................

So, any way, MG for me, with a CDTi engine

I'd make the stretch and go for the Lexus.

One of the things you might want to research is the cost of servicing and parts on the Lexus. A friend ran a GS300 for a couple of years. A nice enough car but service costs were horrendous and even things like replacement brake discs cost a small fortune.

I wouldn't touch MG personally but that might just be me

Another suggestion in budget might be this:

Omega MV6

And plenty of V6 Mk3 Mondeo's available in budget too...

Chris

why not go for the ZS? 180

the facelift one? or does that come under the £400+ tax?

Still has the troublesome 1.8 K series, and all of the bits will be stolen by Civic owning chavs Drives very well though, and feels faster than the numbers suggest.

I've tried the ZS, and to be fair its ok, but i just can't get the beefy face lift one for my budget they seem to be going for daft money were as the big zt is well within my budget.

Worse case thinking i guess there is always, dair i say this, the ZR i can get a really really low mileage and very clean- e.g a 52 plate with just 35k on its clock

How hard is it to find a god damm car! all i want is something fun, something different and something within in my budget.

I wouldnt get a ZR mate they are crap build quality. a lad at camp had one before he recked it lol and it was falling apart inside.

How hard is it to find a god damm car! all i want is something fun, something different and something within in my budget.

323 GTX

Get yourself a BMW 535 (E39). Cracking cars, great to drive, good looking, awesome engines and well within your price range for a looked after 1997-ish one. Research the faults and check them out first though

Wouldn't look at an MG myself but that's me.

I did look at an IS200 but the fuel consumption for the size and power of motor put me off.

e36 325/328 for me, and plenty of cash left over for servicing/mods/running costs/insurance

e36 325/328 for me, and plenty of cash left over for servicing/mods/running costs/insurance

That's a good call. I found the 3-series a much better drive than the e39 5-series which is more of an autobahn stormer than something to be enjoying down twisty country lanes. Of course the M5 is the exception to that

I think if I was in the OP's position though and had the intention of saving money, I'd be looking at more economical cars with lower running costs and lower insurance group

Chris

Oh yeah, insurance, forgot about that :P

The search is still on going- really doing my head in this now.

And why oh why can't people bloody be honest in there adds

Went to look at 535 as suggested, everything looked ok but ehy we took it out for a drive it felt alot slower then the figures said on parkers- only to be told it was 520 and it was a error on the add- what a waste of time.

Right now im looking at this

2001 ALFA ROMEO 166 2.0 TS 16V 4DR SAT NAV 17 ALLOYS LAST OWNER 4YRS

Why i don't now- but hey

DON'T DO IT! Lovely cars, but thats still from the "iffy electrics" era.

I'm telling ya, BF 323 GTX ftmfw small, fun and a bit of a cult classic (people generally either don't know what they are or love em)

andy- Can't find one any were near me for love nor money :( not one on ebay even