The Thousand Quid Challenge

[Rollo]

No doubt we've seen Top Gear's challenges to buy a car for £1000 etc etc etc. Does this work in the real world?

This then is the challenge... who can find the best car in the world for £1000?

At today's market rates:

£1000
€1110
US$1660
A$1797
C$1753
¥147805

Let's see who can find the best car in the world for a thousand squid.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Jon Brown was the first to arrive at our pre-arranged meeting point :p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200947346495104/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/alfa_romeo/price-to/1000/radius/1501/page/2/postcode/pr30tf?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fp ostcode%2Fpr30tf%2Fradius%2F1501%2Fmake%2Falfa_rom eo%2Fprice-to%2F1000%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc%2Fpage%2F2&anchor=advert200947346495104&logcode=p

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=1025290130&width=266&height=200

2000 ALFA ROMEO 156 2.0 Twin Spark

£850

[Dave B]

I win! I've found a Clio Sport with a 9 litre engine :p

RENAULT Clio 1.4 Sport

2000 Reg, Hatchback

£950
Private Seller
85,000 miles Transmission 9.0L

Diesel[/*:m:h941n9pt]
Miles, PAS, CL, E/w, s/roof, front fogs, sports seats, 14 alloys, MOTd May 2010, first class driver. £950. 07955 xxxxxx or. anytime[/*:m:h941n9pt]327 miles

[MrJan]

Sticking to what I know:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200944344900463/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/toyota/model/mr2/price-to/1000/radius/1500/quicksearch/true/page/3/postcode/ex28tb?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fp ostcode%2Fex28tb%2Fradius%2F1500%2Fmake%2Ftoyota%2 Fmodel%2Fmr2%2Fprice-to%2F1000%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc%2Fquicksearch%2Ftrue%2 Fpage%2F3&anchor=advert200944344900463&logcode=p

MR2 Rev3 N/A Import. Looks tidy enough and has the uprated engine and suspension (plus cosmetic differences). Not properly checked the spec but looks tidy enough and is stock so room to play with.

Alternatively,

http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/ads.html?page=show_ad&adid=615&catid=5

Rev2 Zircon blue but with the Rev 3 engine and gearbox (got an extra 20bhp). Owned by an owner's club member so you know it's been looked after, plus it's a T-bar and UK model so fairly sought after.

[Mark]

You will be asked to complete a series of challenges.... :D

[Dave B]

We've started playing the Top Gear Drinking Game (TGDG). SImple rules: take a swig of your drink every time:


Clarkson says "in the world", "some say" or "on that bombshell".[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
May is referred to as "Captain Slow"[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
A production runner hands them a challenge[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
They meet up in a car park for said challenge[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
Somebody "accidentally" crashes into another presenter's car[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
A car is deliberately wrecked (bonus point for Morris Marinas)[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
An attractive woman is strategically placed in the background of studio shots[/*:m:3ase5o0h]
The star in a reasonably priced car suddenly leans forward when his/her lap time is about to be revealed[/*:m:3ase5o0h]Try it sometime. You'll be on the floor by 9:15 :beer:

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Even though we cannot be sure that my car works (being an Alfa) I really think i've got the best one so far.

[Dave B]

So what's the first challenge then?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

1) Reliability challenge - drive from London to Liverpool. (minus one point for every breakdown, plus one points for achieving fuel economy of more than 30mpg)

2) You must get your other forum members killed whilst driving through the proud city of Liverpool by writing slogans on each others car.

3) Modify your car with any money left from your original budget for a race.

4) The race.

[MrJan]

I've got this licked. MR2 can just about manage 30mpg but won't break down because it's Japanese (unlike the Alfa and Clio which are Italian and French, meaning that they will breakdown about 10 times). Then I'll just daub something about the Sun being right on one of the others car. And I won't need to spend any money on modifying because my car looks quicker and will obviously win.

What's my prize? :D :bounce:

[Daniel]

I've got this licked. MR2 can just about manage 30mpg but won't break down because it's Japanese (unlike the Alfa and Clio which are Italian and French, meaning that they will breakdown about 10 times). Then I'll just daub something about the Sun being right on one of the others car. And I won't need to spend any money on modifying because my car looks quicker and will obviously win.

What's my prize? :D :bounce:
If I was to enter I'd buy a Mk1 Legacy Turbo like Carolines bulletproof, quick and not too bad considering everything for economy.

[MrJan]

If I was to enter I'd buy a Mk1 Legacy Turbo like Carolines bulletproof, quick and not too bad considering everything for economy.

Yeah but when I spray paint 'Sod the 96'* on the side you won't make it to the finish.



*Not my own opinion BTW.

[Dave B]

I've drawn a giant Sun newspaper logo on John Brown's Alfa but some scousers have nicked my car so I'm off to source a replacement.

[Daniel]

Yeah but when I spray paint 'Sod the 96'* on the side you won't make it to the finish.



*Not my own opinion BTW.
I'm confused :mark: Sod the 96? :mark:

[Dave B]

I'm confused :mark: Sod the 96? :mark:
The 96 who died at Hillsborough (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_Disaster), blamed by a certain tabloid for their own demise.

[Daniel]

The 96 who died at Hillsborough (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_Disaster), blamed by a certain tabloid for their own demise.
Ah!

The things you miss out on in Australia :p

[Mark]

I didn't know what "the 96" was, but being Liverpool I guessed what it might be.

[MrJan]

Might just be being a football fan then, there was quite a big campaign for Justice for the '96. I'm sure Rollo can give some proper detail.

[Daniel]

Might just be being a football fan then, there was quite a big campaign for Justice for the '96. I'm sure Rollo can give some proper detail.
Back on topic! :p

It would be nice if there was some sort of off road race, the Subaru would be well equipped for that. Just hope it's not a race on the track though, the Mr2 would probably kill it.

[harvick#1]

We've started playing the Top Gear Drinking Game (TGDG). SImple rules: take a swig of your drink every time:


Clarkson says "in the world", "some say" or "on that bombshell".[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
May is referred to as "Captain Slow"[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
A production runner hands them a challenge[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
They meet up in a car park for said challenge[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
Somebody "accidentally" crashes into another presenter's car[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
A car is deliberately wrecked (bonus point for Morris Marinas)[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
An attractive woman is strategically placed in the background of studio shots[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]
The star in a reasonably priced car suddenly leans forward when his/her lap time is about to be revealed[/*:m:2k2s1j0b]Try it sometime. You'll be on the floor by 9:15 :beer:

:laugh: :up: I'm all for that drinking game :D

[MrJan]

Not relevant Daniel, you don't buy a car for under a grand and expect it to go winning off road races :p : You'd have been better off pitching some kind of 'how much shopping can you get in' challenge. Although I reckon my genius packing skills could run you close :D

[Daniel]

Not relevant Daniel, you don't buy a car for under a grand and expect it to go winning off road races :p : You'd have been better off pitching some kind of 'how much shopping can you get in' challenge. Although I reckon my genius packing skills could run you close :D
Do you not remember the Bimmer vs Jag vs Starion challenge? ;)

[MrJan]

Do you not remember the Bimmer vs Jag vs Starion challenge? ;)

You cannot use Top Gear as a source for logic :p : I still reckon I'd win, mid-engined is always the best way.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I might come last in all the challenges but I will have the most enjoyable time losing. Afterall, thats part of the joy of owning an Alfa

[Rollo]

http://liveimages.carsales.com.au/private/carsales/6766973.jpg
1989 HOLDEN COMMODORE VN EXECUTIVE
Price - $900
Interior Colour - Grey
Kilometres - 152,580
Engine - V6 cylinder Unleaded Multi-point injected 3.8L (3791cc)

All of this sounds brill' until you get to:
Road Worthy Certificate - No

Hmm, the car's not roadworthy. Then we need to make it so! How hard can it be? :D

[Daniel]

http://liveimages.carsales.com.au/private/carsales/6766973.jpg
1989 HOLDEN COMMODORE VN EXECUTIVE
Price - $900
Interior Colour - Grey
Kilometres - 152,580
Engine - V6 cylinder Unleaded Multi-point injected 3.8L (3791cc)

All of this sounds brill' until you get to:
Road Worthy Certificate - No

Hmm, the car's not roadworthy. Then we need to make it so! How hard can it be? :D
Is there an award for nastiest and most horrible car? If so you'd win hands down.

[Rollo]

I'd certainly win Mr Yeo's 'how much shopping can you get in' challenge. Besides, they're not that nasty. They're just like the Vauxhall Carlton which won European Car of the Year in 1986, only bigger... and nastier... and more horrible... ok, you've sort of made a point here, but they still not that nasty.

[Daniel]

I'd certainly win Mr Yeo's 'how much shopping can you get in' challenge. Besides, they're not that nasty. They're just like the Vauxhall Carlton which won European Car of the Year in 1986, only bigger... and nastier... and more horrible... ok, you've sort of made a point here, but they still not that nasty.
They're not nasty if you compare them to Rover Metro's or Austin Allegro's but compared with all the cars others have chosen, it's pretty frigging nasty :p