ARRON BIRD

Right this is the senario......
Need to buy a car and possably an ex-demo.
Used to BMW quality and luxuries but not prepared to spen £45K on a motor any more. Looking to spend upto a maximum of £30K but less if poss.
What do I buy.
Do I have to have an STI
PS Must have something going for it I.E. a bit of performance and her indoors has to be able to drive it.
Oh and PPS I like sat nav and a nice sound system so if I bought an STI I would need to be recommended to a guy who can sort that bit out and I dont want to see any wires!!!
Comments please.
Dare I say EVO???

Raks

try looking at the stats side of the evo site, as there it gives performance figures and pricing guidelines for new models, so used wud b a little less.

great place 2 start IMO!

merkin

Audi S4 - plenty of poke, lovely interior, lots of toys, very understated and underrated
Only downside IMO is the handling but that can be sorted.

Krade

I must admit I like the Lexus Is200 looks mean and drives as good as the germans

Pavlo

I think the STI7 could fit the bill.

More refined than old scoobs, get a mod "pack" to cover most of your needs and you still have change from £30k.

Or dare I say it, a Skoda Octavia RS, with german build quality, 270hp potental for some nice poke. Only trouble is finding one, but you could have 2 for £30k.

Evo? Wife? Harsh suspension?

How about a BMW 540 with a few years use?

Or what about this

Paul

ARRON BIRD

Pavlo the P1 left such a bitter taste in my mouth.
Is the PPP on the STI a very NOISEY option. My last car had a full Scoobysport system and was too much after an hour or so.

Raks

link doesn't work!!!!

and if u meant evo, with ref to my statement, i meant look at the Evo magazine website!!!!

Big Goon

I would say no Arron, the MY02's have much better soundproofing than the old models, and the Prodrive center/backbox is refined under normal driving conditions, a bit louder under w.o.t.
Altho this is all heresay atm, cos nobodys really seen the STi PPP yet

Look here at a beautiful STi7

TomM

Arron - no Jap car has the interior build quality of BMW so if your looking for something akin to BMW build then I would not get a Scoob - now before all the boys start laying into me etc etc, be honest, the Jap motors are NOT that great inside compared to BMWs, even the Lexus range whilst being solid are no match. Every Scoob owner I know agrees that the BMW build qauility is supreme but they are boring!

30k buys you alot of car. I think the S4 is seriously worth looking at, new model means prices will fall but good examples are already around.

New Audi Cab is also very nice, not quick but nice.

SiCotty

CLK 430, about 30ish on an X plate with all the toys

Si

merkin

p.s. as a guide on realistic prices for s4's i sold a w reg with 18k miles on the clock about 8 months ago for 23k

TomM

The CLK430 V8 is a lovely car, droveone last year with the roof down and yes I di like!!!, not awesome quick but a very very nice engine indeed!

Old CLK 110% nicer than new model!! - new one look like a Hyundai!!

TurboBoost

A 1 year old Alfa 156 GTA for £12k (if you can wait)

chrisp

993 or 996

Phil Harrison

Seeing as how you're asking on a Scooby Board and adding "do I have to have an STi", presumably you're looking for some persuasion. You've got lots of ideas from others about other cars, and you'll already know whether any of them appeals to you. Bearing in mind you're implying that you're looking for a new or nearly-new.....

STi7 is an excellent road car, arguably (flame suit on) a step forward from the old shape. The interior is tolerable, the lights much improved. It's a bit frenetic, 'cos it has to be kept on the boil; and so it needs PPP as much to sort out low(er) rev driveability as to give yet more performance at the top of the bracket. Missus might not like it... (mine doesn't - finds the 6-speed box difficult)? MY02 WRX/PPP (maybe even 5-door for practicability reasons) is, IMHO, a very realistic alternative - altogether less hard edged but speedy and very smooth with a peach of a steering rack. I have an STi7 UK which I love to bits; but I was impressed with my Dealer's WRX/PPP in spite of myself.

But: STi7s are (effectively) all gone, and we await MY'03WRX with interest. If MY03 is technically identical to MY02, then there shouldn't be a wait for PPP (??) (but the experts on the board will give guidance)

So, if you feel you want a Scooby IMHO I'd say wait for MY03, suss out the PPP position and make a decision between that and whatever the next STi is.....funny, I haven't seen any posts about this!! The advertising (a year ago) for STi7 (UK) seemed to imply that 2003 would see another batch of about 1000, all similar to '02, but doubtless much water has flowed under the bridge since then.

FWIW

Phil

dhorwich

What about that new R32 golf when it comes out...

Or that BMW that POC has just bought 330ci or something like that...??

I would probably go for the evo 7, it looks a little less intensive than the STI 7 type UK, so the wife could drive it.... although it may be a little stiff (suspension wise)

Dan

Spudgun VI

aaron

how many miles a year do you do?

J1nxy

Arron

Having been thru the cars for 30K dilema myself I'd say go have a test drive of the 156 GTA. I tried the Sti, BMW, Jag X-Type, A4 etc and decided on the GTA, new its costing me sub 30K with Sat Nav and it has the Bose sound system as standard.....the engine is pretty special as well.

And I know people reckon it'd deprciate like a b'stard but with only 400 RHD a year across both the saloon and sportwagon is it gonna drop as quickly as the rest of the 156 range?????

Steve

P1Fanatic

I personally dont see what all the fuss is about beemer interiors. My mate has a 6 month old 330Ci Sport and its a higher grade plastic, some nice leather and hes got the brushed aluminum dash and inserts but its nothing amazing. Ok so its better than a Scoob and most Jap interiors but give me the Audi S3 interior any day of the week - black leather/blue alcantara electric recaros - schweeeet

Big Goon

Also, would argue about all Jap interiors feeling cheap/tacky, the build quality on my STi is superb, 8000 hard miles in 10 weeks and not a rattle or squeak anywhere.

Pavlo

Sorry, the link must need a cookie or something.

It was for a Passat W8 4-motion for under £26k at Listers.

Whilst searching the trader, I did see a few 330Ci for £28ish, LOADS of audi TT 235s for around 26.

All of the VAG stuff is well built, I found the only A4 I have ridden in to be very dull, quiet yes, but dull.

Paul

carl

Hoovers as much fuel as a Scoob, but only has 150bhp

BOB.T

How much is an RS4 Audi, they're a bit

ARRON BIRD

Think I might buy an old 5hitteer for a while and bide my time.
STI looks favourite at the mo

ARRON BIRD

Just found a fully loaded X Type 3litre sport with 8000 miles for £25K
Anyone had a go in one of these???

Contigo

Every beemer I have been in has had squeaks and ralltes.

Mates got a 330i and has had nothing but problems with it.

Plus they are lottery winners cars

stephen emery

i had a blast in the jag. its a ford ! dull dull dull!
evo bit harsh .
scoob ok
alfa now wonder what thats like?

sad to say but i tryed the lot apart from alfa and bought a scoob and put the 10k away for a little while!

steve

hot4ap1

MY03 with PPP

R32 golf already getting comments from testers about wooden steering.

or a decent P1

igratton

Can't be arsed to read the post for the sggestions so if theres any repeats tough

You're used to BM quality. Bye bye Subaru and Mitsubishi then.

Want something quick with good build for less than 30k......

Audi S3/4?
C43 Merc?
R34 Skyline?

Not sure you can have what you want unless you'll take something older than Ex-demo.

Realistically what can you get for 30k? 330i? You've had one and didn't like it. Not a huge amount of alternatives. 3yo Maser 3200GT?

A TT would suit you though