I need advice on best NEW car to buy for up to £15-16K. Has to be NEW cause have been offered company car option. If I had £15k of my own money to spend I would buy a good used Scoob but I dont.

I am temped by the Civic type R (CTR) but havent driven one yet. I have arranged test drive in one next tues which should be interesting. Honda are letting have it over night which is good .

Is there anything else that can offer the same sort of performance for the money. I have read quite a bit about the CTR and am familiar with vtec power cause have 2.2 vtec prelude but its automatic which annoys me at times when trying to drive it quickly.

I dont reckon the clio 172 and other rivals can match the civic on performance and as an all round package. But i would be interested in views on here.

Also what do you guys reckon a CTR will be worth after 4 years with 80- 100K miles on it.

Cheers.

 

Strangely enough, I'd look at the Octavia RS

Ask on www.briskoda.net if you need more info

 

I thought of Octavia RS but I still feel Skoda lacks something on the image. Although they are definatley getting better in that area. I am sure its a very good car and easy to get more power with chip I am sure. Standard i dont think its exceptionaly quick cause on one occasion there was nothing in it in a drag up to around 80 with my prelude.

 

At the moment an early two year CTR with 80k (Y01) is £7775 trade and £9100 retail, according to Cap, but it will go down once the facelift enters the market.

I agree though, the CTR is probably the best all round car for your price range.

 

You might be able to get an MG ZS 180 for that money. I know it's pretty much a 400/45 with bolt on bits, but believe me, they're bl**dy fast, and handle very, very well. The 2.5 V6 sounds superb too.

Plus, as it's a company car, you shouldn't give two hoots about the depreciation.

Just a suggestion...

 

For that sort of money you'd be into

Octavia vRS (as mentioned above)
Seat Leon Cupra
Ford Focus 170 thingy
Renault Laguna 2.0T (165BHP)
Golf GTi 1.8T (I think - though will be replaced end of next year) or possibly GT TDi 150 or whatever it's called.

I'm in the same boat and am considering most of the above (apart from the Focus and Golf), as well as Skoda Superb PD130 or 1.8T, Vauxhall Signum (which for some unknown reason is the same to lease as a Golf 1.8T despite costing £22k

New Peugeot 407(?) is out soon too, though don't know performance details.

Also Pug 206 Gti 180, 307 XS 2.0...

 

I care about the depreciation cause at the end on the term I can buy the civic off the leasing company for just over £4k or so. So if its worth £7K then I pocket £3k or so.

 

Ah... if you're intending to buy it... get the CTR then. I didn't realise they were so cheap (relatively). Look the business too.

 

I have just ordered a Leon Cupra R on a company policy. It was quite expensive as the residual value after 3 years is supposed to be bad.

I wouldnt get a Clio 172, have 2.5 years in one and believe me it has been a nightmare since the start (dealers, reliability, etc) - i wont go into it here, just do a search !!!

Civic Type R is a good bet, i had an older Civic VTI and it was incredibly reliable and the dealers were excellent. At the end of the day you pays your money and you takes your choice...

 

MINI Cooper S

 

Surely CTR is quicker that Cooper S?

 

I know someone who has gone from a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 to a Cooper S - he says it's a hoot and really enjoys driving it..

there must be something good about them then...

 

CTR will be quicker but not as good to drive. Cpr S keep it's money better too.

[Edited by Bobby Peru - 11/11/2003 3:12:33 PM]

 

So are you doing a PCP and the company are paying for it, hence not caring about tax /emissions etc.?
If you want the CTR - go through this lot - www.broker4cars.co.uk the CTR is £15k and the Skoda £14,444 otr

 

Good choice of car

You sound as if you're going to be on the road a fair bit so I guess you need to work out if the firm ride, poor wet traction and road noise is going to be a problem to you. Personally I love my CTR but could see how 20-25k miles a year could take it's toll.

I guess you've got this planned already but just make sure you take full advantage of the overnight demo and knock up some serious milage.

If you're definately into getting a new CTR then check out drivethedeal.com. You used to be able to get one for about £14,850 without A/C. (£15,700 with). It may also be worth waiting for the 04 model to come in. Had a look at the sport today and the body kit looked really good in the flesh. The 04 model is supposed to handle/perform better too.

Alternatively for about £15k you could also try:

206GTI 180
ST170
Mini CS
MG ZR(?)
Leon Cupra R
Clio 172/Cup.

 

can't believe no ones mentioned the ITR!!!
can pick one up for prices round about 15k if you look in the autotrader but think litchfield imports have a few in stock for sale.

 

Doh - you really arent the chosen one are you !!!

IT HAS TO BE NEW

Jza

 

For that cash, I'd splash it on a Leon Cupra or push the boat out and get the 225 bhp 'R'!

 

i was waiting for the 'get an evo' brigade but then re read and noticed u said new,lucky escape

 

I am worried now that the CTRs ride is going to be very hard. At the moment most of my driving is motorway and good main roads so I am hoping that it wont be too bad.

If I do go for it I reckon I will pay the extra for a/c cause dont think I could live without it especially if we get summer like the one just past.

Cant decide on colour either. Black looks really good but I bet it will be a complete nightmare to keep clean with every little spec showing up. Problem is no availablity on silver until March for new 2004 model. So only other option is red.

Is the red metalic?

 

No mate the red is flat. IMHO black and motorway miles don't go as the thing will be filthy all the time. Red is not bad but can fade if not polished regular. Hence I went for Silver although it seems that every car is silver these days.

Not sure where you are but I'm sure that Avonvalve, Northampton has silver CTRs in. They're really good incidentally and gave me a really good deal on a new one (on par with drivethedeal.com).

WRT the ride you should be ok on the motorway although tyre roar is a bit noisy. I don't bother about such things but if you do then just chew them up and change them for something with a softer side wall.

I probably overstated the ride thing as the CTR is actually a very comfortable car. I regularly go from MK to Mid Wales via Moreton-on-Marsh/Worescester and find the journey unfatiguing every time. The problems are, as you will find out, potholes androad imperfections which tend to make the car skip about.

 

I believe the tyre roar becomes less of an issue if you replace the OE Bridgestones for Toyo T1s.