Dracoro

Need a 'normal' car to supplement the Westfield when I find one!

Need suggestions/pro's/con's etc.
Want something with a little go, so a V6 type thing preferred. Must have a fair few toys (a/c, stereo, electric bits'n'bobs etc.) and not cost ridiculous amounts to run. May have to hook up a tow bar at some point, so must be feasible.
Also wanna be able to leave it 'anywhere' and not worry too much about it.

Current list is

Old shape Audi A6 2.5d/2.6/2.8
Vauxhall Omega 3.0 Elite
Mitsubishi Galant 2.5


Any other suggestions (no beemers or mercs) and why etc.

stam

How about a MK3 golf VR6.

Dracoro

Done the VR6 thing (Corrado), need something bigger tho and relaxing. 4 door saloons type things etc.

Franx

Volvo V90?
2.5 or 3 litre V6 (I think), all the toys and comfy as hell.
That'd make you a volvo driver though

NACRO

Volvo 850 T5?

Saab 9000 perhaps



[Edited by NACRO - 11/13/2003 12:30:19 PM]

Duck_Pond

Have a look at the Executive section on Parkers web site here. Provides numerous ideas.

Dapster

Mate - the ultimate toys to £ ratio comes from France. Renault Safrane, Pug 406, Citroen XM. The fully loaded 3.0 V6 ones come with every bell and whistle this side of a 80 grand S class and depreciate like a piano falling off a cliff. I would question their long term reliability and a build quality that would make you long for your Mk 1 Datsun Cherry, but check this out from a 1 minute search from autotrader...

1999 T Reg Peugeot 406 3.0 V6
Petrol, Manual 5 speed, Red, Saloon, 67,000 miles , 4 Doors. 1 owner from new, full dealear service history, mot, airconditioning, climate control, alloys, electric windows, on board computer, ABS, airbag double, alarm remote controlled, central doorlocks, cruise control, fog lights, immobiliser, mirrors electric, power steering, radio/cd-changer, rain sensor. car is immaculate throughout Call xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx £3,999

I'd still go German and forsake all the toys - say a Merc E or a 5 Series but it doesn't sound like that's your bag.

Dracoro

Like the germans but they will be older models. A6 just fits in and I like the interior. The Omega Elite is a good option as it's powerful, cheap, RWD and all the toys and the interior is not bad.

Big French cars don't really do much for me and the interiors seem to lack that 'quality' feel that I'm after.

Anyone got pics of the Galant interior? (the shark nose type galants - late 90's models).

what would scooby do

get a high spec saab 900/9000 or maybe a 9-3 with high mileage

TopBanana

I'd recommend a 3.0 V6 Laguna - quiet, smooth, refined and really underrated.

330uk

How about a Handa Legend or a Lexus GS300 ?

You may be able to pick up a Lexus GS300 Sport for that kinda money. It doesnt look too bad, has 18" wheels and 220+ BHP (cant remember exact amount) Fast, handles well (for a big car) and goes on forever. also has all the toys leather, cd, climate etc etc

Honda Legend has all the toys and a very smooth 3.5 V6. A bit of a old mans car but very relaxing smooth drive. Could fall asleep whilst driving.

Both cars are very high spec, a bit different and stupidly reliable.

TreyZ32

I would say old shape A6:



Auto, Climate, Leather, 56000 miles all for £3999
http://www.bournemouthautodirect.co.uk/

I bought a 1994 Audi 100 (A6 Shape) auto with 153000 on the clock 4 months ago (£700 with A/C) - I've now averaged approx 2500 miles per month (SE London to Oxford). All I've changed is the Fuel Pump Relay (£16 from Local Audi Dealer).

If you check the Audi forums for what to look out for you should'nt have any problems (or know what to replace beforehand):
http://www.audifans.net/
http://forums.audiworld.com/a6100/

I've found my 100 is big enough for 5 people plus loads of luggage, smooth and quiet on the motorway (not fast though, old VAG 115bhp single cam 2.0 not the later twin cam) and gets over 450 miles per 70 litre tank on the M25/M40 daily grind (against 240 miles per tank in my Z)!

Not exciting to drive but good enough handling for its purpose.

Cheers,
Trev
http://rides.300zx.co.uk/rides/131/

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I had the Audi 100 which precedes the model above, in fact the A6 was just a face lifted 100,it had the same interior which was lovely (the early 100 interior wasnt so lovely), good mpg and even being a 2.0 it wasnt to slo (5 cyl), from what I have read the later shape (current) was a step backwards for Audi reliability wise.

Dont be tempted by aged french stuff, there is a reason why its cheap, cos its cak, they make good superminis and the like but luxury cars are best left to the Germans, or the British, the previous shape XJ should be getting down into that price range now and they came no 1 in the reliability survey in Top Gear recently, our Sharan came absolute bottom, cool !

Brun

Mondeo ST24

R1916v

Omega

V6 and rwd

Dracoro

Cheers guys.

At the moment, it's a toss up between the A6 and the Omega.

Prefer the A6 asthetically(sp?) but for the money I can get a 3.0 Elite Omega which has the adv of being RWD which I'm a fan of plus loads of toys. My dad has a 2.5gls which I've driven lots so know how they feel.

If I can find an A6 2.8 or better still a Quattro then that'd be perfect, however a quattro is harder to find and the 2.8's seem more pricey/rare. Would still be happy with the 2.5Tdi 140 or the 2.6 petrol.

Pumpkin

<Mycroft>
Soarer?
</insert your own closing joke here>

Bobby Peru

Lexus LS400

Techno

I agree with Dapster. Been in a lot of vehicles and for me there ain't many cars that can glide over the bumps as good as a Pug 406. It's fantastic on the Motorways as well. It blends in and I feel you could just about leave it anywhere. IMHO some of the cars that have been suggested are rarer and perhaps more appealing, but this defeats what you said about looking for a car that blends in. Spares/repairs dirt cheap due to the popularity of the 406 which is certainly worth thinking about. Just my 2p worth.

Have you considered going Japanese? Honda Accord perhaps?

Cheers

john banks

I've got a 406 V6 saloon, 1997 year and it goes well and has been reliable. Ride quality is superb, handles tidily, incredibly smooth ride, very quiet, all the toys including heated electric memory leather seats, climate, cruise, autochanger, rain sensitive wipers, heated electric mirros, 16" alloys, global close from the remote, rear blind, oil and coolant level gauges save you having to lift the bonnet etc. 0 - 60 and 30 - 70 both about 6.9 seconds, 0 - 100 about 19.4, 194 BHP and almost 200 lbft. Top speed almost 150 mph. Fuel economy 25-33 mpg depending on how driven. I've had mine from 34000 miles, presently has 71000 and is probably only worth about £2500-3000, getting rid of it soon I think if the uprated Subaru gearbox holds the torque I intend to put through it.

[Edited by john banks - 11/14/2003 8:24:06 PM]

kinky

what about the last shapre Beemer 740i?

TONS of car for NOT much money at all.

Easy pick up a high-miler with full FBMWSH, fully loaded for £4k.

kinky

oooopps - just seen the "no beemers" line.

Sorry.

NiceCupOfTea

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ory=18263&rd=1

I'd have it myself if it wasn't too big for me

Brit_in_Japan

You could get one of the last Alfa 164 3.0 V6 fully loaded for around 2 grand, leaving you another 2 grand for the repairs, front tyres and fuel. Great motorway cruiser, different and the V6 is a beaut !

Alternatively a late 2.0 Twin Spark will be more fuel economic and handles better.

Scooby96

Save yourself £2k and buy my 1996 Saab 900SE Turbo with heated leather, cruise control, electric windows, mirrors, abs, air con / climate control, 6 stack cd

Spend the remaining £2k on a bigger turbo / remap!!