Gallardo

All,

I've £20k to spend on a new or second hand car.

Current situation - Drive a chipped Golf Gti Turbo V reg, from Warwick to Newcaslte upon Tyne on Monday's and Back on a Friday, very little miles once I'm there during the week.

Problem - Car is a little small and tiers me out.... Also fancy something a bit quicker

Needs to be Practical for this long journey, fairly good on fuel, would love a soft top but 330 conv too expensive.

Have considered Leon Cupra R, Chipped to 280BHP ish, fast reliable, a little bigger than the golf.

would love a 1998-1999 M3 but the fuel and running costs will be too high. any suggestions?

Short list also includes a 530d sport with all the toys, but don't know how much fun I could have.

DC5 was on the list but the VTEC would knacker me out on the long drive.

Tiggs

im a 5 series fan. just sold my 540 for 20K and if buying another would prob get the diesel (esp if i was doing miles)

it feels like a smaller car but looks more like money than anything else you list (depends what image you want)

get a sport and it will look like an M5 and be full up with toys (do NOT buy a 5 series without comms pack)

Gallardo

Tiggs,

What is this comms pack stuff? from what I can make out it houses a Nokia 630i (or whatever it's called) but these phones are outdated now.

My musts for this were Imola Red, Black leather plus Sat Nav, however for a little bit more cash I could get an M5 around 1-2 years older but the running costs would be massive. But what a Thrill...

Tiggs

comms pack is Tv/sat nav screen that also dispalys all the cars computer stuff MPG, etc, etc.

It also houses the phone but as you say thats rubbish- worth it all the same.

An M5 is VERY different money. You will struggle to get a car under warranty for anything close to 20K and i wouldnt touch a car like a 5 without warranty.

Im not a fan of red- i think it makes a classy grown up car look a bit rep mobile- i had topaz ble which was cool with tints and 19 inch alloys!

Dapster

Audi S3, S4 or maybe even an S8
Merc C36 AMG
Porsche 944 S2 (plus enough change to go to the Seychelles on hols)

None of these are very good on juice but hey, they'll get you where you're going quickly!

Abdabz

This could be a scooby forum - so errr consider a scooby???

Dracoro

But he said he wanted fairly good on fuel so I guess that would rule a scoob out unless he goes for a sport etc.

Gallardo

I've done the scooby, EVO and Integra thing and they are all great cars (especially the Teg) but they are very impractical for my needs.

Tiggs, thanks for the info on the Comms pack, I understand what your saying about 5 series in red, and that is true for Sienna red and the horid metalic red, however the Imola Red is quite deep and looks stunning IMO.

Don't like the drive of Merc's and had an Audi A4 which was very poor (old shape)....

A3 for me is overpriced and I could just get an Cupra R.

papascooby

How can a Cupra R be practical and a Scoob not? esp. a 280BHP one.

20k will get you a WRX with PPP

Gallardo

Papascooby,

Um, I would have thought, service intervals, economy on the Cupra would be better when not pushing on compared to a scoob, overall the running costs would be less... and perhaps a little less tiresome when going at a more sedate pace.

cheddar bob

Early NSX
Porsche Boxster 2.5/2.7
stage 1/2 Escort Cosworth Lux
S3
S4
DC5 ITR (would be more economical & quieter etc on long motorway journeys if you stay out of VTEC)
Accord Type R (maybe more practical than CTR, ITR and have plenty money left over)
E36 M3 (example of running costs:
-Group 20 insurance
-Oil Service [Specialist] £105
-Inspection 1 [Specialist] £293
-Inspection 2 [Specialist] £345
-Oil Filter £4.70
-Air Filter £18
-Plugs [set of six] £77
-Front Brake Pads [set] £44
-Front Brake Discs [Pair] £152
-Rear Brake Pads [set] £41
-Rear Brake Discs [Pair] £104
-Front Shock Absorbers [Pair] £338
-Rear Exhuast Box £348
-Clutch Kit £173
-VANOS unit £1099
-motorway driving about 33mpg est.

Actually probably slightly cheaper to run/maintain than ATR/Merc C43 AMG/S4 if you buy one with VANOS unit already replaced or checked with no problems)

Gallardo

Cheaper to run than an ATR? My DC2 cost me zero buck to run other than a oil service when it was due, cheap as chips..

Could not see me in an Escort - no matter which one, can't stand fords, even the top of the range stuff is poor in comparison to their German counterparts.

I really toyed with the Idea of the Boxster, I don't go for all the hairdresser image rubbish! they are damn fine, well enginered motors, however it would have to be the S for me and they cost close to £30k for a lowish mile good one.

16vmarc

M5 would be nice

Gallardo

This is very tempting...

http://www.lancerregister.com/showth...threadid=51138

what would scooby do

BMW 330 ? petrol or diesel as a compromise ?

5 series is even better

Gallardo

It's either going to be a 530D sport or an old shape mint M3 with low miles in Estoril blue. Found a couple of low mileage convetibles but they are pricey for their age..

Dilbrain

I went from a 540 (1998) to my C36 AMG ( 1997). IMO the 5 series gives you slightly more feedback through the wheels , but the noise of the handbuilt engine and the mid-range acceleration is waaay better on the C36. On longer journeys though the 5 series makes more sense , the C36 gives me more smiles per mile though.
Plus every other car seems to be 5 series ( E39) these days , still nice though.

ByByR1

My mate has a new shape M3 he might be selling but it will be mre like £24k.
Y reg, pheonix gold with full leather.

Gallardo

Can't afford a new shape, plus at around the £27k mark it will probably have around 40k miles on it already.

Mmmmm

Saab 93 Cab (last model) came with up to 220 bhp, very easy to chip/boost for more, abbot racing do supension and performance mods that make them into super car challengers. Some say the cab had a little much flex and scuttle shake, but I been a passenger in one to the lakes and it was very pleasant, great seats, Andy who's car it was loved it, they have huge spec for the money. I was very impressed I had a 330 cab sport at the time and the Saabs ride and seats were better.

Mazda RX8 ?

MAZDA RX8 (231 PS) autotrader
Manual 6 speed, 9,000 miles, Red Metallic. Air-Conditioning, Central Door Locking, One Owner, ABS, CD, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Foglights, Traction control. UK Car £19,995.

Some places are offering the 192bhp one for less than £20k new

Gorgeous , practical and a great warrenty

mgg

Taking practicality and fuel costs out of the equation:-

You could be slighlty clever, get a Focus RS ( not practical i know ) use it for 10/12 months, then re-sell it for what you paid for it, as they are seriously holding their value.
Doesnt help you out in terms of fuel etc, but its another car that you can say youve owned etc!

Adam M

if you can't justify the boxster but like reliability/performance/economy and a soft top, why not look at an S2000. In warranty (six years from new unless the owner was a fool) they cost nothing to maintain and out of Vtec mode they go a long way on a little fuel.

If you want to have fun the power is there, and they don't feel like a small car because the bonnet goes on for ever.

Gallardo

Thnaks Guy, keep them coming,

Saab, like it a lot but just seen the new shape and that was very sexy, makes the old car look dated so I'd have to pass on that one.

RX8 - No torque, nice looks though, however a little girllie

Foruc RS, been in one and was nott overly impressed, would not be much of a step up from the Golf on my weekly long drive.

S2000 - Now your talking, love it to bit and was looking at one in the garage last week, however after doing a fair bit of research I think it would become too tiresome on a long drive, so it's out of the window.

The only car that is going to fit my cirteria is a 530d Sport. Comfort, practicality, excellent build quality, performance, handling/drive, exconomic, etc.. I just can't think of another car that will give me all that for the same money.

Still like the look of the M3 Evo though

Tiggs

as an all round car the 5 is unbeatable.

prob with an old M3 is that 20k is a LOT of money to chuck at an old shape car that fast becoming too cheap. pretty soon new M3 shapes will be in the mid 20k's and old cars will be chav mobiles.

good thing with the 5 is it still looks classy despite the new shape.

T

Dracoro

Depends on the driver. I found mine great on the motorways. Drove from Croydon to Chester and back and felt fine. No aches or pains etc. and I'm 6'4 and 16 stone! 6 gears so motorway driving is no chore. Are you doing a long commute everyday? Now my westie, that's a car that's NOT a motorway cruiser in any sense of the word!

Gallardo

you are right, however I would only spend around 14-15k on an old M3, lave a look at the one in the link in this post, good value considering it's mileage etc.. I agree about the 5 though it is a top car..

Gallardo

I'm doing a 224 mile frive on an monday morning followed by the same on Thursday/Friday, weekends are just for fun driving, TBH I really don't feel like getting into the golf for fun after the Friday drive.

so, how about the M3 in the link?

Adam M

I drove 5 hours solidly in the S2000 last sunday. Didn't wear me out.

try to arrange to borrow one for the week, then you will know.

Failing that, rent one. You don't know until you have tried it!

cheddar bob

Have you considered a long distance cruiser for during the week then something a bit special for the weekends, then practicality and comfort aren't an issue for the weekend car?

Gallardo

I just fancy one car as I want to enjoy it for the long journey, short drives during the week and weekends, If I went for a two car thing then I would get a Teg or two seater for the weekend.

Brain says 5 series, heart says M3, tough one!