I've had my Astra VXR for 3 months now and although it's running with the reamscience map i'm still getting bored with it (performance is ok but the interior is nothing special).

I'm now toying with the idea of getting a sensible car as i'm only driving 70-80 miles a week (to and from work) so have 2 options

Seat ibiza 1.9tdi FR - 07 - 08 plate, cheap to buy and run and look comfy?
I've had a remapped Fabia VRS in the past so know these are nippy when mapped (same engine)

Volvo S40 2.0tdi Sport - 07 plate - look classy, cheap to run, reliable? nice extras on sport models

I've just bought another bike for the summer so i'm thinking all i need is a reliable, comfy, cheap to run, wont depreciate a lot car?

any input?

 

I'd go for a Fabia VRS before a Seat FR. Never did like Seats they always seems very cheap inside.

 

i would go for the seat my mate has 1 and swears by it and a mate with an volvo convertible who has had nothing but trouble since he bought it new from the dealers put me off em the amount of siht he has had

 

Well i've had the Fabia so would prefer something else, the Ibiza looks more sporty (exterior) and is cheap £7500 for a 57 plate with 30k

I've heard about Volvo problems but they seem a bit hit and miss - i did have the older shape S40 2.0T prtrol which had coil pack problems and some electrical ones but thought the newer shape cars were better?

 

I have a Leon Sport TDI with the 2 litre engine, the 1.9 engine is very good but the 2 litre is better, not sure if they put the 2 litre TDI engine in the ibiza though.

Build quality is fantastic on the Leon and it is very comfy, I imagine the Ibiza should be a similar quality, never been in a VXr but the build quality is far better than a standard astra

 

yep, i've had an A3 with the 2.0 140bhp engine (standard) and it was good, the newer 170 engine is a lot quieter/ smoother though but has the DPF
I don't think they put the 2.0 engines in the pre-new shape Ibizas? as even the Cupra is a 1.9

 

Sorry but if I were only driving 70-80 miles a week I'd have a gas guzzler, stuff practical with that tiny mileage!

 

That's why i bought the VXR, it's not the mpg i'm that bothered about it's just that i don't really need a fast car.
A tdi would be ok as it'll be nippy if i need it?

 

I would either get a 2006-07 vw GOLF GT TDI only about 140bhp or a BMW 320CD m-sport looks nice, got quite abit of torque and can be remapped for more but they're reliable and solid aswell as economical.

regards

VJ

 

Was thinking the same. 80miles a week in a car that get's poor mpg is nothing really.

Keep the VXR, drive in more sensibly to work & back, and then on the days you want to have a brisk drive around, the car is there.

 

It's not the mpg i'm worried about, it's just having a fast car worth so much for a commute seems a bit pointless?
I thought the Seat at £7.5k at 4 years old with low miles would be better? depreciation shouldn't drop as much as the VXR and it should be easier to sell later and i'd also be able to park in in car parks without being too worried?

 

So if you want to release a bit of cash get a Leon Cupra for 2k and chip it to 210bhp - plenty pokey enough and 30mpg!

You've got plenty of options for something interesting rather than a derv with that sort of journey. (and I own a derv!)

 

Swapping cars always costs a fortune, even if you get something cheaper. Keep the Astra.

 

Seems like you're actually trying to avoid depreciation, especially with the Astra GTC coming out later this year.

Why not buy a classic car i.e. something more than 10 years old that you can stick on a classic insurance policy with that mileage and that won't depreciate.

 

Still undecided, been offered a 2007 Mini Cooper S (new shape - turbo) with full Aerokit cheap but it's got 50k - might be too high?

Also looking at Pug 207gti 175bhp (same engine as Mini isn't it?), can pick a 2008 - 2009 for £8k with <15k seems cheap

I've been offered £9k for my VXR, 57 plate with 30k - doesn't sound a lot but it'll only go down more each month

 

on a personal opinion if i bought a seat i think i'd rather quickly wish it was a proper volkswagen , golf gt tdi may be the way i go soon

 

Glad my Cupra wasn't like the rubbish MKIV Golf - looked and handled better (in 2001)!

On to the OP - are you actually considering saving 1k to get a 207 GTi over a VXR? WTF?!?!?? (and you won't save 1k as mentioned above, always costs to change) You won't get any better depreciation on a Pug!

 

Well done the deed today, got myself a cheaper car to run, 2k less than similar cars so shouldn't depreciate as much, quite nice inside, looks - er - different, it's a













Alfa MITO

 

nice but will lose money at the same rate... sounds like you needed a change anyway

 

Yep, fancied something different and can honesly say i haven't seen more than 3 on the roads and they've been out 2 tears? (cue comments about Alfas breaking down and always in the garage)

 

Completely disagree, I bought the Leon because IMO it looks far better than a golf, to me the only golf which stands out is the GTI or R32.

As for the Mini, even with 50k on the clock with the low weekly milage the overall milage would soon balance out