I'm currently running a 54 plate blob sti with mafless remap running 340bhp, I'm always on the look out for a change and wonder what people out would recommend for my needs.
I drive 15 mile to work so the sti is fairly expensive on juice but not the end of the world. It needs to be fastish, 4 seats, around 8k and that's about it really.
I've ran vx220 turbo, mk1 focus RS, focus st, bmw 320/325i m sports, few civic type r's new and old, mk5 golf gti, evo8260 gsr, x5, Clio 197, colt czt, fiesta st, etc etc

I've thought about trying an audi s3 but they seem very expensive and 8k gets you a 100 k miles or cat d in the newer shape model, also wasn't impressed with the evo but it was a 260 and really like the look of the mr models (320/340). Last of all I've thought mk5 golf r32.

I'll leave the rest to you guys

 

M3 if you havn't had one. I have been lucky enough to own some good motors but as an all rounder there is little better at this spend. You will get late 20's MPG with a mixture of fast road and sensible driving, great spec, good looks (in my opinion) and reliable. £8k you can get a face lift E46 with sensible miles. Stick to the manual and 19" alloy upgrade.

Car is a great everyday drive to live with, but is deceptively quick when you stick it up against something

Otherwise you need to increase your budget if you want more

 

Had a few problems with the 56 plate 325 m sport, all electrical that cost a fair bit and I said never again but yeh the m3 does tick all the boxes

 

At the stated budget, keep your present car if it is in good condition.

Depends on what your priorities are what to get next.

 

Sounds like the car isn't the problem

 

I always fail to understand how some people can chop and change cars so much...

 

I dont see an Audi RS6 in that list

 

Budget another £8k on running costs

 

Oh I can, Some people have shorter attention span than others, and a desire to try different ones.
Coupled with no other other expenses such house, wife, kids etc, or no other hobbies, or just available cash to spend on what you desire.
I can quite see it. Does tend to change if / when the above happens.

Richard

 

^ exactly. Life is short and there are many cars to try out and have fun in. If you are happy with one for many years, great, others enjoy life by buying, selling and enjoying the many different types there are out there.

I was like that until the above happened.

 

Well the above has happened, large mortgage and 15 month old, and a fair few hobbies. So to the guy who says I don't so why, why not??.... There are hundreds of cars out there why stick to same thing. Keep going back to impreza's because so far I've found nothing better for the money.

 

Lexus LS430

 

This. I am one such person. I also get why people stick with one car too, it's just not for me.

 

R32 is a real let down. I was looking at them when replacing my classic. Great sounding and looking in mk4 guise but dog slow.

S3 are nice motors and map well with revo up to about 300bhp handy enough.

Only other thing id consider would be a focus ST simply for that 5cylinder note, like old skool audi quattro's!!

E46 m3's are also within budget but loads of scrap too

 

Try a real R32 not a kidding VW variety.....! Depends if you want the feel of a new car or older classic...!

 

Some of us just get through a lot of cars!

I genuinely think the OP will struggle on a budget of £8k as there's not much out there different for that money that will offer anything much different to what you've already had.

I'm currently running a MkV R32 as a daily driver, the OP mentioned one as a possible choice. I absolutely love mine to bits

Disagree with the above comments about being slow, this is a car that'll crack 60 in under 6 and hit 100 in around 14. That's plenty of poke for most of the time for me! I average high 20s in fuel consumption, around 30 on a long run if I don't blitz it.

It's not a 350bhp Evo and won't steer like a Clio Cup. But for me it's a lovely car to commute to work in, has heated leather seats, enough performance to obliterate dawdlers still chewing their toast and makes a great car to carry passengers in. It'll keep up with some pretty serious machinery in a straight line and humble many on a back road. The grip is immense and they handle fantastically. Stir in the immense noise and you've got a very nice car that does a lot of thing competently with plenty of panache.

Worth looking at if you're after something nice to be in. It's a car to enjoy driving rather than thrashing and probably a good match for someone looking to make a morning commute more interesting. I should mention the noise again, think of a mini 911

Might need a little more than £8k to get a good one, decent spec 3dr manuals with leather trim and sat nav seem to start about £8500, a DSG 5dr around £10500 to £12000.

 

Get another evo....mr one not the 260 , or save another grand and get a 9 with the mivec. There's a few about at 9k

The golf r32.....I wouldn't , I've had the mkiv and the mkv , the only good thing on the mkv was the noise when giving it some , interior was nice aswell.
Performance and fuel was crap though.......it sold quick though so must still be popular

 

Audi B5 RS4, M3 or do what I did and go for a 6.0 V8 VXR

 

On a serious note
How do you rate the VXR .....I've been looking at all sorts now I've put the rs up for sale

Still think I have to bite the bullet and get a rs4....it's affecting my sleep pattern
M3 no good to me as it will never be in the league my old csl was

 

It's a cracking car mate and never fails to put a smile on my face, completely different animal to a Impreza, considering its 1600kg it's still pretty quick off the line and pulls all the way to the redline. Definitely worth a test drive to see if it's for you the sound alone is enough to take the plunge with a muscle car!

I was looking at getting a B7 RS4 but after a lot of research and few test drives I decided against it as there are so many huge pitfalls with them should it go wrong it just isn't worth the risk plus the V8 VXR performed better and is more tunable, and much easier to sell.....

 

Bit left field but a 130 bmw?

 

Not as quick as an R32 and not as capable either and I think we've already been put off one of them for being too slow!