Hi,

Well... now that m18use has bought my RB5 it's time to think about what to get next.

I want to spend upto a maximum of £15k but am not 100% sure what to get yet. Cars that I _have_ had, and don't want to revisit (not because they are bad, just want a change) are:-

Renault 19 16v... no way!
Rover 220 coupe...snap
bug-eye Merc E320 Avantgarde
94 WRX
99 RB5 WR
2001 Seat Ibiza Cupra

My current shortlist of wants is something like this...
1. BMW 5/3 series - 323 upwards (pref CI coupe) and 528
2. Audi A4 2.8 Quattro
3. Volvo C70 GTS T5 - worried about being v.expensive in general
4. Alfa 156 V6 - v.worried about it breaking

So, what do you think? What would you get and why?

ta,
Matt.

Seems like you're looking at executive saloons with a bit of oomph and a good bit of driver involvement. Have you considered a Jag X-Type (3.0L Sport)? 'Car' magazine describes them as a 'Grown up Impreza', and I'd agree. :D

If you want any more info, come on over to my X-Type Forums and discuss. :D

I like them but I doubt I would get one for £15k :) - will pop over and have a look anyway...

You can get an S type 3.0 for £15k no bother.

BMW 5 series has to be the best bet for long term use though. Should get a 530 v8 for that money :D

Sorry, didn't realise you weren't talking about newer cars. :o

Go German mate...15k will get you a nice S/T reg 528 or S/T reg old-shape 328 coupe. Lovely smooth sixes that are extremely reliable and give you a good compromise between reasonable running costs and performance IMHO. :)

thats my current thinking, although I've heard that there was a design fault with the 2.8 engine? (to do with sulphur and stuff) - does that sound right?

"M52-engined 320i from December 1994, 323i from May 1995 and and 328i from April 1995 may suffer premature bore wear due to high amounts of sulphur in some UK petrol. Solved by replacement block with steel-lined bores"

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/index.ph...ycar/index.htm

So try to find one where the block has been replaced. It's due to running on crappy supermarket petrol and not super.
Unheard of in Germany apparently.

Elise
TVR Griff/Chim
Porsche 911/964

E36 M3 in Estoril Blue!

buy my beemer & stop wasteing your time with the others , have tried all of the above plus more , but the beemers pi** the lot hands down, the only car to match it is the RB5 but you sold that.

bmw 5 series are a top motor but you will lose a packet when you sell, go with the 3 series they hold their money much better especially mine the price just went up lol.

Imported Legacy B4 RSK
2 year old(ish) for that kind of money.
280bhp standard, sequential twin turbo, and FAR more refined than an Imprezza (I do 25k a year + dont get my fillings rattled out)
Suspension set up is superior to M set up as compromise between comfort + performance (I've had a number of Beemers - sorry)

3 series boot is absolutely pathetic (couldnt get golf clubs in unless at an angle which reduces usuable space massively), and rear leg room is pants too. Audi is better, but I've had 3 sets of clubs, and 2 trolleys in the boot of the legacy.

Servicing is much cheaper than the others as well at a specialist (but fuel costs are high !!)

Would avoid the Alfa (friend had one which broke badly - he even had evo on the case about it - still cost £4k to fix within warranty :eek: )

Personally think 3 series are 'common' and I wouldn't have one! 5 series far less common (70%+ of beemers sold were 3's), and the 540 is within budget and very nice - depends how long you plan to keep it, the 5 is due for replacement soon so residuals will be affected!

B4 sounds good, but still going to cost a fair bit to insure etc and maybe you are trying to avoid that!

Volvo/Audi aren't good drivers cars, but both fairly rewarding cars to own - neither likely to have massive bills or depreciation (as the volvo has lost most of it value anyway and the Audi's depreciation on a par with the 3)

My choice would be an early R33 for that money, but I'm a little biased ;) and costs are dearer than all the others!!!

If you want to do that 'touring' thing, how about a 740 or a lexus LS - both can be had for well within budget and look fair bit better than their lesser counterparts!

Bit more lateral thinking required I think as so far the choices are a bit dull...