Hello,

I've been thinking about a Scoob for a while now. For various reasons (mainly due to Labour's ridiculous tax policies, mainly IR35) we've moved from a 3 car family to a 1 car family.

So I am starting to think about what I could replace my current car with (1995 E class Mercedes)

I am after something in the Audi A4 size. My wife finds the size of the E class a bit of a problem when parking (she's had a couple of minor knocks in it).

My shortlist is [currently]:

1. 5dr Scoob
2. Volvo T5 (saloon or estate)
3. Saab 9000 turbo
4. Audi A4

My heart is saying a Scobby, but my head is saying NO!

Can anyone suggest suitable vehicles? They must be of good quality, take big mileages and be fairly cheap to service.

Cheers,

C

C

Have you test-driven your wish list yet? If not you should do asap.

Before I bought my Scoob, I tested the BMW M3, Audi S4 (the S3 wasn't available at that time) & Golf GTi Turbo.

Why is your head saying no to the Scooby?

Your wife's parking problems could be fixed with some Advanced Driving lessons. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

How about a Subaru Legacy B4 RSK? Something different!

Nick,

No. I've not test driven any of them yet. I am hopeless in that area. If I drive a car and it is OK, I tend to buy it. Hence why I've had 6 BMW's.

Maybe that's why I haven't had a test drive for about 18 months now.

I think my wife will consider the IAM course (I've already done it) at some point, but I think I'd rather buy smething smaller as well.

Someone was telling me that Volvo estates are actually very easy to park - mainly due to the large amount of glass rather than pillars.

C

Nick,

Forgot to add...

My head is syaing no due to....

Insurance, Nickability, not very discrete, might encourage me to drive fast ;-)

C.

Here's one for you:

Mitsubishi Galant VR4 Type S Estate. 280 bhp, AWD with Active Yaw Control like the Evo and full leather. £29,995 from Ralliart, but you can pick one up a lot cheaper if you go grey..

Just an idea?

MS.

[This message has been edited by Martin Stirling (edited 03 October 2000).]

Rule out the Saab. I've lost track of the people I know who've got rid of them due to ruinously expensive servicing.

As for the others, test drive and decide for yourself. I can't imagine you not selecting the Scoob 5dr after a test drive though...

Jerome.

I'd agree with what's been said. Get a test drive, in the end cars are subjective in spite of all the facts and figures.

Volvo T5 - torque steers like crazy and chews up tyres. Same insurance group as impreza I think?

Saab - As above but IMHO less reliable.

Audi A4, A nice car with a lot to recommend it. But you may find them a little underpowered unless you want to spend 30K+

Impreza 5 door. Fast, tons of luggage space, handles as well as the 4 door, reliability and (snif) a great online community that will bend over backwards to help. Downsides are fuel economy, interior, and the ride is'nt as cosseting as the above.

The Impreza is now depreciating faster than it used to, but compared the above it's still good.



[This message has been edited by Neil Smalley (edited 03 October 2000).]

Test drive the Volvo T5R (Its all wheel drive). I also have a Volvo 2.5 AWD (193BHP) as well as the scoob, which is what got me on to AWD in the first place. I took my estate round Cadwell Park a few times and was really impressed with the handling. The T5R is lower and stiffer than mine and has 250BHP by all accounts they are pretty awesome. (they are also just about the safest car around which is why my wife ferries the kids around in it.
I know what you mean about the nickability and stuff, I got a bit paranoid a couple of months ago when there were a few posts about thefts, but its been a bit quieter recently so I just figure if it goes then I'll look at getting something more descrete. I put it down to the power of the press (and bbs's) which tend to put the frighteners on people.
If you didn't hear about it you wouldn't worry about it!
Good luck with your decision, but I would make a point of test driving everything first to make sure you make the right decision.

Cheers
Andy

Hi CA,
choices!! first to get rid off the list is the Volvo T5, nice big motor yes but here is a story for you from a copper i knew.
They have a T5 persuit car, marked and use it on the M25, every week it goes through a set of front tyres (6k miles) and every 2 weeks needs both front and rear changing (12k eeeeeeek!!) too darn expensive is you ask me.
Saab's are a nice car, good build and underrated, the A4 is just a passat really, you may as well save a few grand and buy a vw.
The scoob.... hmmmmm... only owning a 4door turbo i cant see the advantages as much as say "puff the magic wagon" who would give you more info on the 5 door but its one hell of a car to drive, safe, great grip and fun when the wife and kids aint in it!!
Just get yourself down to the dealer and have a test drive, if you like it get one http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif
(best of the 4 if you ask me but then again i own an impreza!!) http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

get a scoob, u know u want to http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

if u want to fit in the kids and the shopping and still have lots of fun http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif there aint much choice for the money is there ?

scoobies are cheap to service, very reliable and well built - well maybe the interior aint gr8 but who cares when u get a smile on your face everytime u drive it.

if u want something different i would certainly agree with looking at the legacy b4 rsk or galant vr4

steve

Volvo T5R has very basic (token effort) AWD system with no centre diff, it has some sort of freewheeling clutch devise on the rear axle and puts a small percentage of power to back wheels only. No patch on 'proper' Scooby system.

Hi Moss,
For what it is it still holds the road well, can be steered very easily on the throttle and is very predictable on the limit, (I never left the track) They are very different cars from scoobs in that they weigh probably twice as much, if you like AWD there isn't a great deal of choice.

Cheers
Andy

Running costs aren't that high. My Sti costs less to service than the wifes Lupo http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif

Not quite as good mpg though http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Like there's a question here...

Duh

He posted to a Soobie board ?? What's he gonna expect??

Richard

CA, Get the Scooby, why? because I used to work for FORD, and in my job I've driven many fast and not so fast cars (Aston Martin DB7, Volvo V70 T5, Merc CLK, Merc S80, Audi A8 4.2, Escort Cossy, you get the picture) and I've just brought an import WRX (running 250bhp+) and even forgetting about the engine it is the nicest, most solid feeling and handling car I have ever driven. If you don't mind the fuel gauge going up and down as quick as the rev counter GET ONE, there is nothing this side of £30,000+ that will touch it (I paid less than £9000 for an A1 condition).

Trev.

Hi All,

OK OK I get the picture ;-)

Supposing I buy from a Subaru Dealer I take it that I will get a 12month warranty. Does anyone know if this is extendable at all?

And whether there are any age/mileage limits on further extensions?

Also, is it just me or is the Used Car section search facility under

If you buy from a Subaru Dealer you will get a 3 year/60,000 mile waranty.

Sorry. I should have said that I will only be buying used, probably 12K budget max.

C

(My days of funding the new car market in the UK are well and truly over!)

So CA, did you buy it, how did you find it?

Oooh I can't wait for the answer....

F

ROTFLMAO!

WTF!

This thread is 3 yrs old - I thought I'd too many beers 'til I read the post above!

There was Floyd thinking he had successfully killed another thread. ;)

Any update on whether the scoob was purchased? :D

I'm still waiting for the answer as well :D

F