So, what should I get next
 

300 plus miles a week

Need some performance, decent acceleration, < 8 secs to 60

Fancy some grip and handling

5 decent seats

Dont really want diesel, but must be capable of 30 mpg on a run if driven sensibly.

Dont care about image but not an anti snob

under 12 grand

Quite like grunt rather than top end.

How is 0-60mph in 8.3 secs with 50mpg and German quality build. As if you like the sound of it a VW Gold GT TDi 150 would be a goods choice.
If you're not so sure about a VW TDi Golf, how about a Seat Lean Curpra R 5dr 225 BHP 1.8Turbo as used in the Audi TT with 0-60mph in about 6.5 secs I think.

VW = crap.
For the same price or even much cheaper you can get a skoda!
Ok same crap under the bonnet (the tdi is ok, the petrol engines really suck though) and definately not the most reliable car in the world (VW that is) or you could look at something like a honda 2.2 diesel or even better an astra 150 cdti.

Tony:)

vauxhall isn exactly know for its reliability.The MK5 golf isnt all that good other than in GTI form and VW know it. Still a strong contender against its competition though.

Im thinking leon cupra r.

A BMW 330d has the 5 seats, the grunt, the <8 secs 0-60, do more than 30mpg and can be had for £12K and is also a great drive.

whilst being 5 years old and having over 100,000 miles

Nope,

Car Giant
Auto Trader Dealer Pages - Broomhill Car Sales
Auto Trader UK - Used Car Search - Used Cars for sale online.

Fair enough,

My estimates ring true for the coupes though.

Current thinking is an S3 but have seen some nice (yes I know) 330i's for about ten grand, I beleive that the BMW six is reasonabe on fuel for a big engine, I know its a tossers car but its 231 bhp and rwd so hard to ignore, are they robust, do they still warp heads and eat bores ?

The bore problem only occured on the early 328 with the nikasil lined bores. The M54 engines (330i/325i) aren't affected. You;ll be lucky to see 30mpg in mixed driving, more like 20-25mpg with town driving in reality. They are excellent drivers car, solidly built and silky smooth and refined engine that makes a great sound when its being gunned!

But!!! The traction control is set at miss daisy! It chimes in at the merest hint of moisture on the ground!
dave:D

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how about one of these???????

ATR. (Accord Type R).

Buy one for £8k, save the money, and still get 32mpg.

You can switch off though cant you ?

Loads of people on carsurvey.org saying they get 30/32 on motorways, My current Saab does about 33 so I dont think it would be a whole lot worse as the Saab only does 26 around town anyway. Not that worried about it but I dont want something that is in the teens.

If you're too worried about MPG, you can easily find face lift '02 330i in sport spec (recommended) with reasonable mileage and age in saloon or coupe. Go for a test drive!