ive owned my scoob for 6 months now. i get bored easily and thinking of changing in 6 months. its a great car, ppp, p1 alloys, quickshift, prodrive spoiler, prodrive suspension, colour coded sills etc etc.
ive spent a bomb on it, but to be honest im sick of going to bed at night worrying about it, scared to park it anywhere, thieving gits etc etc.
i miss the xenons and interior of the s4 and its understated looks. but i wouldnt buy another , the driving position was awful, so i got rid after 3 weeks!

can anyone suggest a quick car, maybe same sort of overall speed as a scoob, but understated appearence.its goota be nice inside, coz the scoobs interior is the pits.
a bit of understated elegance is what i want, and the vandals and thieves will leave alone.
i had a look at a 330 ci, lovely interior, but the peddles are very offset. do u get used to this?anyone tempted by new x-type? or how about an old shape c-class amg?
i bet im not the only one here who chops and changes cars, and all advice is welcome.

My Mum's got her reliant robin for sale http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif, It's got revolution wheels on it http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/cool.gif but I reckon the scum will probably leave it alone though.

How about two quite diverse cars :

Skoda Octavia RS
or
Noble M12


If I was doing big mileages then I am sorry to say it would probably be a 330d

I *think* I am gonna buy my mates Mercedes E320 (new shape), borrowed it yesterday and fell in love with it. It's black and has 18" alloys and looks like a complete pimp mobile http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

I'll do you a straight swap with my Almera!!
It goes faster than normal cos it's a black one!

My current wish list:
E46/55 AMG (Looks just like the deisel)
BMW M Coupe
Audi A6 4.2quatto
911(996) C4

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by chrisp:
<B>

If I was doing big mileages then I am sorry to say it would probably be a 330d

[/quote]

Don't be "sorry to say" http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

I went through the same quandry four weeks ago, and drove/looked at A6 4.2, 330ci, 540i, Merc C and M-classes. Ended up with a 330d touring. Different, build quality the scoob could only dream about, far less 'noticable' whether for the boys in blue or the boys in black and white stripes, so comfortable, so much better designed, so much of a nicer place to be, etc etc. Real world performance within 10% of a std UK impreza, and quicker a-b than the 330 petrol! (still has almost 200BHP and 300lb/ft torque http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif ) and gives 40mpg http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif

Figured I would pine for the impreza, but 4 weeks in, I haven't missed it once http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

There IS life after death http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

gary, do u think the peddles are offset?its probably the main reason i didn't get a previous shape m3 evo, my foot hit the footrest every time i used the clutch on the test drive. it bugged the hell out of me. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif
i really love the interior of the tt, its fabulous, but i dont want the attention it would attract. i wouldnt miss a scoob as such, coz princess has got one as well, which im also insured on. i just want to travel quickly, un noticed, and in a bit of luxury.
also, how long did u own the scoob before u changed. princess gets cheesed off with me coz im never content ( even though she's on about changing to evo 6 later this year!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif)

[This message has been edited by spudgun (edited 18 March 2001).]

just had a look at

Spud,

it's me again!

The M3 has a two year waiting list - not sure how the import route would hold up on dates.

I have just bought a BMW CI 330i Sport - comes with all the options except leather (you get alcantara instead).

It is quite simply superb - pedals are offset compared to Scoob, but not obviously so after a few miles.

Brakes, handling and steering are all truly exceptional and this is compared to the best. When I ran a 323i alongside my Sti, I never used the BMW. I now run the 330i alongside my STi and it is a close call as to which is best.

I paid £29,300 at a UK BMW dealer which is a bit of a discount and it looks fabby value compared to a P1 (or an Sti for that matter). I also reckon that on a dry track it would give a UK Scoob a serious run for its money - the engine is one of the best ever made - from any supplier!

R http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Pedals arn't offset because it's an (cough) auto (cough!) http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif Had the Impreza for 16 months, although every month or so, something else was 'done' to it to keep me going http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

My reasons for changing were the same "to travel quickly, unnoticed, and in a bit of luxury" - the 40mpg/500miles+ per tank is a mere bonus http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Am due to be driving a new M3 next week - will let you know. Have seen one though, and it does look superb - very 'old muscle car'

6 months ago, I would have berated anyone who suggested going from a 280hp impreza to a BMW - let alone a diesel auto at that http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif but 4 weeks in, and I'm loving it. So nice to be in a car that doesn't rattle, doesn't chip paint everytime a stone looks at it, doesn't make you paranoid everytime you go over a pothole, doesn't attract *unwanted* attention, doesn't lose £800 per month in value http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif ........., but still 'shifts' http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif God I'm getting soft http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

I'd def. go for a BM or Merc. I have a STI (own car) and Mercedes C Class company car.

Depends on how much you want to spend. But the AMG C class looks nice (and understated) and interior is very nice and one of the most comfy cars I've been in.

Mine has a tiptronic gearbox. Not sure if it was offered on the AMG, but I use it all the time and is well worth it.

I could have gone for a BMW Coupe', however as I have the Impreza I wanted a big tourer.

However, if I had to have just one car. The coupe would get my vote. Driven them, have to say I did not notice the pedals were off set. That normally bugs me too.

Oh, the agony of choice.

Already decided and have my name down as number one order at local Mercedes dealer for an SLK 32 AMG....oh the wait is going to kill me http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Yex

F40

If it was me, and for not alot more cash I'd plump for a Z3M Convertible - get a decent one for £25k. That's alot of motor for the cash and performance per pound..

Spud

The M3 is on a long waiting list. Ive had one on order since September, and best guess in Sept/Oct. Few people dropped out of my dealers list. Even importers are at the end of the year now, and without a huge saving.

Go try the S3. Ive also owned an S4 as well as the S3 and recently got shot of the S4. S3 is a better car. Fast and still fun. It has better handling and brakes. Trouble is there is a long waiting list now. Think its people that cant get on with the new WRX looks.

For cheap fast fun you could always try the Leon Cupra. Bought one for the wife.

180bhp, Electric Leather Seats, great stereo, very chuckable. Only downside is that its putting all the power through the front wheels. Cost just over 15.5k. You also get to sleep at night. Chip it for over 200bhp.

Jonathan

does z3 m have the old shape m3 evo engine? whats the performance like? interior? do u get xenons?
cheers for the advice so far guys!

[This message has been edited by spudgun (edited 19 March 2001).]

either an old shape m3 evo or 330ci is very tempting. if i had the dough i'd go for one of these. i wish i stopped and thought just how much dough i was blowing on prodrive mods, its easy to get sucked in eh!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/rolleyes.gif
no matter how quick i make the scoob, the traffic jams never get any easier! then u have time to notice the crummy interior.
ppp, sideskirts colour coded, prodrive spoiler, p1 alloys, prodrive suspension, sony cd with 10 disc changer....feck me!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif all this on a car 6 months old! i want my friggin head examined! i'd change now, but i'll take too much of a caning i reckon. so i'll have to drive like a nutter a bit longer to escape the nova boys http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif.
just exactly how much do u lose on dealer mods? i've noticed some cars going in top marques that are going for buttons. i thought scoobies were meant to have good residuals...what a load of tosh!
ah well, winge over...cheers guys!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

Sorry to see you leave the Scooby clan. I have been looking at the market for my next company car and have settled on a MY01 WRX. However other cars considered are the new Focus RS and the Astra Coupe Turbo. You may like to consider both. Another suggestion would be the Alfa Romeo Sportswagon in 2.5 V6 form? The new Mercedes C-Class Sportcoupe is also worth a consideration at £25k for the C230 Kompressor with Evo pack - Goog value?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by spudgun:
<B>

just exactly how much do u lose on dealer mods? i've noticed some cars going in top marques that are going for buttons. i thought scoobies were meant to have good residuals...what a load of tosh!
ah well, winge over...cheers guys!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif[/quote]


Count on losing everything http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif that way any small token you get is a bonus.

I recently sold my 16 months old MY99 with Prodrive Performance Pack, PIAAs, Aircon, 17" OZs etc - £27k when new, sold for £15k http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif Some so called scooby specialists were offering £12k http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif

u aint got rid of me yet guys!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif
heres an alternative i saw today in autotrader......
nissan 200sx touring, n reg, 35k miles, leather aircon the works.....6.5k!!!!
i could get this as a second car. its a bit more discreet, still quick, and best of all, tunable to ridiculous bhp ( i checked with sylvia engineering, and for not much dough can tune it to 400bhp, for big bucks 1000bhp!!!)
i would use this car for commuting etc, and get the scoob put onto low mileage insurance.
what do people think? good idea or bad idea?
i would lose more dosh selling the scoob, i'd rather spend it on a high speed minger that i didn't give a toss about as much as the scoob.
by the way, a year old 200sx loses about 12k, and thats without mods, bargain or what?.
this way maybe i get to have the best of both worlds, and i get to ask u guys more daft questions for the next couple of years http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Sensible: Audi RS2 - ~385bhp in a 80 Avant bodyshell. Quick as a very quick thing indeed.

Silly: Buy two Vauxhall Carltons. One a Lotus, the other a 2.0 GLi. Swap all body "styling" bits from one t'other. Sell "Lotus" replica at profit. Then proceed to burn up everything in sight, but watch out for corners http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif

M8 of mine has a Bm330d saloon and he makes me sick! It's 70% as quick on the road as my Ukturbo my00 and drives nice but has nice seats etc....... and doesn't drink like a lager lout! So it's that or a 5 series 530D next and not the bloody awful and unenvoling,ugly looking new Impreza... sorry! OOOOO s0d it I'll probably have an evo7 and get my house re-mortaged for the fuel!
Hope u solve your problem soon..what a dilema
lol
matthew