graeme jones

Hi All.
After many a regrettable car/motorbike purchase over the years either financial or from a practical point of view I want to make sure my next purchase is well thought through.

I have just had some good news that I have been promoted to store manager after working hard over the last 2.5 years I am made up.
My wife will also get an extra £2k rise this year so things look good for the future and the hard work is paying off finally!

I am going to over pay my current car loan and get it payed off in 1 year rather than the two years it would take to run it's course and am going to get a short list together over the next 12 months on what I will replace my scooby with.

I think I will be spending between £15-18k. It will be a car I want to keep for 5 years or so, insurance and tax aren't a massive issue as I am now 27yrs with 8 years NCB, fuel efficiency again not a massive concern but would like something 20mpg and above for motorways and relative to the perormance it offers so nothing like a vxr8 lol. It will need to accommodate a new family as we plan to have a child next year (end of year) and two dogs I don't really want an estate as I don't know of one on the market that is good looking? A hatch with a decent boot would do the job as journeys as a group wouldn't be daily.
It would also need to be a performance based car so I would be happy to own it for 5 years.

I can't think of many cars that meet that criteria apart from the Subaru Impreza sti hatch and hopefully by then the ring failures will be mostly dealt with.
What would you all buy with all that in mind?

juggers

iTrader: (1)

Theres the hatch or a JDM sti/ spec c without any engine issues and the peace of mind that you can mod it in the future without worrying about the engine.

Immy

graeme jones

I find that having dogs on back seat is a pain in the **** to be fair. Just saw a nice ra for sale very nice.

Oilburner

A Ford S-Max 2.5T should suit your needs perfectly and watch the suprised faces when people realise your 'people carrier' has the Focus ST engine

stuart69

iTrader: (1)

http://bbs.22b.com/cgi-bin/ultimateb...;f=27;t=001360

L.J.F

iTrader: (31)

**** me that RA is stunning. I personally would go for a Audi S3 when you take all of your criteria's into consideration.

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

i would think jdm sti hatch. Or if you want tax a little lower there is an import twinscroll that fits in the lower tax band but cant remember what its called litchfield used to advertise them. Other than that a four door m3 and just not worry about the hatch issues. I am not a fan of audis so wouldn´t have anything out of there range. Or maybe change totally and try a focus rs.

graeme jones

The focus Rs would be on the list but I doubt you will get one under 20k in £12 months as I would expect they will hold their value but then again I will have my wrx to part ex so that will help. The Audi's seem a little soul less to me lacking in character and don't jump out as a performance car until you see the s badge obviously they perform well but are subtle from a style point of view.
The RA is the business but would you put 2 boxer dogs in the back of that! Thats why I think it will have to be a hatch.
As for the s-max good idea but I couldn't admit to owning one lol.

graeme jones

mind you just saw an RS for £22.5k so could be do-able next year as a depreciation will be a couple of grand by then.

danssti

lol graemejones i have the same problem with my boxer(bruno) in the scoob,thats why i have a c-max as a seconed car for the dog now


dan

graeme jones

might buy a 500 quid car just to transport them lol

juggers

iTrader: (1)

Graeme jones you have pm

STi boi

Evo9

graeme jones

Hi juggers my sent items were full so no PM received.
An evo 9 would still be similar position as now with dogs on back seat.

turbo2000dent

Audi rs4? I reckon you could get a good 1 for under 20k