Sugggestions for a new car??

Post by **pete** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:23 pm

Perhaps not the first time this has been asked, not even the first time I've asked it but...
I've had my PPP'd '03 WRX for about a year now - I do like it, especially in the rain when I doubt anything will touch it for sheer sure footed ground covering practicality but it is a bit thirsty and I fancy a change.

The story so far - I waa looking at BMW 330d/320d but I continue to be astonished by the prices they go for - my budget is about 9k and for that money I can get a nearly new Mondeo TDCi. But I just drove the Ford and they are not what I'm looking for, 50mpg maybe but big, wallowy, and well not what I want. If I'm going to get something so bland I would be better off getting a 3k one and spending the cash on something else.

So then I thought maybe a compromise, an Integra?? Might be too small (one of my wife's colleagues has one which he loves - I'll go and look at it when I get a chance) much more economical than the Scooby, but maybe a bit small. Accord type Rs are cheap but may still be too thirsty to make it worth changing (anyone have experience).

So if you had 9k to spend on a family car (only one child though - aged 2 and a half and we travel light) what would you get? I do about 18k miles a year, it must do better than 30mpg, it must handle, it must be fun.

Failing that anyone knnow of any diesels going in the 3k range (and I'll spend the cash on the house instead)...

Pete

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:42 pm

i'm also looking for a diesel in the 3K range, so will keep an eye on this.

focus is supposed to be quite fun. i guess in the 9K range maybe an S max (awaits flames). not quite an MPV but i've read that if you need a family car, with all the associated tat, then they're quite fun too...

been pondering it a while and still not sure. i need economy though. mate recommended a peugeot of some sort. i don't know though, it's french, and may fall apart.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:55 pm

BMWs would be a good choice. Rear wheel drive & will hold value. Other option, if space not so important, would be a well specced Golf GT TDi 130bhp or 150 bhp.

A few months ago I would have been suggesting an Audi, but I have been using an A6 2.7 V6 turbo diesel lately, and I have found, unless I drive it really gently, it's not very economical. It's also really numb as a driver's car... to the point that I was happy to get back behind the wheel of my Astray, which now feels a lot more communicative than I would ever imagine!

I'm thinking about changing the Astray in the next year or so, and BMW 3 series / Golf GTi / Focus ST are all current contenders. New shape Golf GTi's & Focus ST's have not been around long enough to be cheap enough yet. Besides, neither of them would fulfill your economy requirements. I know the ST's struggle to reach mid 20's mpg. IMHO

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:58 pm

Tom wrote::

been pondering it a while and still not sure. i need economy though. mate recommended a peugeot of some sort. i don't know though, it's french, and may fall apart.

Both french cars I have had were built like sh1t. Clio 172; great fun, but REALLY unreliable. Pug 206 2.0 HD1 DTurbo; electronics had a mind of their own, and I could only manage 25-30mpg

I would not touch anything french, or with a mercedes badge on it from the past 6 years.

Post by ed » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:02 pm

Dom, ive seen you drive that Audi and im not surprised it returns poor mpg. Ive also been in the boot of it which was fun!

My anni 150 bhp golf could do over 500 miles to a tank and that was at several tuts!

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:36 pm

ed wrote: Ive also been in the boot of it which was fun!

Comments like that get rumours started

. He was in boot as pax

... I'm suprized you remember that

Post by **pete** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:41 pm

I just turned down a mint P reg Golf TD for the princely sum of 600 notes, only to then have a bit of a think and realise how much money it would save me... unfortunately my mate (who had been selling it for his son) ended up driving it for a few weeks. By the time I'd changed my mind he'd decided to keep it for himself

I don't really like Golfs though, fine for banger money but I'm not spending proper money on one.

I think you may be shocked by how much fuel a Focus ST uses, my boss has one and even though he drives like my Mum gets around 25. If you drive like I suspect you do then you might as well get a proper car, something that doesn't have FWD, and a lairy paint scheme to try and cover the fact it is a shopping car with a Volvo engine shoe-horned in. Get something with 4WD, something that could win a rally.

I know of a lovely Subaru that may be up for sale soon, full history, 265bhp, 28mpg*

Pete

*What? OK 28mpg provided you avoid the accelerator and stick to M Ways. Look an ST won't be any better

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:47 pm

pete wrote:I just turned down a mint P reg Golf TD for the princely sum of 600 notes, only to then have a bit of a think and realise how much money it would save me... unfortunately my mate (who had been selling it for his son) ended up driving it for a few weeks. By the time I'd changed my mind he'd decided to keep it for himself

I don't really like Golfs though, fine for banger money but I'm not spending proper money on one.

I think you may be shocked by how much fuel a Focus ST uses, my boss has one and even though he drives like my Mum gets around 25. If you drive like I suspect you do then you might as well get a proper car, something that doesn't have FWD, and a lairy paint scheme to try and cover the fact it is a shopping car with a Volvo engine shoe-horned in. Get something with 4WD, something that could win a rally.

I know of a lovely Subaru that may be up for sale soon, full history, 265bhp, 28mpg*

Pete

*What? OK 28mpg provided you avoid the accelerator and stick to M Ways. Look an ST won't be any better

See Ed's post re me in the Audi. I have a slight problem with my right foot. I struggled to get 28mpg from a diesel pug 206! The Liz has probably been the most economical car (on mpg at least) that I have owned.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:49 pm

are the older VW diesels as economical as the newer ones? mark IV TDIs are still quite pricey. ..

Post by **pete** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:55 pm

Tom wrote:are the older VW diesels as economical as the newer ones? mark IV TDIs are still quite pricey. ..

Duncan (mate who is now using his son's P reg - dunno what MK that is) reckons he is getting 50-60!!! Albeit driving very conservatively...

Post by **pete** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:02 pm

Dominic wrote:See Ed's post re me in the Audi. I have a slight problem with my right foot. I struggled to get 28mpg from a diesel pug 206! The Liz has probably been the most economical car (on mpg at least) that I have owned.

My right foot has a similar defect (as a teenager friends suggested I replace the throttle with a switch. Unfortunately 17 years later I haven't really grown up). Although bloody hell, 28mpg from a diesel Pug!!!

What you need is an Impreza

At least you'll be expecting the fuel economy so it won't come as a surprise... Did I mention I may have one for sale soon?? Faster than an ST, much cheaper...

Pete

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:47 pm

That kind of money (the 9K, not the 3K) would get you one of the later MG ZT's. I drove a V6 version for 3yrs and the handling was pretty remarkable for a larger car.

Choice of a 1.8T or a CDTi (think it's a BMW engine from memory)... or you could just bust the MPG and get a V6 or a V8.

Andy.

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:55 pm

The Integra is a great car, but I'd be wary of driving 18K miles a year in one, they don't have any soundproofing so not a motorway cruiser (plus the fact they sit at about 4500rpm at 75-80mph). They are surprisingly practical though, the boot is huge for the type of car it is, never failed to amaze people when they saw the size of my ITR's boot. The handling is superb and the engine is a gem, but you do need to work it hard to get the best performance out of it.

I'd suggest the Accord Type R would be a good bet, they're very highly thought of and should be fairly economical - my Teg would get upwards of 30mpg fairly easily.

ITR forum: http://www.itr-dc2.com/forum/
Accord forum: http://www.atr.org.uk/

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:21 pm

Dominic wrote: Pug 206 2.0 HD1 DTurbo; electronics had a mind of their own, and I could only manage 25-30mpg

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:21 pm

how about a Mazda 6 sport.
my dad has one. a 2.3 litre (i think, maybe more).
superb car to drive!

would get one if i didnt have a perfectly good car...

ive a focus tdci (old style now) - i love it

really fun to drive.