Help me decide on my new car!

I'd have the CTR every time tbh. The A3 is just another bland german car, it just doesnt appeal like the civic, and the audi's never gonna sound as good as that civic when it hits the vtec, or be as much fun to drive. You considered all the other hot hatches in that price range like the clio 197?

Yep, considered the following hatches aswell:

Seat Leon FR/Cupra - Very poor Interior materials
Clio RS 197 / Megane RS 225/230 - Build Quality Issues
Focus ST - Likes a drink
Fiesta ST - Doesn't offer enough for the £££
Mini Copper S - Maybe for my missus...
Mazda 3 MPS - Just No
Skoda Octavia VRs - Undeniably Competant but no just doesn't appeal
Vauxhall Astra / Corsa VXR - Both not to my taste unfortunately
Golf GTi - Already Mentioned
BMW 130i M Sport (1 yr old Sub 20k!) - Clown Shoe

As you can see im quite fussy lol, so for many other reasons aswell as whats mentioned above, I have ultimately decided on the A3 or CTR.

TBH i look at the CTR and think 'wow, looks menacing, that would raise a few eyebrows in the office car park' and then I look at the A3 and think 'Svelte design, oozes class, would get admirable nods in the office car park.'

CTR still swaying it I think.

Thanks

let me know more about the stilo if you're selling.. may be interested

Cooper S i like, it's what i'd go for if i could insure and afford it, surprisingly fast and decent MPG, not as expensive as i thought, can't stand the 1 series, clown shoe isn't a bad description

Hi mate, sorry to dissapoint but the stilo will be used as my deposit for whichever car I decide to buy. Thanks for the interest though.

Going to look at a Milano Red CTR GT at Honda today, will report back.

Thanks

well from those comments you've obviously got a fully functioning brain
(altho personally i prefer the leon interior to the A3)

lol @ Clown Shoe

the raised eyebrows are due to people wondering "what the bloody hell were they thinking when they designed that!".

i tried my best to be objectinve when i first got in a typeR, but all i could do was pick faults with it. i guess its because i love hondas so i had high expectations, but it was a real let down for me.

Nissan 350Z

Sorry but now we are talkin visual impact...

Audi R8 by a long stretch...

Went and had a look at the CTR earlier but didn't test drive unfortunately.
Very professional & helpful staff (Always a good thing) and i must say after sitting in the CTR i must say the interior is very

I wont deny the rear visibility hampers, not a problem though as the mirrors have come off a bus i think
(They also incorporate the side repeaters so would be costly to fix if knocked)

Other than the mirrors the ever so slightly scratchy plastics was the only real qualm i had. I think I really need to test drive the car before I part with 18K.

I will resurrect this thread in a a couple of months and show pictures of the car I choose.

Thanks for help everyone.

Get a test drive in the CTR!
Honest to god, its lightning! My mates dad's got one, been in it a couple of times.. PHWOAR! Mind you, be prepared to pick up points

Clio 197 doesn't really cut it comapred to the audi and type r in all departments.

Fair comments with those cars I agree with a few but has anybody seen the performance figures for the mazda 3 mps

nope, and i dont think mazda publish them because your grandad doesnt really care.

I wouldn't consider buying one. But they're faster than the focus ST, astra VXR and Leon Cupra!