General This will get some 'opinions' going . . .

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General This will get some 'opinions' going . . .

TDMB

Carpe Diem . . .
Joined
Apr 21, 2007
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OK everyone, need some opinions on a new car! And before you all panic, this is as well as, not instead of, the B!! Martin is changing jobs and I won't be able to use his company car as much and will need a four-seater as well as the B. Criteria is as follows:

Around the £6k to £9k mark
Ideally no older than a 52 plate
Ideally deisel but would consider petrol
At least 4 proper seats
Ideally no more than 50k on the clock, but OK to be a bit more if deisel
Something I can trust to get me on a 2 to 3 hour journey without breaking down
Something that's not toooo dull :D

Think that's about it - so far I've looked at the following - which all fit these requirements

Mercedes C200/C220 coupe
Mazda RX8
Toyota Celica
BMW 3-series
Audi A4

The Merc and the Celica are my top favourites at the mo - especially as I've found a fab Celica in bright blue!

All suggestions welcome - happy to consider something a bit out of the ordinary (no surprise there!).

Thanks :)
 
The top 3 are for gaymen or girls.
No4 is for idiots who pay too much for a 'bottom of the line' car and think they look cool in their red braces and mirror shades.
No5 is ok..if you like clunking around in an underpowered tutonic tank.
 
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The top 3 are for gaymen or girls.
No4 is for idiots who pay too much for a 'bottom of the line' car and think they look cool in their red braces and mirror shades.
No5 is ok..if you like trundling around in an underpowered tutonic tank.

I AM a girl!
 
I'd get a really well looked after Fiat coupe from the fiat coupe forum. 4 seats, boot and 220Hp. Expensive to run but going for lunch money at the moment. All the above will be a teeny weeny dot in the rear mirror. And no, they don't rust more than any other car.
 
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Mercs, had some in the past don't like them and would never buy another.
RX8 is brilliant but has crap MPG 24ish
Toyota Celica (4 propper seat's, I don't think so):)
3 series Never liked them unless 325 on as quite boring and plain (no experience with the newer versions)
Audi A4 have no experience of them.

Like the idea of the Coupe but would think you would need to find a low milage completely unmolested one as I can't think of anyone that wouldn't kick the a$$ out of it, as they are such fun to push the right pedal on. The engine sound is also very addictive :)

If thinking A4 I would have a look at a pre 2001 728 sport they are extremely good to drive and are just completely full of luxury they are relatively quick as well for being the lower of the range, plus you will be ble to pick them up very cheap. You also can't discount the 5 series as they are just so good. You may even be able to pick up the Alpina B10 for that sort of money and one word sums it up....WOW! One of the fastest things I have driven in a long time BUT even with the 4.4 is far more ecconomical than the RX8

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-ALPINA-B1...oryZ9837QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
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How about an Alfa 166 or similar? Or some Lancia?
Keep it in the Fiat family ;)
 
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Going back to Alan's point about the Coupe the non-turbo 154hp one is a seriously underated animal and not normally modded or molested. Also not so expensive to insure.

I had 3 coupes and the na was by far the most reliable.
 
A4- over-rated, I thought you said "not too boring", needs decent engine to get to 60mph before far end of M4.

RX anything- rotary engine MPG :eek:

Celica- might look good (depending on model) but apparently often not as good to drive (so I'm told).



Sorry, we're all being really positive aren't we...
 
I have a 55 plate VW Bora thats fully loaded and it's built like a tank, for the money you just can't not take a look. MY friend has a 52 plate C class and I would say the build quality is no better.

Just look at what you get for the money!! 25k, diesel, 2004, leather all for £6500 !! Sure its not going to light your fire but bang for buck you just cant go wrong.

Link

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I have a 55 plate VW Bora thats fully loaded and it's built like a tank, for the money you just can't not take a look. MY friend has a 52 plate C class and I would say the build quality is no better.

Just look at what you get for the money!! 25k, diesel, 2004, leather all for £6500 !! Sure its not going to light your fire but bang for buck you just cant go wrong.

Link

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Stick to the Fiat family, I bought my Sportswagon shown below last year with only 16,000 on the clock. It's fully loaded and only cost 5.7k. Great that an Alfa depreciates from 24k to that in just 2.5 years, so long as you aim to keep it for a while.
No I've not broken down yet it's run like a dream.
 
If you're thinking diesel, then presumably you aren't wanting the low 20s mpg of the RX8 or any of the horrid German things that do that if they have a half decent engine....

I'd agree with keeping it Italian. Alfa 166 major bargain - though mpg not clever unless you get the twin spark....

Be adventurous and import a Lancia Kappa or first of the Thesis if you can find one for £9k (hard now the euro is strong).

Or, how about a 1999 Maserati Quattroporte V8 twin turbo? :D

Or if being sensible, Alfa 159....should be able to pick one up for £9k shortly....
 
Anything but the Audi. Audi drivers appear to be the new BMW drivers (apologies to Alan). As in, "My Audi is the fastest safest rocketship in the world so get outta my way." Our second car is a Golf GTI. It is a 12 year old MK3 and although MK3 was a bad year performnce wise, build quality is up there and it goes decently enough. It has less that 80k on the clock and cost £850. So you could get maybe a late MK4 with the mileage you require.

Having said all of the above we really wanted to get Laura a Panda and keep it in the Fiat family, just that we only had a grand and the golf was a readily available bargain with its owner, my mate Dave, leaving the UK.

A Fiat coupe or an Alfa of some description will be a heck of a lot more fun than any of the others. But if you are stuck with your shortlist go for the Toyota Sillycar, no rationale behind it but I have always had a soft spot for them.
 
Well, over the past 6 or 7 years I have owned or driven all of the cars you suggested, comments below;

Mercedes C200/C220 coupe - Crap, poor build quality, cramped in the back but the engines were OK (when the warning light was not running it in 'get you home mode), had 3 of these and they were all as bad as each other!

Mazda RX8 - excellent car although token 2 back seats and a thirst similar to Oliver Reed - also use a lot of oil

Toyota Celica - excellent but only look at the T-Sport, all of the others look great but don't really go. Don't really have back seats, more of a padded parcel shelf! Excellent build quality but just a bit bland inside

BMW 3-series - boring and basic (although buying second hand you should be able to get a better spec). I had the 325i, made a fantastic sound but did not really go very well and was thirsty!

Audi A4 - Excellent, so good I kept this one for about 18 months, well built, well equip, nice interior and bags of power (I had the 1.9 TDI 130 BHP), if I were to buy a family car again I would go for one of these without hesitation.................

Others to consider are the Honda Accord, VW Passat and SAAB 93's

HTH
 
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No offence taken Matt....tickedoff.gifknuppel2.gif:)

Re the other opinions should have added that I kept looking at an alfa 159 but changed my mind as financially I would have taken the depreciation hit, but as they are now getting cheaper and cheaper I'll certainly look again when the finances are up to speed, basically you have the front half of a Brera (one of the sexiest cars on 4 wheels) :yum: and I'm sure would stir the emotions on a daily basis. The Brera would be too expensive at the Mo but boy is that one georgeous motor.

I didn't comment on the Panda as I thought it was too small for your choices BUT in the higher end of your limit you can get a brand new MJ diesel from the factory with all the trimmings (climate etc) and Brand new from Fiat also gives you the option of 4 yrs 0 deposit 0% making it cheaper than most second hand ones finance wise (not that this was one of your factors). Personally I love it and when filling up once a week at a usual cost of about £15-20 I do smile at those sticking in £50+ :) average for me is 64mpg, even when towing another car I was getting 48mpg. If driven correctly avoiding the below 2000rpm turbo lag it's spritely as well and not that much slower than the 100HP.
 
Agree with Alan on the MJ Panda.

Got mine a few months back and I love it to bits. It's actually a serious decision whether to take the Panda or the B when out and about. My wife loves it too.

I'm gonna get the remap done when the warranty runs out. Adds 50% more power. Should be hilarious.
 
Renault Avantime

A man of taste!!

I was going to buy one of these but then saw a new b at the local dealers.

I should have bought the Avantime:D

RX8 is a great car to drive. BIG cost for oil and gas though.

You could get an Elise for your kind of budget. It probably wouldn't meet the reliability requirment though.

Megane Sport should do nicely if you can get one at the price. Fast, handles, lower insurance than a b but looks may be a bit questionable.

BMW and Audi would meet your criteria. A 3 series with one of the bigger engines is a good drive if ubiquitous.
 
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