Thinking of a new car

Downinja

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Right until now I have had sheds.

First car was a fiesta on an F plate, second was an escort on a g, currently have a clapped out orion on a J plate.

The orion is about dead, MOT is due in october, so I am thinking do away with it, borrow some cash and treat myself to a nice(r) motor.

I can probably spend 5-6k maybe 7 at a push.

Now here is where I come unstuck, what do I buy?

I want something with relatively low miles and reasonably new (less than 30k miles and newer than 2000). Something nippy but not crazy.

I am 25, do approx 10k miles a year, mainly around town.

I am thinking Golf GTI or similar.

I know you lot will have some good suggestions (sorry about the long thread) :thumbsup:
 
Wouldn't an early Civic Type R be within reach there?

Failing that, I'm fairly sure an Astra GSi would be within reach, or the 2.2 16v SRi.

Clio 172?

Previous gen Mazda MX5?

Toyota Celica (doubt you could get a 190 in that price though)?
 
You could get a really nice Nissan 200SX for that sort of money! You know you want to!
 
I second the MX-5 call. Fantastically reliable, cheap to run, and insure, but nothing else will give you as many smiles per mile. :D :thumbsup:

I am on my second one (2000 1.8), and for your budget, you should easily pick up a similar year, and maybe one of the special editions such as the Icon, or 10th Anniversary Edition.

See www.mx5ocforum.co.uk for lots more info...excellent resource, and lots of good events organised too - if you're into that kind of thing.

Tony
 
:D
Kazman said:
Wouldn't an early Civic Type R be within reach there?

Failing that, I'm fairly sure an Astra GSi would be within reach, or the 2.2 16v SRi.

Clio 172?

Previous gen Mazda MX5?

Toyota Celica (doubt you could get a 190 in that price though)?

Missed the bit about nothing too daft then :p

Civic means pushing the budget to max and pushing the age and mileage up a lot.

Clio I would love, I would crash it in about 2 minutes and it would cost me an arm and leg in insurance, so of course I am considering it :D

Not a fan of the mazda or celica, keep em coming
 
sean5302 said:
Seat Leon.

Skoda Fabia VRS.

Lupo GTI

Polo Sport


Oooooh, Lupo GTi is lurrrvly, bit small though :(.

The Skoda mentioned here is a good buy too, diesel, so it is economical, and it will still put a smile on your face through the corners.

I wouldn't dismiss a Focus Zetec or an Astra SRi either, both solid cars.

What about a Citroen C2 VTR?
 
Kazman said:
Oooooh, Lupo GTi is lurrrvly, bit small though :(.

The Skoda mentioned here is a good buy too, diesel, so it is economical, and it will still put a smile on your face through the corners.

I wouldn't dismiss a Focus Zetec or an Astra SRi either, both solid cars.

What about a Citroen C2 VTR?

Cost a fortune to run due to all the parts falling off it and all the fuel returning it back to the dealers having stuff bolted back on
 
Plus it's fugly :)

Just a quick question, I am being overly strict on the mileage issue?

This car will probably have to last a minimum of 4-5 years, before I buy another, so am I right to stick to 30k miles? Or could I go a little over?
 
I am kinda narrowing it down now.

At the moment I am thinking Seat Leon Cupra, which I love the look of, good 1.8T VW engine, going for the right sort of money/mileage.

And the Skoda Octavia vRS, probably little more money.

I am gonna drive both before I decide, and might see if I can get a go in a clio 172, and a Golf 1.8T.
 
The Clio 172 & 182's are nice fun motors but the general build quality and cheap finish of the car is typically French.

The Cupra or Fabia VRS are both good choices. The Octavia VRS are great motors too
 
I've driven loads of cars, previously owned a Fabia vRS and now own a Clio 182.

The Fabia vRS isnt a bad buy, but its not in the same league funwise as the Clio. It has a crappy engine note being a diesel, and the handling isnt that good either.

To be honest, I'd recommend caution with the Clio. It might french, and not have great build quality, but the kind of people who buy these cars arent really interested anyway. Why do I reccommend caution? Because once you have driven one, most cars will seem boring after that!

I've driven the Ibiza Cupra 1.8T (boring), Civic Type R (gutless, soul-less), Toyota MR2 (good handling, but slow - which would go for the MX5 i guess), and a few others too.

Also worth mentioning is the fact the Clio wasnt that bad on insurance for me. Its no worse than the Ibiza and is significantly cheaper than the Type R. It will be more however than an MX5 or MR2.

Also mine returns 35 MPG all day. Even if you thrash the tits off it, it still gets about 28-29 MPG!
 
Golf GTi Mk4 1.8T
Not the best hot hatch, but so understated and much less chav than a civic. Suspension is a lot more forgiving than other hot hatches.
However getting one with milegage below 30,000 won't be easy. Look around

As you are borrowing you want to keep costs right down, so you can get a reasonable one for £5-6k. try http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/94824.htm to start
 
Lovely Leon on autotrader 18000 miles 2003, only thing is it's Cat D repaired, as far as I understand that's bodywork damaged to point that insurer decided it wasn't worth fixing.

What would be most people opinions on this? It has FSH
 
Nothing wrong with Cat D or C cars. They have passed their MOT and are completely safe to drive. You'll get a much better deal too.
 
Thats nice to hear as there is another Leon on autotrader, with the 52 "facelift", with 30ish thousand miles for £6500, gonna test drive one tomorrow, see if it like it.

Really want to take an octavia out too, but not really anywhere nearby with one, will look around though 4 day weekend :D
 
Why though? They are fast, but seriously boring barges. That engine has no charisma at all, and they handle like boats.

Honestly, if you want a fun drive, i'd sooner go for a slower car with better handling and sensation of speed than one of those things.

Fun cars:-

Citroen Saxo VTS
Mazda MX5
Mini Cooper S / Works
Peugeot 106 GTI / Rallye
Peugeot 306 GTI-6 / Rallye
Renault Clio Williams / 172 / 182 / Cup / Trophy
Toyota MR2
Toyota Celica

Seriously, dont go for a barge like that. If you are going for comfort, get a second hand BMW, at least it has handling and a proper engine instead :D

(No offence to Seat owners, all IMHO, etc etc).
 
pbirkett said:
Why though? They are fast, but seriously boring barges. That engine has no charisma at all, and they handle like boats.

Honestly, if you want a fun drive, i'd sooner go for a slower car with better handling and sensation of speed than one of those things.

Fun cars:-

Citroen Saxo VTS
Mazda MX5
Mini Cooper S / Works
Peugeot 106 GTI / Rallye
Peugeot 306 GTI-6 / Rallye
Renault Clio Williams / 172 / 182 / Cup / Trophy
Toyota MR2
Toyota Celica

Seriously, dont go for a barge like that. If you are going for comfort, get a second hand BMW, at least it has handling and a proper engine instead :D

(No offence to Seat owners, all IMHO, etc etc).

A lot of scary French repair bills in that list!
 
Hi
I have had 5 clios now over the last ten years or so, various engines from 1.4i petrol to 1.9 diesel to 2 litre 16v Williams, through to the 1.5TD 02 plate I have now, and I do 20,000 miles per year.

I can honestly say that the worst that I've ever had to repair in all that time was three clutch cables (the mk1 and 2 were notorious for breaking them) and a replacement battery on the Williams.

Sure they are plasticky and will rattle here and there, but they have always handled and give good economy. Insurance is bearable too.

The 182 (and particularly the ultra rare Trophy model - only 500 made) is an awesome piece of kit with failsafe handling and a great engine and loadsa kit. Isn't built like an Audi but be realistic - if it was it'd cost a packet more. Keep the oil topped up and it'll just run and run.

Cheers

dr_m
 
pbirkett said:
Why though? They are fast, but seriously boring barges. That engine has no charisma at all, and they handle like boats.

Honestly, if you want a fun drive, i'd sooner go for a slower car with better handling and sensation of speed than one of those things.

Fun cars:-

Citroen Saxo VTS
Mazda MX5
Mini Cooper S / Works
Peugeot 106 GTI / Rallye
Peugeot 306 GTI-6 / Rallye
Renault Clio Williams / 172 / 182 / Cup / Trophy
Toyota MR2
Toyota Celica

Seriously, dont go for a barge like that. If you are going for comfort, get a second hand BMW, at least it has handling and a proper engine instead :D

(No offence to Seat owners, all IMHO, etc etc).

Saxo is out, honestly can't fit in one.

Mini Cooper S, you must have missed the part about budget :p

Pug 106/306 don't like them.

Clio 172 I will drive before I make any decisions, but honestly I think they are a little chavy (sorry to anyone that has one :)).

Mr2 not a fan of.

Celica I will consider.
 
Took out a 51 reg cupra this morning, liked it, although that said it wasn't as much of a "I want it now" feeling as I thought it might be.

Golf GTI test in an hour, see how that is.
 
The mkIV golf gti is very boring, drove a few of them, and didn't like it one bit.

The R32, now that is another beast altogether :D :devil:
 

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