What car should I get?

andycallaghan

andycallaghan

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Hey all,

This has been racking my brain for too long, so time for some advice from others!

I currently have a Volvo V70 D5. Lovely car. Had it two years, done 123,000 miles, and still drives like new!
You'd only know its age by the seat wear and the milometer!

Anyway, I have no great need for an estate, only that sometimes we take the dogs for a walk. But to be honest, they're small dogs, and would easily go in any car.

So, I'm on the hunt for something newer, and with less mileage.

There is a small list at the moment, but I can't decide.

In this list so far is:

Mazda RX8
Ford Focus ST
BMW 3 or 5 series
Subaru Impreza
Mini Cooper S
Skoda Octavia vRS

As you can see, a bit of an odd mix.

The Scooby would be my 1st choice, but they're so basic inside, a thieves top choice, and heavy on insurance.

Anyone got any ideas, or first hand experience?
 
I had a scooby, the estate version and it was just as quick as the saloon model, heavy on the juice too, I only got around 20 to the gallon, maybe more if I took it easy, but for me now it would be the mini, they got good write ups and are quick and nimble.

spike
 
is the d5 not a diesel? most of the cars you listed are of the fast petrol variety and if you're going to be doing similar miles that is going to be a serious fuel bill!

my personal choice would be the focus st, it might have the slightly chavvy image but i have a real thing for them.

if fuel IS an issue then a diesel bmw would be the way to go in my opinion
 
I have an ST and love it. Just to put things into perspective I do only get 27-28 mpg maybe 30 driving like miss daisy on the motorway.

Mine is just over 2 years old and has 83k on the clock. It has never missed a beat and the only problem I had was a broken heater cable. If there are any questions I can answer for you please ask.

Paul
 
Try the skoda very unassuming car, and very nippy my brother in law has one.



Merc

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As a V70 owner I love my Volvo 2.4 se lux 6 speed geartronic but looking at something else this year, what I do not know.
 
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lexie said:
is the d5 not a diesel? most of the cars you listed are of the fast petrol variety and if you're going to be doing similar miles that is going to be a serious fuel bill!

my personal choice would be the focus st, it might have the slightly chavvy image but i have a real thing for them.

if fuel IS an issue then a diesel bmw would be the way to go in my opinion
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I bought the car with 100,000 miles on it (silly me) and so have only done 20,000 in two years, so nothing major.

I don't use it during the week, and then don't drive much at weekends.
Hence I think I can get away with a "sporty" petrol car.
 
RX8 will cost a fortune in petrol, fun car though. Personally I'd be looking at the Cooper S, fantastic little car that never fails to put a smile on your face.
 
Having previously owned a Cooper S i can tell you that it has a VERY small boot. This may be an issue if you have had an estate. I know you mention that you don't need the boot space, but the mini can only just fit a good size coolbox in the boot (and then nothing else!). If you really do fancy a mini then the clubman may be an option but the styling is not to all tastes.

I went from a Cooper S to a Honda Civic Type R and have not regretted it one bit. Plenty of fun, great build quality and good customer service (good size boot too!).

From your list i would go with the Focus ST, this was my second choice.
 
Cooper S is a no then!

Need a reasonable boot for dogs and shopping.....

Ideally like a 5 door, otherwise the Type R would be on the list.

I'm edging towards the ST, just insurance is a pain!
 
Just to nail the coffin lid firmly shut, I don't think the insurance on a Cooper S would be much better than an ST to be honest, and as others have said boot space is non existent unless you go for the Clubman version.

Have you considered a Seat Leon? They do some nice sporty models and diesel versions too which are quick!

If you like the ST, what about the small Volvo, I believe that utilises the same engine, but would possibly come out cheaper on insurance....Octavia VrS's are nice, and of course you still go a long way to beat a Golf GTI ;) :)

Good luck, hope you find what you're looking for.
 
Mazda 3 or 6 mps? quick and reliable.
 
Golf GTi?
 
Octavia vRS if you can get the diesel estate version is a cracking car..... good fuel economy, good looks (especially in metallic blue or grey), practical and plenty of room if you should need it....
 
Golf Gti would be a good call - high resale value too
ST is so easy to drive, and massive.
Mate had one with a bluefin remap, and made it a lot better economy (as he could cruise off boost on the motorway)

Was quick and easy to drive too, and think they are fairly cheap now too.

Large boot??
How about a remapped a4- A6 avant, seem to be going for silly cheap money second hand with reasonable spec, and the TDi are pretty fun to drive from my experience

Ollie
 
BMw 335i are a lot of car for the money, reasonable insurance and 27mpg, more on a long run.
 
Funny, I too went from a Cooper S to a Type R and am also very happy with the change!
In terms of the Mini, they changed shape (and engine) is 2006.... the earlier ones being a 1.6 supercharged and the latter being 1.6 turbo.....
The turbo one is a lot more refined, economical and boring....the older supercharged one IMO is the better car though - looks and performance wise especially, though the economy difference is pretty severe (25mpg vs 40mpg) - both good cars though :)

However if you can cope with a 3 door then the Type R gets my vote - brilliant car, love mine!

edit - Mazda 3MPS is supposed to be pretty amazing too - not been in one but on paper it sounds good...
 
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RX8. It's the correct wheel drive.
 
RX8 = massive fuel and oil consumption! These days that doesnt make sense.

I had one for a bit, very good car but the rotary engine (which is two 1300cc units bolted together!) is very demanding on fluids!!!! It may be rear wheel drive but the Clio Williams I also owned stuck to the road far better :)

The fast 3 litre diesel BMWs are always a good option, as are the golf GTIs and Octavia VRS (which is a Golf GTI but for less money!)
 
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Skoda VRS or Cupra R will give you decent smiles per gallon at a reasonable price.

RX8 is a big money burner.

If age isn't an issue and your not to bothered about fuel eceonomy a Mitsubishi Gallant VR4 Estate is nice a quick and a bit different...
 
Nothing was said about efficiency or running costs by the OP, so I discounted those ;)
 
Lol true, but the RX8 drinks so much fuel and more importantly oil it becomes a real pain, Halfords knew me by my first name!!
 
Some others in a similar vein...
Volvo C30 (can't remember what they called the hot hatch version)
Renaultsport Megane (if you can stomach the looks)
Astra VXR
Alfa 147 GTA (best looking of the lot IMHO)
Vauxhall Monaro (RWD, V8, bit thirsty though)
 
There is a £3500 off deal on a new Skoda Fabia vRS (making it £13k) according to hotukdeals link
 
BMW 320d ED is a good car. 0-60 in less than 8 secs, bags of low rev torque but also quotes just under 70mpg. The best part is that you can offset 100% against your tax because of the low emissions.
 
Had a chat with a chap I work with who has an RX8, he loves it. HE said it's not horrendous on fuel, doesn'ty guzzle oil like you'd think it would and its generally lovely. That said, he is selling it (moving to London/Windsor and doesan't want to be commuting in it).
 
wouldnt touch the mini, for a bmw the build quality is poor. dad has been through 3 now (cooper S, cooper S cab, clubman S) and they all had build issues. he now has an audi..

id agree with those saying have a look at the leon cupras, excellent value with VAG build (albeit slightly less features/cheaper looking interior).
 
ChrisMClark said:
Had a chat with a chap I work with who has an RX8, he loves it. HE said it's not horrendous on fuel, doesn'ty guzzle oil like you'd think it would and its generally lovely. That said, he is selling it (moving to London/Windsor and doesan't want to be commuting in it).
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Oh it's a fantastic car, but I've never known an owner who's happy with the way it goes through oil! Mind you, it does rev to 9,000 rpm...
 
I have a 57 plate Subaru Forester. It's the 2.5 turbo and I bought it with 22k on the clock. Had a few bits done to it and it's knocking out close to 300 bhp. It's a real wolf in sheeps clothing and great fun. Good boot space too!

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Mate down south has an RX8 and I wasn't massively impressed. Crap torque unless you scream it and never really feels like it's accelerating as fast as it actually is. Would be a great track car but on these roads it's too stiff and his dashboard sounded like it was falling apart.
 
gman said:
Mate down south has an RX8 and I wasn't massively impressed. Crap torque unless you scream it and never really feels like it's accelerating as fast as it actually is. Would be a great track car but on these roads it's too stiff and his dashboard sounded like it was falling apart.
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Yeah it needs revving, it's designed as a high revving engine, hense the 9,000 red line. You have to remember its actually two very small engines bolted together, not one big one!
 
andycallaghan said:
Got myself a Focus ST.

Pick it up Saturday. :-)
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Good choice!
 
gman said:
Mate down south has an RX8 and I wasn't massively impressed. Crap torque unless you scream it and never really feels like it's accelerating as fast as it actually is. Would be a great track car but on these roads it's too stiff and his dashboard sounded like it was falling apart.
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It depends what you like in an engine. Some people like diesels, others like a car that you can wind up. I fall into the latter category, hence my enthusiasm for Hillman Imps (even that standard engines are safe to 8000rpm without modification, sorted ones are good for 9500 or more).
 
Seat Leon Cupra R - I have the Mk1 and the turbo engine is amazingly fun, plus I get mid-30s mpg doing motorway speeds. 5-doors, big boot and VW quality. Massively cheap as a used buy and very, very quick....
 
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