Which car to buy -Fast or Cruisy?
Discussion
Me and TooMuch were chatting at lunch today (its a city thing..) and were discussing buying cars. He and I both might be on for purchases in due course.
Now we both were talking about cars in the 20-40k margin and how it would be great to buy to a nice car but how something like an Evo or even an HSV would be wasted as you cant use them as intended. Maybe it would be more appropriate to the conditions here and economics to get something a bit more cruisy like a big Audi or a Merc.
PH Australia massive - discuss!
Now we both were talking about cars in the 20-40k margin and how it would be great to buy to a nice car but how something like an Evo or even an HSV would be wasted as you cant use them as intended. Maybe it would be more appropriate to the conditions here and economics to get something a bit more cruisy like a big Audi or a Merc.
PH Australia massive - discuss!
Ok, as I seem to be massing a few speeding fines, I was thinking, that a sporty number could bring me on persoanl terms with the local 
or worse still a 
.
Hense the thinking about a large barge to get me there within the law, and in a very relaxed mood.
Am thinking seriously about this one
or worse still a .Hense the thinking about a large barge to get me there within the law, and in a very relaxed mood.
Am thinking seriously about this one
Pommygranite said:
but how something like an Evo or even an HSV would be wasted as you cant use them as intended.
Ohh come on now ..... Look what i am running in Singapore, like anywhere, here or home, it takes some time but you learn the bizzy free routes, and the known hoon tracks. Alos you start to find likeminded PH'ers (yes ... they even exist in singapore, wait for a thread on a mates N/A Cosworth powered 350Z @ 400BHP) and go to track days and other such events to wring the necks out of your cars.
Its all about a little lateral thinking to fully appreciate your metal, mechanics and abilities!
Don't be a wuss ....
XJSJohn.
Daily Driver - 1974 2.7RS, 20,000 km per year in the tiny republic of Singapore!
Anyway, Vanya will lead you astray ... like he is only going to put some pipes on his Vauxhall
runs and hides
Pommygranite said:
Maybe it would be more appropriate to the conditions here and economics to get something a bit more cruisy like a big Audi or a Merc.
Totally agree!I've had a 1999 BMW E38 740i Sport (short wheelbase) for seven years now, and it has certainly helped me keep my licence intact. Even so, it's capable of rapid progress when called upon. (0-60 in 6.2s for the Sport model with the lower diff ratio). It still feels and drives like a new car, such is the build quality.
I can also highly recommend the Audi A8 for similar high build quality and utter luxury. Not a slouch either for a diesel!
Pommygranite said:
Me and TooMuch were chatting at lunch today (its a city thing..) and were discussing buying cars. He and I both might be on for purchases in due course.
Now we both were talking about cars in the 20-40k margin and how it would be great to buy to a nice car but how something like an Evo or even an HSV would be wasted as you cant use them as intended. Maybe it would be more appropriate to the conditions here and economics to get something a bit more cruisy like a big Audi or a Merc.
PH Australia massive - discuss!
Depends on what you want from the car really.Now we both were talking about cars in the 20-40k margin and how it would be great to buy to a nice car but how something like an Evo or even an HSV would be wasted as you cant use them as intended. Maybe it would be more appropriate to the conditions here and economics to get something a bit more cruisy like a big Audi or a Merc.
PH Australia massive - discuss!
Is it likely to see any trackdays or would it just be a daily and shopping car?
What kind of driving do you do regularly and what distances?
I strongly believe that if you have had quick cars in the past or like something sporty you will be deeply unsatisfied with a regular sedan.
Sure its nice to cruise in squishy seats and sealed off from the outside world but come the first corner and you mush the squidgy middle pedal and twirl the too light steering and cling on as the car falls on to its door handles you will be wishing you had something that lets you get a sneaky heel and toe in and take a roundabout just a little bit quicker.
I have also found that with our low speed limits and roads that are generally in good condition you can get away with a car you might not have been able to live with in the UK.
As an example some cars do 80MPH at 4500RPM and crash over bumps but here with our 100KMH limit and smooth freeways you dont notice. My Impreza is quite stiff and on a poor surface at speed quite noisy but 90% of my driving is trickling around the 'burbs or on the freeway where it sits under 3000RPM at 100KMH.
TooMuch - the link didnt work but think i found it. Is it this one: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details...sid=1203D58BC38D&__Qpb=true&Cr=6&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Price_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294967194%204294966978%20904&seot=0&tsrc=allcarhome&Nne=15&trecs=14&silo=1011?
Pommygranite said:
TooMuch - the link didnt work but think i found it. Is it this one: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details...sid=1203D58BC38D&__Qpb=true&Cr=6&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Price_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294967194%204294966978%20904&seot=0&tsrc=allcarhome&Nne=15&trecs=14&silo=1011?
I had a similar dilema last year when considering what to buy. I had had a series of RX7s, then a few years with just my work van and the (ex)wide's XR6.
I had a hankering for a Sports car, but needed more than 2 seats. Was very seious about getting an RX8 but to get any performance from them you have to be working it hard, revving and changing gear a lot. Just didn't suit what I wanted at the time so got the Monaro.
It's been a pretty good compromise, lazy performance, reasonable economy, fairly comfy with most of the toys you want. Doesn't handle or stop as well as it could and I'm still tempted to throw some money at it to improve that.
Must have got used to it as I swapped cars with Adam for a weekend recently, and much as I loved the S2000 (always on my wish list) I don't think I could live with the lack of torque and only ran it into the 7,000 rpm range a couple of times.
I'm now thinking about selling the Monaro and putting some cash into the business, get a cheaper car and the motorbike I've always promised myself...
Sorry, that probably hasn't helped much, got a bit rambling there
I had a hankering for a Sports car, but needed more than 2 seats. Was very seious about getting an RX8 but to get any performance from them you have to be working it hard, revving and changing gear a lot. Just didn't suit what I wanted at the time so got the Monaro.
It's been a pretty good compromise, lazy performance, reasonable economy, fairly comfy with most of the toys you want. Doesn't handle or stop as well as it could and I'm still tempted to throw some money at it to improve that.
Must have got used to it as I swapped cars with Adam for a weekend recently, and much as I loved the S2000 (always on my wish list) I don't think I could live with the lack of torque and only ran it into the 7,000 rpm range a couple of times.
I'm now thinking about selling the Monaro and putting some cash into the business, get a cheaper car and the motorbike I've always promised myself...
Sorry, that probably hasn't helped much, got a bit rambling there
Ian - thats really nice! Compare that to a brand new Falcon XR6 for the same cash and theres no comparison.
Dev - Well 3.2S is a bit pricey for me, whereas there are a few 2.5/2.7 available. Would have to be manual with nice wheels. Not sure about convertible but would be very nice to drive. Tempting...
Tim - I think your suggestion is quite decent. Not a ramble and definitely helps. Would you still buy from over east again?
I've gone on a bit of tangent about what to buy.
My options are as follows:
1. Spend $20k and have no finance and get something i can use everday thats nice.
(Alfa GTV V6 is at the top of the list for me)
2. Spend $30k, put down $20k and finance $10k. Opens up a lot newer and nicer cars.
(Golf Gti or HSV VXR are the top options)
3. Spend $30k - $40k and really slam the finance, but get something really, really nice for every day.
(New Golf Gti or 2nd hand Alfa Gt 3.2V6 or Merc CLK)
4. Spend $30k - $40k and really slam the finance, but get something totally fantastic and innapropriate just for weekends, nice drives and keep the Verada.
(Lotus Elise type or Turbo muther f
kered Commodore)
Your opinions and realistic suggestions are welcome!
Its a balance between my tight side not wanting to rinse money on cars and my car lust.
Dev - Well 3.2S is a bit pricey for me, whereas there are a few 2.5/2.7 available. Would have to be manual with nice wheels. Not sure about convertible but would be very nice to drive. Tempting...
Tim - I think your suggestion is quite decent. Not a ramble and definitely helps. Would you still buy from over east again?
I've gone on a bit of tangent about what to buy.
My options are as follows:
1. Spend $20k and have no finance and get something i can use everday thats nice.
(Alfa GTV V6 is at the top of the list for me)
2. Spend $30k, put down $20k and finance $10k. Opens up a lot newer and nicer cars.
(Golf Gti or HSV VXR are the top options)
3. Spend $30k - $40k and really slam the finance, but get something really, really nice for every day.
(New Golf Gti or 2nd hand Alfa Gt 3.2V6 or Merc CLK)
4. Spend $30k - $40k and really slam the finance, but get something totally fantastic and innapropriate just for weekends, nice drives and keep the Verada.
(Lotus Elise type or Turbo muther f
kered Commodore)Your opinions and realistic suggestions are welcome!
Its a balance between my tight side not wanting to rinse money on cars and my car lust.
I was going to suggest keep the Magna and get something for the weekends but would your tight side be happy paying for a car that rarely gets driven?
I have run 2 cars in the past but only managed to get out in the 2nd car properly maybe once a month, other times I just ended up running to work in it or to the shops.
I reckon option 2 strikes a decent balance between money and getting something fairly new and sporty.
I have run 2 cars in the past but only managed to get out in the 2nd car properly maybe once a month, other times I just ended up running to work in it or to the shops.
I reckon option 2 strikes a decent balance between money and getting something fairly new and sporty.
Better choice of cars over east to.
When we were in Melbourne in September of last year I wandered through a prestige car dealer and Elfin agent to take a gander at an Elfin they had in.
They also had a BMW 130 hatch in, the options book had been thrown at it so it had all the M bits and a fully loaded interior and I think something like 30,000KMS on it....$45,000!! Try even finding a 130 in WA let alone one for that price with al the options on it. The salesman reckoned that was about the right price over there for a similar car.
When we were in Melbourne in September of last year I wandered through a prestige car dealer and Elfin agent to take a gander at an Elfin they had in.
They also had a BMW 130 hatch in, the options book had been thrown at it so it had all the M bits and a fully loaded interior and I think something like 30,000KMS on it....$45,000!! Try even finding a 130 in WA let alone one for that price with al the options on it. The salesman reckoned that was about the right price over there for a similar car.
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