Looking for a sporty diesel!!
Discussion
Hi all!
I'm going to be purchasing a car in the next few months and would like some advice if possible. I currently drive a 06 Renault Laguna 1.9 DCi and do approximately 400 miles a week. The Laguna achieves 53MPG so anything round this figure would be preferable.
I am very taken by the Honda Civic 2.2l Type S GT as a potential car - does anyone have any thoughts on this?
I'm quite geeky with gadgets so would prefer the interior to be modern looking and with plenty of buttons to play with! I'm not a major man of modification so anything that looks awesome in it's standard condition would be ideal.
My budget is around £9k and I'm completely open to suggestions
I'm going to be purchasing a car in the next few months and would like some advice if possible. I currently drive a 06 Renault Laguna 1.9 DCi and do approximately 400 miles a week. The Laguna achieves 53MPG so anything round this figure would be preferable.
I am very taken by the Honda Civic 2.2l Type S GT as a potential car - does anyone have any thoughts on this?
I'm quite geeky with gadgets so would prefer the interior to be modern looking and with plenty of buttons to play with! I'm not a major man of modification so anything that looks awesome in it's standard condition would be ideal.
My budget is around £9k and I'm completely open to suggestions
Having driven quite a few I'd say none of them feel really "sporty" - the low redline of the engine and the way it delivers the power make the engine extremely uninvolving. That's not to say there aren't plenty of diesel cars that are fast and handle well but you have to set your expectations for throttle response and engine excitement pretty low.
That said most people seem to consider a VAG diesel hatchback sporty, so what do I know
Dave
That said most people seem to consider a VAG diesel hatchback sporty, so what do I know
Dave
edo said:
figures like that make you wonder why more don't drive diesels even more so once remaped
Default choice would be a 330d Sport.
Even a 320d will do 130 odd and 0-60 in less than 9 secs.
If you can stand the looks the 1 series diesels are pretty quick. Searching on Atrader the 120d in your budget have the 163 bhp engine not the 150 as with the 320d co they are a bit quicker. Not sure when the new engine came in.
Even a 320d will do 130 odd and 0-60 in less than 9 secs.
If you can stand the looks the 1 series diesels are pretty quick. Searching on Atrader the 120d in your budget have the 163 bhp engine not the 150 as with the 320d co they are a bit quicker. Not sure when the new engine came in.
GreatGranny said:
Default choice would be a 330d Sport.
Even a 320d will do 130 odd and 0-60 in less than 9 secs.
If you can stand the looks the 1 series diesels are pretty quick. Searching on Atrader the 120d in your budget have the 163 bhp engine not the 150 as with the 320d co they are a bit quicker. Not sure when the new engine came in.
I have an E46 330d and a 120d, both SE spec. The 1 series is the more sporty but the 6 pot diesel is a wonderful engine. They are quite similar in terms of performance on paper but the 6 pot is much more powerful in real world driving, very quite and suprisingly economical on a run too. Even a 320d will do 130 odd and 0-60 in less than 9 secs.
If you can stand the looks the 1 series diesels are pretty quick. Searching on Atrader the 120d in your budget have the 163 bhp engine not the 150 as with the 320d co they are a bit quicker. Not sure when the new engine came in.
MPG is very important to me to be honest - anything below 50 MPG would cost me a fortune in fuel.
That Alfa looks nice - what model is it?
The BMW is a bit above my budget to be honest, I'm not looking at much more than £9k. My brother has just got a Leon FR so will skip that suggestion!
That Alfa looks nice - what model is it?
The BMW is a bit above my budget to be honest, I'm not looking at much more than £9k. My brother has just got a Leon FR so will skip that suggestion!
Goldent147 said:
MPG is very important to me to be honest - anything below 50 MPG would cost me a fortune in fuel.
That Alfa looks nice - what model is it?
The BMW is a bit above my budget to be honest, I'm not looking at much more than £9k. My brother has just got a Leon FR so will skip that suggestion!
GT 1.9 'Blackline' - 180bhp.That Alfa looks nice - what model is it?
The BMW is a bit above my budget to be honest, I'm not looking at much more than £9k. My brother has just got a Leon FR so will skip that suggestion!
Mine's the same engine, but on 150bhp. Actually nice to drive - I went out that day to test drive a 330d, but came back with the Alfa. BMW engine was very nice though.
My average mpg reading is around 41, but I don't do that much on the motorway at the mo. On a run it hits mid-40s and above, but I am heavy footed.
Mine:
Because he's got it! I don't live with him but it would be a bit odd to roll up to the parents with the same car!
I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
Goldent147 said:
Because he's got it! I don't live with him but it would be a bit odd to roll up to the parents with the same car!
I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
Newer doesn't mean better! A 8 year old BMW 540i is still going to be a better car than a 4 year old Renualt Laguna.I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
If fuel costs are really an issue than maybe you should reconsider your budget? A newer car @ £9k will still be on a considerable depreciation curve so that over 2 or 3 years of ownership, it's doubtful that any perceived saving in fuel costs will ever be realised.
Not meaning to be facetious but would a budget of £5-6k for a car be more sensible, allowing a greater choice of albiet, slightly older cars? You wouldn't suffer as great a depreciation hit and would therefore come out of the years ownership no worse off than a newer, frugal car. You can also get something more interesting as you aren't constrained my high MPG ability and will suffer less stress each time you are at the pumps.
Just something to consider OP.
TEKNOPUG said:
Goldent147 said:
Because he's got it! I don't live with him but it would be a bit odd to roll up to the parents with the same car!
I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
Newer doesn't mean better! A 8 year old BMW 540i is still going to be a better car than a 4 year old Renualt Laguna.I would prefer to get a newer car over a slightly older car mainly due to the fact that I currently have an 06 plate so getting something older would kind of seem like a step backward?
If fuel costs are really an issue than maybe you should reconsider your budget? A newer car @ £9k will still be on a considerable depreciation curve so that over 2 or 3 years of ownership, it's doubtful that any perceived saving in fuel costs will ever be realised.
Not meaning to be facetious but would a budget of £5-6k for a car be more sensible, allowing a greater choice of albiet, slightly older cars? You wouldn't suffer as great a depreciation hit and would therefore come out of the years ownership no worse off than a newer, frugal car. You can also get something more interesting as you aren't constrained my high MPG ability and will suffer less stress each time you are at the pumps.
Just something to consider OP.
I guess I've been looking at cars in and around 3-4 years old as I've been primarily looking at the Civic Type S - I don't think it's availble much older than 55/06?
Have looked at the Mazda 3, may do a bit more research on that model although it doesn't look as classy as the Civic....
ritch said:
Lancer GS4 ;-)
will do high 40's low 50's on a motorway run and has sporty suspension, a bit hard round town but comes into its own on a spirited run. handling surpasses several petrol cars I've had that were sports focussed too.
Shame about the pants brakes, it's inability to run properly when it's below 0C, the engine sounds like a Massey Ferguson reject from the 60's, the climate control is rubbish, complete lack of rear visibility due to the spoiler and mirrors, the dash looks like it was built by Vauxhall for the Mk1 Cavalier, seats were unsupportive at best, and the Mitusbishi UK fitted alarm was totally off it's rocker (it went off going down the motorway at 75mph and wouldn't stop until I'd come off the motorway, got out, locked and unlocked the car). The headlights were crap, and as you said the suspension was harsh. I also had to have all 4 wheels replaced due to corrosion in when the car was 7 months old.will do high 40's low 50's on a motorway run and has sporty suspension, a bit hard round town but comes into its own on a spirited run. handling surpasses several petrol cars I've had that were sports focussed too.
I had a 2008 GS3 Saloon with 170hp Ralliart remap for 8 months, couldn't get on with it at all. Sold for a huge loss, and upgraded to a 2005 1.8 Mondeo which I've had over a year and am still very pleased with.
Would not recommend a Lancer to anyone.
Edited by HellDiver on Thursday 6th January 12:08
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff