What Car - for my little brother, replacement for RX-8

[adycav]

He's getting fed up with the fuel costs and objects to paying over four hundred quid tax, bless him.

He wants something good to drive, decent performance, cheaper to run, fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler), ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish.

No Elise-type cars as his missus doesn't like them.

£10k budget.

My first thought was an Alfa GT diesel or something like that.

Any suggestions will I'm sure be gratefully appreciated!

[alfabadass]

Alfa gt jtd is economical but not very fast. Ferrari looks but standard saloon performance.

Would suggest a 2.4 brera instead, remap should take it closer to 300bhp but crap economy!

Non alfa, BMW z4 or Audi TT. TT will do 30mpg with similar figures to the Mazda!

[va1o]

Golf MK5 GT 1.4 TSI?

Supercharged and Turbocharged 170bhp engine so fairly powerful, but also offers reasonable fuel economy. Nice and practical in 5dr form.

[alolympic]

Mazda 6MPS

[matty_doh]

A bit of a cliché but how about a 330d or 335d? I think they meet most of the requirements and from your post he seems ok about the 'd' bit.

ETA; Having just checked the prices of the 335d they're still a way off 10k yet. 330d is still possible though, if slightly leggier examples.

Edited by matty_doh on Sunday 16th January 16:16

[300bhp/ton]

adycav said:

He's getting fed up with the fuel costs and objects to paying over four hundred quid tax, bless him.

He wants something good to drive, decent performance, cheaper to run, fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler), ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish.

No Elise-type cars as his missus doesn't like them.

£10k budget.

My first thought was an Alfa GT diesel or something like that.

Any suggestions will I'm sure be gratefully appreciated!

1.0 litre Kia Picanto?

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Sunday 16th January 16:16

[adycav]

300bhp/ton said:

adycav said:

Any suggestions will I'm sure be gratefully appreciated!

1.0 litre Kia Picanto?

I lied.

[frosted]

Think 300/ton is starting to have a sense of humor , remember this day

To me it sounds like he wants something vag , cheap decent to drive , and they dint go wr0ng much . My friend had rx8 and I know exactly what the problems are , he went to a ep3 type r and loved it

Edited by frosted on Sunday 16th January 16:26

[boredofmyoldname]

E46 330i Coupe, not bad mpg for 230bhp.

[adycav]

Some good suggestions folks, I've emailed him with some ideas.

Thanks a lot.

300bhp/ton, please post some pics of some gloriously unsuitable American metal, a What Car thread just ain't the same without it...

[Hell27]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



He wants something good to drive - Check. decent performance - Check. cheaper to run - Check. fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler) - Check. ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish - Check.

[adycav]

Hell27 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



He wants something good to drive - Check. decent performance - Check. cheaper to run - Check. fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler) - Check. ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish - Check.

Yeah, this or the Octavia vRS might fit the bill nicely. Or perhaps the Leon.

[va1o]

If between those 3 then Leon probably best bet as its the most stylish and cheaper than the Golf. Interior a bit low-rent on the pre-08 models though.

[300bhp/ton]

adycav said:

Hell27 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



He wants something good to drive - Check. decent performance - Check. cheaper to run - Check. fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler) - Check. ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish - Check.

Yeah, this or the Octavia vRS might fit the bill nicely. Or perhaps the Leon.

No offense, but wouldn't both of these seem highly dull and drab compared to the RX-8? Not too mention a total let down if they are used to the RWD balance and precision?

[adycav]

300bhp/ton said:

adycav said:

Hell27 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



He wants something good to drive - Check. decent performance - Check. cheaper to run - Check. fairly new and reliable (he's not a spanner fiddler) - Check. ok for long distances, comfortable, stylish - Check.

Yeah, this or the Octavia vRS might fit the bill nicely. Or perhaps the Leon.

No offense, but wouldn't both of these seem highly dull and drab compared to the RX-8? Not too mention a total let down if they are used to the RWD balance and precision?

I take your point, but little bro's priorities are a little different to yours and mine.

He spends a fair bit of time up and down the motorway and is more concerned with straight line punch and better running costs.

[Hell27]

300, the premise was he's paying too much money!

Therefore, whilst you are probably right with the engineering considerations, the economics don't stack up.

Cheap fun motoring with a newish car naturally lead you to the modern 2.0 turbo unit. That's why I didn't recommend a 330ci - £450 per year tax.

[300bhp/ton]

How about something like this:


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2394643.htm



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2393470.htm

[Hell27]

That 130i looks an interesting prospect.

Adycav, let us know what he thinks - it would need a test drive of a few as there have been some good suggestions here.

Edited by Hell27 on Sunday 16th January 17:32

[adycav]

The 130i is an excellent call.

However, I doubt he'll go for it as I used to have one and he won't want to be seen to 'copy' me as younger brothers don't, despite us being in our thirties!

[300bhp/ton]

ok, something very different and well under budget.


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2288645.htm

Think it'd do everything the Golf does, but is just a bit more interesting.


Also if FWD hatches are the thing to look at, then I guess the R56 variant of these should be on the list too. Very good mpg wise too.


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2336790.htm