What car for £0-£10,000
Discussion
Time for a new car and I'm trying to be realistic, but I'm conflicted by my aspirations.
In terms of practicality, the car must have space for a passenger and a large dog. It must be reasonable to run (+-30mpg) and as cheap as possible to maintain. It must be driveable around town. does it have cup holders?
In terms of fun:
0-60 around 6 seconds
Discrete aggressive looks
RWD for oversteer
Must have grin factor
Now as I'm sure you can understand I'm in that old head/heart problem. I want a car that I can use every day, that makers me smile every time I drive it, that isn't going to bankrupt me in fuel and maintenance costs.
Head says get an 05-08 fiesta zetec 1.6tdci/mondeo st 2.2tdci
Heart says: Monaro, R34 Skyline GTT, s15 Silvia spec R, P1 Impreza, 300zx, Supra and on and on.
I've come up with a couple of compromises, but I'd like to hear your suggestions that I may have overlooked. Max budget is 10k, but I'd like to keep it as close to 5k.
RX8- low purchase price of 3k would offset it's woeful fuel economy, plus there are plenty of them around.
BMW e46 330i msport- seems to tick all the boxes. BMW image though.
Integra Type R- It does everything except RWD. And finding one that isn't a rot box may be difficult.
Anyone with experience of ownership of any of these cars, I'd love to hear about it.
Cheers
In terms of practicality, the car must have space for a passenger and a large dog. It must be reasonable to run (+-30mpg) and as cheap as possible to maintain. It must be driveable around town. does it have cup holders?
In terms of fun:
0-60 around 6 seconds
Discrete aggressive looks
RWD for oversteer
Must have grin factor
Now as I'm sure you can understand I'm in that old head/heart problem. I want a car that I can use every day, that makers me smile every time I drive it, that isn't going to bankrupt me in fuel and maintenance costs.
Head says get an 05-08 fiesta zetec 1.6tdci/mondeo st 2.2tdci
Heart says: Monaro, R34 Skyline GTT, s15 Silvia spec R, P1 Impreza, 300zx, Supra and on and on.
I've come up with a couple of compromises, but I'd like to hear your suggestions that I may have overlooked. Max budget is 10k, but I'd like to keep it as close to 5k.
RX8- low purchase price of 3k would offset it's woeful fuel economy, plus there are plenty of them around.
BMW e46 330i msport- seems to tick all the boxes. BMW image though.
Integra Type R- It does everything except RWD. And finding one that isn't a rot box may be difficult.
Anyone with experience of ownership of any of these cars, I'd love to hear about it.
Cheers
Is the m3 much different from the 330? Big difference in price. I have looked at a couple e36 328i sports too, but they're getting pretty rare now. I do like BMWs, it's just that no one else on the road does.
If you have any suggestions for something not quite so silly that would be a good compromise between the two I'm all ears.
If you have any suggestions for something not quite so silly that would be a good compromise between the two I'm all ears.
Type R Tom said:
E46 M3 although you said you're not sure about BMW. Over 30mpg can be had on a run and if you can get a good one (subframe done for example) they shouldn't be anymore expensive to run than anything else on your silly list.
Blimey. No idea how you drive yours but in the ex's cabrio E46 M3 it was a struggle to get above 21mpg combined. Often circa 18mpg.Shnozz said:
Blimey. No idea how you drive yours but in the ex's cabrio E46 M3 it was a struggle to get above 21mpg combined. Often circa 18mpg.
Combined it's not possible but my commute to work I'm at 60-70 from home to pretty much the office door. I'm in no rush to get there! I once managed nearly 40 straight from the petrol station into an average speed camera 50mph. This is of course indicated so could be as much as 10% out which would take 30ish into the late 20's.It's a weekend car now so don't get that anymore.
raw1981 said:
Is the m3 much different from the 330? Big difference in price. I have looked at a couple e36 328i sports too, but they're getting pretty rare now. I do like BMWs, it's just that no one else on the road does.
If you have any suggestions for something not quite so silly that would be a good compromise between the two I'm all ears.
The M3 is very different from a 330. Go drive one and keep your foot in till the red line. Don't forget the sports button too. If you have any suggestions for something not quite so silly that would be a good compromise between the two I'm all ears.
jammy_basturd said:
Why £0-£10,000?! Like anyone has £10,000 to spend on a car and chooses to only spend £1.
It's comments like this that really put me off pistonheads.Perhaps he has up to 10k to spend but wouldn't say no to a fairly cheaper car if it fit the bill and he had overlooked it.
jammy_basturd said:
Why £0-£10,000?! Like anyone has £10,000 to spend on a car and chooses to only spend £1.
Stepmum has a £400 focus in the UK, has 3x 1-3 year old cars in the US. She couldnt spend alot more on her uk car but doesnt see the point. Just because you have alot to spend doesnt mean you need to spend it.Reckon an RX-8 if you don't want a hatch. But would a hatch make more sense for a dog??
But mpg is terrible on these. But a good drive for a small outlay.
BMW 130i or even a 123d might make for a newer car that's fun but sensible.
M3's are great. But if you are watching costs then more risky.
Lots of interesting cars for this money however. Ford Focus mk1 RS. And with strong residuals.
Alfa Brera with AWD and a V6.
ITR's are great too.
But mpg is terrible on these. But a good drive for a small outlay.
BMW 130i or even a 123d might make for a newer car that's fun but sensible.
M3's are great. But if you are watching costs then more risky.
Lots of interesting cars for this money however. Ford Focus mk1 RS. And with strong residuals.
Alfa Brera with AWD and a V6.
ITR's are great too.
manracer said:
jammy_basturd said:
Why £0-£10,000?! Like anyone has £10,000 to spend on a car and chooses to only spend £1.
It's comments like this that really put me off pistonheads.Perhaps he has up to 10k to spend but wouldn't say no to a fairly cheaper car if it fit the bill and he had overlooked it.
If the OP's budget really is £0 - £10k then it suggests he/she doesn't know what one wants. I suspect however that the OP's real budget it more like £7k - £10k, but I'd not want to be pedantic and point that out.
Well I do have up to 10k, but maybe I don't want to spend that much. My current daily is a ford cougar- shed territory. Its pretty fun, a bit thirsty but ticks all the boxes.
One option I could do is spend £1000 on a diesel focus or similar and that would leave me with 9k to spend on a toy. I've had bikes in the past, and a bike may fit the bill. If I were to blow the full budget I'd want something that would hold it's value. JDM Imports seem to hold their value well, and rust tends to be less of an issue with an imported car.
One option I could do is spend £1000 on a diesel focus or similar and that would leave me with 9k to spend on a toy. I've had bikes in the past, and a bike may fit the bill. If I were to blow the full budget I'd want something that would hold it's value. JDM Imports seem to hold their value well, and rust tends to be less of an issue with an imported car.
raw1981 said:
Well I do have up to 10k, but maybe I don't want to spend that much. My current daily is a ford cougar- shed territory. Its pretty fun, a bit thirsty but ticks all the boxes.
I currently run a 330i and I've had a V8 M3 yet I still have very fond memories of the Mondeo V6 Ghia x shed I ran for 3 years so I get what you mean totally.The problem with BMW's is that they are pretty dull unless you drive like a complete tit and the favourite car I've had was my S14a 200sx so I would be more inclined to go the jap route for sure.
300bhp/ton said:
Reckon an RX-8 if you don't want a hatch. But would a hatch make more sense for a dog??
But mpg is terrible on these. But a good drive for a small outlay.
BMW 130i or even a 123d might make for a newer car that's fun but sensible.
M3's are great. But if you are watching costs then more risky.
Lots of interesting cars for this money however. Ford Focus mk1 RS. And with strong residuals.
Alfa Brera with AWD and a V6.
ITR's are great too.
I do like the 135 Msport coupe. Performance is very healthy. I've not looked at Breras yet, but I have looked at alfa GTs.But mpg is terrible on these. But a good drive for a small outlay.
BMW 130i or even a 123d might make for a newer car that's fun but sensible.
M3's are great. But if you are watching costs then more risky.
Lots of interesting cars for this money however. Ford Focus mk1 RS. And with strong residuals.
Alfa Brera with AWD and a V6.
ITR's are great too.
As for a hatchback, An Impreza wrx estate would keep the dog happy, which seems to be the best all round compromise. Fuel economy is a bit down but I'm have to make a compromise somewhere.
Is driving like a tit a prerequisite for BMW ownership? I can drive like a tit (when the road's quiet)
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