need to change car - advise please

need to change car - advise please

Author
Discussion

scooters

Original Poster:

217 posts

216 months

Monday 17th December 2007
quotequote all
Hello all,
I need some advise if at all possible.
I've currently got an 1.8t a3 and need to change this due to having a baby on the way.

Now, the problem lies with what to replace it with, unfortunately the price is going to be a factor as I need to keep this around the 9k mark (so that rules out anything new).
my weekly commute is around 400 miles (most on m4 and straight A46 road) so mpg will be a factor. As the commute is not stop-start I would expect to be fairly light on the gas (currently getting around 360miles per tank)
Anyway the cars that I have been considering thus far are (all avant);

A4 2.5
A6 2.5
S4 2.7 (1999-2000)

Now, i'm not all that bothered around the 0-60 times but I do want something that is not going to hang around too much with real world driving (overtaking etc etc). My wife has a golf TDI (140bhp) and I need somthing which is at least as quick

Therefore if you have any opinions on the above, or can think of other alternatives your comments would greatly be appreciated.

many thanks
Scott


NP100

542 posts

207 months

Monday 17th December 2007
quotequote all
I own a 98 plate S4,the car is brilliant, I love it and really would recommend it. I would say fuel isnt cheap,but then i mainly run mine locally so MPG is approx 21,however if i go on a long journey it bumps it up to 23-24mpg.I would definatly say get one,because there are some real good bargains out there like this one

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/311128.htm

GreatGranny

9,128 posts

227 months

Monday 17th December 2007
quotequote all
It all depends if you can stand the high running costs of the S4.

Your ideal car would be chipped A6 Avant TDi 130. I wouldn't bother with the 2.5, they are nose heavy and in the real world they are no quicker than the 1.9TDi.

[sensible head]With a kid on the way I would go for low running costs firstly and forget about getting something as quick as the wifes[/sensible head]

Or if an A4 is big enough get an A4 Avant which will be a bit quicker than the A6.

This http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/316424.htm

or this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/246689.htm


Edited by GreatGranny on Monday 17th December 17:10

scooters

Original Poster:

217 posts

216 months

Tuesday 18th December 2007
quotequote all
I agree with the running costs so an s4 may just be something that i'll have to look forward to later on in life!

the idea of chipping a 130 does sound interesting what sort of gains would be had from this? I appreciate that it will probably depend on the the chip.

It's a shame that the 2.5 doesn't get much good press, the massive torque that it delivers sounds quite appealing.

Also on a slight tangent, the passat is a similar size to the a4 - what are peoples opinions of these? Also, would straight line performance between the smaller estates and the A6 be that noticeable given similar engines?

Sorry about the waffle but it's good to knowledgable comments on the subject

istoo

2,365 posts

203 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
dont wrote off the 2.5 tdi, especially in the 180 quattro sport form. they too can be remapped...

Dilligaf10

2,431 posts

211 months

Saturday 22nd December 2007
quotequote all
Scooters, i see from your profile you are in Glos, whereabouts as there is a VW/Audi specialist who does rechipping in Stonehouse. He did my 3.0TDi with excellent results. I would go for the A6 as you will need all the room you can get for the baby paraphenalia!

Dr G

15,197 posts

243 months

Sunday 23rd December 2007
quotequote all
istoo said:
dont wrote off the 2.5 tdi, especially in the 180 quattro sport form. they too can be remapped...
Not really reccomended to take the 180 any further than box power - it's an old tech engine now.

MiloD

253 posts

203 months

Thursday 3rd January 2008
quotequote all
Hows about an S3? Get 29-30mpg on the motorway and rapid on the twisties. Very satisfying car:


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/283096.htm

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

219 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
There can be only one choice.

Very practical too ; )



Robatr0n

12,362 posts

217 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
I would love an RS2! smile

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

219 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Me too! I'd better stop suggesting them as car choices otherwise the prices will go up.

I was considering getting one from Germany and bringing it here, but on looking at www.mobile.de and www.autoscout24.de the prices are about the same as in the UK. Plus you have to go through the hassle of re-registering it etc.


jeremyc

23,513 posts

285 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Ecurie Ecosse said:
Me too! I'd better stop suggesting them as car choices otherwise the prices will go up.
I had noticed your enthusiasm. wink

Every car is for sale at the right price ..... and of course you must have an RS Blue one. hehe

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

219 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Agreed - RS Blau is my favourite colour. IMHO - it is part of the icon that is the RS2.

Right - when I'm in a position to have one as well as my 147 GTA (I couldn't part with that) which will be soon-ish, I will give you a shout. What is the interior of your like? Part of me likes the sober black leather, but then another part says I must have the RS Blau alcantara.

jeremyc

23,513 posts

285 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Ecurie Ecosse said:
What is the interior of your like? Part of me likes the sober black leather, but then another part says I must have the RS Blau alcantara.
Full black leather - my favourite option. smile

Did I also mention it's got the factory (993TT) big brake upgrade as well? biggrin

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

219 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Must resist! Must resist!

Sounds fantastic. Is it RHD or LHD?

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

219 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Must resist!

Sounds fantastic. Is yours LHD or RHD?

jeremyc

23,513 posts

285 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
Ecurie Ecosse said:
Must resist!

Sounds fantastic. Is yours LHD or RHD?
RHD, naturally. smile

Plotloss

67,280 posts

271 months

Friday 4th January 2008
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
RS Blue one
Good lad, good lad...

JW911

896 posts

196 months

Saturday 5th January 2008
quotequote all
Don't laugh. Allroad 2.5TDi (180bhp).

I get 32mpg out of mine (5 sp auto, mainly motorway commute), 0-60 will worry a warm hatch and they're bombproof if you get a good one. 50-70 is pretty impressive and they can be chipped up to 220bhp ish. I do a lot of miles (max about 600 miles per week) so I figured my best bet was to buy a high mileage car. Mine now has 123k on the clock and goes like a train. You'll be able to pick one up with that mileage for less than £10k, just make sure it has a full history and the belts have been done. If you jack the suspension up, they have pretty much the same ground clearance as a Rangie. The only negative is they sound like a Panzer tank.

Alternatively, if you don't need the off road gubbins, get a high mileage manual A6 and get a few more MPG. All my local taxi firms use them, which is a pretty good advert.wink

Edited by JW911 on Saturday 5th January 01:02