Sold car, bad times.

[tyrewrecker]

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[300bhp/ton]

rufusgti said:

Over the weekend I came round to the reality that a 3 dr Clio 172 cup wasn't ideal for the life with a 3 month old baby. After 2 years with the Clio I reckon it's probably the most fun you can have for the money. Absolutely loved it.
So I put in on eBay on Sunday and took a deposit today for more than I expected to get.
So now I need a 4 door car. That can do 37mpg all day long and be fairly good fun. I'm a little stuck.

Is there a life after Clio cup?

Will I ever enjoy driving as much?

MG ZS180, you can get it as a 4 door saloon or a 5 door hatch. Similar pace to the Clio and Evo rated it as good to drive.

Parts are cheap and easy to get, plus the cars are generally easy to maintain and robust. Easily in your budget, anywhere from £800-1800.

Only downer might be mpg, 28-33mpg is more the norm depending how you drive, although probably mid 30's if you are a tad more sensible on a run.


MG ZS 2.5 180 4DR (2004) £1,495
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...



http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4879...

[irf]

Honda accord type R.

[ajb85]

[quote=300bhp/ton]

MG ZS 2.5 180 4DR (2004) £1,495
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...



Only problem is they're favoured by balding middle aged chavs that insist on recklessly driving passed primary schools at 50mph.

[300bhp/ton]

ajb85 said:

Only problem is they're favoured by balding middle aged chavs that insist on recklessly driving passed primary schools at 50mph.

It would seem you know a lot more about that than I do

[deltashad]

Not sure about the mpg? but there's a Mercedes 190e 2.3 16v Cosworth for sale on autotrader for less than 3k.

Depreciation proof

[900T-R]

ZS180 is absolutely spot on, however if you can't handle the image it apparently has or the interior, there's always the ZT(-T)190 which is a bit more er, restrained and oozes BMW quality (at least the pre-facelift ones)...

[nickg123]

Mk1 Octavia VRS - £3k will get you a lovely car with 50-60k (maybe even less).

[5678]

SpeckledJim said:

5678 said:

My 182 copes with family duties no problem! You can fit a Bugaboo Chameleon and shopping in the boot easily!

But you have a large estate...

That I've only just bought. Before that we did the first 18 months in a 650 coupe!

[ajb85]

900T-R said:

ZS180 is absolutely spot on, however if you can't handle the image it apparently has or the interior, there's always the ZT(-T)190 which is a bit more er, restrained and oozes BMW quality (at least the pre-facelift ones)...

I'd agree with that. The ZT is still a quality item that is for absolute peanuts now. Although, dare I say it; perhaps this car too has a bit of an image problem(?) There's definite "Alan Partridge on a track day" connotations there!

In saying all this, badge snobbery may not apply to the OP

[SpeckledJim]

5678 said:

SpeckledJim said:

5678 said:

My 182 copes with family duties no problem! You can fit a Bugaboo Chameleon and shopping in the boot easily!

But you have a large estate...

That I've only just bought. Before that we did the first 18 months in a 650 coupe!

Commendable commitment. But did the experience of those 18 months inform the decision to buy the big estate?

I'm just cluing-in Baryonyx on why new parents get bigger cars. Because suddenly they're driving more often, further, with much more clobber, and with more precious cargo.

That's 4 good reasons.

[300bhp/ton]

ajb85 said:

900T-R said:

ZS180 is absolutely spot on, however if you can't handle the image it apparently has or the interior, there's always the ZT(-T)190 which is a bit more er, restrained and oozes BMW quality (at least the pre-facelift ones)...

I'd agree with that. The ZT is still a quality item that is for absolute peanuts now. Although, dare I say it; perhaps this car too has a bit of an image problem(?) There's definite "Alan Partridge on a track day" connotations there!

In saying all this, badge snobbery may not apply to the OP

Didn't he drive a Lexus anyhow. And really you've got to pretty vain to actually care.

[woots787]

On a similar commute I got 36mpg from a ph1 172 and 28mpg from a 330. The Clio's are an exceptional blend of pace per economy, afraid that 4 doors won't match it. Maybe if you stretch your budget the ph2 Octavia rs might get closer.

[StoatInACoat]

I would want one with slightly lower miles at a higher initial price but they seem few and far between:

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

I'm considering replacing my 172 with one when I get bored of it being small.

[5678]

SpeckledJim said:

Commendable commitment. But did the experience of those 18 months inform the decision to buy the big estate?

I'm just cluing-in Baryonyx on why new parents get bigger cars. Because suddenly they're driving more often, further, with much more clobber, and with more precious cargo.

That's 4 good reasons.

You're completely correct. Regular 400 mile round trips to see family and the luxury of not having to play luggage tetris each time we go dictated.

A Clio can do the job to a certain extent. But giving in and having a family wagon makes life easier.

[ajb85]

300bhp/ton said:

Didn't he drive a Lexus anyhow. And really you've got to pretty vain to actually care.

And a Rover 800 Sterling prior to that! Like I suggested, vanity where badges are concerned does not apply to all. Regardless, the ZT is still a credible car today, just not so convinced about the others.

[Mr AJ]

Our pram used to fill the clio boot up entirely. You might squeeze a changing bag in aswell if your lucky - It was utterly useless for day trips out and the weekly shopping was out of the question, If we forgot the pram was in the boot when we went shopping it all had to go on the back seat!. - Fully understand why the OP want's to change cars.

[SpeckledJim]

5678 said:

SpeckledJim said:

Commendable commitment. But did the experience of those 18 months inform the decision to buy the big estate?

I'm just cluing-in Baryonyx on why new parents get bigger cars. Because suddenly they're driving more often, further, with much more clobber, and with more precious cargo.

That's 4 good reasons.

You're completely correct. Regular 400 mile round trips to see family and the luxury of not having to play luggage tetris each time we go dictated.

A Clio can do the job to a certain extent. But giving in and having a family wagon makes life easier.

The thought of trying all that without a big boot gave me the shudders, so her MX-5 was mothballed and a V70 added to the fleet 2 months before Sprog1's due date. It has been invaluable.

[300bhp/ton]

ajb85 said:

300bhp/ton said:

Didn't he drive a Lexus anyhow. And really you've got to pretty vain to actually care.

And a Rover 800 Sterling prior to that! Like I suggested, vanity where badges are concerned does not apply to all. Regardless, the ZT is still a credible car today, just not so convinced about the others.

Right... so a completely different car. That makes sense

ho hum.

[ajb85]

300bhp/ton said:

ajb85 said:

300bhp/ton said:

Didn't he drive a Lexus anyhow. And really you've got to pretty vain to actually care.

And a Rover 800 Sterling prior to that! Like I suggested, vanity where badges are concerned does not apply to all. Regardless, the ZT is still a credible car today, just not so convinced about the others.

Right... so a completely different car. That makes sense

ho hum.

Well I wasn't really being too specific. I think anything big and saloon made by Rover in the last 30 years has a bit of a stigma attached. With the exception of the SD1, which was a hatch...