Sold car, bad times.

[bodhi]

clunkbox said:

How do you feel about diesel, even if it's RWD?

e36 325tds £1k, 37mpg heavy foot a road driving, 40+ on the motorway.
e46 320d / 330d £2-3k, 320d does 40-50mpg depending on how much you boot it*, never had a 330d but they aren't much worse.

Whatever you do don't make the mistake of buying a MKIV Golf / Bora like I did.

*I've managed 50mpg once in 45k miles - 45 is more achievable

My 330d generally averages 44 MPG day to day, probably 60:40 motorway to other stuff. Best I've seen out of it was 57 on the way up to Grimsby from Brum. It's also great fun on account of how it goes, stops and steers. Was £3500 for a facelift 204bhp SE model, well looked after but Cat D, so was a bit of a steal imo. Worth looking round to see what you can find. If you're doing 18k a year + it is probably worth finding a nice 330d, I'd say 330i every time if you do less than that though. I miss my old N/A Straight 6

[ajb85]

If the requirement is 37mpg, why on earth are you entertaining V8s??

My 530d will only manage low thirties until the engine is thoroughly warmed up. Alfa 156 is a good suggestion but definately not the petrol JTS engines, you'll be pulling your hair out constantly putting things right. Twin Sparks are the 5 cylinder JTDs are great however. Fast steering but so-so handling.

Lexus IS200/300? Never been big on anything Jap but these are something of a bargain now, RWD and ultimately a quality car. Sound, drive and handle very much like an E36 bm, with similar refinement to an E46. There is of course the Aero Saab choices, but you'll loathe the handling (or complete lack of) having come from your point and squirt Clio.

Audi A4 1.8T Quattro? Struggling to think of anything else..

[trackerjack]

In our family we have a £200 Mondeo with traction control ABS comfortable and good on fuel, however its a lot chavvy, it has a towbar and has been totally reliable for 5 years and is used for boring driving.

As well we have an MX5 for the little lady and my Quantum turbo plus a classic Dolomite Sprint and when we are not enjoying driving I am building a Lotus type special using MX5 donor and HSK turbo.

By all means be a domestic rock head, but you dont have to drive what they have to drive.

[Shuvi McTupya]

edo said:

Bit of haggling should get close.

Only 1 owner. Private sale. Just serviced. Low mileage, 4wd, turbo, lots of space for kids stuff. Job done.

Subaru Impreza 2.0 WRX 4WD 5dr [SR] Sportwagon 2002

Might be tempted by one of these myself..what sort of MPG can be expected?

[Synchromesh]

Papa Hotel said:

Just getting in before 300bhp/ton comes along.

Scrolled past that post, 300 at it again I though, then saw this post...

[Synchromesh]

I could get 37mpg out of my old T5 (250bhp).


S60 under bridge 1 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr

[Baryonyx]

I have often wondered why men who have one child suddenly decide that they need a massive car to cope with it.

At the very least, I wonder is it really worth changing cars just to get something with two more doors? For the love of the car, just lean into it...

[GreatGranny]

Synchromesh said:

I could get 37mpg out of my old T5 (250bhp).

Downhill doing 40mph with a following wind whilst slipstreaming an artic I bet :-)

Seriously not an AVERAGE of 37 mpg which the OP is suggesting.

Octavia VRS has been mentioned which is a good shout. Not sure if it will average 37 but it will be close.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

I know its not very exciting but the Avensis is a bargain IMO.
The 1.8VVT-I is a pretty economical engine.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Or an E46 Touring

[TheAlfaMale]

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

Ok, it didn't sell well but it has a pretty decent engine and it's a lot of newish car for the money. Best bet is the 150 bhp 16V version of this... I had one for 4 years and aside from the odd Fiatism (ironically caused by all bits GM manufactured) it ran very well, taking family of 2 adults, a tot and a grumpy teen to France in some comfort. The C4 grand pic which we got to fulfil the same role, but for one more child is, in my opinion, a significant step backwards.

[Baryonyx]

stewjohnst said:

Also avoid the 540 protections - They're armoured versions of the 540 with bullet proof glass and the like...kind of saps performance

I can't imagine these come up for sale all that often though.

[CraigyMc]

rufusgti said:

HA!!!
Nice bunch of 4 doors there papa!

All though, im staggered tvr's can be had for 3k!! Must remember that.

37mpg is what my Clio got. Doesn't have to be the same but I can't afford 20mpg.

Nice idea with the rover.

37mpg urban? Motorway?

What sort of driving do you do, op?

[Pig Skill]

Renaultsport Megane?

You can pick up a 5dr 255 for 3-3.5k

Practical yet fun when you have the opportunity.

[CraigyMc]

Pig Skill said:

Renaultsport Megane?

You can pick up a 5dr 255 for 3-3.5k

Practical yet fun when you have the opportunity.

They are quite harsh, aren't they?

I imagine the back of it would end up covered in sick all the time.

C

[SpeckledJim]

Baryonyx said:

I have often wondered why men who have one child suddenly decide that they need a massive car to cope with it.

At the very least, I wonder is it really worth changing cars just to get something with two more doors? For the love of the car, just lean into it...

Because going anywhere for the day with little'un means once you've packed the pram, your Clio is full. So if you want to take, say, a changing bag, a bouncer, a bumbo, a high-chair and anything that you +1 might actually need, you're into dismantling, very careful packing, and choosing what not to take.

An estate makes life so much easier. Remind us again what you use for a one-man commute?

(Yes, I know that 9 people used to go on holiday in black and white in a Vauxhall Velox and nobody died.)

[5678]

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

[SpeckledJim]

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...

[sjc]

This won't be "fun" (although a few have done a cheap upgrade with progressive rate springs with good results),but it will certainly calm you down when the little 'un is screaming in the back. And come on,£2000 for a 16K mile car ????


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[George7]

You can get 5 door & estate Focus ST170s within your budget. The MG ZT 190 is also worth checking out (great value, also comes as an estate), as are Mondeo V6s. You won't be able to get a stunning example of an ST220 for 3 grand, but they come up at that price often enough and picking up a standard V6 shouldn't be a problem. I've heard they're great to drive although have never driven one myself.

[SpeckledJim]

sjc said:

This won't be "fun" (although a few have done a cheap upgrade with progressive rate springs with good results),but it will certainly calm you down when the little 'un is screaming in the back. And come on,£2000 for a 16K mile car ????


http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Of all the 'normal' cars out there, I'm sure that on the average, the 75 is the lowest mileage and best-kept car available for their money.

[hondafanatic]

Synchromesh said:

Papa Hotel said:

Just getting in before 300bhp/ton comes along.

Scrolled past that post, 300 at it again I though, then saw this post...

Caught me out too.