ST220 vs E46 Coupe/Cab vs A4 Cabriolet - what car?
Discussion
OK, so some of you may know I posted a what car thread a couple of years ago where I asked a similar question to this and chose a Mondeo.
I've been very content with my choice, the car is reliable and economical to run. But the time has come that I am now bored.
I need-
I've got a budget of up to £4K to spend, but less is better
Current thinking is that the answer is going to be ST220? Unless someone can tell me that +100K mile E46's and A4s are actually really pretty reliable?
I'm going to view a 330Ci locally tomorrow if it's still available, price, spec and colour are right, but with over 130K on the clock, I suspect it will feel just too tired.
I've been very content with my choice, the car is reliable and economical to run. But the time has come that I am now bored.
I need-
- Petrol (don't trust diesels)
- Manual (don't want an autobox to pop)
- More gutsy than my 2.0, but it doesn't need to set the world alight (even the 1.8T would probably do)
- Reliable - I don't want a car which is going to cause me constant visits to the garage - my Mondeo has shown me how much nicer it has to have a car which just works
- Not ridiculously thirsty - must be capable of 35mpg on a very long motorway run
I've got a budget of up to £4K to spend, but less is better
Current thinking is that the answer is going to be ST220? Unless someone can tell me that +100K mile E46's and A4s are actually really pretty reliable?
I'm going to view a 330Ci locally tomorrow if it's still available, price, spec and colour are right, but with over 130K on the clock, I suspect it will feel just too tired.
Shhhh, I probably won't get it from an ST either but I'm kidding myself slightly. To be fair my Z4 3.0i used to manage more than that (just) if I sat in top gear at 70mph for two hundred miles, although that was lighter.
I guess even my current Mondeo has needed at least one visit to the garage per year, but it does go many months in between them. It's just that my E39 needed one visit a month and it's made me a little scared to go near a high miles BMW again!
I guess even my current Mondeo has needed at least one visit to the garage per year, but it does go many months in between them. It's just that my E39 needed one visit a month and it's made me a little scared to go near a high miles BMW again!
Thanks for the replies and links guys!
To be honest, the "cruiser" nature of the A4 may well be a good bet, as to be honest the roads here are shocking, so something that's not too rough would be relatively welcome. But then, there's the lovely six cylinder noise of the E46 and the ST...
I still get the impression that an ST will cause me less financial grief than either the E46 or the A4 though.
I've actually never been so uncertain about what to buy in my life, the generally painless ownership of the Mondeo has destroyed my previously brave approach to buying high mileage, highly strung German cars!
To be honest, the "cruiser" nature of the A4 may well be a good bet, as to be honest the roads here are shocking, so something that's not too rough would be relatively welcome. But then, there's the lovely six cylinder noise of the E46 and the ST...
I still get the impression that an ST will cause me less financial grief than either the E46 or the A4 though.
I've actually never been so uncertain about what to buy in my life, the generally painless ownership of the Mondeo has destroyed my previously brave approach to buying high mileage, highly strung German cars!
All good points!
I definitely don't want a "Sports" car, an ST220 or 330Ci will be plenty quick enough to drive around the town centre, and manage a motorway slog. My days of going for spirited drives are well behind me I'm afraid. If anything, I actually prioritise comfort over sportiness.
Will check out the MK4, the issue I have with those is that I've driven them twice and they just didn't feel that fast, not in the way that the ST gives you a wave of lovely torque and then comes on song above 3K. Maybe I need to drive an ST and a MK4 back to back...
I definitely don't want a "Sports" car, an ST220 or 330Ci will be plenty quick enough to drive around the town centre, and manage a motorway slog. My days of going for spirited drives are well behind me I'm afraid. If anything, I actually prioritise comfort over sportiness.
Will check out the MK4, the issue I have with those is that I've driven them twice and they just didn't feel that fast, not in the way that the ST gives you a wave of lovely torque and then comes on song above 3K. Maybe I need to drive an ST and a MK4 back to back...
Is the flywheel a notable issue on the Mondeo? That may have some bearing on my decision!
I had an ST TDCI once which lunched it's flywheel 3 weeks into ownership, I wasn't pleased at the £1,200 repair bill!!
Anyone know if it's the same cost on the ST V6?
Off to check out S40's now...
I've also checked out C70's, lovely cars and I would hope that being based on the Focus they are less "wallowy" than the S60 I test drove the other day? (I *think* they're based on the Focus anyway?)
I had an ST TDCI once which lunched it's flywheel 3 weeks into ownership, I wasn't pleased at the £1,200 repair bill!!
Anyone know if it's the same cost on the ST V6?
Off to check out S40's now...
I've also checked out C70's, lovely cars and I would hope that being based on the Focus they are less "wallowy" than the S60 I test drove the other day? (I *think* they're based on the Focus anyway?)
OK - am still struggling with this, and the ST I had my eye on has sold, d'oh!
As a bit of a left field choice, how ruinous would this A6 be?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-3-2-SE-FSi-Quatt...
As a bit of a left field choice, how ruinous would this A6 be?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-3-2-SE-FSi-Quatt...
OK, I must have been pissed when I posted the link to the A6, a few short Google searches show me that it would ruin me within months.
However, the search is progressing! I've now more or less ruled out the E46 on the grounds that my budget doesn't seem to stretch to a decent facelift model. The cabriolets that I've seen have all been tired at best, bits of manky, broken trim, holes worn through the bolsters etc. They're just past their prime. I could get an older one within budget that's in good condition (and went to see one, but it sold before I got there!) but then it's pre-facelift and I'm not really that sold on the looks.
Anyway, since then I've driven an A4 1.8T and it seemed much better screwed together and was certainly wearing it's miles better. So, with that in mind I'm off to see a 2.4 V6 version tomorrow, probably more thirsty but I think I really need the V6 noise.
Next on the list is to go see an ST220, once I've done that I'll easily be able to decide between the A4 and the Mondy I think.
I've honestly never been so confused about which car to get!
However, the search is progressing! I've now more or less ruled out the E46 on the grounds that my budget doesn't seem to stretch to a decent facelift model. The cabriolets that I've seen have all been tired at best, bits of manky, broken trim, holes worn through the bolsters etc. They're just past their prime. I could get an older one within budget that's in good condition (and went to see one, but it sold before I got there!) but then it's pre-facelift and I'm not really that sold on the looks.
Anyway, since then I've driven an A4 1.8T and it seemed much better screwed together and was certainly wearing it's miles better. So, with that in mind I'm off to see a 2.4 V6 version tomorrow, probably more thirsty but I think I really need the V6 noise.
Next on the list is to go see an ST220, once I've done that I'll easily be able to decide between the A4 and the Mondy I think.
I've honestly never been so confused about which car to get!
Done.
2.4 V6. Full History, absolutely immaculate compared to all the dross I've seen so far (perils of buying at the bum end of the market I guess)
Nav, Heated seats, generally a lovely motor. It's certainly not fast at all, but I reckon it's about on a par with my 2.0 Mondeo which is fast enough for most of my needs, and the V6 engine is sooooo much smoother than the 1.8T.
I don't think I'll be living with the car forever, but I do think that around about this time next year it will be significantly easier to sell than an ST220 (which seem to languish on Autotrader for quite a while!)
Anyway, here she is in all her elegant glory. Thanks for the help people
2.4 V6. Full History, absolutely immaculate compared to all the dross I've seen so far (perils of buying at the bum end of the market I guess)
Nav, Heated seats, generally a lovely motor. It's certainly not fast at all, but I reckon it's about on a par with my 2.0 Mondeo which is fast enough for most of my needs, and the V6 engine is sooooo much smoother than the 1.8T.
I don't think I'll be living with the car forever, but I do think that around about this time next year it will be significantly easier to sell than an ST220 (which seem to languish on Autotrader for quite a while!)
Anyway, here she is in all her elegant glory. Thanks for the help people
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