What car... Again... 6k available..

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015

Hey guys,

After finally getting a car a few months ago, i need to move up the car ladder quickly and am looking to upgrade from my 1.4 06 clio to something hopefully abit more modern and up to date.

Love my little clio, just having had the car bug for 15+ years, (only 23 now but i started young) i dont want to be stuck with a car that i cant enjoy. Yes it gets me from a to b, but im hoping for something more.

Ideas have been thrown around
---IDEA 1
Buy a 6k car outright and enjoy it for 2/3years with moderate costs and maintenance

---IDEA 2
6k deposit on a nearly new 14/15 car and finance the rest.

With options about 50/50 if im honest in what feedback ive gotten so far,

6k is a good amount of money to play around with, But im hoping speaking with car owners with a few years experience will point me in the right direction with what cars to start test driving and looking at.

Outright owners
Clio 197/200, fiesta st (to 2012), mk5 golf, civic type r, bmw 1series 120d, impreza, twingo 133, swift sport, audi a3/a4, Octavia vrs, maybe at a push intergra type r,

Finance cars
Fiesta st-2 2014 -13k
Focus st 2014 - 17k
Golf r 2011-17k
320d 2011- 14k
Audi a5 3.0tdi - 12k
335d 2007 - 12k

Just to give you an idea of what im looking at. Insurance is fine, with typical comutes being 10-15miles each way daily (mon-fri) and the occasional southampton-northampton every other weekend. Petrol/diesel isnt a huge concern but around 30-40 on long trips is what im aiming for.

Ill be looking for some bells and whistles, current car doesnt have ac so i would like some creature comforts, heated seats, folding door mirrors, cruise control, etc, but open for ideas.

4 people is a must, but can be 3 or 5door, just have to have that option to be able to go to work with passengers.

Throw me some links smile

Ste

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015

TheAngryDog said:

Havent we seen this all before?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

There was another guy who was just like this, cant remember his user name, though to be fair, he did these posts every 3 days, so you're not that bad. Carry on hehe

I know!! I keep posting on here and then something comes up!! It sucks but at least all you guys are alright about it!!

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015

ZX10R NIN said:

So OP have you decided what your going to test drive?

Booked a fiesta st test drive with a mate just to see what all the fuss is about!

the 130i id never really thought about, i know the missus loves these cars, would have to have a look at one to see how i feel, Have a mate who works with these and only ever owned BMWs (330d 330i 320d M3) so may be worth giving him a shout,

The Focus ST never appealed to me and after seeing the R26/225 Megane my mate has i wasnt as fussed on it as i thought.

350z, again id never looked for, only assuming that it would be abit cramped on the Inside,

Intergra Dc5 would be my Pick but with few of them out there its hard to find one to test drive, even harder to find one in the price range. Never liked the Type R civic compared to them tbh,

197/200 are good choices but i was let down by the options and quality of the interiors compared to other hatches, they are the same as my current Clio on the inside

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015

Just a few ive found, I know abit highly priced...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015

CallorFold said:

You'll struggle to get into a Clio 200 for £6K, a tidy 197 F1 shouldn't be too hard to find though smile

I had the same £6K budget as you and ended up with a Clio 197 smile

no regrets, it's a fantastic car.

What options were available on these?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015

lewisf182 said:

£6k budget, without doubt the 130i. IMHO no hot hatch around that price backet can match it in speed, noise and over all specialness - RWD, 260hp, amazing straight 6 sound etc.

Running costs are extermely reasonable too as the 1 series in general is solid as is the N52 engine.

So many blown 4 pots at this price range, we've got decades of those to come so go straight 6 while you can.

Next on the list for me would by FN2 type R, been looking at these recently and the 2 litre howler appeals!

Do you have one of these? whats running costs like??

What are things to look for? options etc

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Friday 24th July 2015

Mr Tidy said:

Well given that they both have a 155 mph limiter there wouldn't be anything in it would there?

But a 130i is going to get to the limiter quicker than a 330i, and most alternatives listed by the OP are more hot hatch focussed, which is something that the 330i certainly is not!

Also don't know what the issues are with BMW manual boxes - my Z4C box is just fine, and it's quicker than a 130i or 330i, but sadly probably out of budget unless Cat C/D or very leggy!

Z4 would be too small i think :/

And im open to all cars! Had a mate tell me Bout his 7series adventures!!

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Friday 24th July 2015

Mr Tidy said:

330i may be a nicer place to be, but the OP never mentioned any "nice to be" criteria IIRC, so on PH where speed is supposed to matter 130i is surely a better option??

BTW your car at the meet-up this week wasn't lacking in speed when you left - nice one! thumbup

Well it would help if it was a nice place to be smile

What are the running figures between the two cars?
My bmw mate has been selling me on the 330cd plus remap. 300bhp and 450nm...

123d is supposed to be a good all rounder?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Friday 24th July 2015

Mr Tidy said:

Running cost wise I doubt there is anything to choose between 130i or 330i as the engine is the same, at least in early 330is - later 330is got the N53 engine to drop one tax band but they have issues with injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps.

And I don't think a 130i would be an unpleasant place to be - Help pleas Yonex (search his posts)!

If you even contemplate any diseasel please, please drive both alternatives before you decide - I had a 123d for over 6 years and competent as it was my 325ti is so much better to drive, and the Z4 is in a totally different world!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 24th July 02:05

I shall do!
I bet the z4 is lovely! But i need 4 seats frown

Ive heard the driving experience is better in petrol but the real world day to day is piped by the diesel, but im sure that everyone opinion is different.

I have a fiesta, a clio 197 and 200 to look at at evan halshaws,

But still on the hunt for a bmw to look at and no dealerships have any dc5s in, so the hunt continues!

Can you get good figures out of the z4 when you need them?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Monday 27th July 2015

Butter Face said:

I've got a lovely Premier EP3 for sale wink

Whats the running like?
And got a link to it?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015

Chicane-UK said:

I've previously always spent similar money to you on second hand cars but this time around decided to go the PCP route and put a deposit on a year old Fiesta ST.

Have to say it's been great for several reasons. Firstly the car is a gem, as just about every single review on the planet will confirm. Quick, great chassis, puts a smile on your face, not terrible fuel economy, but also good on a long run in terms of comfort and practicality, etc.

But also based on my previous experiences, you could plop down 7-8k on a used car and still run into expensive bills pretty quickly. At least this way you know what your outgoings are going to be each month and it makes it easier to plan, save, etc.

It does suck watching car finance come out of your account every month, no doubt about it but.. on balance I think it's not a bad way to go.

Thats exactly what i want to do, but so far havent been convinced,

are you going to buy the car at the end of it?

if you dont mind me asking how much do you pay each month with what deposit?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015

Blanchimont said:

Have you thought about something like an Abarth Grande Punto?

1.4 Turbo, 150hp or 180.
1100kgs
36mpg acheivable.
Left field.
Rare-ish.
fun to drive.
well equipped.
Should be able to pick up a good 155 for that, or even a higher mile EsseEsse with the 180hp.

I have, Ive looked at a few and spoken to a few who have owned them, Rare but struggles to compete with mainstream and always will have to think its not an abarth 500.

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015

lewisf182 said:

Extremely reasonable tbh, especially at specialist indy garages. The 1 series in general is very reliable and the engine even more so. It's one of the reasons I bought it after lots of research, the Z4 is generally the same reliability wise, which is to say solid.

Most services cost me around £300 so it's about that a year, but obviously a big bill could come if a lot needs doing at once. Touch wood it's been nothing but supremely reliable since Dec 2013 and it's 10 years old this year.

Options wise it's up to you really and what you want, can go ultra basic with just cloth seats or full leather and extended leather on 07+ models. Sat nav is obviously a bit old but I think makes the interior look a bit more modern and makes navigating through other things much easier like service intervals.

What I do miss is cruise control, bluetooth and the top sound system.

Cruise control is a must, ive always wanted it and will use it quite abit!
how do these compare to the blown smaller engines, theres alot of 120ds around,

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Thursday 30th July 2015

bodhi said:

The 130i is in a different league from the diesels, from the second you turn the key you will see (well, hear) why. A close friend had a 120d and whilst it went well and was good on fuel, the engine was fairly nasty, especially when cold or around town. I haven't driven a 130i, but am currently the proud owner of a 125i Coupe and it's a truly lovely thing. Same engine as the 130i, just detuned, but a bloke with a laptop can easily release the missing 50hp.

It may only be a 1 Series, but seriously, that engine makes every drive an event. From the typical straight 6 WHUMP when it fire up, the deep burble at low revs that turns into a demented howl at around 3k revs - it is unbelievably smooth, and 40 - 100 in 3rd is always amusing smile

As you can tell, I suggest you try a 130i. We really will never see its like again. Or if you still pursue the finance option, the 125i is worth a look too.

what about the 130d? mpg wise

and do you prefer the coupes looks to the normal 1 series?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015

swanny71 said:

Another recommendation for the 130i, they're very special little cars and surprisingly cheap to run. I've averaged over 32 mpg in 60k + miles/4.5 years, insurance is £200 this year, one claim on warranty in that time plus routine maintenance.
I love mine and despite being tempted by an M135i earlier this year I can't think of anything for less than £20k that could replace it.

V6 grunt that addictable?
Well i havent seen any 130i yet, only the 335d,
Guess everyone keeps it pretty stock?

Original Poster

641 posts

125 months