Help! £6k fun family car.
Discussion
I need to replace my 2008 VW Polo diesel imminently as I bought it on a PCP and have to hand it back. I have recently got married and my wife is expecting so I would prefer something a bit larger with 4/5 doors. Not quite ready for a diesel estate yet though! Ideally, I would like something spacious, comfortable, safe, fast, reliable and fun, with a few more toys that wouldn't disgrace itself on a track. I would prefer petrol as I no longer do a lot of miles but don't want something too ruinous to run as petrol was a lot cheaper the last time that I had a petrol car (although I am not anti-diesel). My preference is with a manual although I would not rule out an automatic. Newer cars that interest me that I might be able to afford such as the Abarth 500/Swift Sport/MINI Cooper S would be too small and larger cars in my price range too boring. My financial priorities now lie elsewhere, so I would rather spend up to £6k and buy something outright. Any ideas?
I have thought about something from the VW group. I like the mk1 Octavia vRS and it has a huge boot (but it is a Skoda!), Leon Cupra Rs are quite expensive and a friend has had lots of problems with his Leon and I have also considered another mk4 Golf GTi with the 1.8 turbo engine. I used to have the 2 litre version which I liked but had a lot of problems with (although mainly with the crappy engine). I like the MG ZT V6 which has a certain presence in a dark colour but would worry about it being out of action due to having to wait for parts. I like German build quality and find Fords a bit plasticky so although a Mondeo ST220 would sound like a reasonable solution, it doesn't really interest me. Ditto an Impreza. I have tried one and not really my thing!
Last nights Top Gear knocked me off course as they were finding a solution to a similair problem. The Mercedes 190 Cosworth interested me the most (although May's example wasn't the best). I have always fancied a Mercedes but none of the ones that I like have been in my price range. I have never thought about one of these but I liked it. A proper 80s icon! The Sapphire was probably the best car there but for the same reasons given before I would not consider one. It is an iconic car but I could not quite bring myself to spend that much money on a Sierra saloon (the 3 door bewinged version quite another matter)! The E36 M3 saloon is probably the least loved M-car but what a performance bargain and it is still an M car. Having said that, as the programme showed it would be too easy to buy a pup and although my E30 325i felt bombproof, I understand that the E36 is not so! Does the VANOS not also go wrong on these at huge expense? Not sure about insurance and although I consider myself to be a good driver, it could end in tears as my fastest car to date has been a front wheel drive VR6.
The car will be my daily driver and although I do have a garage, will probably live outside. I also live in a small village on top of a hill in Gloucestershire 15 minutes from any major roads (not sure how effective a powerful rear wheel drive car would be in the snow but I don't want an off-roader).
So it looks like a Skoda, an MG or a Golf. Or a 190 Cosworth or an M3? Am I being silly and selfish to contemplate spending the same money on a 15+ year old car which will probably be less reliable, more expensive to run and less safe. What's the best option? Have I overlooked anything?
I have thought about something from the VW group. I like the mk1 Octavia vRS and it has a huge boot (but it is a Skoda!), Leon Cupra Rs are quite expensive and a friend has had lots of problems with his Leon and I have also considered another mk4 Golf GTi with the 1.8 turbo engine. I used to have the 2 litre version which I liked but had a lot of problems with (although mainly with the crappy engine). I like the MG ZT V6 which has a certain presence in a dark colour but would worry about it being out of action due to having to wait for parts. I like German build quality and find Fords a bit plasticky so although a Mondeo ST220 would sound like a reasonable solution, it doesn't really interest me. Ditto an Impreza. I have tried one and not really my thing!
Last nights Top Gear knocked me off course as they were finding a solution to a similair problem. The Mercedes 190 Cosworth interested me the most (although May's example wasn't the best). I have always fancied a Mercedes but none of the ones that I like have been in my price range. I have never thought about one of these but I liked it. A proper 80s icon! The Sapphire was probably the best car there but for the same reasons given before I would not consider one. It is an iconic car but I could not quite bring myself to spend that much money on a Sierra saloon (the 3 door bewinged version quite another matter)! The E36 M3 saloon is probably the least loved M-car but what a performance bargain and it is still an M car. Having said that, as the programme showed it would be too easy to buy a pup and although my E30 325i felt bombproof, I understand that the E36 is not so! Does the VANOS not also go wrong on these at huge expense? Not sure about insurance and although I consider myself to be a good driver, it could end in tears as my fastest car to date has been a front wheel drive VR6.
The car will be my daily driver and although I do have a garage, will probably live outside. I also live in a small village on top of a hill in Gloucestershire 15 minutes from any major roads (not sure how effective a powerful rear wheel drive car would be in the snow but I don't want an off-roader).
So it looks like a Skoda, an MG or a Golf. Or a 190 Cosworth or an M3? Am I being silly and selfish to contemplate spending the same money on a 15+ year old car which will probably be less reliable, more expensive to run and less safe. What's the best option? Have I overlooked anything?
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