15k something with some legs??

[papabear]

I've got a short list of cars I'd like your opinions on.
I'm not fussed about insurance costs or MPG but it does need to be practical so having 4 usable seats is a must. Actually I only need 3 seats for me and my 2 kids so the obvious choice is the Maclaren F1 but i fear my budget won't stretch.

So what I'm left with is:

Alfa Brera 3.2
Golf R32 (love that V6 sound)
Monaro
RenualtSport F1
BMWE90 325 coupe

I guess I could rise to 17k but it would have to be something really special or an absolute bargain.

I may not be concerned by insurance and MPG but I do care about reliability and depreciation which may rule out the Alfa but damn they look good.

Other suggestions welcome of course, except for Scoobys, EVO's. They're great cars just everyone round here seems to own one. Oh and the Astra VXR, nice drive but the interior made me feel sleepy, bit un the dull side.


I don't know a lot about the above cars so any relative advice would be appreciated.


Thank in advance

P

[daveco]

The only advice I can offer is to not look at the E92 325 coupe; it has the same engine as the 330, in which you get 50+ more hp and the same fuel economy.

The cars you mention are mixed bag though, but I'd plump for one of these with an M-pack.

[RobM77]

The E46 M3 or M5 is the obvious choice, although many are getting on a bit now and they have the potential for high running costs. The 325 or a 330 is a good idea. Maybe look at an AMG Merc if you don't mind an auto? CLK55 perhaps?

[neil_bolton]

E39 M5. All you ever need.

[papabear]

I may be wrong but I do get nervous of the thought of owning an M car on my 15k budget. High mileage isn't too much of a worry on most cars but I fear I would be entering into M ownership with almost instant repair bills.

[GreigM]

How big do the back seats have to be?

You could be driving a 911:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1828984.htm

[papabear]

GreigM said:

How big do the back seats have to be?

You could be driving a 911:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1828984.htm

Trust me, I've tried to convince myself that a 993 would be an ideal car for me and my kids but the reality is A) i can't afford the one i want and B) there's simply not enough room for a couple of car seats.

Maybe I'm Porches target audience for the Paneramaramanana

[RobM77]

papabear said:

GreigM said:

How big do the back seats have to be?

You could be driving a 911:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1828984.htm

Trust me, I've tried to convince myself that a 993 would be an ideal car for me and my kids but the reality is A) i can't afford the one i want and B) there's simply not enough room for a couple of car seats.

Maybe I'm Porches target audience for the Paneramaramanana

You are, but not at £15k

[papabear]

RobM77 said:

papabear said:

GreigM said:

How big do the back seats have to be?

You could be driving a 911:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1828984.htm

Trust me, I've tried to convince myself that a 993 would be an ideal car for me and my kids but the reality is A) i can't afford the one i want and B) there's simply not enough room for a couple of car seats.

Maybe I'm Porches target audience for the Paneramaramanana

You are, but not at £15k

Fortunately your right.

Edited by papabear on Thursday 8th July 13:14

[papabear]

Out of my list I'm leaning towards the R32 and the Brera. I've been in enough Golf's so I think I know what to expect but having never driven or owned a 'modern' Alfa I'd like some real world experiences. They do look good don't they

[kingb]

think ig be picking the monaro out of that bunch - it would leave me with the biggest smile

What about an XK jag - rear space might be a little cramped but they would be in the price bracket

[magpies]

£15k with legs - I would think a big back seat would be appropriate

[schmalex]

Merc CLK55 AMG? You'll get a low mileage 05 / 55 plate car for that kind of money with a little haggling.

Nigh on 400Bhp, big boot, four seats & a V8 grumble. What's not to like?

Edited by schmalex on Thursday 8th July 13:33

[RicksAlfas]

Brera back seats are pretty tight I'm afraid. Not sure how big your kids are but when my 7 year old goes in the back of mine, MrsAlfas has to put her seat a long way forward.

[hbwold]

Mk1 Ford Focus RS?

Good residual values and could get a mint one for under £15k. May be too much of a harsh ride for what your looking for but might be worth a try.

[papabear]

kingb said:

think ig be picking the monaro out of that bunch - it would leave me with the biggest smile

What about an XK jag - rear space might be a little cramped but they would be in the price bracket

On paper they tick all the boxes, style, comfort, power it's just I just don't feel Jaguarish enough to own one yet. Saying that I'd remove my nads for a mint Mk2.

I love the Monaro because it has what I need, enough Corvette power to keep me happy, space and reliability. I will organise a test drive but only after i have driven the others as I do get a little blinkered when it comes to POWER!

[papabear]

schmalex said:

Merc CLK55 AMG? You'll get a low mileage 05 / 55 plate car for that kind of money with a little haggling.

Nigh on 400Bhp, big boot, four seats & a V8 grumble. What's not to like?

Edited by schmalex on Thursday 8th July 13:33

I may be wrong but don't these have dire reliability issues and repair bills BP would be proud of?

[papabear]

See if I had any balls and practised what I preach when it comes to the various 'what car' threads my list would look like this:

E30 M3
RS2
Lotus Carlton
RS500

Damn my 1 car life! Damn it to hell!

So trying to get the best performance and modern reliability while keeping out of mainstream thinking is not as easy as I thought.

[300bhp/ton]

papabear said:

I've got a short list of cars I'd like your opinions on.
I'm not fussed about insurance costs or MPG but it does need to be practical so having 4 usable seats is a must. Actually I only need 3 seats for me and my 2 kids so the obvious choice is the Maclaren F1 but i fear my budget won't stretch.

So what I'm left with is:

Alfa Brera 3.2
Golf R32 (love that V6 sound)
Monaro
RenualtSport F1
BMWE90 325 coupe

I guess I could rise to 17k but it would have to be something really special or an absolute bargain.

I may not be concerned by insurance and MPG but I do care about reliability and depreciation which may rule out the Alfa but damn they look good.

Other suggestions welcome of course, except for Scoobys, EVO's. They're great cars just everyone round here seems to own one. Oh and the Astra VXR, nice drive but the interior made me feel sleepy, bit un the dull side.


I don't know a lot about the above cars so any relative advice would be appreciated.


Thank in advance

P

I don't really dislike any of them, but these are my thoughts and suggestions.

papabear said:

Alfa Brera 3.2

Personally love the look of these, also a nice motor. But the only thing for me, is, well it's still rather normal and compared to some of the vehicles you could have at this price range (bang per buck type of thing, or class) I not sure I'd want to hand money over. Also it's too new and not niche enough to retain value well.

papabear said:

Golf R32 (love that V6 sound)

A tad boring IMO and poor residuals/performance

papabear said:

Monaro

Fantastic engines, unique, rare and fun. Also rwd, as in Right wheel drive. Don't hold their money as well as you might think though and there are alternatives that don't have a Vauxhall badge on.

papabear said:

RenualtSport F1

I'm sure it's a nice car, but I just don't see it in the same league as things like the Monaro. A bit too ordinary and looking at other Renaults will lose money as quickly as a Frenchman living next door to a brothel.

papabear said:

BMWE90 325 coupe

Compared to the Monaro it's slower, not as powerful, doesn't have a V8, doesn't make as good a noise, less fun, common and not as tunable.

The only plus sides are potential age and not having a Vauxhall badge. But when you measure it up against something like a Monaro, I think it's hard to justify it.

Just to show what you could get in this price range. Ok some might require a little more TLC, but as a rule these cars will also depreciate at a lower rate, so when you do the number crunching, the total cost of ownership is either pretty much the same or often actually in favour of the more specialist/niche car.



TVR 4.5 Cerbera APM Maintained (1998)
46,200 miles £16,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1767707.htm


Dodge Charger R/T 5.7L V8 (2006)
31,000 miles £14,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1849456.htm


2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special (2007)
19,000 miles £17,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1821697.htm


BMW M3 SMG 6 speed paddle shift (2002)
81,000 miles £11,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1709122.htm


2005 revised shape Integra Type -R (C-pack) (2005)
51,000 miles £11,900
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1808038.htm


XK8 4.2 V8 Coupe Automatic (2003)
53,500 miles £15,989
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1736499.htm


NISSAN SKYLINE R34 GTT TURBO (2000)
63,000 miles £10,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1566023.htm


Carrera 2 - Manual, Coupe, FSH & carbon interior (2000)
57,900 miles £16,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1758214.htm


MINI COOPER S 1.6 3DR + OFFICIAL COOPER WORKS + (2006/X)
7,235 miles £16,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1713119.htm


IMMACULATE Ford Escort MK2 RS2000 (1977)
£14,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1847168.htm


FORD ESCORT 2.0 LUXURY 3DR RS COSWORTH (1994/L)
44,000 miles £16,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1824535.htm


AUDI QUATTRO TURBO 20V RR I OWNER (1990)
£10,895
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1732201.htm


BENTLEY TURBO R SALOON (1985 - 1999) (1996/N)
57,000 miles £15,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1777941.htm


BMW E30 M3 UK Car 1990 (1990)
92,000 miles £15,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1573445.htm


308 GT4 (1978)
51,000 miles £15,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1832265.htm

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Thursday 8th July 14:03

[papabear]

The Crack Fox said:

Have you driven any/all of those you list ?

I'd go Monaro with your criteria, or a nice 964 and some change for maintenance, a 964 will be depreciation free too.

I admit I'm yet to drive any of the cars on my list, I also admit I'm a bit impulsive when it comes to the look of a car so this time like the last I'm taking it slow, no sudden purchases, no regrets.

964 is a beauty but too impractical.

Cheers