Need help. Whatcar.

[whitevanman88]

Really struggling with this one now. So far I have built up 5 years NCB in a diesel Astra. The Astra hit 300k miles earlier in the year, so parked it up and bought a very nice (looking) CLS. Which was a disaster - Merc offered to exchange it for an older ML but I pushed for my money back - I got back near enough what I paid. So since I've not had to do any serious mileage I've just been running around locally in the Astra again for a couple of months.

My budget isn't quite as grand as it was, as my employment status has been through a bit of a change which has meant putting some cash down to buy into a buying group. I have around £10000 I'd like to spend, pushing it to £12000 if there's something that really catches my eye.

I fancy a big sporty type saloon, and have organised the cars I'm interested in, into categories below, I'm really looking for opinions on them:

Cheaper-to-buy options (spare money would be kept for maintenance):

• Rover 75 / (or more probably) MG ZT / ZT-T
• Rover 800 Coupe (Weird one, always liked them)
• Alfa 156 (Pref. sportwagon)
• Alfa 166 (a good one of these would be a higher priority than a 156)
• Mondeo ST200/220 (not too 'genned up on these)
• Accord Type R? (not really sure about these...may consider)
• X-type
• IS200
• Saab 9-5 (Quite like these, in the right colour)
• Omega MV6
• Old XJ-Something.
• Merc 190E

Newer cars, but I'd have less budget if something went wrong

• E39 5 Series (like the shape of these)
• Slab-sided 5 Series (Don't like the shape of them as much)
• Alfa 159 (Would still prefer a 166 though)
• S-Type (Do like these, again in the right colour)
• Vectra VXR (I know you'll all hate that one)
• Bora with the V5 (in that nice blue colour)
• Mazda 6
• Saab 9-3 (The 9-5 looks nicer, though tbh)

Right, opinions, or any suggestions?

Something to note : I'm not really a fan of Audi interiors. They're nicely made an' all but a bit gloomy.

[Crusoe]

No M3 on the list

[whitevanman88]

Crusoe said:

No M3 on the list

No, sorry, doesn't really appeal.

[Somnophore]

What are your needs?

FYI they do a V6 4motion bora as well as the V5

[Danny S]

There is such a variation in the cars and i can't see any of them coming close to 10k lol.

Impressive mileage on the astra though, is it the isuzu engined one?

[alfa pint]

I see you've got a S type in your desirables.... you can get a 3 litre for as little as 2 and a half k at the moment. You could easily get the R version for about 6 grand with room to spare. That's a lot of car if you like the looks.

[GreatGranny]

Save yourself nearly £5k and get something like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1829567.htm

[Munter]

Accord Type R or the Mazda 6 MPS for me off your list.

Not that I've driven either....

[Crusoe]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1763903.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1648521.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1862766.htm

Edited by Crusoe on Wednesday 14th July 14:41

[Matt UK]

whitevanman88 said:

Newer cars, but I'd have less budget if something went wrong

• E39 5 Series (like the shape of these)

Half your budget will get you a good one.

Hell, a quarter would get you a solid car!

[akita1]

ST220

[300bhp/ton]

whitevanman88 said:

Really struggling with this one now. So far I have built up 5 years NCB in a diesel Astra. The Astra hit 300k miles earlier in the year, so parked it up and bought a very nice (looking) CLS. Which was a disaster - Merc offered to exchange it for an older ML but I pushed for my money back - I got back near enough what I paid. So since I've not had to do any serious mileage I've just been running around locally in the Astra again for a couple of months.

My budget isn't quite as grand as it was, as my employment status has been through a bit of a change which has meant putting some cash down to buy into a buying group. I have around £10000 I'd like to spend, pushing it to £12000 if there's something that really catches my eye.

I fancy a big sporty type saloon, and have organised the cars I'm interested in, into categories below, I'm really looking for opinions on them:

Cheaper-to-buy options (spare money would be kept for maintenance):

• Rover 75 / (or more probably) MG ZT / ZT-T
• Rover 800 Coupe (Weird one, always liked them)
• Alfa 156 (Pref. sportwagon)
• Alfa 166 (a good one of these would be a higher priority than a 156)
• Mondeo ST200/220 (not too 'genned up on these)
• Accord Type R? (not really sure about these...may consider)
• X-type
• IS200
• Saab 9-5 (Quite like these, in the right colour)
• Omega MV6
• Old XJ-Something.
• Merc 190E

Newer cars, but I'd have less budget if something went wrong

• E39 5 Series (like the shape of these)
• Slab-sided 5 Series (Don't like the shape of them as much)
• Alfa 159 (Would still prefer a 166 though)
• S-Type (Do like these, again in the right colour)
• Vectra VXR (I know you'll all hate that one)
• Bora with the V5 (in that nice blue colour)
• Mazda 6
• Saab 9-3 (The 9-5 looks nicer, though tbh)

Right, opinions, or any suggestions?

Something to note : I'm not really a fan of Audi interiors. They're nicely made an' all but a bit gloomy.

If I'm honest your "newer" car list doesn't appeal at all. They all seem fairly boring. Although the 159 does look great.

So on that basis I'd look at the older/cheaper options.

Although if you like Jags, how about a V6 XJ? Should be well within budget and much nicer than either S or X types.

[GreatGranny]

Have you thought about an S4?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1851251.htm