What car
Author
Discussion

mrpbailey

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Yep, its another one!

Basically i'm looking at getting an Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, and was wondering if any of you guys could think of any alternatives?
I have considered a LOT of cars but nothing has grabbed me like the GTA has.
Will be used as a 'sort of' every day car with the noble kept locked away for nice days.

Budget max = £8k but much rather spend £6 - 7k

Criteria:
-Must be more practical than my Noble - i.e min. 4 seats and a boot!
-Must be fun
-Must NOT be massive!
-Rather 3 door unless absolutely necessary
-Fuel economy not a big worry as will only do around 6k/year max
-Be pretty reliable

Open to all suggestions, don't be scared!

Thanks


Paul

Skylinecrazy

13,986 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1884275.htm

Would compliment the Noble rather well...

Although it wouldn't be cheap to run!


CampDavid

9,145 posts

227 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Mk5 Golf GTI? Not the most exiting thing ever but a great car with a great chassis

Megane 225. May get intom a 230 at that price range with some hunting, very capable car

BMW M3 Evo - should be in great shape for that sort of cash. An E43 M3 could maybe be had at £8k from an auction with bits falling off it. I wouldn't

Mk1 Focus RS - Have they got this low? Should hold on to the money

CLK 55AMG - Probably down here by now

Emsman

7,362 posts

219 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Stilo Abarth

god I loved mine

(prepares for abuse)

pinchmeimdreamin

10,892 posts

247 months

chrisispringles

893 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
The Alfa would be fantastic as a fun car, but as a daily driver it would probably be too unreliable. The obvious suggestion would be to look at German options if you want a fast daily driver:

Audi S4 2.7t: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1913653.htm

E36 BMW M3 Evo: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1932184.htm

Mercedes C32 AMG: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1893029.htm

Mercedes C43 AMG: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1975294.htm

If you don't want a krautwagen you could look at these:

Nissan Skyline R34: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1839575.htm

Ford Sierra Saphire Cosworth: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1926702.htm

Honda Accord Type-R: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1360073.htm

mrpbailey

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Skyline's don't really do it for me, both the image and I don't really see it as a day to day car.
Golf GTI is a good shout but not much around in budget without mega miles.
Megane - put off by Renault after GF's clio which was nothing but trouble.
M3 Evo really don't like that one linked!
Focus RS good shout but heard there's a lot of bad ones. Again quite high mileage at this price.
Focus ST - already had one which I sold at nearly 3 yrs old with 15k miles, couldn't bring myself to buy another with that high mileage! Although great car.

Chrisispringles: quite like the audi's but the later models, that one looks outdated to me now. The merc C32 is a good wildcard though!

Should have mentioned 'the newer the better'

Keep em coming!

mrpbailey

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Emsman said:
Stilo Abarth

god I loved mine

(prepares for abuse)
Not for me biglaugh

Skylinecrazy

13,986 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Integra?


anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
mrpbailey said:
Emsman said:
Stilo Abarth

god I loved mine

(prepares for abuse)
Not for me biglaugh
Brand new they were a bit behind the class leaders! Second hand however they are an excellent buy!

mikeyr

3,395 posts

222 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
I'm biased as I'm on my second one now but how about a decent 2002-2006 Impreza?

Comfy, fun and reliable. Plus you said fuel economy wasn't a worry...which is good as it's thirsty as a tank Never had a car that seemed so right when driving it from the off - like running fast in the comfiest trainers you own!

Otherwise, how about an RX8???

PS: plus the frameless windows will make you think it must be a 3 door you are hooning round in! biggrin

Edited by mikeyr on Thursday 19th August 22:28

mrpbailey

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
MonkeyMatt said:
mrpbailey said:
Emsman said:
Stilo Abarth

god I loved mine

(prepares for abuse)
Not for me biglaugh
Brand new they were a bit behind the class leaders! Second hand however they are an excellent buy!
They are cheap i'll give them that!

mrpbailey

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

215 months

Friday 20th August 2010
quotequote all
mikeyr said:
I'm biased as I'm on my second one now but how about a decent 2002-2006 Impreza?

Comfy, fun and reliable. Plus you said fuel economy wasn't a worry...which is good as it's thirsty as a tank Never had a car that seemed so right when driving it from the off - like running fast in the comfiest trainers you own!

Otherwise, how about an RX8???

PS: plus the frameless windows will make you think it must be a 3 door you are hooning round in! biggrin

Edited by mikeyr on Thursday 19th August 22:28
I do like Impreza's, but if I was to get one it would have to be a Spec C like this http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1827910.htm

RX8 - again I like, but not really that much more practical than the noble, not really seats in the back for anything other than kids or midgets! Plus fuel economy is shocking for the performance
Paul

DC

665 posts

223 months

Friday 20th August 2010
quotequote all
A Noble and 147GTA would make a fantastic fleet. Big fan of the 147GTA and its quite an exclusive car. I can't see it being unreliable as some have suggested. The only thing I would throw in is with the poster above - a 330Ci. Again, classy, civilised, but more than capable. Not as exclusive as the GTA mind.