head is going to explode
Discussion
sorry guys but another what car thread.
i have had so many car problems recently im drawn to tears.
i have had 4 cars all completely different and all suffered major failures that has made them have to go.
now my dilema is i have a pregnant girlfriend and we are expecting our first little one in a months time, we are moving to a place where we only have parking space for my van and one car but my girlfriend is still learning to drive which even once see passes her test insurace will be high.
now im used to powerful cars and want to stay in a fast car.
now i have upto 10k althout 8k would be more comfy to manage and it needs to be fast and fun while able to hold all the baby stuff and ok for her to drive!
very tall order, though i had it sorted with a mg zs 180, not really fast enough but it was ok but its broken down 5 times in as meny months so has to go.
i was thinking
astra vxr as its not to bad on insurance and fast
colt czt cheap to buy and run but not very fast and are they reliable.
audi of some sort either a a3 3.2 or 2.0 turbo.
im really struggling here.
i really wanted a subaru sti with ppp but she feels it would cost to much to run :-(
i have had so many car problems recently im drawn to tears.
i have had 4 cars all completely different and all suffered major failures that has made them have to go.
now my dilema is i have a pregnant girlfriend and we are expecting our first little one in a months time, we are moving to a place where we only have parking space for my van and one car but my girlfriend is still learning to drive which even once see passes her test insurace will be high.
now im used to powerful cars and want to stay in a fast car.
now i have upto 10k althout 8k would be more comfy to manage and it needs to be fast and fun while able to hold all the baby stuff and ok for her to drive!
very tall order, though i had it sorted with a mg zs 180, not really fast enough but it was ok but its broken down 5 times in as meny months so has to go.
i was thinking
astra vxr as its not to bad on insurance and fast
colt czt cheap to buy and run but not very fast and are they reliable.
audi of some sort either a a3 3.2 or 2.0 turbo.
im really struggling here.
i really wanted a subaru sti with ppp but she feels it would cost to much to run :-(
I would just go with something sensible now. The cost of nappies etc will undoubtably be enormous, better to have something cheap to run, and as suggested, get something faster in a couple of years time, once you really know how much you can afford to spend.
Something like an Impreza will be a no go really if your gf has to be able to drive it too, since the insurance for a new driver on one will be costly unless you go down the 3rd party route or named driver route, and I'm assuming you won't want to do either of those, I know I wouldn't.
Something like an Impreza will be a no go really if your gf has to be able to drive it too, since the insurance for a new driver on one will be costly unless you go down the 3rd party route or named driver route, and I'm assuming you won't want to do either of those, I know I wouldn't.
In her first year of driving, insurance will cost a fortune, for a reason. She's likely to ding it etc. For these reasons get something cheap like a mk1 focus 1.6 for a lot less than your budget. In a year when insurance is slightly more acceptable the dings won't have as large an effect on the value as they would on a £10k hot hatch, and you'll have saved a load on insurance.
Anything "fast" will be on the expensive side for her to drive if she's a new driver.
If she has to be able to drive it your going to be looking at your average joe car. Get a diesel and get it remapped would be your best bet, a bora or something.
Otherwise get something like the Zafira VXR, fast and practical for the kids etc.
If she has to be able to drive it your going to be looking at your average joe car. Get a diesel and get it remapped would be your best bet, a bora or something.
Otherwise get something like the Zafira VXR, fast and practical for the kids etc.
OP - sorry to say it, but you're being a bit silly here by wanting to spend the money on a performance car. You need to think about how much insurance is going to cost for your other half as a new driver and get something appropriate.
You're about to become a father and with that will come all sorts of expense.
Bide your time and get something more to your taste in a few years' time.
Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.
You're about to become a father and with that will come all sorts of expense.
Bide your time and get something more to your taste in a few years' time.
Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.
well i can afford it i earn 40k+ and she really wants to go back to work and earns 18k part time. and as she isn't a 18 year old so the insurance isn't that bad a astra vxr is £900 fully comp but depends if it will be reliable and also are they any good to drive. i was looking at one with full leather.
as some people have rightly pointed out getting the stuff in and out is a problem. the boot is big but a 3 dr only.
i quite like the colt czt to 1.5 turbo does good mpg half the buying cost of the astra but about the same to insure and only 146bhp.
quite small too.
ideally i would get her a corsa or alike and i would get another m3 or something but parking space is a real problem.
as some people have rightly pointed out getting the stuff in and out is a problem. the boot is big but a 3 dr only.
i quite like the colt czt to 1.5 turbo does good mpg half the buying cost of the astra but about the same to insure and only 146bhp.
quite small too.
ideally i would get her a corsa or alike and i would get another m3 or something but parking space is a real problem.
Typical parochial Pistonheads, you come on asking a very fair question and everyone tells you to give it all up and think about nappies, congrats on the kid and you're a long time dead!
Get a Golf R32 four door, stick her on as a named driver (I had a 911 as a named driver when one of my gf's passed, cheap as chips)
Job done!
Get a Golf R32 four door, stick her on as a named driver (I had a 911 as a named driver when one of my gf's passed, cheap as chips)
Job done!
My only advice (from someone with a 5 and 3 year old) is avoid 3 doors. You'll try it with the baby and think it's fine but the first time you can't open the big doors wide enough in a car park you'll be annoyed. Over time, climbing in will get to you (and your back) and you'll regret it (I do with the A3). Only sacrifice I made for kids was losing the 2 seater.
I know this won't really appeal to your inner boy racer, but a Volvo V70 T5 or R will definetely give any hot hatch a run for it's money, be a hell of a lot more practical and probably a bit cheaper to insure because they don't have a 'boy racer' image. T5s are dirt cheap too.
T5: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2047820.htm
R: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
T5: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2047820.htm
R: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
thanks for the advise people.
i really like the volvo's but my other half calls me a old man for wanting one and doesn't want one at all :-(
i had a seat ibiza cupra and the car was sent back and a refund made after 2 days due to build problems and it blew up and the main dealer took a month to refund me and i was a grand out of pocket due to tax insurance and p/x problems. she won't have another seat again after that.
i had a e46 330 convertible auto mtech and that cost me 5k for new gearbox and heater unit and then the roof failed! bought for 15k from a dealer but i got no help in terms of fixing it!
im not having much luck with cars and want something newish and well built but still fast enough for when im driving to the gym or on my own.
i also find it strange how the colt cost more to insure than the astra and how a rx8 is cheaper to insure than a a3 2 ltr audi quattro as well,
by the way the other half is 23 and im 26 i have 8 years ncb and a good performance car history that does help with insurance.
i really like the volvo's but my other half calls me a old man for wanting one and doesn't want one at all :-(
i had a seat ibiza cupra and the car was sent back and a refund made after 2 days due to build problems and it blew up and the main dealer took a month to refund me and i was a grand out of pocket due to tax insurance and p/x problems. she won't have another seat again after that.
i had a e46 330 convertible auto mtech and that cost me 5k for new gearbox and heater unit and then the roof failed! bought for 15k from a dealer but i got no help in terms of fixing it!
im not having much luck with cars and want something newish and well built but still fast enough for when im driving to the gym or on my own.
i also find it strange how the colt cost more to insure than the astra and how a rx8 is cheaper to insure than a a3 2 ltr audi quattro as well,
by the way the other half is 23 and im 26 i have 8 years ncb and a good performance car history that does help with insurance.
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