Bargain sub £8k performance estate advice needed...
Discussion
Looking for some advice, we only have 1 car in the household, it's a 12' FN2 Civic Type R company car (it was the best option working for Honda...!), we need an estate for now regular hauling but I am a keen driver and want something to escape in for an early Sunday morning drive. Ideally, 300bhp, sub £8k, not front wheel drive and a decent soundtrack. I also only plan to do 10k miles a year so fuel costs aren't a major concern.
Thinking: Audi (V8 S4,S2 Avant,V6 S4,v8 S6,tired RS6) Merc C32, Subaru (Impreza,Legacy TT), BMW (540/Alpina,330d(remap?)).
I've never driven any of the above, had Audi's in the past and always enjoyed the quality but i'm no badge snob and open to any ideas!
Thoughts?
Thinking: Audi (V8 S4,S2 Avant,V6 S4,v8 S6,tired RS6) Merc C32, Subaru (Impreza,Legacy TT), BMW (540/Alpina,330d(remap?)).
I've never driven any of the above, had Audi's in the past and always enjoyed the quality but i'm no badge snob and open to any ideas!
Thoughts?
There are B5 RS4s for £10k and a friend of mine bought one about six months ago for £8k. The car was originally advertised for £12k, then dropped to £10k before my mate got in touch with the seller. Yes, the seller's situation was completely in my mate's favour, but perhaps it is doable again.
Impreza WRX with a decent cat-back exhaust and ECU re-map will see as near as dammit 300 bhp and usually better mpg. Great cars, AWD and totally reliable, without the image issues associated with the saloon. Fits the sub £8k requirement perfectly.
Post '06 cars have the nasty £460 tax though. Prior to that its £270 ish.
Post '06 cars have the nasty £460 tax though. Prior to that its £270 ish.
The Japanese modified route is indeed interesting and a fun prospect, i've always loved my type-r, despite looking like a chav mobile it was a good car, however the interior quality as with many jap cars can suffer a little, the NVH ratings kind of tell the story....hence the German bias in my list!
I'll certainly investigate the WRX though, a little marmite in looks but that can be overcome with regular subjection to over-run I suppose!
I'll certainly investigate the WRX though, a little marmite in looks but that can be overcome with regular subjection to over-run I suppose!
I've just bought a V8 S4 Avant for a whisker over your £8k budget, and so far (only had it since Friday!) it seems pretty damn good.
If a bit thirsty...
ETA - probably ought to expand a little.
I've previously had an E39 540i Touring with a manual box. It's fairly quick, but it's a big old barge. You could easily get one well under your budget, but the hard part these days is finding a decent, low(ish) mileage example - they're few and far between. The auto is a decent wafter, but they're not really a Sunday morning car.
By contrast, the S4 feels usefully smaller externally, meaning you don't feel squashed on B roads and country lanes like you sometimes do in the E39. It certainly seems to grip well, and while the steering doesn't have the feel of an E39 with R&P, it doesn't feel that bad compared the V8 E39 steering box. You also get a much better soundtrack on the S4 than a standard E39.
If a bit thirsty...
ETA - probably ought to expand a little.
I've previously had an E39 540i Touring with a manual box. It's fairly quick, but it's a big old barge. You could easily get one well under your budget, but the hard part these days is finding a decent, low(ish) mileage example - they're few and far between. The auto is a decent wafter, but they're not really a Sunday morning car.
By contrast, the S4 feels usefully smaller externally, meaning you don't feel squashed on B roads and country lanes like you sometimes do in the E39. It certainly seems to grip well, and while the steering doesn't have the feel of an E39 with R&P, it doesn't feel that bad compared the V8 E39 steering box. You also get a much better soundtrack on the S4 than a standard E39.
Edited by Output Flange on Wednesday 25th July 16:42
Stagea's dash is a little plasticy but there's no rattly bits(other than the exhaust which is falling apart) and that's on a 16 year old car. The main area where there is a NVH difference is from the frameless windows, but it's not really noticeable TBH unless you're travelling well beyond the legal limit.
Benjaminbopper said:
Dare I ask....?! I also assume road tax is £245? I secretly really want the V8 s4, a little understeery so they say, but then again that's only applicable to 2% of the driving time - the V8 sound is 100%!
Averaging around 20mpg so far. I'm coming from a Jag XJR that's averaged 14mpg though, so it's a nice step up!Think road fund is £270 for 12 months from memory.
Slightly older and you'd get some change, Subaru Legacy GT Twin Turbo. 4wd around 280 bhp and does 60 in around 5.5 seconds, plus it's big- but very hungry. I looked at one, really nice car, but I opted for the softer Octavia VRs, which is fantastic loads of space, great to drive very comfy and not too bad on fuel.
Think about petrol prices and the fact it will come a time when you want to travel 1000 miles and that will cost you £200-400. I was going to take my estate on a tour of Europe again and realised I would need about £600 for 3000 miles, sort of put a crapper on the whole thing and now seems like I'm scrapping the idea. Btw I have a tdi which avg around 46-55mpg , wouldn't even attempt in 25mpg car
I too have just bought an s4 avant for just over 8k - came with militellk system so soundtrack is amazing - particularly after an e91 330d. The handling isn't nearly as fluid or as good as any of the (many) 3 series I've had, but you quickly learn to go slow in and fast out. It's v grippy, and I love the understated looks and interior. I don't regret changing 'down' from a 330d at all - its a great package, and I needed to scratch my v8 itch. Conveniently we also have a diesel xc90 for long runs (which does 32mpg) and I shouldn't do more than 7k per annum in the S4 at sat 21mpg av). I'd expect depreciation of the S4 to be less than my newer 330d. For what it's worth, I've also had an e 46 330d and 330i. Still also have my favourite fast estate - an e30 325i touring. Anyway, I'm rambling - the s4 - do it... Vectra? I don't think so...
Edited by billywhizzzzzz on Wednesday 25th July 19:19
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