What car, 7k and interesting!

[SlowStig]

Another day, another what car!

Looking at getting a new(er) car than my current Vitesse and never spent more than 1k on a car in my life due to being a student! Now looking at spending 7k at the very tops, curious what people can suggest for a daily which also has a turn of pace when required. Need around 30mpg with reliability and not extortionate running costs(servicing etc).

Looked at:
Mazda3/6 MPS
Focus ST
Astra/Vectra VXR
Impreza WRX


I am really just open to suggestions and owners feedback, somebody slating a car but never owned it isn't really much use as I feel a bit overwhelmed with the amount of choice and variety that is available(e39 M5's for example).

[GreatGranny]

TBH you'll struggle to get an average 30 mpg from any of those unless you are very careful.
The default answer would be a 3 series 330Ci.
They are very good!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[Stack]

My Octavia Vrs (petrol). Cost me £7k & it pretty much ticks all the boxes. Cheap to run, good turn of pace & easy to remap!

[SlowStig]

I looked at the 330 and VRS but they are similar to the others in the list but are saloon/coupe only I thought?

[VinceFox]

E46 m3.

[Caulkhead]

I have an MPS 6. You'll average 28 I reckon unless you're contantly at 70mph on the motorway and that's on 98RON only.

Apart from that they are reliable, roomy, well-equipped, refined and a great Q-car. Servicing is fairly cheap and £1200 will buy you 330bhp from BBR.

[the stigs dad]

Golf mk4/mk5 R32. 3.2L 250bhp 4wd. A great daily driver with a nice soundtrack from the v6.

Mk4 is a manual 6 speed 'box, mk5 has the option of DSG.

Or an audi S3.

[SlowStig]

Caulkhead said:

I have an MPS 6. You'll average 28 I reckon unless you're contantly at 70mph on the motorway and that's on 98RON only.

Apart from that they are reliable, roomy, well-equipped, refined and a great Q-car. Servicing is fairly cheap and £1200 will buy you 330bhp from BBR.

Would you say the awd of the 6 makes it superior to the fwd of the 3? My commute is mainly 50/60mph A roads and a stretch of the M6.

[Mister3man]

Focus ST will crack 30mpg if driven sensibly at reasonable speeds, but if you spend a lot of time driving around town/city centres forget it.

[SlowStig]

Mister3man said:

Focus ST will crack 30mpg if driven sensibly at reasonable speeds, but if you spend a lot of time driving around town/city centres forget it.

What about on a run and whats servicing like?

[3000GT ANT]

SlowStig said:

What about on a run and whats servicing like?

I have seen 30mpg once on a motorway trying really hard! The engine noise makes up for the lack of mpg!

I did mostly urban driving in mine and was getting 21 mpg.

Services were cheapish for me as i did them myself so around £100 for oil, filters etc.

07 cars had weak clutches if remapped so if you plan on remaping buy one with a clutch done, save yourself £1k. Mine also had powerflex bushes on the front and the handling was fantastic.

[billzeebub]

E46 330Ci is a sensational every day all round motor. M3 s at this level will be the bottom end of the E46 market, and the E36s (even the good ones) shouldn't really be used every day. Also with M cars it is the maintenance budget that most people don't budget for which kills the dream. So, 330ci would be my choice if practicality a concern..

However, with £7k for an only car I would have a 2,7 Boxster. Reliable, cheap to run if maintained properly, lots of luggage space and above all a superb steer..

Edited by billzeebub on Tuesday 27th November 22:56

[SlowStig]

billzeebub said:

However, with £7k for an only car I would have a 2,7 Boxster. Reliable, cheap to run if maintained properly, lots of luggage space and above all a superb steer..

Edited by billzeebub on Tuesday 27th November 22:56

Well Boxter is off the table as its not pratical enough for me and I have a metro for a track toy so really need something which is a good daily but still has ooomf!

[51mes]

SlowStig said:

I looked at the 330 and VRS but they are similar to the others in the list but are saloon/coupe only I thought?

VRS is hatch or estate - and it's a bloody huge boot - I've slept in it more than once (estate)

Simes

[TEKNOPUG]

billzeebub said:

and the E36s (even the good ones) shouldn't really be used every day.

Say what

It's a BMW, not a TVR

And then you go and suggest a 7k Boxster as a cheap and reliable daily-driver

[SlowStig]

He isn't the first to suggest a boxter, just can't justify it (and the gf's dad would be somewhat annoyed I had one...)

[simoid]

the stigs dad said:

Golf mk4/mk5 R32. 3.2L 250bhp 4wd. A great daily driver with a nice soundtrack from the v6.

Mk4 is a manual 6 speed 'box, mk5 has the option of DSG.

Or an audi S3.

Very interesting suggestions, there.

Something Renaultsport.

[sparks_E39]

3.2 V6 Alfa 159

[blearyeyedboy]

51mes said:

SlowStig said:

I looked at the 330 and VRS but they are similar to the others in the list but are saloon/coupe only I thought?

VRS is hatch or estate - and it's a bloody huge boot - I've slept in it more than once (estate)

Simes

I've got a double mattress in the boot of the hatch with the back seats flat. (The mattress was slightly bunched up at the sides, but still useable.)

[SlowStig]

Well an update to this thread, went to look at some cars today and discovered the following:

I dont like the Astra center console
Interior of the ST isn't that comfortable
Tax on an MPS car is £460 a year
Impreza power delivery is very linear and they are not as fast as I thought....


So far, even with the high tax, the Mazda MPS cars are topping my list.