8-9k to spend would I be a fool to buy... (What car)

[Trustmeimadoctor]

always fancied a mk1 TT QS 240 and they seem to have been at the 8-9k price point for some time now but i know they arnt the greatest car on the road by any stretch of the imagination.

so what else do you suggest (NO V8's) it will spend most of the week sat on the drive wile the work horse gets me to work and back but will maybe once a week get left in the station carpark or doing the work run (70 miles of not the most exciting road) depending on the other half.

anyway no real criteria other than not less than about 28mpg or silly high tax preferably 2 seats or 2+2 with unusable rears

vx220 turbo i quite fancy but i feel im a bit tall for them head bangs off the rubber block on the roll bar roof bit. mx5 mk2.5 been there dont want to go back

any other ideas? or is the tt qs a good idea (mainly i like the seats and the relative rarity of them)

[Chicane-UK]

You're virtually into MK2 TT money there - might be a better bet for your money / depreciation perhaps?

I've been perusing cars in this price range over the last couple of weeks as I think I might buy something next year. Other vaguely interesting stuff that fell into this budget:

Honda CR-Z (assuming Hybrids interest you)
Subaru Impreza (low mileage, older special editions or 2006-2007 type aged stuff)
Alpina BMW?

Really the world is your oyster at that price point. There's tonnes of interesting cars around.

[Some Gump]

I'd suggest a Boxster wiuld do that job pretty well...

[Trustmeimadoctor]

i had wondered about the boxster but what are servicing costs etc like ? and whats the one to go for the S i assume

[Charvet]

Why exactly "28" mpg??

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Chicane-UK said:

You're virtually into MK2 TT money there - might be a better bet for your money / depreciation perhaps?

I've been perusing cars in this price range over the last couple of weeks as I think I might buy something next year. Other vaguely interesting stuff that fell into this budget:

Honda CR-Z (assuming Hybrids interest you)
Subaru Impreza (low mileage, older special editions or 2006-2007 type aged stuff)
Alpina BMW?

Really the world is your oyster at that price point. There's tonnes of interesting cars around.

I wouldn’t have a scooby the mrs would never drive it and I’ve never had an affinity for them

alpina now yes that is an idea but what one! I dont mind going old with them really.

regarding the crz I’ve never even looked at them i have no idea about them either maybe something to look at but I assume no silly high red lines due to a hybrid powertrain is it supposed to be a successor to the crx ?

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Charvet said:

Why exactly "28" mpg??

because its an arbitrary number and you always need an arbitrary number

mainly its because I don’t cry when im doing 30mpg ish its close enough to the current second car polo gti that gets about 36 ish and my old e36 328 did about 28 and i was happy enough with that

My old ls430 i used to sob uncontrollably when I filled that up

[Some Gump]

Boxster annual servicing (post 2003 facelift):
800 quid
Nowt
400 quid
Nowt
800 quid
Nowt
500 quid
Nowt

Thats at porsche. Cheaper at indy.
Pre 2002, i think they were annual services, but not totally sure.
Post 05, it's the next shape of boxster - which will be different.

Yes, the 3.2 is the better car - but neither is very quick nowadays. Imo either get a good facelift car (228hp 2.7), or facelift 3.2 - if you can find a good one in budget. The post facelift car with the glass window is far nicer / easier to live with.

Not looked in ages, are 987 2.7 cars sub 10 yet? (I mean nice ones, not some dubious leggy thing for sale in Bradford..

[Andurron]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

I wouldn’t have a scooby the mrs would never drive it and I’ve never had an affinity for them

alpina now yes that is an idea but what one! I dont mind going old with them really.

regarding the crz I’ve never even looked at them i have no idea about them either maybe something to look at but I assume no silly high red lines due to a hybrid powertrain is it supposed to be a successor to the crx ?

They're not what you would call 'sporty' but they're lively enough, and they've got a variety of driving styles. The dealership didn't mind me putting it in Sport and giving it the beans a little bit. I would go for a test drive though - not many people on here seem to have driven/owned one, but it was the first test drive of a car I couldn't actually afford (blagging skills hurrah) so it's one I remember.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Some Gump said:

Boxster annual servicing (post 2003 facelift):
800 quid
Nowt
400 quid
Nowt
800 quid
Nowt
500 quid
Nowt

Thats at porsche. Cheaper at indy.
Pre 2002, i think they were annual services, but not totally sure.
Post 05, it's the next shape of boxster - which will be different.

Yes, the 3.2 is the better car - but neither is very quick nowadays. Imo either get a good facelift car (228hp 2.7), or facelift 3.2 - if you can find a good one in budget. The post facelift car with the glass window is far nicer / easier to live with.

Not looked in ages, are 987 2.7 cars sub 10 yet? (I mean nice ones, not some dubious leggy thing for sale in Bradford..

cheers i tend to avoid cars from around bradford if i can

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Andurron said:

They're not what you would call 'sporty' but they're lively enough, and they've got a variety of driving styles. The dealership didn't mind me putting it in Sport and giving it the beans a little bit. I would go for a test drive though - not many people on here seem to have driven/owned one, but it was the first test drive of a car I couldn't actually afford (blagging skills hurrah) so it's one I remember.

i have no issues with slower sports cars i had a smart brabus coupe

will have a read up on them today

[jamieduff1981]

Most of these sound like crap 2 seat weekend cars to be honest. What on earth do you want this car for if you don't want space and apparently don't want any performance or sporty drive either?

I'll exclude the VX220 from that above obviously.

I just don't understand what you expect this car to offer you.

[Samjeev]

Got a Vx220 Turbo here, unfortunately I cant comment on the height issue as im a nice average 6 foot however there are plenty of people which ask the same question on the Vx220 .org forums so that may be your best bet for info. As for the fuel economy its easy to get 30-35+ MPG in them, even ours which is tuned to silly stage 4.
The thing about a Vx is you can't compare it to a TT or Boxter, you don't get luxuries such as Traction control, power steering, electric windows or even a working heater in some cases but the Vx similar to the Elise is a very pure form of driving with the added bonus of a roof over your head, not only that but pick one up in winter and you can get yourself an amazing bargain.

As for the Honda CR-Z suggested above unfortunately the only experience I've had with this is my Dad's Company car - He hates it. The tax isn't cheap considering its hybrid and the fuel economy is crap.. considering its hybrid.

Edit: Just seen the above post, I mirror this comment. It almost sounds like you want a 2 seater sporty *looking* car rather than a performance 2 seater?

Edited by Samjeev on Monday 4th August 10:00

[FFRR7]

I bought a 2.7 987 Boxster for this budget a few weeks back. Lovely car and would highly recommend.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Samjeev said:

Got a Vx220 Turbo here, unfortunately I cant comment on the height issue as im a nice average 6 foot however there are plenty of people which ask the same question on the Vx220 .org forums so that may be your best bet for info. As for the fuel economy its easy to get 30-35+ MPG in them, even ours which is tuned to silly stage 4.
The thing about a Vx is you can't compare it to a TT or Boxter, you don't get luxuries such as Traction control, power steering, electric windows or even a working heater in some cases but the Vx similar to the Elise is a very pure form of driving with the added bonus of a roof over your head, not only that but pick one up in winter and you can get yourself an amazing bargain.

As for the Honda CR-Z suggested above unfortunately the only experience I've had with this is my Dad's Company car - He hates it. The tax isn't cheap considering its hybrid and the fuel economy is crap.. considering its hybrid.

im only 6ft but still my head banges off the rubber with the seat all the way back. i owned an NA vx220 so i have spent a fair amount of time in one. the heater is an issue with the vx220 shame there was never the a/c option

i would like a vxr though

[Trustmeimadoctor]

jamieduff1981 said:

Most of these sound like crap 2 seat weekend cars to be honest. What on earth do you want this car for if you don't want space and apparently don't want any performance or sporty drive either?

I'll exclude the VX220 from that above obviously.

I just don't understand what you expect this car to offer you.

erm something different from a 2 cars i currently run.

[Jasandjules]

4.0 Chimaera. Case closed.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Jasandjules said:

4.0 Chimaera. Case closed.

perfect apart from the v8 bit and consumption

[RichwiththeS2000]

You'd get a decent S2000 for that money

[Trustmeimadoctor]

i wouldnt mind an s2000 only worry is tax i think just need to pick carefully with age. i liked my accord type r but i understand they arnt exactly the same type of car