What to get? 3-6k budget for interesting daily drive.

[Sf_Manta]

Suggestions on a postcard really as the old E30 BMW I've had for many years is good, but just too thirsty on fuel!
Looking now as will be probably buying at the end of Sept.

Needs to be diesel really, but a decent petrol might be ok as I'll be doing A roads / B roads to work (All good fun )
Would like something that's got at least some kind of sports setup on it and with less than 85k on the clock.

Current thoughts are on the following:

> BMW diesel of some kind with Msport pack
> Seat Leon Cupra R TDi
> Skoda Fabia vRS.
> Audi A3 Tdi - possibly quarto?

[Sf_Manta]

Any thoughts? anyone

[Liokault]

None of your list are interesting. 6k could really be interesting if interesting was what you were really after.

[Mastodon2]

Yep, this list is dull as dishwater, and there isn't a "Cupra R TDi" either. If you want interesting, then fair enough, but it sounds to me like you want a cheap, torquey smokebox - which would make a competent commuter, but not really an interesting or fun one.

[nickofh]

Probably a bit different to what you normally would go for but since a fabia vrs is on your list.

Colt Ralliart ? Quick , Reliable , Good on Fuel and great on the b roads you mentioned.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitsubishi-Colt-1-5-T-Ra...

[Patch888]

Octavia VRS, mondeo ST TDCI.

Get a mint ep3 and use the left over cash for fuel

[nottyash]

Diesels are not fun because of the narrow powerband. The kick in the back is good, and the ability to press on and overtake is impressive.
How many miles do you do?
Remember on a b road accelerating decelerating a diesel won't be great on fuel anyway, nor much will when driven enthusiastically.

I've had Fabia vrs, bought one new and have a remapped BMW 120d now.
They are not hot hatches.

You can get a fun petrol car for 4 grand and save 2 grand towards fuel.
I also have a Audi TT 225 and a Subaru Impreza WRX well within your budget.

[nottyash]

nickofh said:

Probably a bit different to what you normally would go for but since a fabia vrs is on your list.

Colt Ralliart ? Quick , Reliable , Good on Fuel and great on the b roads you mentioned.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitsubishi-Colt-1-5-T-Ra...

I test drove one of these as a Czt when first out.
Awful cars, like a little MPV.
not fast and numb to drive.
VRS is a far better bet than that

[nickofh]

nottyash said:

I test drove one of these as a Czt when first out.
Awful cars, like a little MPV.
not fast and numb to drive.
VRS is a far better bet than that

Not been in a Fabia VRS , but my brother in law has the later ralliart colt. I agree in five door it looks quite MPV like. 7.3 seconds to 60 quick enough ( faster than fab vrs ) and nearly 300 kg lighter.

On the same size tyres I'm pretty sure it would out handle ,certainly out brake the vrs and win for sound effects too.

Each to their own , diesels don't do it for me.

[nottyash]

nickofh said:

Not been in a Fabia VRS , but my brother in law has the later ralliart colt. I agree in five door it looks quite MPV like. 7.3 seconds to 60 quick enough ( faster than fab vrs ) and nearly 300 kg lighter.

On the same size tyres I'm pretty sure it would out handle ,certainly out brake the vrs and win for sound effects too.

Each to their own , diesels don't do it for me.

These performance figures you quote are not real world. Trust me a standard Fabia is more than a match. It was proved the 9 second figure quoted was high as was the 130 bhp quite often 140bhp

Mine was a 190 bhp VRS with nearly 300lb ft torque in a car the size of a polo.
The CZT was 3 door, and it really was rubbish and just like driving an MPV with the long dash and quarter lights in the front doors.
There's far better cars out there for that money

[feef]

Interesting doesn't necessarily mean performance or even nimble handling. There's not much that's 'interesting' in my book these days. Alfa's are interesting when it comes to styling, but in the end I plumped for a C6 as my daily driver as it's interesting.

I'd say all the suggestions so far aren't very interesting at all.

[nickofh]

nottyash said:

These performance figures you quote are not real world. Trust me a standard Fabia is more than a match. It was proved the 9 second figure quoted was high as was the 130 bhp quite often 140bhp

Mine was a 190 bhp VRS with nearly 300lb ft torque in a car the size of a polo.
The CZT was 3 door, and it really was rubbish and just like driving an MPV with the long dash and quarter lights in the front doors.
There's far better cars out there for that money

It maybe the size of a polo as we all know that they share the same platform but the weight difference is quite large.

Your right I don't know the real world performance of a standard fabia vrs. But I do know the real world performance of the ralliart . About 7.5 to sixty is a right and the brakes a spot on. I don't fully know how a standard 135hp ( vrs ) can match a 150hp turbo petrol that is 300kg lighter.


I am not too surprised that the czt felt slow compared to your modified vrs, I found the power delivery in the colt to be different to what I expected, unlike a diesel it came on rather gradually as opposed to a sudden surge of speed that you get with a diesel. However it keeps pulling nicely all the way through the powerband to the redline, making a nice sound whilst its doing it. Which is why it would be my choice over a standard vrs.

[nottyash]

nickofh said:

It maybe the size of a polo as we all know that they share the same platform but the weight difference is quite large.

Your right I don't know the real world performance of a standard fabia vrs. But I do know the real world performance of the ralliart . About 7.5 to sixty is a right and the brakes a spot on. I don't fully know how a standard 135hp ( vrs ) can match a 150hp turbo petrol that is 300kg lighter.


I am not too surprised that the czt felt slow compared to your modified vrs, I found the power delivery in the colt to be different to what I expected, unlike a diesel it came on rather gradually as opposed to a sudden surge of speed that you get with a diesel. However it keeps pulling nicely all the way through the powerband to the redline, making a nice sound whilst its doing it. Which is why it would be my choice over a standard vrs.

I was comparing standard with standard. I test drove both at dealers.
very disappointing driving the CZT.
The Ralliart would need a lot of improvement to be any good.
Not sure what the differences are.

[danp]

How many doors/seats needed and how many miles a year?

[Sf_Manta]

3 doors prefered

around 15-16k a year maybe more.

Petrol considered!

[Negative Creep]

Alfa GT?