New car, 10k budget. Any help?

[Unlight]

Hi all,

Selling my FN2 Type R and will have around a 10k budget to play with for a next car. I'm keeping myself open to options at the moment, but can't seem to find anything that meets the criteria :

10k budget
Reliable
Good looking.
At least as economical as my Civic (28-30mpg, around the same tax bracket is fine).
Suitable for around 12k a year.

I haven't ruled out a "performance diesel" yet. Any suggestions?

Edited by Unlight on Sunday 20th February 15:15

[fido]

what wrong with the FN2? .. well aside from the inferior rear suspension setup compared to the EP3;)

[Unlight]

Nothing at all, I've enjoyed owning and driving it, just fancy a change!

[Jasandjules]

TVR Chimaera 4.0.......

Don't get much better looking, 28mpg on a run (ish), reliable when treated properly and cared for.

[Unlight]

Jasandjules said:

TVR Chimaera 4.0.......

Don't get much better looking, 28mpg on a run (ish), reliable when treated properly and cared for.

Forgot to add, I'll be doing around 12k a year. Whilst the Chimaera is a lovely car, I don't think I'd fancy relying on it for the daily commute!

[STW2010]

£10k would get you a very good E46 BMW. Mine returns 30 mpg, and 35 mpg on the motorway.

Quite a bit under the budget- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2493964.htm

[fido]

I'm toying with a Scoobie-Doo (STi) myself, but for £10k budget you'd be looking at the previous shape 06 or early 07 WRX .. MPG probably a bit worse than a CTR.

[Jasandjules]

Unlight said:

Forgot to add, I'll be doing around 12k a year. Whilst the Chimaera is a lovely car, I don't think I'd fancy relying on it for the daily commute!

She'll be a lot more reliable on a daily commute than a garage queen.

[duckson]

GB270 (WRX PPP + Prodrive parts)? OK mines a bit above £10k but anyway.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2414121.htm

Is the reason for change just that you fancy a change?

[Carfeed]

How practical does the car need to be. You could get a nice VX220 Turbo for around £10k. Great to drive and cheap to run.

Trev

[duckson]

Carfeed said:

How practical does the car need to be. You could get a nice VX220 Turbo for around £10k. Great to drive and cheap to run.

Trev

Not many turbo's around £10k, its actually what i'm looking at getting instead of the GB270 above. I'd also be getting a cheap runaround though.

[davidjpowell]

Merc C320 cdi / CLK 320 cdi might be an interesting option.

[fido]

duckson said:

I'd also be getting a cheap runaround though.

Fancy p/x'ing for a CTR? Have to say, i'm still after the new shape hatch with the twin exhausts.

[duckson]

Details?

[russy01]

s2k surely. Natural progression from a CTR

[Jasandjules]

Gaz. said:

As lovely as they are, 28mpg on a run isn't the same as 28-30 combined like his CTR. Perhaps an S2000 is a good halfway house between the two?

Well that is true, traffic wouldn't be good BUT then it's a lot nicer place to be in the cockpit of the TVR...

Failing that, what about an Elise?

[robsco]

Phase 3 Alfa GTV with the 3.2 V6? A well maintained example should be able to scrape into the late 20s to the gallon, and reliable if well maintained and cared for properly. That and they look like nothing else on the road. Exclusive too.

[Unlight]

any opinions on a 130i?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2496715.htm

[Jasandjules]

Unlight said:

any opinions on a 130i?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2496715.htm

Why own a coupe when you can own a Convertible?

Get a TVR or Lotus, you know you want to. You only live once etc etc.

[danneth]

i went from a CTR to one of these

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2508921.htm