Suggestions for next car

[mrnoisy78]

Adding a tuned RS3 to the list just because I've seen one I quite like the look of...

[Blanchimont]

mrnoisy78 said:

Agreed. Think I'm going to discount the TTRS just because of practicality. I do wonder if the Megane won't quite deliver in terms of straight line speed but will try and have a look at one although the price tag of £18k for a Renault made my eyes water a little!

It's a new car, if you want your eyes to really water, look at a Clio V6.

If you're that worried about straight line speed, map it. 320ish with little else, but that's not the point of that car.

[Hungrymc]

I reckon you're very drawn to Audis Mrnoisy. They are very different to your M3 in many ways (how often do we hear the M-car vs RS debate). Now, my banging on about being as clear as you can in what attributes you really want.... It looks to me like you want....

A very fast car with good traction (4wd) so its very capable across country, Audi style and Audi quality. I think the compromise is that you wont get the last word in interaction / involvement and I don't think you'll get playful handling (both I would say will be more present in the M3).

If I'm right, you'll love an RS5 or an RS3 - both stunning cars that would be lovely to own.

The fact you really enjoyed the Honda is a little at odds with this but that could be the difference between a car that's good fun to drive and have a laugh in, compared to one that you have to own and live with. would the fact that it doesn't have Audi quality and appearance be a constant niggle?

[ZX10R NIN]

mrnoisy78 said:

Agreed. Think I'm going to discount the TTRS just because of practicality. I do wonder if the Megane won't quite deliver in terms of straight line speed but will try and have a look at one although the price tag of £18k for a Renault made my eyes water a little!
- Manual E92 M3
- Focus RS
- Megane RS
- C63 AMG with Performance Pack
- RS5
....and then another go in a CTR if none of the above float my boat.

Lol you badge snob try finding a Trophy model they should be in the 20-22k zone they're worth the extra, in a straight line they're not what you'd call slow just make sure you take it around some corners on the test drive so you can see what the fuss is about

As a sidebar PH rated it above the CTR which they already rated as being more enjoyable than the Focus RS. Only you will know which of those three's character suits you better but I thought I'd add that perspective.

Also if your close go & visit the guys selling the Megane in the link as they tune/race them so would be a wealth of knowledge with the Renault, plus they might even have a mapped one so you can get a true reflection on how a mapped one drives.

Now get a tissue ready it does have the nice bits (Exhaust & Ohlins) already fitted as well as two years left on the Warranty & Service packages.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

With the M3 from what you've said I'd try finding one with the competition pack.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

As or the RS3 a tuned one will go gangbusters but interaction isn't their strong point but I know what you mean about the looks just watch out for the chocolate propshaft a friend has a tuned TT RS & has gone through two but they were replaced under warranty, he loves it & I have to say that engine/exhaust note are very impressive, he's running 407bhp at the wheels & is looking to change it for an (only because he's soon to be a dad) RS3 so Audi got something right with that drivetrain it really puts a grin on your face.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 3rd August 10:40

[Blanchimont]

Tuvra said:

Blanchimont said:

As ZX10 suggested earlier in the thread, something like the Megane RS would be a good shout.
20k gets you into a practically new one. Get a high specced one, you'll be laughing. A great drivers car, and comfy enough to daily. I haven't got the Ohlins fitted to mine, but it's still more than comfortable enough to daily. The Ohlins you can turn right down for "B Road driving" and are a lot more comfortable.
Plus, it's a genuinely fun, engaging car, unlike most things on sale today.

If you want more power, it's as simple as throwing it at RSTuning in Leeds and they'll extra an extra 50ish HP from it, and add in Launch Control if it's your thing.

Blanchimont said:

If you like driving, then there is little else for the money that offers what the Renault does.

Even driving it, I get positive comments about it. A week or so ago, some random bloke came up to me and said "Nice car" and started talking about it. So it does get positive comments, and I've had plenty "Bet daddy bought that" (but that's down to me being young, 22) and a few "You must be paid to much!"
I tend to ignore most of the negative stuff, but as they're not massively common on the roads, they stand out just enough to look cool.

It may have a Renault badge on the front, but who cares? As long as you enjoy it, who cares. Nobody should buy anything, because of fear it may not get approved by other people, both those you know, and those you don't. You like it? Drive it.

Blanchimont said:

It's a new car, if you want your eyes to really water, look at a Clio V6.

If you're that worried about straight line speed, map it. 320ish with little else, but that's not the point of that car.

So what car are you suggesting? I'm struggling to tell

On a serious note, put down the spectacles:-

.

For a kick off, I didn't initially suggest it, I agreed with somebody else. Secondly, He asked questions, and I answered them. So next time, try not to be such an odious little man. Not everybody is interested in Golf R's and german "whips".

[Tuvra]

Blanchimont said:

For a kick off, I didn't initially suggest it, I agreed with somebody else. Secondly, He asked questions, and I answered them. So next time, try not to be such an odious little man. Not everybody is interested in Golf R's and german "whips".

You may not have initially suggested it but you sure to fk kept on about it.

For the record, I didn't suggest an R, I suggested a TTRS & an XKR, since when has a Jag been a German 'Whip?

I know not everyone is interested in "German Whips" kid, if you open your eyes you'll see I have a Ford incoming, your so busy wking over Renault's you can't digest what's being posted

[jontysafe]

Why not, as previously posted, go the two car route.

It's what I've done, VAG diseasel for the week and something mental for the weekend.

I had a race with a GTR at 700bhp and my weekend car utterly annihilated it. I mean he didn't even see which way I went. 500bhp+ in 600kgs will do that. On a private road of course. Seriously consider this approach!

I doubt both my cars together are worth what your BMW is worth.

Edited by jontysafe on Wednesday 3rd August 14:44

[mrnoisy78]

jontysafe said:

Why not, as previously posted, go the two car route.

It's what I've done, VAG diseasel for the week and something mental for the weekend.

I had a race with a GTR at 700bhp and my weekend car utterly annihilated it. I mean he didn't even see which way I went. 500bhp+ in 600kgs will do that. On a private road of course. Seriously consider this approach!

I doubt both my cars together are worth what your BMW is worth.

Edited by jontysafe on Wednesday 3rd August 14:44

Lol you didn't read my first post mate - I had a 440bhp Impreza and a Fiesta ST 2.0 before the M3 .
Sadly I barely have time to look after and clean and maintain the one car now let alone two.

Re comments on Audis I've always been drawn to the RS5 because I think it's such a superb looking car in a plethora of very average looking saloons and coupes that have flooded the market of late.
The fun factor is what worries me as - like mentioned - it's a compromise between comfort, fun and so on.
I have my suspicions that anything with an auto box, no matter how slick (and let's face it the BMW box is excellent) will never be quite the same in terms of driver connection as a manual although if memory serves me correctly the Audi's drive mode is significantly better than the BMW's, which I have always found sloppy; for me it only works well in manual mode.
I think Audi have ruined their latest models and they look little different to Mondeos - the latest 3 and 4 series BMW's I rather like but they don't deliver on performance for me.
Good looking and genuinely fast performance cars that aren't afraid to try and kill the driver are becoming more of a rarity nowadays. I'd love a TVR but the reliability and potential money pit they seem to frequently become puts me off or I'd own a T350; a friend's experience with a brand new one was enough to put me off them.

I admit I did genuinely love driving that civic but afterward found myself wondering if I'd feel the same if I'd just jumped in an standard 2.0 2005 Impreza WRX and hammered it...


Always wanted a late RX7 in red but just can't justify one as a daily now - one day though she will be mine!

All else fails I will either stick with the BMW or buy something Jap and mod the hell out of it

Off to do a bunch of test drives at the weekend; taking Friday off and got a pass from the wife...
Focus RS is definitely on the cards, possibly with a side helping of TTRS even though my mates have already started labelling me a hairdresser hehe.

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Wednesday 3rd August 23:01

[mrnoisy78]

SturdyHSV said:

Just because it's fun to throw random options in, VXR8?

Few options price wise, could go newer for a 'nicer' interior, although may be a little too close to a F**d materials wise.

Newer could be around £25k

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

(There's newer options, but may be outside of budget, at which point the 'lot for a Vauxhall' comes in to your head I imagine)

Go older and get one with a supercharger for a reliable 600+bhp well within budget?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

If slow rear access isn't an issue (that's what she said) then could go even further back and get a modified Monaro, again silly power easily available, this one is 'only' a 5.7 with the little 1.2 litre blower, hence 'only' 550bhp

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

A friend has a manual E92 M3, I have a Monaro. We've both driven each other's cars. What did I enjoy in the M3? The heated seats and the brakes.

When he drove the Monaro, he actively laughed out loud with joy.

If interior quality is a thing though, then you'll not want to go as far back as the Monaro though I'd wager, it is more utilitarian than luxurious.

You will be involved, comfortable, going rather quickly with an epic soundtrack and the driving modes include whether the really lazy traction control is 'On' or 'Off' via a big button in the middle.

I've seen one of these go hairing through my estate many times in the morning and it always sounds lunatic loud - that 700bhp one you posted looks like Satan's car .
Thing is it's a big heavy car though - I'm thinking straight line speed it will be like a rocket ship, then reach a corner and fall over! Joking aside in real terms that's a bit larger than what I'm after really - I had a 640d as a loaner for 3 weeks and it was like driving a barge I just didn't like it, and as there are width restrictions near my work I'd be taking the long way round in one of these. Would love to drive one though, they sound epic.

[LasseV]

Shnozz said:

I disagree. A TT-RS, particularly with a £500 remap, is a beast. Properly quick car and, whilst a GTR may have the edge in beastiness, I would wager its not as large a shortfall as you may think. Added to that the stealth nature in that few expect a TT to move that rapidly, whereas everyone expects a GTR to wipe the floor with everything.

A friend registered a 3.6 second 0-60 dash in a mildly remapped TT-RS and using an accurate data-logger. Now if that isn't quick enough...

Yes, it is a fast car, but baby-GTR it is not. He already owned 400hp subaru and i think it is as fast as TT-RS. Those Subarus has been very fast in drag strip/straight line like last 15 years or so. They go 11's and low 12's in quarter mile when modded so i would say they are quite equal in performance. But if OP finds M3 boring, how would TT change that? Problem is still there, boringness.

And saying that any performance-Audi is cheap to service... Not.

Edited by LasseV on Thursday 4th August 23:40

[mrnoisy78]

LasseV said:

Yes, it is a fast car, but baby-GTR it is not. He already owned 400hp subaru and i think it is as fast as TT-RS. Those Subarus has been very fast in drag strip/straight line like last 15 years or so. They go 11's and low 12's in quarter mile when modded so i would say they are quite equal in performance. But if OP finds M3 boring, how would TT change that? Problem is still there, boringness.

And saying that any performance-Audi is cheap to service...Not

Well hold on there, consider my main reason for finding the M3 irritating - not necessarily boring - which is the straight line speed low down (top end that car delivers in spades) and managing to get the power down effectively without the tail going out all over the place as the rear struggles for grip .

If the TTRS can deliver Subaru performance low down but with a better ride and less rattles and a nicer cabin I'll give it a go.
I'm driving an RS3 today but am sorely tempted to try a TTRS at some stage now just due to the manual. Just can't understand why Audi never offered the RS3 in manual, I much prefer the shape and it's more practical.

Also got a Focus RS lined up for today; possibly a Megane RS if time as well.

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Friday 5th August 06:44

[LasseV]

mrnoisy78 said:

Well hold on there, consider my main reason for finding the M3 irritating - not necessarily boring - which is the straight line speed low down (top end that car delivers in spades) and managing to get the power down effectively without the tail going out all over the place as the rear struggles for grip .

If the TTRS can deliver Subaru performance low down but with a better ride and less rattles and a nicer cabin I'll give it a go.
I'm driving an RS3 today but am sorely tempted to try a TTRS at some stage now just due to the manual. Just can't understand why Audi never offered the RS3 in manual, I much prefer the shape and it's more practical.

Also got a Focus RS lined up for today; possibly a Megane RS if time as well.

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Friday 5th August 06:44

Aa, ok now i get it. In your case TT could be the right choice. Modern manual performance car is a quite rare thing nowdays. However, i like more older cars so what about second gen Focus RS? How expensive they are these days?

Edit: This looks very nice indeed:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Edited by LasseV on Friday 5th August 07:05

Edited by LasseV on Friday 5th August 07:07

[mrnoisy78]

So today I did a few things:
1. Drove a standard RS3
2. Discounted the RS3 as the ride was horrendously firm which in turn made the car skittish and meant I struggled to get the power down without thinking the car was going to bounce out of a pothole and throw me through a hedge; it's so solid it just bounces all over the shop. It clearly had pace but without switchable dampers I couldn't exploit it. The flappy paddles are also too small compared to the M3 and the manual shifter is the opposite way round to the M3 which really threw me.
Nice looking car but the interior doesn't justify the price tag - just looks like a posher Golf tbh.
3. Drove a Focus RS. Not the fastest car I've driven but plenty of usable power and overtake manoeuvres on the test drive proved it more agile than the Golf R. I reckon there's at least another 30bhp and 40ft/lbs in that engine with a Mountune upgrade, and as they don't typically affect warranty and the RS's tend to hold their value I'm now considering it seriously - plus wow Ford have upped their game in terms of interior - whilst it's not BMW it's certainly 10x better than Fords from the late noughties I've owned or driven. But the boot is TINY.
4. Saw a TTRS.
5. Discounted the TTRS (sorry fans but looks wise and space wise it's just not for me)
6. Whilst I felt it was hugely entertaining and very practical in terms of boot space vs the Focus or M3, the Type R is too much money for the way it looks - and in the case of championship white ones - for the way it's painted - which is shockingly two tone and very cheap looking.
As the little Honda stands to lose probably half its value within 3 years, the M3 remains a stronger financially viable and capable proposal that's also far easier on the eye .
7. I admit the RS5 is the car that's potentially as if not more expensive than the M3, is also auto only and has an engine which could potentially be more of a pain in the ass than the M3's (despite the frequent throttle actuator failures, speed sensor failures and occasional engine bearing failures!) - is still one of my favourite looking cars - so I'm testing one tomorrow - it will be interesting to see how it fares and whether it can deliver on some of the low down grunt I feel is missing in the BMW. If it does it may be what I go for - provided I can get one with a warranty - but If it's not then it's either retain the M or buy the Focus as an investment with a 3 year warranty and wait for the Mountune kit to come out which will likely make it a very quick car.

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Saturday 6th August 07:53

[ZX10R NIN]

I hope the test drive goes well today I thought I'd let you know the Mountune Kit is out 25bhp with an extra 51 lb/ft with the Warranty left intact.

[mrnoisy78]

So today I test drove the RS5.
All I can say is what a disappointment.
Big, heavy, hard ride.
Beautiful looking car to behold, cabin is way above the M in terms of quality and finish.
However it's not as quick, doesn't handle anywhere near as well, and therefore didn't fit the bill.
The car almost bounces over undulations in the road due to its weight and having driven it back to back with the M3 having got out after an 80 mile drive the differences were glaringly obvious, it's outclassed by the M3 in nearly every way bar looks.
Tremendously disappointed but not massively surprised.
With all Audis out of the running now this leaves:
- Focus and waiting on Mountune pack
- Civic probably through PCP or
- keep the M.

I was nearly sold on the last; had a great drive down a load of B roads and dual carriageways to Petersfield from Wiltshire today where I was able to open the M3 up and really enjoy it - doesn't really happen day to day.
...And then I joined a dual carriageway on a slip road, and got tailgated by a Saab...despite dropping a few cogs and nailing it couldn't shake him until the speed was silly - and at that point I realised the M car, no matter how good it is on a track, will never really deliver what I want on a road - which is that engagement and torque from lower down the Rev range.
The ride on the BMW is probably the best quality I've ever had in a road car but I think I may have to forego and sacrifice it in exchange for broader enjoyment and low down speed.

Thanks to the poster above re the Mountune kit.
Think that nearly settles it then - with that torque figure think it's focus time, but will try a CTR once more if I can.

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Saturday 6th August 22:18

Edited by mrnoisy78 on Saturday 6th August 22:20

[ZX10R NIN]

I know you're pretty much going the RS route but after such an exhaustive search I would recommend driving the Renault in the name of fairness if your going to try the car that came second (Honda) then you might as well try the best hot hatch (try & find a Trophy model) out there.

[steve-5snwi]

How about the Mini JCW or even the limited run Challenge edition ?

[jontysafe]

steve-5snwi said:

How about the Mini JCW or even the limited run Challenge edition ?

Because people who want to sit in the rear might not just be children!

[Rawwr]

I've bored myself to tears enduring endless tedious 'what car' threads on here, where the owner is basically looking for affirmation of his pre-selected choice.

This thread on the other hand is genuinely interesting and I want to see what the OP ends up with

[Rawwr]

FWIW, I reckon you'll end up with a Focus RS. It seems to tick pretty much all of your boxes and it happens to have the benefit of being a Ford with and RS badge and so a good decision in financial terms, too.