6k budget suggestions

[ninjag]

8th Gen Honda Accord 2.0, couple of low mileage ones available in budget.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=n...


But I'd raise the budget by £500 and get this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Fully loaded, extremely reliable and the 2.4 does make a difference over the 2.0 when it comes to performance.

[danlightbulb]

ninjag said:

Fully loaded, extremely reliable and the 2.4 does make a difference over the 2.0 when it comes to performance.

I own the 2.4 and it has to be revved so hard, its very tiring to drive around town. I wouldnt buy another.

[e92merjay]

coldel said:

Sat in a 1.6T Astra that a mate had as a hire car, what a gutless piece of crap. Better off sticking with 320d beemers to be honest. Astra was plastic gutless crap.

How can 180bhp be gutless?

[ninjag]

danlightbulb said:

ninjag said:

Fully loaded, extremely reliable and the 2.4 does make a difference over the 2.0 when it comes to performance.

I own the 2.4 and it has to be revved so hard, its very tiring to drive around town. I wouldnt buy another.

I had a 7th gen 2.4 and didn't find it hard, I don't want to scream about town anyway. It's more fun than the lazy diesels of today with their low down torque but run out of puff quickly.

Edited by ninjag on Friday 2nd November 18:56

[coldel]

e92merjay said:

How can 180bhp be gutless?

Because 180bhp nowadays is peanuts in terms of power, an average warm hatchback puts out 200bhp, I am not sure what you are used to in terms of power but 180bhp is pretty dull. A 10 year old Focus ST mk2 puts out 220bhp+

[e92merjay]

coldel said:

Because 180bhp nowadays is peanuts in terms of power, an average warm hatchback puts out 200bhp, I am not sure what you are used to in terms of power but 180bhp is pretty dull. A 10 year old Focus ST mk2 puts out 220bhp+

My 320d was 177 and that was quick and pulled pretty well.

[coldel]

e92merjay said:

My 320d was 177 and that was quick and pulled pretty well.

Its all about context, my 23 year old Celica is 290bhp 4WD and would drive away from your BMW

But then a Nissan GTR would drive away from me.

I guess if you were satisfied with 177bhp then an Astra would be OK, personally, I found it languid, slow and uninspiring!

[Ahbefive]

It needs to be under 8years old but you were considering 20year old mk3 golfs? Confused.

Focus ST is a good answer to this question but it seems you are more interested in something really boring.

[e92merjay]

coldel said:

Its all about context, my 23 year old Celica is 290bhp 4WD and would drive away from your BMW

But then a Nissan GTR would drive away from me.

I guess if you were satisfied with 177bhp then an Astra would be OK, personally, I found it languid, slow and uninspiring!

With my next car speed and power isn’t too important, just want something reasonably priced mainly for town driving and the odd motorway journey every month or so. as long as it’s not sluggish and can handle 80mph on motorways without feeling as though it’s gonna fall apart lol.

[e92merjay]

Ahbefive said:

It needs to be under 8years old but you were considering 20year old mk3 golfs? Confused.

Focus ST is a good answer to this question but it seems you are more interested in something really boring.

My bad I meant mk6. I’ll have a look into that

[coldel]

e92merjay said:

With my next car speed and power isn’t too important, just want something reasonably priced mainly for town driving and the odd motorway journey every month or so. as long as it’s not sluggish and can handle 80mph on motorways without feeling as though it’s gonna fall apart lol.

Could be anything then, most cars can handle 80 lol to be honest stick with the beemers if thats what you like?
Personally you cant go far wrong with a Focus, plentiful parts, decent specs etc.

[ninjag]

Peak power is only part of the picture, the power and torque bands are also important and not forgetting the transmission.

If mainly town driving though then most diesels will be fine. I'd focus more on ride comfort, sound system, toys such as hill start and I'd probably go for an automatic transmission as well.

[e92merjay]

The reason for getting rid of my bmw was the maintenance costs so I’m after something cheaper and reliable where I’m not gonna lose a shed load of money again. I’d prefer an auto but I wouldn’t mind going back to manual. I was getting around 29/30mpg on my bm as most of my journeys were only 3 mile trips, so I’d prefer a petrol now and something with better fuel economy.

[coldel]

ninjag said:

Peak power is only part of the picture, the power and torque bands are also important and not forgetting the transmission.

If mainly town driving though then most diesels will be fine. I'd focus more on ride comfort, sound system, toys such as hill start and I'd probably go for an automatic transmission as well.

Yep totally understand 'area under the curve' but the guy is quoting peak so thats what I am working with. To be honest driving around town you only need 60bhp!

[e92merjay]

coldel said:

Yep totally understand 'area under the curve' but the guy is quoting peak so thats what I am working with. To be honest driving around town you only need 60bhp!

Surely for town driving I’d be better off with a petrol? Majority will be town driving short trips but I’ll still be doing longer motorway trips a couple of times a month

[ninjag]

e92merjay said:

The reason for getting rid of my bmw was the maintenance costs so I’m after something cheaper and reliable where I’m not gonna lose a shed load of money again. I’d prefer an auto but I wouldn’t mind going back to manual. I was getting around 29/30mpg on my bm as most of my journeys were only 3 mile trips, so I’d prefer a petrol now and something with better fuel economy.

A diesel isn't really a problem if it's older without a DPF, although forthcoming city LEZs may become an issue. I changed from diesel to petrol because I do 1 mile trips a few times a day plus a few slightly longer ones dotted throughout the week. Most of it is lazy driving now so I don't bother with performance, being n/a and an auto it doesn't really accelerate but more gains momentum, although above 4500rpm and it can shift for a reasonably big car.

You may be better looking for a smaller turbocharged petrol though for the low down torque whilst keeping decent economy.

I'm thinking:

Audi A3 1.4 TFSI
SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TSI Bocanegra SportCoupe (surprisingly quick)
Ford Mondeo 1.6T EcoBoost Zetec

[Bordtea]

Have I missed something and logged on to Mumsnet by accident? Describing a BMW 320d as 'exciting' and 'fun', to then consider a 1.6 Vauxhall Astra, followed by a Kia Cee'd? Good lord...

Genuinely quick and fun cars under 6k - Nissan 350z, BMW Z4, Honda S2000 (just about), Fiesta/Focus ST, Clio 200, even a 330i?

[coldel]

Bordtea said:

Have I missed something and logged on to Mumsnet by accident? Describing a BMW 320d as 'exciting' and 'fun', to then consider a 1.6 Vauxhall Astra, followed by a Kia Cee'd? Good lord...

Genuinely quick and fun cars under 6k - Nissan 350z, BMW Z4, Honda S2000 (just about), Fiesta/Focus ST, Clio 200, even a 330i?

No, because older cars over 8 years old or any with more than 80k miles will explode the second you drive them away from the previous owners house ;)

[e92merjay]

Bordtea said:

Have I missed something and logged on to Mumsnet by accident? Describing a BMW 320d as 'exciting' and 'fun', to then consider a 1.6 Vauxhall Astra, followed by a Kia Cee'd? Good lord...

Genuinely quick and fun cars under 6k - Nissan 350z, BMW Z4, Honda S2000 (just about), Fiesta/Focus ST, Clio 200, even a 330i?

It was my first proper car so yes I did find it fun and exciting to drive. And I have considered an Astra and Kia as I am downgrading. The quick and fun cars you mentioned won’t be practical for me as they would be no good on fuel and road tax is too expensive on them (£315plus).

[imck]

Given your requirements for a Basic 5 Seater, pretty much anything from the 'Boring/Practical' suggestions.

What do you like the look of?

A non-Turbo 1.4 or 1.6 will do the Job but may feel a bit gutless.

Over the last few Years I have hired a Mokka (forgot about that one) and Seat Leon. Both with 1.4 Turbo
I was impressed with both Engines for their size.
Both good on the Motorway.

You need to get out for a Test Drive