Buying a new car

[kelevraz]

Hi all

been like, years since i posted on here but i do follow the forums.

soo, my 62 plate Focus ST was nicked last week, quite gutted about it, ive been told by basically everyone not to expect the police to find it, and that its most likely on the way (probably there by now) to europe or africa

knowing me and how much of a creature of habit i am, id probably have never sold it, or at least held onto it for YEARS to come

well, every cloud has a silver lining and all that, or whatever the F people say, im not im a position where im looking at another car, my circumstances have changed abit since i got my focus so i could probably afford something better

im currently thinking about the VW gti or the R, another focus ST or its been suggested today i think about the BM m140i

and i guess im just looking for some opinions? i dont have much driving to do monday to friday, i literally just drive to the train station (about 1.5 miles away) and the rest of my commute is all train.. and im quite big guy too (6ft 3). Im sure lots of people on here will have lots of opinions on the models, and maybe some suggestions ive not thought of? Also, ive done some research online, but would also like to know the kind of things i should be looking out for on these models?

any help would be appreciated, thanks

budget is pretty much anywhere between 12-16k

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say that if you're doing so few miles why confine yourself to a hot hatch when you can get yourself a much sweeter ride:

SLK55 AMG an epic car with a bombastic V8 & very low bork potential

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alpina B3 BiTurbo a great driving rare car but these really a great road cars

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

370Z GT a cracking drivers car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Cayman S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi S5 sensible compromise option whilst still being a bit special with that V8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E500 coupe as above but a bit more of a sleeper but with better performance in my bias opinion

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

M3 Saloon my brother has one & they're great cars but they do cost a bit to run

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Coupe I prefer the look of the saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VXR8 great handling underrated cars that are a great ownership prospective & very low on bork

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Z4 35i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Infiniti G37 four seater 370Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now if you want a hot hatch then it really has to be a Megane RS275 Trophy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or Cup S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[anonymous-user]

I wouldn't be buying a nice hot hatch to leave it at the mercy of a train station parking area all day...

A Golf R will be nicked in days and anything that lasts longer will be covered in parking dents by the end of the week.

I'd also look to buy a snotter for this purpose and a nice one for weekends or personally I'd walk to the station whenever possible

[Kinky]

I'd second what our Lordship says. I'd get a £200 'station' car (old Fiesta, Escort, Micra, or somesuch). There's no way I'd have the Alpina (from NINs list above, for example), doing 1.5 mile journeys, and then sitting in a station car park all day.

[MOBB]

I wouldn’t be replacing a stolen ST with a golf R, they will think Xmas has come early

[Maccles]

I'd third what his Lorship says - this is bonkers. The car won't even warm up in 1.5 miles, and will be screaming out to be stolen. Walk, cycle, buy an electric bike or if you have to drive then buy sometime totally unnickable and bombproof (i.e. an old Japanese car) for the station run and keep something nice for the weekend (like one of the cars ZX10R link above).

[ninjag]

Maccles said:

I'd third what his Lorship says - this is bonkers. The car won't even warm up in 1.5 miles, and will be screaming out to be stolen. Walk, cycle, buy an electric bike or if you have to drive then buy sometime totally unnickable and bombproof (i.e. an old Japanese car) for the station run and keep something nice for the weekend (like one of the cars ZX10R link above).

I'll fourth this! lol

I'd spend a few grand on something like a petrol Suzuki Swift for driving to the station, which is still fun enough with the go-kart handling, and use the rest of your budget on a nice weekend car as suggested above.

This caught my eye: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

For me a station car is a Smart Fortwo all day long:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Dolf Stoppard]

Or perhaps the OP only wants one car - like he's asked for.

Personally, I just can't imagine driving a £200 Micra in the week, even if for short journeys, while a decent car sits at home.

Also, not all people who travel by train park where their car will be immediately stolen, vandalised, or catch fire!

OP, considered an Up! Gti or one of the hotter MINIs? Perhaps a bit better than a big engined hot hatch for short journeys, easy to park, and surprisingly refined compared to an older ST.