Yet another daily what car - Page 1 - Car Buying

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Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

We currently have a 55 plate Mazda 6 MPS which is my wifes "daily", we've had it for nearly 8 years and despite still "liking" the car it's using oil like there is no tomorrow, going from full to empty on the dipstick in a week, which is annoying in itself but more annoyingly a new turbo hasn't fixed it. Plus it's a Mazda so will rot to nothing in the next few years.

Rather than send good money after bad, time to cut losses and get something different. Or rather something not that different but newer.

For those unaware of what the Mazda 6 MPS is, it's a Mazda 6 with AWD and 260hp.

Requirements are

1) Similar size to Mazda 6 - 4 doors, 5 seats with enough room for 2 child seats for primary age children (used for the school run!)
2) Petrol (both from a desirability perspective, doing a low annual mileage making diesels unsuitable and finally due to the upcoming CAZ making anything less than a 2015+ Euro 6 expensive).
3) Manual (I have suggested she should at least *try* an auto but she wants a manual).
4) AWD preferred.
5) As fast or faster than the MPS (ie sub 6s to 60).
6) Only doing 6k/year so mpg is not that important but would be of course nice to be better. The MPS is averaging 18mpg in primarily town use.
7) "Interesting".
8) The newer the better but at the very least newer than ~2009

Not particularly bothered if a saloon, hatch or estate but no SUV's, MPV's, Crossovers etc.

She thought a ~2011 or so Audi S4 (ie before they went auto only) would "tick the boxes" but a test drive left her somewhat cold, fast yes, lovely interior but a bit too "isolated". Still might go there however as not sure what else there is.

Budget between 10-15k.

Go!

Summit_Detailing

2,429 posts

222 months

Monday 11th November 2019

Audi S3/TTS/S1
Golf R
MINI Clubman JCW all4
Subaru WRX STI
Insignia VXR

Cheers,

Chris

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

Summit_Detailing said:

Audi S3/TTS/S1
Golf R
MINI Clubman JCW all4

Too small and auto only. Although the S3 does look nice.

Summit_Detailing said:

Subaru WRX STI

Too chavy

Summit_Detailing said:

Insignia VXR

Too Vauxhall rofl

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Monday 11th November 2019

What have you seen so far that you like?

kieranblenk

865 posts

163 months

Monday 11th November 2019

Would a 330i/335i do the job? Or if that's not big enough a 5 series?

Other options I can think;

Octavia VRS
Focus ST Estate
Volvo S60 T5

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Monday 11th November 2019

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

I mean tbh a VXR8 is a Holden more than a Vauxhall. wink

It'd would make the RX-8 we had before seem almost economical though. wink

ZX10R NIN said:

M3 Saloon

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

From memory the E90 was the nearly reliable one wasn't it? Without the *quite* the same major engine destroying bearing issues of the M5 but still known for it.

ZX10R NIN said:

If you can get the OH to try an Auto then take a look at the IS-F:

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

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

I do keep telling her she should at least *try* one. I mean I don't like them but I have at least tried a number of them. If she can put up with one there are a *lot* more options out there.

It's a Lexus as well so shouldn't go wrong ever.

ZX10R NIN said:

Grand Cherokee SRT

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

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

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

Cayenne GTS

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

No and many times no!

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Monday 11th November 2019

So OP, what cars have you seen yourself that you like the look of?

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

kieranblenk said:

Would a 330i/335i do the job? Or if that's not big enough a 5 series?

I think a 3-series should be plenty, for context our other car is a Mondeo Estate which is the "workhorse" for long trips, holidays etc. So as long as there is plenty of space *in* the car, a small boot isn't a problem. Also nearly impossible to find a decent manual 5-series with a decent petrol, you can't get any manuals now and they were vanishingly rare before then.

I mean we did manage to fit all 4 into a 2019 Fiesta once (and for that matter a 2019 Mustang convertable)...but wouldn't want to do so on a daily basis, much though a Fiesta ST would be an utter hoot.

kieranblenk said:

Other options I can think;

Octavia VRS
Focus ST Estate
Volvo S60 T5

Too slow. Also the Focus and Octavia are FWD and she'd want the Focus Mk3 RS (which is a bit too pricey still). Oh and the Volvo is too dull.

kieranblenk

865 posts

163 months

Monday 11th November 2019

I've just thought of the 428i GranCoupe too, 6.1 to 60 and 245bhp so only slightly behind the MPS. Big liftback boot and bit different to a 3 series.

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

DoubleD said:

What have you seen so far that you like?

DoubleD said:

So OP, what cars have you seen yourself that you like the look of?

Patience! Shouting at children to go the f

k to sleep while attempting to reply and do other stuff as well.

Well for context her "don't have to worry about practicality, economy, ruining costs etc" car would be an RX-7...

On the more mundane side of having to think about practicality to do the school run, commute into the city centre etc etc and so 4-door saloons and the like, well lots of things that have been discounted for "reasons".

For example if based on looks

Alfa Romeo Giulia (but auto only and too new)
Alfa Romeo 159 (Q4 would be awesome...but it's an old Alfa, it'll go horribly wrong).
New Mazda 6 (but too slow as well as FWD only)

Anyway, current list of contenders is

Golf R (manual so <2018)
Audi S4 (B8 manual so <2012)
BMW 3-Series (F30)
BMW 4-Series (F36)

It's all so depressingly German. rofl

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Monday 11th November 2019

kieranblenk said:

I've just thought of the 428i GranCoupe too, 6.1 to 60 and 245bhp so only slightly behind the MPS. Big liftback boot and bit different to a 3 series.

Great minds think alike...was literally just looking at them on autotrader. Although my wife said when I suggested it "do they do a bigger engine version" and "tbh a BMW should be the straight six else it ain't a proper bmw" smile

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

Fastdruid said:

Patience! Shouting at children to go the f

The Germans make some good cars. What about some sort of Jaaag?

Summit_Detailing

2,429 posts

222 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

DoubleD said:

The Germans make some good cars. What about some sort of Jaaag?

XFR is a great car, however its auto and rwd. paperbag

CrgT16

2,522 posts

137 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

It’s a tricky one OP as from your brief there isn’t a car that fits the bill.
Why the need for AWD? Do you live in the sticks or up a gravel track where AWD will help in forward motion?

You say car is mostly for the school run and commute to city centre so... why a sub 6 o-60? You will hardly use the performance at rush hour or speed past the school. I would look at something with more torque and auto. For everyday you can beat torque and auto for a comfortable ride.

A 3 series or 5 series will hardly long be interesting but it will be safe and secure. Maybe I should hand my PH card but to commute into a town centre and do the school run I don’t need AWD or a sub 6 car.

YOur wife seems to like fast cars does she drives with gusto or just has a lead foot? What I mean is does she uses all the rev range or changes gear early as most people do. My wife thought her Cooper S Works was slow until I showed her what happens when you use the engine as it was designed...above 3krpm to get all the power from it. She never went past 2-3k so it felt somewhat slow. Now on a diesel thinks it’s really fast!

Good look with your search but I would go VRX. Had a BMW 340i for 3 years and it was hardly interesting unless pushed and that was short bursts because in no time you could see 3 figures on the speedo. So couldn’t really explore it on a day to day commute. Downsize engine and much happier now.

StevieT735

103 posts

171 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

Accord EuroR? The Jap import one?

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

Such a shame she won't try an auto as this Polestar V60 would make an interesting daily.

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

Terzo123

4,727 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

I know you said no Subarus, but this looks great

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Or how about an Evo?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

vtecyo

2,122 posts

158 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

Legacy Spec B WR and some silver wheels.

Original Poster

9,360 posts

181 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019

CrgT16 said:

It’s a tricky one OP as from your brief there isn’t a car that fits the bill.
Why the need for AWD? Do you live in the sticks or up a gravel track where AWD will help in forward motion?

Preference from having it atm. She's driven a RWD before, used it all year round with summer tyres (including getting home in snow, albeit to our old house which wasn't so hilly). In retrospect should have got a set of winter wheels and tyres and would do that if we went for another RWD.

CrgT16 said:

You say car is mostly for the school run and commute to city centre so... why a sub 6 o-60? You will hardly use the performance at rush hour or speed past the school. I would look at something with more torque and auto. For everyday you can beat torque and auto for a comfortable ride.

The school run is a tiny bit of it. I suggested that with her mileage and usage an EV would be ideal, fast as f

k up to ~40, cost pennies, she parks on the drive so no problems charging etc. Went down like a lead balloon.

It should be noted as well that *because* she does the school run she is going into work later than everyone else and so past the worst of the traffic.

CrgT16 said:

A 3 series or 5 series will hardly long be interesting but it will be safe and secure. Maybe I should hand my PH card but to commute into a town centre and do the school run I don’t need AWD or a sub 6 car.

Absolutely should. Dominate the TLGP! rofl

CrgT16 said:

YOur wife seems to like fast cars does she drives with gusto or just has a lead foot? What I mean is does she uses all the rev range or changes gear early as most people do. My wife thought her Cooper S Works was slow until I showed her what happens when you use the engine as it was designed...above 3krpm to get all the power from it. She never went past 2-3k so it felt somewhat slow. Now on a diesel thinks it’s really fast!

She uses it all. Well, she's not one to bounce of the red line but has a history of riding bikes (and had an RX-8 before the MPS) so well used to keeping the revs up. I'd say she tends to actually drive one gear lower than I do.

CrgT16 said:

Good look with your search but I would go VRX.

The only downside with the VRX8 is that it is really poor on fuel, even worse than the RX-8! The MPS claimed is 20 and she gets 18 so on the same basis would expect about 11 out of the VXR8! OTOH it *is* a big V8 and even if for a short ownership would scratch that V8 itch.

CrgT16 said:

Had a BMW 340i for 3 years and it was hardly interesting unless pushed and that was short bursts because in no time you could see 3 figures on the speedo. So couldn’t really explore it on a day to day commute. Downsize engine and much happier now.

It's a very valid point, as I said she tried the S4 and was disappointed because while having ~100hp more than the MPS it didn't *feel* like it did, the slight lag of the MPS as the turbo spools makes it feel quick. A bit like a diesel except without the chronic lack of rev range.

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