Helping badge snob look for 5k car. - Page 1 - Car Buying

Red Sleeper

Original Poster

377 posts

133 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

This is a tricky one for me. I like good looking cars as we all do, but I always try and get good value above most things when I'm looking for a car.

I'm helping someone out looking for a car who is a bit of a badge snob. I haven't got a problem with that but at their budget and for their usage, I'd usually recommend something totally different to what they want, so thought I'd ask the PH masses for help.

Budget up to 5k but can be pushed a bit if it's likely to reliably last over 4 years.

Criteria:

40+ mpg possible on a run, preferably 50
Nippy, preferably above 150 bhp
Must look good, subjective I know, but it's for a lad who's mid 20s and Image conscious
Reliable enough
Likely to last 2 or 3 years if well maintained as some of the money for purchase will potentially be borrowed (if they could get away with a smaller budget even better...)
Comfortable enough for 20k miles a year, and low enough mileage to be able to pile this on
Reasonable stereo although will retrofit if necessary
Maybe look a bit better than the budget suggests it should
Auto preffered but not essential and FWD preffered but beggars can't be choosers which is why a lot of compromises will probably need to be made in this extensive list LOL!

My thoughts so far have been (please tell me if any of these are crap for any reason and avoid...)

Merc C Class diesel with AMG pack
Honda Civic 2.2 with the type R kit on (type S?)
MK5 or 6 Golf in a good colour maybe GT
Audi A5 2.0 TDI
Volvo C30 R design
Skoda Octavia VRS TDI
Audi TT 2.0 TDI
BMW 120d coupe (timing chain issues?)
Astra GTC diesel

Any good options I've missed?

bigandclever

14,328 posts

266 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

Well... what badge do they want?

croissant

1,262 posts

166 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

Scirocco diesel

Drezza

1,471 posts

82 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

I've always thought Audis aged well, I'd get a A3, like this...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A3-2-0-tdi-se-grey...

Raymond Reddington

3,025 posts

138 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

Red Sleeper said:

Astra GTC diesel

The interior is quite boring, and not sure how acceptable the badge is, but good looking cars.

I have an Astra J (same but 5 door) with the 1.7 diesel lump and its been incredibly reliable. I've abused it for 30,000 miles from 89k and all ive done is service it, no issues to report. I'd imagine it would be quite nippy with the 2.0. You'll likely get a lower mileage one of these Vs. Audi etc at this price.

Also look at the Seat Leon with the 1.9 TDi.

ZX10R NIN

30,484 posts

153 months

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Thursday 10th December 2020

redchris

35 posts

123 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Apologies for the thread hijack but this has piqued my interest.

What’s the reliability like on the Alpha? I’ve always liked them and remember them driving well when I had them as hire cars a few times years ago.

scot_aln

739 posts

227 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

Views on this forum seem to be positive however not the case over here

https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/common-problems....

nunpuncher

3,763 posts

153 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

A badge snob who'd be happy with an Astra!

I'm calling troll on this one.

redchris

35 posts

123 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

scot_aln said:

Views on this forum seem to be positive however not the case over here

https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/common-problems....

Thanks. Think I’ll steer clear!

bigandclever

14,328 posts

266 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

nunpuncher said:

A badge snob who'd be happy with an Astra!

I'm calling troll on this one.

Troll might be harsh, but yeah, from the list of 12 ‘requirements’, pick six laugh

ZX10R NIN

30,484 posts

153 months

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Friday 11th December 2020

redchris said:

Apologies for the thread hijack but this has piqued my interest.

What’s the reliability like on the Alpha? I’ve always liked them and remember them driving well when I had them as hire cars a few times years ago.

The reliability is actually good, the main dealers on the other hand can be shocking for the simplest issues. but the cars themselves are good.

LayZ

1,823 posts

270 months

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Saturday 12th December 2020

+1 for CLK 320 CDI sport. Nice condition ones still look all the money, and are a way better design than the current car. With a remap they go from brisk to rapid, 270-280PS.