I just don't know which way to go with my next car
Discussion
I've been thinking about this for a while now and I'm still not quite sure, please give me your thoughts!
Things I want are:
A 0-62 time that's as quick as, or ideally quicker than my current 8.7
Permanent 4WD
Nothing too enormous as I do a lot of city driving
Up to £10k but ideally less
Need to buy trade as I have a car to trade in
I have been over the following options:
Impreza 06/07 year - I can't really find anything wrong with these and the prices are tempting, but there's just something missing
Mk5 R32 - I have wanted one of these for years but they're still expensive and I've been reading bad things about them recently
Alfa Brera Q4 - gorgeous looking car, but would it be mad to buy one and expect it to work all the time?
Audi A3 Quattro or S3 - A3 would have cheaper tax which is a positive
Are there any obvious options I've missed?
Things I want are:
A 0-62 time that's as quick as, or ideally quicker than my current 8.7
Permanent 4WD
Nothing too enormous as I do a lot of city driving
Up to £10k but ideally less
Need to buy trade as I have a car to trade in
I have been over the following options:
Impreza 06/07 year - I can't really find anything wrong with these and the prices are tempting, but there's just something missing
Mk5 R32 - I have wanted one of these for years but they're still expensive and I've been reading bad things about them recently
Alfa Brera Q4 - gorgeous looking car, but would it be mad to buy one and expect it to work all the time?
Audi A3 Quattro or S3 - A3 would have cheaper tax which is a positive
Are there any obvious options I've missed?
We have an A3 2.0T Quattro! It has been an excellent car. It isnt the most exciting car to drive but the grip is excellent and is a pretty rapid x-country car. It is very nice inside and has been very reliable!
The Audi haters will be along however to tell you all Audis are rubbish and look the same!
The Audi haters will be along however to tell you all Audis are rubbish and look the same!
Note sure I grasp the need for 4WD in the city when you don't mention any SUV types. I would ignore the Brera - it doesn;t drive nearly as well as it looks like it should. And the tax is £450+. Have you considered:
Audi TT quattro? (please ignore the bias)
Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B (the gentlemen's Impreza, the 3.0 engine is superb)
Volvo S60R/V70R
Mazda 6 MPS
Audi TT quattro? (please ignore the bias)
Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B (the gentlemen's Impreza, the 3.0 engine is superb)
Volvo S60R/V70R
Mazda 6 MPS
RenesisEvo said:
Note sure I grasp the need for 4WD in the city when you don't mention any SUV types. I would ignore the Brera - it doesn;t drive nearly as well as it looks like it should. And the tax is £450+. Have you considered:
Audi TT quattro? (please ignore the bias)
Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B (the gentlemen's Impreza, the 3.0 engine is superb)
Volvo S60R/V70R
Mazda 6 MPS
It's not something I would have thought of a few years ago, but I've spent the past 4 winters now having uneasy drives to work and having driven the OH's 4WD it was so much more reassuring.Audi TT quattro? (please ignore the bias)
Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B (the gentlemen's Impreza, the 3.0 engine is superb)
Volvo S60R/V70R
Mazda 6 MPS
I know the tax is astronomical on the Brera, so disappointing.
I will research all the others you've mentioned thank you.
Victoria VW said:
It's not something I would have thought of a few years ago, but I've spent the past 4 winters now having uneasy drives to work and having driven the OH's 4WD it was so much more reassuring.
I know the tax is astronomical on the Brera, so disappointing.
I will research all the others you've mentioned thank you.
What car does the OH have?I know the tax is astronomical on the Brera, so disappointing.
I will research all the others you've mentioned thank you.
I have to smile at that. I was considering one of those a while ago as they petrol ones are within my price range. However when the Disco had to go, that's what he replaced it with and he doesn't like it at all. It's not permanent 4WD either and definitely doesn't feel as planted as the Land Rover did.
Victoria VW said:
Prof Prolapse said:
Well on that list there's only 2 full time AWD vehicles IIRC...
I'd not bother with full time AWD myself. Will open up far more cars. You're in Yorkshire not Siberia.
Really, which?I'd not bother with full time AWD myself. Will open up far more cars. You're in Yorkshire not Siberia.
As mentioned above the others use the VAG (Volkwagon Audi Group) Haldex system. Again, IIRC, it splits the torque 90:10 front to rear. It will, or course, move this bias if things get slippery.
If you're set on AWD, as a left field choice I'd suggest an X-type. 2.5 v6 and 3 v6 came with AWD as standard I believe. People's ignorance about calling them "Mondeos" has kept the prices very reasonable as well.
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Wednesday 20th June 13:49
Victoria VW said:
I have to smile at that. I was considering one of those a while ago as they petrol ones are within my price range. However when the Disco had to go, that's what he replaced it with and he doesn't like it at all. It's not permanent 4WD either and definitely doesn't feel as planted as the Land Rover did.
Definately not as good in the rough as a landrover, but I though it was an excellent car to drive and felt more hot hatch than SUV which is why I suggested it!Have you considered an Audi RS2
Victoria VW said:
I've been thinking about this for a while now and I'm still not quite sure, please give me your thoughts!
Things I want are:
A 0-62 time that's as quick as, or ideally quicker than my current 8.7
Permanent 4WD
Nothing too enormous as I do a lot of city driving
Up to £10k but ideally less
Need to buy trade as I have a car to trade in
I have been over the following options:
Impreza 06/07 year - I can't really find anything wrong with these and the prices are tempting, but there's just something missing
Mk5 R32 - I have wanted one of these for years but they're still expensive and I've been reading bad things about them recently
Alfa Brera Q4 - gorgeous looking car, but would it be mad to buy one and expect it to work all the time?
Audi A3 Quattro or S3 - A3 would have cheaper tax which is a positive
Are there any obvious options I've missed?
Hi Victoria. I guess a question is why AWD and what will you use it for. As pointed out by another poster the A3 isn't permanent AWD. It's fwd until it needs AWD. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does alter the dynamic of the vehicle.Things I want are:
A 0-62 time that's as quick as, or ideally quicker than my current 8.7
Permanent 4WD
Nothing too enormous as I do a lot of city driving
Up to £10k but ideally less
Need to buy trade as I have a car to trade in
I have been over the following options:
Impreza 06/07 year - I can't really find anything wrong with these and the prices are tempting, but there's just something missing
Mk5 R32 - I have wanted one of these for years but they're still expensive and I've been reading bad things about them recently
Alfa Brera Q4 - gorgeous looking car, but would it be mad to buy one and expect it to work all the time?
Audi A3 Quattro or S3 - A3 would have cheaper tax which is a positive
Are there any obvious options I've missed?
On the whole I think you've got most of them covered.
You shouldn't have to buy trade. You can sell you car privately, sell it to a trader or put it in the auctions.
A leftfield option and more to demonstrate there are options. A Freelander 2 3.2 straight six would pretty much meet your requirements. Ok it's a little longer. But 8.6sec to 60mph.
Prof Prolapse said:
Impreza and Alfa.
As mentioned above the others use the VAG (Volkwagon Audi Group) Haldex system. Again, IIRC, it splits the torque 90:10 front to rear. It will, or course, move this bias if things get slippery.
If you're set on AWD, as a left field choice I'd suggest an X-type. 2.5 v6 and 3 v6 came with AWD as standard I believe. People's ignorance about calling them "Mondeo's" has kept the prices very reasonable as well.
I'm ashamed to admit that the VAG info is news to me. So most of the time it's as a front wheel drive and only switches if you lose grip?As mentioned above the others use the VAG (Volkwagon Audi Group) Haldex system. Again, IIRC, it splits the torque 90:10 front to rear. It will, or course, move this bias if things get slippery.
If you're set on AWD, as a left field choice I'd suggest an X-type. 2.5 v6 and 3 v6 came with AWD as standard I believe. People's ignorance about calling them "Mondeo's" has kept the prices very reasonable as well.
X-type is probably a bit on the big side to be honest.
MonkeyMatt said:
Definately not as good in the rough as a landrover, but I though it was an excellent car to drive and felt more hot hatch than SUV which is why I suggested it!
Have you considered an Audi RS2
It is a very nice car and looks great too. It's at the edge of my options still.Have you considered an Audi RS2
I forgot to say, needs to be newer than '04 too
300bhp/ton said:
Hi Victoria. I guess a question is why AWD and what will you use it for. As pointed out by another poster the A3 isn't permanent AWD. It's fwd until it needs AWD. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does alter the dynamic of the vehicle.
On the whole I think you've got most of them covered.
You shouldn't have to buy trade. You can sell you car privately, sell it to a trader or put it in the auctions.
A leftfield option and more to demonstrate there are options. A Freelander 2 3.2 straight six would pretty much meet your requirements. Ok it's a little longer. But 8.6sec to 60mph.
I have looked at Freelander 2s as I do like them, they were all outside my price range unfortunatelyOn the whole I think you've got most of them covered.
You shouldn't have to buy trade. You can sell you car privately, sell it to a trader or put it in the auctions.
A leftfield option and more to demonstrate there are options. A Freelander 2 3.2 straight six would pretty much meet your requirements. Ok it's a little longer. But 8.6sec to 60mph.
doogz said:
Are modern Haldex systems actually FWD til they detect slip?
Another user has just mentioned they're a 90/10 split, I thought the more modern versions were not quite, but much nearer 50/50? They're a much better system than they used to be.
Entirely dependant on what revision...Another user has just mentioned they're a 90/10 split, I thought the more modern versions were not quite, but much nearer 50/50? They're a much better system than they used to be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldex_Traction
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