I'm bored....let's play a game!
Discussion
Alright, I'm not THAT bored, but I seem to be endlessly looking at cars on Autotrader with no real answer. Now, I am one of these people who don't keep their car that long, and I'm always looking for "the next one" as I'm sure a lot of you do too, but perhaps this time I might need some guidance. Quick car history includes 2 x R53 Minis (Cooper & Cooper S Cab), BMW Z3M, BMW Z4 3.0i, Porsche 968 Sport, Seat Leon Cupra R, Saab 93 Aero Cab, Volvo C30 T5 and now an Abarth 500. This has been my lot since 2004 (won't bore you with before that). The Minis I kept for 3 year each, and the Volvo I had for 2, but generally I keep a car for about a year.
Just about a year ago I started my own company and work from home, so no day-to-day commuting was required anymore. I sold the C30 and bought a used Abarth 500 so that I could bring my costs right down to channel funds into the business. My mileage has halved, and my partner has a nearly new Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I thought I'd just buy a little runabout, hence the Abarth. We would use the Jeep for big journeys. However.....
I'm finding the Abarth a bit too small, and I am travelling to Scotland on my own to visit my mum who hasn't been very well this year, and don't want to stack the miles on the Jeep and kill its value, so I'm thinking of a new car (again!).
My O/H (The Committee) has decreed that its time I bought another "keeper" but won't let me spend any more money than I get for the Abarth in a private sale (advertised at £6,500, so just over £6k is my realistic budget) and it needs to be cheap to tax (less than £180 p/a), reasonably cheap to run, have 4 seats, capable of a long journey, but more importantly, a good steer for me. So far, I have the following on a shortlist:
Seat Ibiza Cupra/Bocanegra 1.4TSI - worried about engine woes
Skoda Fabia vRS - As above
Golf 1.4GT DSG - You can see where this is going
BMW 120d Coupe - Ah, more like it, but maybe a bit boring?
And thats it really. I tried to go older and faster, but she has turned down the Legacy Estate Spec-B/GT Twin scroll, not fussed about the Alfa 159 2.2, and anything else I really want (Saab 93 Turbo X) is £500 p/a to tax and there is no way I'll get that past The Committee. I would look at another Mini (R56 Cooper S), but I feel its not really much bigger than the Abarth, and therefore doesn't justify the change. Although its my car, The Committee will also have to drive it, and while she likes the performance of the Abarth, the driving position is woeful for her.
So chaps, am I missing something? Is there a car that isn't on my wee list that should be? Not interested in funding, so no suggestions of Golf R leasing or such, I just want to place cash on the table and own the car.
Over to you......
Just about a year ago I started my own company and work from home, so no day-to-day commuting was required anymore. I sold the C30 and bought a used Abarth 500 so that I could bring my costs right down to channel funds into the business. My mileage has halved, and my partner has a nearly new Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I thought I'd just buy a little runabout, hence the Abarth. We would use the Jeep for big journeys. However.....
I'm finding the Abarth a bit too small, and I am travelling to Scotland on my own to visit my mum who hasn't been very well this year, and don't want to stack the miles on the Jeep and kill its value, so I'm thinking of a new car (again!).
My O/H (The Committee) has decreed that its time I bought another "keeper" but won't let me spend any more money than I get for the Abarth in a private sale (advertised at £6,500, so just over £6k is my realistic budget) and it needs to be cheap to tax (less than £180 p/a), reasonably cheap to run, have 4 seats, capable of a long journey, but more importantly, a good steer for me. So far, I have the following on a shortlist:
Seat Ibiza Cupra/Bocanegra 1.4TSI - worried about engine woes
Skoda Fabia vRS - As above
Golf 1.4GT DSG - You can see where this is going
BMW 120d Coupe - Ah, more like it, but maybe a bit boring?
And thats it really. I tried to go older and faster, but she has turned down the Legacy Estate Spec-B/GT Twin scroll, not fussed about the Alfa 159 2.2, and anything else I really want (Saab 93 Turbo X) is £500 p/a to tax and there is no way I'll get that past The Committee. I would look at another Mini (R56 Cooper S), but I feel its not really much bigger than the Abarth, and therefore doesn't justify the change. Although its my car, The Committee will also have to drive it, and while she likes the performance of the Abarth, the driving position is woeful for her.
So chaps, am I missing something? Is there a car that isn't on my wee list that should be? Not interested in funding, so no suggestions of Golf R leasing or such, I just want to place cash on the table and own the car.
Over to you......
CivBrum said:
Saab 9-3 1.9 Turbo is £150 to tax according to AutoTrader?
Yes, but that's a diesel and the 93 Turbo X is the 2.8V6 with 280bhp. THAT'S the one I want, and thats the one that is £500 p/a on tax. And it still depreciates like a Saab......Oh, and ideally whatever car should be able to fit my bike in the back, or on a set of roof bars. The Abarth is a struggle.
As you were....
MrB. said:
CivBrum said:
Saab 9-3 1.9 Turbo is £150 to tax according to AutoTrader?
Yes, but that's a diesel and the 93 Turbo X is the 2.8V6 with 280bhp. THAT'S the one I want, and thats the one that is £500 p/a on tax. And it still depreciates like a Saab......Oh, and ideally whatever car should be able to fit my bike in the back, or on a set of roof bars. The Abarth is a struggle.
As you were....
You could get in a Civic Type R for 6.5k - though not sure if you like the boy racer styling. Bike would go in the back though.
My BIL has a Cvic 1.8, and I do like it. The issue with the Type R is the higher RFL again and the "image" (please no one take offence as I like them, its just The Committee may have to do client visits in my car if I have the Jeep, and that would rule out anything too obvious. She won't take the Abarth if she has to as its white with red graphics)
Does anyone have positive tales with the 1.4 VAG twin charger engine? Are they as bad as everyone says? Golf MK6 1.4GT is looking like a nice car for me.
Does anyone have positive tales with the 1.4 VAG twin charger engine? Are they as bad as everyone says? Golf MK6 1.4GT is looking like a nice car for me.
MrB. said:
My BIL has a Cvic 1.8, and I do like it. The issue with the Type R is the higher RFL again and the "image" (please no one take offence as I like them, its just The Committee may have to do client visits in my car if I have the Jeep, and that would rule out anything too obvious. She won't take the Abarth if she has to as its white with red graphics)
Does anyone have positive tales with the 1.4 VAG twin charger engine? Are they as bad as everyone says? Golf MK6 1.4GT is looking like a nice car for me.
The Civic 1.8 is a good car (I have one), quite nice to drive enthusiastically, but lacking a bit of grunt, and steering feel is lacking. I agree entirely that the Type R tends to be driven by chavs (though I still want one, and I am not a chav!), though perhaps getting one in black or white would be less conspicuous than Milano Red! 305pcm for the tax though. Does anyone have positive tales with the 1.4 VAG twin charger engine? Are they as bad as everyone says? Golf MK6 1.4GT is looking like a nice car for me.
The twin charged 1.4 engines are horrible things! Sure they drive great when they're running well especially in 170bhp guise but even that feels like it isn't enough in the heavier Golf. The engines really are as bad as you have read about, it isn't just one of those things that seem worse because the Internet has hyped it up. We have replaced several of them with brand new units in cars with as low as 30k miles. Stay away at all costs, get yourself a nice mk5 Golf GTi, put up with the slightly higher tax and drive it knowing that an entire engine replacement isn't one of the things you will have to budget for.
MrB. said:
Alright, I'm not THAT bored, but I seem to be endlessly looking at cars on Autotrader with no real answer. Now, I am one of these people who don't keep their car that long, and I'm always looking for "the next one" as I'm sure a lot of you do too, but perhaps this time I might need some guidance. Quick car history includes 2 x R53 Minis (Cooper & Cooper S Cab), BMW Z3M, BMW Z4 3.0i, Porsche 968 Sport, Seat Leon Cupra R, Saab 93 Aero Cab, Volvo C30 T5 and now an Abarth 500. This has been my lot since 2004 (won't bore you with before that). The Minis I kept for 3 year each, and the Volvo I had for 2, but generally I keep a car for about a year.
Just about a year ago I started my own company and work from home, so no day-to-day commuting was required anymore. I sold the C30 and bought a used Abarth 500 so that I could bring my costs right down to channel funds into the business. My mileage has halved, and my partner has a nearly new Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I thought I'd just buy a little runabout, hence the Abarth. We would use the Jeep for big journeys. However.....
I'm finding the Abarth a bit too small, and I am travelling to Scotland on my own to visit my mum who hasn't been very well this year, and don't want to stack the miles on the Jeep and kill its value, so I'm thinking of a new car (again!).
My O/H (The Committee) has decreed that its time I bought another "keeper" but won't let me spend any more money than I get for the Abarth in a private sale (advertised at £6,500, so just over £6k is my realistic budget) and it needs to be cheap to tax (less than £180 p/a), reasonably cheap to run, have 4 seats, capable of a long journey, but more importantly, a good steer for me. So far, I have the following on a shortlist:
Seat Ibiza Cupra/Bocanegra 1.4TSI - worried about engine woes
Skoda Fabia vRS - As above
Golf 1.4GT DSG - You can see where this is going
BMW 120d Coupe - Ah, more like it, but maybe a bit boring?
And thats it really. I tried to go older and faster, but she has turned down the Legacy Estate Spec-B/GT Twin scroll, not fussed about the Alfa 159 2.2, and anything else I really want (Saab 93 Turbo X) is £500 p/a to tax and there is no way I'll get that past The Committee. I would look at another Mini (R56 Cooper S), but I feel its not really much bigger than the Abarth, and therefore doesn't justify the change. Although its my car, The Committee will also have to drive it, and while she likes the performance of the Abarth, the driving position is woeful for her.
So chaps, am I missing something? Is there a car that isn't on my wee list that should be? Not interested in funding, so no suggestions of Golf R leasing or such, I just want to place cash on the table and own the car.
Over to you......
All I can say is you need to change the make up of your committee and buy what you want not what you are told/allowed to buy, and let the committee get on with driving her nearly new Jeep Just about a year ago I started my own company and work from home, so no day-to-day commuting was required anymore. I sold the C30 and bought a used Abarth 500 so that I could bring my costs right down to channel funds into the business. My mileage has halved, and my partner has a nearly new Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I thought I'd just buy a little runabout, hence the Abarth. We would use the Jeep for big journeys. However.....
I'm finding the Abarth a bit too small, and I am travelling to Scotland on my own to visit my mum who hasn't been very well this year, and don't want to stack the miles on the Jeep and kill its value, so I'm thinking of a new car (again!).
My O/H (The Committee) has decreed that its time I bought another "keeper" but won't let me spend any more money than I get for the Abarth in a private sale (advertised at £6,500, so just over £6k is my realistic budget) and it needs to be cheap to tax (less than £180 p/a), reasonably cheap to run, have 4 seats, capable of a long journey, but more importantly, a good steer for me. So far, I have the following on a shortlist:
Seat Ibiza Cupra/Bocanegra 1.4TSI - worried about engine woes
Skoda Fabia vRS - As above
Golf 1.4GT DSG - You can see where this is going
BMW 120d Coupe - Ah, more like it, but maybe a bit boring?
And thats it really. I tried to go older and faster, but she has turned down the Legacy Estate Spec-B/GT Twin scroll, not fussed about the Alfa 159 2.2, and anything else I really want (Saab 93 Turbo X) is £500 p/a to tax and there is no way I'll get that past The Committee. I would look at another Mini (R56 Cooper S), but I feel its not really much bigger than the Abarth, and therefore doesn't justify the change. Although its my car, The Committee will also have to drive it, and while she likes the performance of the Abarth, the driving position is woeful for her.
So chaps, am I missing something? Is there a car that isn't on my wee list that should be? Not interested in funding, so no suggestions of Golf R leasing or such, I just want to place cash on the table and own the car.
Over to you......
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff