Help needed please fellow PHers.. What car

[rama2009]

So, here's the deal. I'm a fussy and indecisive bloke who often buys things with my head rather than my heart.

I'm 30 with no kids and earn a decent salary, am used to well specced cars and currently drive a top of the range Volvo V50 SE Sport on an 06y plate. Lovely car, but boring me after a year and I want something new.

Here's the list of requirements:

£5-7.5k
Ins group 11-15
Diesel but more than 140PS
Sporty
Spacious-ish i.e not an MX5 / S2000

Drove an Alfa GT the other day and loved looking at but something didn't feel right.

What do we all think people?

[v8will]

320D? S60 D5?

[DLovett]

330D/E320CDI.

[rama2009]

Thanks both. 330d is top of the list. Must be a sport. Ideally a coupe but for my budget the mileage is 100k+.

Trying to avoid something too 'reppy' Told you I'm fussy!

[Spantney]

How about a Mondeo ST TDCI 155? Come in a stunning Performance Blue colour, 2.2litre diesel, very spacious, and if you've got 7.5k to play with then you should be able to pick up a decent spec one. I saw one on ebay for 7k not so long ago which had full leather recaros, sat nav built in and televisions in the back headrests. 320D would also be a good choice IMO. My girlfrends dad has one and I was surprised how rapid it actually is! Cheers, Tony

[VladD]

Jag S-Type 2.7 V6 Sport.

[rama2009]

VladD said:

Jag S-Type 2.7 V6 Sport.

Now that I like.

[DLovett]

Try an E320CDi before you make a decision.

[rama2009]

DLovett said:

Try an E320CDi before you make a decision.

What about a 530d Sport? Older E-class is a bit 'old man'!

[SteveS Cup]

Something that I've been looking at recently... Astra 888.

I know the Astra's get a very bad review on here but the 888 fettled one did quite well against the VXR on 5th Gear...

Never driven one though... I've liked the look of that Astra though since it came out! (Maybe I'm in the minority... I also like the 1 series!)

[Ozzie Osmond]

The answer is almost certainly an anagram of W B M

[GreatGranny]

rama2009 said:

Now that I like.

But its a petrol is it not?

[GreatGranny]

rama2009 said:

Thanks both. 330d is top of the list. Must be a sport. Ideally a coupe but for my budget the mileage is 100k+.

Trying to avoid something too 'reppy' Told you I'm fussy!

I must admit not many with less than 100k but they are there.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[RenesisEvo]

SteveS Cup said:

Something that I've been looking at recently... Astra 888.

I know the Astra's get a very bad review on here but the 888 fettled one did quite well against the VXR on 5th Gear...

But how does it compare to something that isn't an Astra?

My suggestion - Skoda Octavia vRS. Perhaps a bit too re-mobile?

[RobCrezz]

How many miles do you do? Maybe you could get a V8 Petrol for little bit cheaper and use the money on fuel

[BUG4LIFE]

What was wrong with the Alfa GT exactly?

[rama2009]

RenesisEvo said:

But how does it compare to something that isn't an Astra?

My suggestion - Skoda Octavia vRS. Perhaps a bit too re-mobile?

vRS is a good shout - stealthy and not too common. Reliable, cheap and nice to look at!

Shortlist is currently: 330d coupe, 320d coupe, Alfa 159, Golf GTI Mk IV (not a diesel but still pretty economical and reliable) Audi A4 2.5TDI, S-Type 2.7D Sport,

[rama2009]

BUG4LIFE said:

What was wrong with the Alfa GT exactly?

Didn't like the interior much and even though its sexy it would cause me no end of problems apparently

[clarkmagpie]

Along the Alfa theme...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3242174.htm

Gorgeous.

[300bhp/ton]

rama2009 said:

So, here's the deal. I'm a fussy and indecisive bloke who often buys things with my head rather than my heart.

I'm 30 with no kids and earn a decent salary, am used to well specced cars and currently drive a top of the range Volvo V50 SE Sport on an 06y plate. Lovely car, but boring me after a year and I want something new.

Here's the list of requirements:

£5-7.5k
Ins group 11-15
Diesel but more than 140PS
Sporty
Spacious-ish i.e not an MX5 / S2000

Drove an Alfa GT the other day and loved looking at but something didn't feel right.

What do we all think people?

TBH, with a list of requirements like that, I would think all of your available options will be boring.

If you want a fun car, don't restrict your choice so much.