Changing the daily driver....

[heppers75]

So folks yes it is a what car and I am just after some alternatives and ideas...

In fairness the criteria is pretty broad.

Budget = £4k-£7k
Insurance = Not an issue
Practicality = No caterfields and preferably a 4 seater but hatch, saloon, coupe, convertible etc all open
Fuel Economy = Not an issue 22 mile round trip
Fun Factor = I have a nice cross country route with some good NSL single carriageway roads so something fun would be nice but a barge is not out of the question
Options Considered so far = S3, 7 Series (745), 5 series (545), M3, Monaro, Mazda 6 MPS, Alfa Brera Q4 3.2v6, Merc CL

So any thoughts and opinions folks gladly received.

Cheers,

Heppers

[RenesisEvo]

Blimey, I'm almost in exactly the same boat in terms of looking for a new car!

Might I add the Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B to your list?

[SD1992]

You could get a really nice E39 for that sort of money

[heppers75]

SD1992 said:

You could get a really nice E39 for that sort of money

I have been scanning, I would love a 540 with a manual box!

[Benbay001]

RenesisEvo said:

Blimey, I'm almost in exactly the same boat in terms of looking for a new car!

Might I add the Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B to your list?

I was looking at these, with quite serious intentions a couple weeks back (although now given up on them)
from what i read, they are great, reliable, slightly light steering (for a performance badged model), not many around. The main down side is the fuel consumption, expect no better than 20 mpg, from what i read.

[OperationAlfa]

I think the Brera will be just out of your price range.. Could get a GTA though!

[kambites]

RX8?

[heppers75]

OperationAlfa said:

I think the Brera will be just out of your price range.. Could get a GTA though!

Well this one is up not to far from me... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[SteveS Cup]

heppers75 said:

Well this one is up not to far from me... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

That is a bloody nice car for the money!!

Have you looked at the V8 S4's? They're coming down in price.

[Jw Vw]

E38 7-Series.

Cracking VFM at the moment.

[heppers75]

Jw Vw said:

E38 7-Series.

Cracking VFM at the moment.

They are and while I know it is all but impossible I would love a 740 with a manual box...

[heppers75]

Ok I need to be given several good reasons that this is not sat on my drive come next week!!!!

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

[300bhp/ton]

heppers75 said:

Ok I need to be given several good reasons that this is not sat on my drive come next week!!!!

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

It's ok, think I'd rather go RX-8 though for a cross country machine though.

[heppers75]

300bhp/ton said:

heppers75 said:

Ok I need to be given several good reasons that this is not sat on my drive come next week!!!!

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

It's ok, think I'd rather go RX-8 though for a cross country machine though.

So never driven one, honest appraisal how are they to drive? As I love the styling etc...

[RenesisEvo]

heppers75 said:

So never driven one, honest appraisal how are they to drive? As I love the styling etc...

Not driven one yet, but be very aware, they need particular attention with regards to servicing. Interior is nice though, if you can cope with the headroom.

[heppers75]

RenesisEvo said:

Not driven one yet, but be very aware, they need particular attention with regards to servicing. Interior is nice though, if you can cope with the headroom.

Well I am 5ft 11" so hopefully not a stretch! Servicing I can cope with... They do seem well equipped, would love an honest review tbh... Odd question, how are they in crap weather?

[RenesisEvo]

heppers75 said:

Well I am 5ft 11" so hopefully not a stretch! Servicing I can cope with... They do seem well equipped, would love an honest review tbh... Odd question, how are they in crap weather?

Can't comment on poor weather ability, if it's a manual at least you'll have a chance versus an auto 740. At 5 11 you should be fine headroom wise.

Plenty of good information about regarding the RX-8:

Particularly good - http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

HTH

Edited by RenesisEvo on Tuesday 11th October 11:26

[heppers75]

RenesisEvo said:

heppers75 said:

Well I am 5ft 11" so hopefully not a stretch! Servicing I can cope with... They do seem well equipped, would love an honest review tbh... Odd question, how are they in crap weather?

Can't comment on poor weather ability, if it's a manual at least you'll have a change versus an auto 740. At 5 11 you should be fine headroom wise.

Plenty of good information about regarding the RX-8:

Particularly good - http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

HTH

Thanks... Having a gander on AT now and there are some bargins to be had it would seem!

[Volvo360]

Alfa GT or Peugeot 407 Coupe.

[RenesisEvo]

heppers75 said:

Thanks... Having a gander on AT now and there are some bargins to be had it would seem!

They are cheap for a reason! Woeful fuel economy and plenty of bad ones to avoid.