My first "What car".
Discussion
Ola gents (and ladies), I've been looking for a new car for a while now and had all but settled on a 350z. I went to have a look at a few, test drove one and absolutely loved it, but I keep getting the nagging feeling that I'm going to regret only having 2 seats. I've no need to carry kids/dogs around etc but do often give lifts to the parents and obviously end up doing some of the driving when I'm out with friends. I've been looking at E46 330s and can't see much past them for a decent, quick and reliable coupe. So here I am, looking for a nice coupe that sits in budget and fits in with the few requirements I have from a car.
Needs to be a hardtop coupe.
Rear seats don't need to be huge, just enough to transport 1 or 2 people relatively short distances.
I do end up having to do the 140 mile commute to work now and then so something that can achieve c. 35 mpg would be good. (Anything 30+ I'd consider as I'm only getting 40 from the ST when driving like a corpse.)
Budget is around £10k.
Will only be doing around 6k miles a year and keeping it for a few years so I don't mind something with higher mileage as the low miles I'll be doing should work to even it out a bit.
Insurance isn't much of an issue aslong as the car isn't a Skyline/S2k/Impreza/Evo as they seem to draw a higher premium for me. A 350z was only £200 more than I pay for my ST with my current broker.
I'm not much of a badge snob so as long as it's a decent car so any recommendations are welcome!
Needs to be a hardtop coupe.
Rear seats don't need to be huge, just enough to transport 1 or 2 people relatively short distances.
I do end up having to do the 140 mile commute to work now and then so something that can achieve c. 35 mpg would be good. (Anything 30+ I'd consider as I'm only getting 40 from the ST when driving like a corpse.)
Budget is around £10k.
Will only be doing around 6k miles a year and keeping it for a few years so I don't mind something with higher mileage as the low miles I'll be doing should work to even it out a bit.
Insurance isn't much of an issue aslong as the car isn't a Skyline/S2k/Impreza/Evo as they seem to draw a higher premium for me. A 350z was only £200 more than I pay for my ST with my current broker.
I'm not much of a badge snob so as long as it's a decent car so any recommendations are welcome!
May struggle with 30mpg, but keep the spare grand for fuel
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3152686.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3152686.htm

I've a soft spot for these too, I guess reliability might be a downside, not sure how bulletproof they are...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3292780.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3292780.htm

To be fair it is hard to see past an E46 330ci with your requirements. The combination of handling, performance and crucially mpg is sadly unique! I say sadly because they're not perfect, and it'd be nice to have some choice at this very common price bracket.
The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
RobM77 said:
To be fair it is hard to see past an E46 330ci with your requirements. The combination of handling, performance and crucially mpg is sadly unique! I say sadly because they're not perfect, and it'd be nice to have some choice at this very common price bracket.
The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
I'd absolutely love an RX8. I've considered a cheap diesel snotter for the odd trip to work and when lifts are needed and an RX7/8 for more interesting drives.The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
ecommsmith said:
RobM77 said:
To be fair it is hard to see past an E46 330ci with your requirements. The combination of handling, performance and crucially mpg is sadly unique! I say sadly because they're not perfect, and it'd be nice to have some choice at this very common price bracket.
The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
I'd absolutely love an RX8. I've considered a cheap diesel snotter for the odd trip to work and when lifts are needed and an RX7/8 for more interesting drives.The RX8 is an obvious suggestion, but the mpg makes it a non-starter. The Mercedes CLK is another suggestion, but I fear the mpg for the equivalent performance to a 330ci wouldn't be very good.
Rich n Em said:
I wasn't aware these were in budget, but the performance figures aren't very convincing. Looks a bit slower than the ST, I'm looking to go the other way!http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3226614.htm
Isn't the Skyline 350gt just like a 350Z +2 - I might be wrong but I saw one on the motorway this morning and liked it....
Isn't the Skyline 350gt just like a 350Z +2 - I might be wrong but I saw one on the motorway this morning and liked it....
mattnunn said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3226614.htm
Isn't the Skyline 350gt just like a 350Z +2 - I might be wrong but I saw one on the motorway this morning and liked it....
Not sold on the looks! Had a look at those and the Inifiti equivalent.Isn't the Skyline 350gt just like a 350Z +2 - I might be wrong but I saw one on the motorway this morning and liked it....
ecommsmith said:
I wasn't aware these were in budget, but the performance figures aren't very convincing. Looks a bit slower than the ST, I'm looking to go the other way!
Get the 3.2 V6 with all the toys the, still in budgethttp://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3140270.htm

Rich n Em said:
Sadly at the expense of the MPG though! Parkers shows them at 25mpg average?Erm, you say you're wanting 35mpg, but you're looking at a 350z and an E46 330s. I've never even so much as sat in one, but I'll take a wild stab in the dark that you're going to need to be hyper mileing to get 35mpg from either of them, which would make having them a little point less.
Have you considered a nice 1.6 Focus?
Have you considered a nice 1.6 Focus?
Willy Nilly said:
Erm, you say you're wanting 35mpg, but you're looking at a 350z and an E46 330s. I've never even so much as sat in one, but I'll take a wild stab in the dark that you're going to need to be hyper mileing to get 35mpg from either of them, which would make having them a little point less.
Have you considered a nice 1.6 Focus?
Friend who has a 350z managed just under 35mpg on the same trip I make to work driving at around 60/65 which I don't mind doing the odd time I do have to drive.Have you considered a nice 1.6 Focus?
Any other time MPG isn't an issue, I just begrudge using £30 of fuel to get to work.
ecommsmith said:
Friend who has a 350z managed just under 35mpg on the same trip I make to work driving at around 60/65 which I don't mind doing the odd time I do have to drive.
Any other time MPG isn't an issue, I just begrudge using £30 of fuel to get to work.
They're 300hp. I can get my 90hp grocery getter down to 35mpg with some spirited driving. Any other time MPG isn't an issue, I just begrudge using £30 of fuel to get to work.
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