What options are you considering for your next car purchase?
Discussion
Just for interest or perhaps sharing of experience, what vehicles are you considering as your next car purchase (be it a replacement or additional vehicle). Perhaps if it is a replacement vehicle, it might be useful to say what you like about your current vehicle and others can share their experience of those vehicles or suggest viable alternatives.
I'll start. I currently have a Subaru Impreza WRX Estate (2004). I like it for its performance, handling, comfort, 4WD traction and it has been fairly reliable. However, I have a 6 week old daughter and the boot is a bit too small (when we go away, her stuff pretty much fills the boot which means our stuff has to go on the back seat or wherever) which is my main problem. It is also quite thirsty, has quite a cheap interior and not many toys to play with.
I'm thinking about a slighltly larger estate or small SUV (although a Freelander td4 is the only small SUV that has an acceptable image for me)! Not biased towards petrol/diesel or manual/automatic transmission but don't want to go older or higher miles (80k). Budget £10k.
My sensible choices would be:
Freelander td4
Subaru Legacy diesel
Honda Accord diesel tourer
BMW 330d Touring (E46)
VW Passat B5 TDI 130
Less sensible:
Alfa Romeo 159 JTD Sportwagon (preferably the 2.4)
BMW 330i Touring (E46)
Saab 9-5 Aero Estate
Subaru Legacy 3.0R (not sure if this is the same as a Spec B or different?)
Subaru Forester Turbo
What vehicles are you considering for your next purchase and any thoughts on the merits/suitability of my options?
I'll start. I currently have a Subaru Impreza WRX Estate (2004). I like it for its performance, handling, comfort, 4WD traction and it has been fairly reliable. However, I have a 6 week old daughter and the boot is a bit too small (when we go away, her stuff pretty much fills the boot which means our stuff has to go on the back seat or wherever) which is my main problem. It is also quite thirsty, has quite a cheap interior and not many toys to play with.
I'm thinking about a slighltly larger estate or small SUV (although a Freelander td4 is the only small SUV that has an acceptable image for me)! Not biased towards petrol/diesel or manual/automatic transmission but don't want to go older or higher miles (80k). Budget £10k.
My sensible choices would be:
Freelander td4
Subaru Legacy diesel
Honda Accord diesel tourer
BMW 330d Touring (E46)
VW Passat B5 TDI 130
Less sensible:
Alfa Romeo 159 JTD Sportwagon (preferably the 2.4)
BMW 330i Touring (E46)
Saab 9-5 Aero Estate
Subaru Legacy 3.0R (not sure if this is the same as a Spec B or different?)
Subaru Forester Turbo
What vehicles are you considering for your next purchase and any thoughts on the merits/suitability of my options?
Your silly list looks good, I'd probably go for the Saab for comfort, Spec.B for crazy. 
With an S2 106 Rallye at the moment my next addition to the garage (the 106 is staying come hell or high water now, it's totally ingrained itself) will be a smoker barge for comfortable miles.
My list is:
E38 728i
X30x XJ6
Volvo S80
With an S2 106 Rallye at the moment my next addition to the garage (the 106 is staying come hell or high water now, it's totally ingrained itself) will be a smoker barge for comfortable miles.
My list is:
E38 728i
X30x XJ6
Volvo S80
I've an e46 325 saloon, and am considering some of the same options as you list, for similar reasons (though we've just about managed luggage-wise with our two year old so far).
I'm actually looking at the Subaru Outback rather than the Legacy, simply as we often seem to end up driving down farm tracks, which isn't great in the quite low saloon with no suspension. Vs the 3.0R Outback, The Legacy Spec B is faster, but I think I'd like to try an auto more off-road-biased car next.
Either that or I'll convince myself that I need an Alpina B3 version of mine, sod the luggage and clearance.
As for suitability; I'm led to believe the Legacy has a larger luggage space than the Forester, and it is more easily accessible. If that is important. The e46 would be the obvious choice if the mpg to power ratio is an issue (in either sensible or less sensible lists).
I'm actually looking at the Subaru Outback rather than the Legacy, simply as we often seem to end up driving down farm tracks, which isn't great in the quite low saloon with no suspension. Vs the 3.0R Outback, The Legacy Spec B is faster, but I think I'd like to try an auto more off-road-biased car next.
Either that or I'll convince myself that I need an Alpina B3 version of mine, sod the luggage and clearance.
As for suitability; I'm led to believe the Legacy has a larger luggage space than the Forester, and it is more easily accessible. If that is important. The e46 would be the obvious choice if the mpg to power ratio is an issue (in either sensible or less sensible lists).
Love the lists! I am picking up a 1 owner Volvo S80 later today as the weekday barge. Full service history over the past 10 years, a years MoT, 2 months tax and cost me less than I paid a few years ago for a mountain bike.
Now there are a couple of VW Passat W8s around at the moment ............
Now there are a couple of VW Passat W8s around at the moment ............
I have a 997.1 GT3 as a second car.
I'm eyeing up one of these as a replacement:
997.2 GT3
997.2 GT3 RS
997.2 GT2
Ferrari F430 Scud
I am leaning towards the 997 GT2. Won't do it till 2013 earliest. And it's all dependant on what I can find, previous owner is very important on these cars. If I find a perfect GT3 RS, colour/spec/history/owner then it would be hard to say no.
what would you lot do?
I'm eyeing up one of these as a replacement:
997.2 GT3
997.2 GT3 RS
997.2 GT2
Ferrari F430 Scud
I am leaning towards the 997 GT2. Won't do it till 2013 earliest. And it's all dependant on what I can find, previous owner is very important on these cars. If I find a perfect GT3 RS, colour/spec/history/owner then it would be hard to say no.
what would you lot do?
I had a wrx wagon and now use an e46 325i touring. Differences:
BMW is not as comfy (sports seats but not as comfortable as scooby seats or as compliant with the 17 wheels and suspension)
BMW averages 38mpg opposed to 28 mpg of scooby
BMW is more playful and fun to chuck around whereas 4wd scooby was very sure footed
Toys - no difference other than cruise control
Space - my greyhound goes in the boot - the boot in the bm is much taller but still not cavernous.
The comfiest estates I've driven are Volvo and Mercs. As a family wagon, I've driven and new zafira and s-max and they are both pretty good. A lot of these off roaders just seem to offer more ground clearance but the same or less internal space as an estate. Considering your budget, I reckon a passat would be a decent choice but I can't image it ever being fun.
For my next hack, I want more comfort! p.s. what about a Jag x-type estate - don't know what they do for. I'd also like a 5 series touring for additional space but they probably above budget
BMW is not as comfy (sports seats but not as comfortable as scooby seats or as compliant with the 17 wheels and suspension)
BMW averages 38mpg opposed to 28 mpg of scooby
BMW is more playful and fun to chuck around whereas 4wd scooby was very sure footed
Toys - no difference other than cruise control
Space - my greyhound goes in the boot - the boot in the bm is much taller but still not cavernous.
The comfiest estates I've driven are Volvo and Mercs. As a family wagon, I've driven and new zafira and s-max and they are both pretty good. A lot of these off roaders just seem to offer more ground clearance but the same or less internal space as an estate. Considering your budget, I reckon a passat would be a decent choice but I can't image it ever being fun.
For my next hack, I want more comfort! p.s. what about a Jag x-type estate - don't know what they do for. I'd also like a 5 series touring for additional space but they probably above budget
Moving to the US in the next month or so and will be in New England so need something that is ok with snow, looked around at 4x4 trucks and Subarus mainly. Could get a nice Legacy or even WRX Impreza... wait... for the same price of those I can get a V8 Dodge Challenger?
Arse
Arse
Edited by Carfiend on Wednesday 8th August 13:01
I'm considering swapping my CH6 Accord saloon for an estate with a big boot for the dog. I'm allergic to diesels and 2 seater sports cars so they don't get a look in.
My list consists of
Jaguar X-type 2.5/3.0 V6
Ford Mondeo ST220 Estate (I know, they're the same car)
Possibly another Honda Accord
VW Passat estate (I did like the look of that W8 feature car)
BMW 3 series touring.
I've not really thought about much else tbh.
My list consists of
Jaguar X-type 2.5/3.0 V6
Ford Mondeo ST220 Estate (I know, they're the same car)
Possibly another Honda Accord
VW Passat estate (I did like the look of that W8 feature car)
BMW 3 series touring.
I've not really thought about much else tbh.
I'm moving house this year and I have been informed by my lovely wife when we do I can purchase a new weekend toy 
My short list has come down to the following
S2000 (will be supercharged)
VX220 Turbo
BMW Z4MR
At the moment I am leaning towards the Honda as the running costs should be a lot less than the others and I can have some fun fitting a supercharger lol
My short list has come down to the following
S2000 (will be supercharged)
VX220 Turbo
BMW Z4MR
At the moment I am leaning towards the Honda as the running costs should be a lot less than the others and I can have some fun fitting a supercharger lol
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