Tormented what car thread.
Discussion
I have been trying to avoid starting a what car thread, but really I'm now annoying myself, so I'm hoping for some PH man encouragement.
I have upto £8k max to spend.
I live 8 urban miles from work.
I get a car allowance from work but I am treating this as part of my wage.
I get the std advisory company car rate for mileage, rates here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current....
Not sure how many work miles I'll be doing, as it's a new job, but guessing at 10-12k miles.
I want to make sure my fuel for work is covered by the mileage allowance - as I live quite close to work it seems a petrol car over 2l makes sense as long as it costs me under 26p a mile for petrol!
I need to be able to chuck 2 kids, one in a car seat, in it easily.
I thought an E62 BMW 325i coupe would be a good bet, but I really want sports seats, heated leather and sat nav, so out of budget unless I take a hit on spec or go for stupid mileage one.
A saloon 325i M-sport is getting close to budget, but no nav - unfortunately it's not something you can retrofit to a modern BMW.
I fancy a Quattro, probably an A3, maybe a tdi or a tfsi, but struggling to get excited. Even looked at mk1 TTs, which I've had before.
Considered a SEAT Leon FR tdi, but not sure.
I want any car to have a really good stereo/sat nav or allow me to upgrade the HU - BMW not good for that, others I can do.
After 6 weeks of autotradering etc, I've not even gone to look at any cars, yet I'm going to look at a black mk5 golf gti tomorrow, which is silly as over the last 5 years, between other cars, I've owned 2 black mk5 golf Gtis....
Any alternatives to suggest? I don't mind something a bit different, I've owned lots of cars over the years.
ETA, I considered leasing a golf gtd for 2 years at £257 for 6+23, 10k miles, but as I don't really know how many miles I'm a bit weary.
ETA if I had £15k I'd buy a 996.
I have upto £8k max to spend.
I live 8 urban miles from work.
I get a car allowance from work but I am treating this as part of my wage.
I get the std advisory company car rate for mileage, rates here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current....
Not sure how many work miles I'll be doing, as it's a new job, but guessing at 10-12k miles.
I want to make sure my fuel for work is covered by the mileage allowance - as I live quite close to work it seems a petrol car over 2l makes sense as long as it costs me under 26p a mile for petrol!
I need to be able to chuck 2 kids, one in a car seat, in it easily.
I thought an E62 BMW 325i coupe would be a good bet, but I really want sports seats, heated leather and sat nav, so out of budget unless I take a hit on spec or go for stupid mileage one.
A saloon 325i M-sport is getting close to budget, but no nav - unfortunately it's not something you can retrofit to a modern BMW.
I fancy a Quattro, probably an A3, maybe a tdi or a tfsi, but struggling to get excited. Even looked at mk1 TTs, which I've had before.
Considered a SEAT Leon FR tdi, but not sure.
I want any car to have a really good stereo/sat nav or allow me to upgrade the HU - BMW not good for that, others I can do.
After 6 weeks of autotradering etc, I've not even gone to look at any cars, yet I'm going to look at a black mk5 golf gti tomorrow, which is silly as over the last 5 years, between other cars, I've owned 2 black mk5 golf Gtis....
Any alternatives to suggest? I don't mind something a bit different, I've owned lots of cars over the years.
ETA, I considered leasing a golf gtd for 2 years at £257 for 6+23, 10k miles, but as I don't really know how many miles I'm a bit weary.
ETA if I had £15k I'd buy a 996.
Edited by Emeye on Saturday 12th October 21:42
Edited by Emeye on Saturday 12th October 21:47
Northernchimp said:
I'm def not a snob (currently driving a £946 Merc c230k sport and love a bargain) but IMO I might as well buy a mk5 golf gti for that money.Northernchimp said:
Fair dos. Though it'll be older/higher mileage/slower/all of these things.
I understand your points and add bigger, but don't get the slower one. It's the same engine isn't it?Gti I'm looking at tomorrow is mk5 5dr with leather, 34k miles, 2007, £7500 so not far off if genuine...
Didn't know they did that power output on a GTI of that vintage, feel ashamed of my Golf knowledge.
I actually prefer the look of the Octavia VRS to that era golf, but each to his own and all that. I was going to suggest a Saab until I thought of the Octavia, but can't remember which one now.
I actually prefer the look of the Octavia VRS to that era golf, but each to his own and all that. I was going to suggest a Saab until I thought of the Octavia, but can't remember which one now.
te.valais said:
Emeye said:
I drove an IS220d manual once and hated it! I assume the petrol is much more desirable?
The 250 is a sublime petrol engine. Very economical, silkily smooth and goes rather well. The top models come with fun things like ventilated seats and a very, very good stereo.
I'm in an identical situation, same fuel allowance and similar budget
After 6 months this year in an utterly ruinous 525i, I've gone for an 08 plate accord in ex spec
The VTEC engine is nice if a little low on torque but I expect it to be impeccable in the reliability stakes!
In ex spec its got heated leather, nav, Bluetooth, cruise and xenons. So far its soaking up the miles. Ugly as sin but you don't look at it when driving.
I'm also lining it up for a stealthy LPG install which I'm going to forget to mention to my employer.
After 6 months this year in an utterly ruinous 525i, I've gone for an 08 plate accord in ex spec
The VTEC engine is nice if a little low on torque but I expect it to be impeccable in the reliability stakes!
In ex spec its got heated leather, nav, Bluetooth, cruise and xenons. So far its soaking up the miles. Ugly as sin but you don't look at it when driving.
I'm also lining it up for a stealthy LPG install which I'm going to forget to mention to my employer.
eltax91 said:
I'm in an identical situation, same fuel allowance and similar budget
After 6 months this year in an utterly ruinous 525i, I've gone for an 08 plate accord in ex spec
The VTEC engine is nice if a little low on torque but I expect it to be impeccable in the reliability stakes!
In ex spec its got heated leather, nav, Bluetooth, cruise and xenons. So far its soaking up the miles. Ugly as sin but you don't look at it when driving.
I'm also lining it up for a stealthy LPG install which I'm going to forget to mention to my employer.
Why was the 525i ruinous? Honda a good call as my wife has an FRV which for a family wagon is great to drive. Is yours a 2.4?After 6 months this year in an utterly ruinous 525i, I've gone for an 08 plate accord in ex spec
The VTEC engine is nice if a little low on torque but I expect it to be impeccable in the reliability stakes!
In ex spec its got heated leather, nav, Bluetooth, cruise and xenons. So far its soaking up the miles. Ugly as sin but you don't look at it when driving.
I'm also lining it up for a stealthy LPG install which I'm going to forget to mention to my employer.
Emeye said:
Why was the 525i ruinous? Honda a good call as my wife has an FRV which for a family wagon is great to drive. Is yours a 2.4?
The Honda is a 2.4, yes. Seems difficult to find a car that fits this bill doesn't it!? The accord is ok and averaging a calculated 34mpgThe 5 series was probably a bad example and I probably just got unlucky. It was an early e61, with 140k on the clock. It was decked out with kit and when working was without doubt the best car I've ever owned, so comfortable and a lovely drive.
The problem for me when running it as a business tool was it was too unreliable. In the past I've run diesel Octavia and the switch to the 5 series was woeful by comparison, and even bills at the specialist were eye watering
In the 6 months I owned it, it did me for £2k in maintenance, which would be acceptable, but one of those issues was battery related so it spent a lot of time off the road! Following getting it straight and being sure it was on, it then started to show signs of HGF so I moved it on.
Thought I'd provide a quick update, if any one is interested.
I ended up buying a mint mk1 225 Audi TT coupe that came up for sale reasonably locally.
My hand was forced as the wiper mech broke on my old Merc and I struggled to get the replacement motor working. After working all Sunday afternoon, into the night until 11pm, in the dark, cold and wet, the next day, while waiting for the rain to stop, I checked autotrader for local Audi quattros, saw this one and rushed to get a deposit on it that afternoon.
There was a queue to see it, but I managed to get in first! I've had an Audi TT before, I love them. IMO it's the perfect winter hack. Heated leather, 4 wheel drive and very solid.
I ended up buying a mint mk1 225 Audi TT coupe that came up for sale reasonably locally.
My hand was forced as the wiper mech broke on my old Merc and I struggled to get the replacement motor working. After working all Sunday afternoon, into the night until 11pm, in the dark, cold and wet, the next day, while waiting for the rain to stop, I checked autotrader for local Audi quattros, saw this one and rushed to get a deposit on it that afternoon.
There was a queue to see it, but I managed to get in first! I've had an Audi TT before, I love them. IMO it's the perfect winter hack. Heated leather, 4 wheel drive and very solid.
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