I need a car which will make me like driving again.
I need a car which will make me like driving again.
Author
Discussion

fjord

Original Poster:

2,143 posts

166 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
I've had various cars over the years, and it got to a point where I enjoyed going out, often late at night/early hours, just for a drive. I'd make an excuse, like driving 20 miles to the nearest 24 hour asda to get some milk... wobble

Anyway, i used to enjoy it when i was driving bigger cars. Had a 3.0v6 diesel vectra, 2.2 Vectra estate and an St220. The vectra estate had nav, tinted windows at the rear and was amazingly comfy. The v6 had everything, comfy seats, nav, xenons etc. The St had lovely xenons, great sound system and a good engine.

Im now currently driving an E46 320d.

It makes my soul bleed every time I get in it. It's just so slow, boring, crap radio, basic interior and the most uninspiring car i've ever driven. RWD is wasted on a car with such a pathetic boring engine. Looks nice from the outside though... rolleyes

I want an estate with nav, and ideally xenons too. I think it's an estate I want, unless it's something extra special to justify a saloon. Hatches and cabrio's are out of the question.

I just cant find anything. I've spent ages and ages and ages searching for something that fits the bill. I've looked for 335/330/325's and they're so rare with nav and xenons it's untrue. The ones that are out there have a billion miles on or are out of my 12k(ish) budget. I'd like something newer than 2007.

Every single fking bmw out there is a fking 320d. There's even more 318d's than 330d's. What the fk.

Who the hell looks at a 320d and thinks; "Hmmm, there's too much power here, lets knock 30bhp off and half the amount of torque aswell!"

Anyway, back on topic, any suggestions? I've looked for a c-class, but they're mostly 1.8 petrol's and hardly any have xenon/nav combos. The A4 is widely avaliable with nav/xenon but they're all 1.9d engines, which makes me think i'll hate it as much as the 320.

Tried to find a Skoda Superb estate with the 3.6 v6 inside, and there's none avaliable. Vectra VXR estates are rare as anything, etc etc etc.

Do i have to continually search for the right 330/335 to come up, as i have been doing for the last 6 months?

Much of this is probably 'cool story bro', but im just venting my annoyance at not being able to find a car I want, and having to wade through mountains of st cars with really st engines designed for people who dont give a st about driving.

Moan over.

Edited by fjord on Sunday 27th April 14:57

750turbo

6,164 posts

253 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
fjord said:
...

Who the hell looks at a 320d and thinks; "Hmmm, there's too much power here, lets knock 30bhp off and half the amount of torque aswell!"

...
Probably company cars are responsible for this?

wemorgan

3,583 posts

207 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Saab 95 Aero? Some bling, toys, comfort, nice engine at a sensible price.

Codswallop

5,258 posts

223 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Funny set of requirements considering you want to enjoy driving, hence I can't use my suggestion of Mk3 MR2.

If you want a quick, well specced left field car, how about this;



2.8T V6 based on a Saab 93

Also available in Saab badged 4wd flavour;



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

155 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
fjord said:
I've had various cars over the years, and it got to a point where I enjoyed going out, often late at night/early hours, just for a drive. I'd make an excuse, like driving 20 miles to the nearest 24 hour asda to get some milk... wobble

Anyway, i used to enjoy it when i was driving bigger cars. Had a 3.0v6 diesel vectra, 2.2 Vectra estate and an St220. The vectra estate had nav, tinted windows at the rear and was amazingly comfy. The v6 had everything, comfy seats, nav, xenons etc. The St had lovely xenons, great sound system and a good engine.

Im now currently driving an E46 320d.

It makes my soul bleed every time I get in it. It's just so slow, boring, crap radio, basic interior and the most uninspiring car i've ever driven.
I'm the first to admit I'm no BMW fan - but, really, THAT much worse than a _VECTRA_? <scratches head>

aeropilot

40,577 posts

256 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
As mentioned already, Saab Turbo-X would be my choice.

Like this one smile

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...


Edited by aeropilot on Sunday 27th April 15:35

Mr E

23,036 posts

288 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
Saab 95 Aero? Some bling, toys, comfort, nice engine at a sensible price.
A long long way from a drivers car though?

nct001

733 posts

162 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
330d manual is a handy thing...

Our E46 shed of courtesy will drift and having delivered a customers m3 e46 the 330d felt quicker and was point to point fast enough

E90 330d drove back from Newcastle was a hoot. Have 118d on drive and its a pointless useless thing of marketing this 118d is no ultimate driving machine... rather have a focus!

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
If you're spending 10k I would look at an Audi S4 with the V8 engine, mine still makes me smile..

vit4

3,507 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
I'm the first to admit I'm no BMW fan - but, really, THAT much worse than a _VECTRA_? <scratches head>
Horses for courses smile Vectras are very underrated IMO.

OP, how about a 159 SW? Could get a very nice late TI for that money.

ben5732

763 posts

185 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Estate? V70 T5
Or you could get an ex plod vectra estate, few of them for sale still about but not many.

Tara llems

73 posts

156 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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What sort of prices do the 4wd 159 sportwagons go for?

wemorgan

3,583 posts

207 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Mr E said:
A long long way from a drivers car though?
Very true. But I couldn't fully work out whether the OP wants a true driver's car, or just a large comfy car. I know lots of fast estate cars, but I wouldn't call them driver's car.

veevee

1,458 posts

180 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
E90 330i will be hard to beat, IMO.

slash79

127 posts

153 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Mr E said:
A long long way from a drivers car though?
Very long way. And I own one! It's rapid in a straight line, and incredibly comfortable, but is no drivers car. Just a fast comfy wafter!

slash79

127 posts

153 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
slash79 said:
Very long way. And I own one! It's rapid in a straight line, and incredibly comfortable, but is no drivers car. Just a fast comfy wafter!

RKDE

569 posts

239 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
unfortunately its the diesel world

I've done it too, I have a E90 318D as my company car because if I am having diesel then I am only doing it for MPG and low tax.

At home I have many more exciting cars and all are petrol.

First thing is to look at petrol and not diesel unless you want economy... then just choose a small diesel.

I know there are some quick diesels out there and I have been on the XF look out for a while trying to decide if the next company car is a 3.0 V6 or take the allowance and then the XFR 5.0 V8 petrol.

I would suggest that you are probably best looking for an 5 or 7 series to get what you want else you will be looking at maybe an older audi S4 or possibly something from th VW world...

robinessex

11,996 posts

210 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Something with little power, but very skinny tyres. 2CV? It'll be hilarious!! Or an original mini. Or something that'll scare you stupid every time you try to take a corner or brake. Any 1950/1960 British Sports car should do it!!! Or go completely bonkers, and buy a Lambo Countach.............

Edited by robinessex on Sunday 27th April 16:26

SlowStig

947 posts

200 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
Having gone from a MINI JCW to an e90 330d, the BMW is a brilliant drivers car. I have had big engine rwd cars in the past but the 330d is an excellent combination of economy and driving enjoyment which I needed from a daily driver.

I would make sure you get the fancy headlights as they turn corners and confuse passengers biggrin

jamieduff1981

8,092 posts

169 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
quotequote all
RKDE said:
take the allowance and then the XFR 5.0 V8 petrol
Do that.