Need interesting car that must fit in the garage! - Page 1 - Car Buying

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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Sunday 10th September 2017

Hi All,

My wife has declared she wants to drive our estate and not her current 09 plate Renault Clio Dynamique so this means I can swap the Clio for something more interesting but it must fit in our garage, which is not massive. Dimensions are 4.4m long (shelves behind that), 2.21m wide (garage door aperture). So any car must fit in that space.

In terms of spec, I do about 10-14k miles a year, 2/3 motorway and A roads. I would like leather seats, probably an auto, probably 5 door. I am not sure about diesel or petrol, either would be fine within reason. I would be getting a loan, probably with the maximum around 15k, as long as I am not going over 300 quid a month, it should be fine - man maths etc.

I have been thinking about Golf GTI/GTD and every now and again I go mad and start looking at Alfa Brera's and GT's and I even found myself looking at Porsche Cayman's this morning!

So, any suggestions on something interesting along the lines I have set out?

Thanks chaps.

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

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Sunday 10th September 2017

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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Tuesday 12th September 2017

These are great suggestions, thanks.

I will get a cuppa and have a look through and come back with some feedback.

PositronicRay

28,212 posts

201 months

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Tuesday 12th September 2017

It's width you need to be concerned with, it's all very well getting a car in but then you've gotta be able to open the car door.

SLK for instance is circa 1800 wide so you'll need a garage 2700 (min) wide to park and exit it.

Integroo

11,585 posts

103 months

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Tuesday 12th September 2017

You want something interesting and you are considering a Golf...

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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Wednesday 13th September 2017

ZX10R NIN said:

Alfa Giulietta Quadrifoglio TBI - the links did not work for me, but had a look at some anyway. I am not totally sold on the looks and expect the residual values would not be great, however overall they do look an upgrade on the 'normal' versions

SLK 350 Sport (Semi Sensible) - I agree with semi-sensible. I hadnt considered these before, and I think, on reflection that a 2 seater may not be the way to go given the family side of things - 1 child + wife.

SLK55 AMG - insane! What its like maintaining something like this? That aside, I expect its a hoot, but I might need to remortgage to run it.

BMW Z4 35i - now I know what I said about 2 seaters above, but this is actually very tempting....

Clio RS (no Leather but a fun drive) - I bet its fun to drive, but not sure on this one.

Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio Verde - quite like these, I perhaps need to read a bit more about them.

Any more suggestions chaps?

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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[news]

Wednesday 13th September 2017

PositronicRay said:

It's width you need to be concerned with, it's all very well getting a car in but then you've gotta be able to open the car door.

SLK for instance is circa 1800 wide so you'll need a garage 2700 (min) wide to park and exit it.

This is a good point. I have some polystyrene against one wall which helps. I tested a mates golf GT which fits pretty well.

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

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Wednesday 13th September 2017

rosscouk said:

Alfa Giulietta Quadrifoglio TBI - the links did not work for me, but had a look at some anyway. I am not totally sold on the looks and expect the residual values would not be great, however overall they do look an upgrade on the 'normal' versions

SLK 350 Sport (Semi Sensible) - I agree with semi-sensible. I hadnt considered these before, and I think, on reflection that a 2 seater may not be the way to go given the family side of things - 1 child + wife.

SLK55 AMG - insane! What its like maintaining something like this? That aside, I expect its a hoot, but I might need to remortgage to run it.

BMW Z4 35i - now I know what I said about 2 seaters above, but this is actually very tempting....

Clio RS (no Leather but a fun drive) - I bet its fun to drive, but not sure on this one.

Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio Verde - quite like these, I perhaps need to read a bit more about them.

Any more suggestions chaps?

Hi Ross

The residuals on the TBI's isn't as bad as you'd think just because they haven't sold lots so they tend to get snapped up.

The SLK55 isn't actually a wallet basher (apart from the obvious fuel cost & some of that will be dependent on your right foot wink

) it's just a big N/A V8 so uncomplicated compared to a Z4 35i & it's Turbo engine, now there is a big service that hurts & that's the service that includes a Spark Plug change just because there are 16 of them but again a good Indy will keep that cost sensible.

The brakes are no longer expensive you have to do a gearbox filter & fluid change every 40k but with a good Independent it costs around £150.00

The Z4 is a decent steer

The Alfa Mito are fun cars especially when you can hear the boost building just simple old school hatch fun.

Now if you don't mind Manual & three doors then you can get the best drivers hot hatch (for the last decade) out there:

Megane RS250 Lux (leather Xenons etc) with the Cup Chassis

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

RS265 Lux with CC

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Astra GTC VXR (check the width on this one)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The car below is a great buy head (very Sensible) wise, as it's a good steer comes with a load of warranty but it's a decent warm hatch but manual only but comes in 3/5 door form:

Kia C'eed/Pro C'eed GT Tech

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Pro C'eed

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

More Mainstream options:

Audi TTS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi S3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW 135i Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

135i Convertible

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes A250 (AMG 45 Light version)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 13th September 16:17

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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Thursday 14th September 2017

Thanks ZX10R NIN - thats absolutely brilliant, thanks for putting all these links up. I will go off and have a good look through and come back with thoughts. This is exactly what I was after, pushing me off my safe choices and helping me to see all of whats available.

rosscouk

Original Poster

44 posts

127 months

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Friday 15th September 2017

Megane RS250 Lux (leather Xenons etc) with the Cup Chassis
I actually like the look of this - I would be a bit nervous of fuel costs overall. I end up doing 2/3 motorway travel, so it would also need to be comfy. I would say this in the mix now.

RS265 Lux with CC
Again, like the look and the idea of these.

Astra GTC VXR (check the width on this one)
Not sure about the astra, I think the renault is ahead for me.

Kia C'eed/Pro C'eed GT Tech/Pro C'eed
I am really interested in these, like the look. I think these are also now to be considered.
More Mainstream options:
Audi TTS
I love the 2 in black. I hadn't thought about these before. I am coming around to the idea.

Audi S3
Like the look, slightly nervous again about fuel costs, I will have a look at a few more.

BMW 135i Coupe
I was never one for the look of these, although my brother is always on about them

135i Convertible
I am also not a fan of convertibles, although this does look good.

Mercedes A250 (AMG 45 Light version)
I like the look of these, although I havent heard much about them. I am not sure about the dash. Again, probably need to read up a bit more.

So many to choose from!!
Any more?

ZX10R NIN

29,503 posts

143 months

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Saturday 16th September 2017

rosscouk said:

Megane RS250 Lux (leather Xenons etc) with the Cup Chassis
I actually like the look of this - I would be a bit nervous of fuel costs overall. I end up doing 2/3 motorway travel, so it would also need to be comfy. I would say this in the mix now.

RS265 Lux with CC
Again, like the look and the idea of these.

Astra GTC VXR (check the width on this one)
Not sure about the astra, I think the renault is ahead for me.

Kia C'eed/Pro C'eed GT Tech/Pro C'eed
I am really interested in these, like the look. I think these are also now to be considered.
More Mainstream options:
Audi TTS
I love the 2 in black. I hadn't thought about these before. I am coming around to the idea.

Audi S3
Like the look, slightly nervous again about fuel costs, I will have a look at a few more.

BMW 135i Coupe
I was never one for the look of these, although my brother is always on about them

135i Convertible
I am also not a fan of convertibles, although this does look good.

Mercedes A250 (AMG 45 Light version)
I like the look of these, although I havent heard much about them. I am not sure about the dash. Again, probably need to read up a bit more.

So many to choose from!!
Any more?

The Meganes will see between 34-38mpg on the Motorway comfort wise they have a firm (not crashy) ride but that's what makes them a ball on A/B roads.

The TTs & S3 share the same engine with 35-40mpg on the Motorway these will be more relaxing than the Meganes but won't come close on an A Road.

The Kia's are good cars I rate them they drive well & with the spec you get plus the warranty makes them a great warm hatch choice.

The VXR is an acquired taste but it's not a bad car.

The A250 is a hard car to find it uses a detuned version of the A45 & just may be a bit to polished for it's own good.

I agree with you on the BMW's.