New PH’er needs new car advice!

S97MTN

Original Poster

13 posts

84 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 1st May 2018

Hi all, longtime lurker of the PH forums I have finally decided on creating an account as I would like to ask all you knowledgable folk some general advice on buying my fourth car!
My insurance renewal is coming up in June to the point where I can insure without a black box without breaking the bank, therefore I would like a slightly more fun car for my commute, however I’m really struggling to pick exactly what to be looking out for.

I drive 26 miles a day to and from work, a mix of B and A roads and currently drive a Honda Civic 1.6 Sport EP2 which sadly I decided to put a m2 hornet exhaust on and now screams at me daily (I know I’m sorry).

What I’m really asking is if anyone can recommend anything fun that I can enjoy my daily commute in but not look like a massive chav, I have seen lots of experienced guys on these forums so I guess this is the best place I could ask to be pointed in any direction!

My Requirements:
-Manual
-Sensible MPG (not sub 25 if possible)
-A bit faster than the civic
-Comfier than the Civic for long journeys when I do take them on
I guess pretty much anything other than the Civic right?
And the main thing obviously is price.. my budget would take me up to around the £5000 mark.
To give a guide of what I have been looking at;
Clio 182/197/200
Volvo C30 D5
Type R’s
Megane R26

I’m really sorry for the very long post! But if you have read and have any input to my issue I would be massively appreciative!
Thanks
Sam

Slow

6,973 posts

150 months

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[news]

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

Im assuming your 18/19? Rwd is much more fun.

At 18/19 I had a e46 320i coupe, insurance wasnt bad what so ever. Think it was only around £900.

Depending on insurance prices but you could go 330i.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e46-Coupe-330i-Manu...

Or if like me you actually prefer big cars (im a old man at heart, had 1 hatchback in my life). Recently sold a fairly rotten 330i touring for £450 which was great fun for a year.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-325i-M-Sport-To...

At 19 I got one of these, if your willing to work on your car the running costs arent actually that bad. Mine was mapped and did around 30mpg average, didnt do alot of town driving but would do mid 20s. Not sure it would be quicker than your civic but it wasnt that slow either.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Range-Rover-...

S97MTN

Original Poster

13 posts

84 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

Slow said:

Im assuming your 18/19? Rwd is much more fun.

At 18/19 I had a e46 320i coupe, insurance wasnt bad what so ever. Think it was only around £900.

Depending on insurance prices but you could go 330i.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e46-Coupe-330i-Manu...

Or if like me you actually prefer big cars (im a old man at heart, had 1 hatchback in my life). Recently sold a fairly rotten 330i touring for £450 which was great fun for a year.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-325i-M-Sport-To...

At 19 I got one of these, if your willing to work on your car the running costs arent actually that bad. Mine was mapped and did around 30mpg average, didnt do alot of town driving but would do mid 20s. Not sure it would be quicker than your civic but it wasnt that slow either.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Range-Rover-...

Hey Slow!
Thanks for the reply, I’m infact 20 nearly 21, not really any difference though.
I had thought of the E46 320i as my best mate has one and tells me contuniously how great it is, which I see, however he’s constantly fixing it (not modding) and spending a fortune on it, whereas I usually get caught up at work 6-7/8 most days giving me usually just Sunday to work on the car!
RWD does look super fun, and I have to admit I have my heart set on a BRZ, albeit once the prices come down or my pay packet doubles.
I think I’m happy to stick to the Hatch/Coupe’s for the time being as I have no real need for anything bigger, the missus hasn’t popped one out just yet!
Thanks again for your reply
Sam

Slow

6,973 posts

150 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

Try a e46 coupe then, great cars. Either a cheap cheap one and spend some fixing it like your mate will have done, or buy a better looked after one and not worry much.

ZX10R NIN

28,985 posts

138 months

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[news]

Thursday 3rd May 2018

S97MTN

Original Poster

13 posts

84 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd May 2018

Slow said:

Try a e46 coupe then, great cars. Either a cheap cheap one and spend some fixing it like your mate will have done, or buy a better looked after one and not worry much.

You’ve definitely made me have a look, they are lovely cars I give you that, has been added to the test drive list for sure!

S97MTN

Original Poster

13 posts

84 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd May 2018

ZX10R NIN said:

Hi Nin!
Thanks for your reply and effort for linking all the cars adverts, I really do appreciate it!

To answer your question simply, yes I have got quotes for the cars I listed.
Volvo sits around 140 p/m but manuals are rare to find for a good price.
Clio and Megane RS both sit at 140-160 without a black box (more than happy to pay that price as my civic has cost me 170 with a box)
I’m a massive RS fan and my first car was a little 1.2 clio which I loved, so would love to have the ‘proper’ version! Funny thing is both the blue Megane and Clio you linked me I have in my saved cars on autotrader haha!
They are definitely leading the line and whoever I speak to just helps this notion!
Do you happen to have driven one or both?
Thanks again
Sam

ZX10R NIN

28,985 posts

138 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd May 2018

Hi Sam I've driven the two Renaults & owned the ST, the Megane for me is the better of the two Renaults (you find most people move onto the Megane) I chose the Focus over the dynamically better Megane (although I was choosing between the RS250 & the ST) because as a package the Focus won the day & the engine is a peach.

The Clio is a very sweet package but the N/A engine matched to that chassis make it an absolute hoot to drive & own I have two friends with 200's & they love them.

The Volvo is based on the Focus but it's not close to the Focus dynamically.

I felt the ST was a nicer place to be compared to the Renault, test drive them to see which car best suits you.

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