Help me choose a car, also known as a "what car" thread!
Discussion
I am about to leave the Army and start working in the real world! This means that the family needs to increase its car ownership as I need a car for commuting to work. Hence the “what car” thread.
So there are a number of constraints that I will have to work under.
1. Time. I need to find and buy the car fairly quickly. I won’t move any spare cash until the beginning of August and will need the car by the end of August. This means that image lots of research time but the car will need to be fairly easy to find.
2. Cost. I will have limited funds immediately from the car. A realistic budget is £3,000 with ampossible stretch to £3,500 if pushed. There will be a “car fund” later by for now that’s the limit.
3. Reliability. My commute will be approximately 60 miles each way and I don’t want to start my new life constantly apologising for being late because I’ve broken down!
4. I will have to justify the purchase to SWMBO. This does not mean that a MX5 is out of the question just that something with back seats that can seat 2 kids and possibly a boot from the dog will be much easier!
So what would I like?
1. I’d like something that’s fun to drive. The commute will be a mix of back roads and motorway so there will be opportunities to enjoy the drive.
2. Something that would be up to the occasional track day would be nice and if it were to become the basis for a “toy” once I get enough of a fighting fund for a new car that would be great.
3. I’ve never owned a rear wheel drive car so that’s an itch I’d like to scratch.
So what have I been considering?
1. BMW 1 series. This would be reasonably easy to find, fits the rear wheel drive and is a little practical. Having looked I think I’d be able to get a 56 / 07 plate 120d with about 100 – 130 thousand on the clock.
2. BMW 3 series touring. Again reasonably easy to find, rear wheel drive, definitely practical and could be a good basis for a “toy”. I’m thinking I’d be looking at a 56 / 07 plate 320d with about 100 thousand on the clock.
3. BMW Z4. Not practical but more fun! A harder sell to SWMBO but I’d be looking at a 03 / 53 plate 2.5 with between 100 and 150 thousand on the clock.
4. VW Polo Gti. Left field inclusion as it’ssuppose to be the spiritual successor to the MK2 Golf Gti, which I had once he loved. Looking at a 56 plate with about 100 thousand on the clock.
So over to the PistonHeads thoughts!
So there are a number of constraints that I will have to work under.
1. Time. I need to find and buy the car fairly quickly. I won’t move any spare cash until the beginning of August and will need the car by the end of August. This means that image lots of research time but the car will need to be fairly easy to find.
2. Cost. I will have limited funds immediately from the car. A realistic budget is £3,000 with ampossible stretch to £3,500 if pushed. There will be a “car fund” later by for now that’s the limit.
3. Reliability. My commute will be approximately 60 miles each way and I don’t want to start my new life constantly apologising for being late because I’ve broken down!
4. I will have to justify the purchase to SWMBO. This does not mean that a MX5 is out of the question just that something with back seats that can seat 2 kids and possibly a boot from the dog will be much easier!
So what would I like?
1. I’d like something that’s fun to drive. The commute will be a mix of back roads and motorway so there will be opportunities to enjoy the drive.
2. Something that would be up to the occasional track day would be nice and if it were to become the basis for a “toy” once I get enough of a fighting fund for a new car that would be great.
3. I’ve never owned a rear wheel drive car so that’s an itch I’d like to scratch.
So what have I been considering?
1. BMW 1 series. This would be reasonably easy to find, fits the rear wheel drive and is a little practical. Having looked I think I’d be able to get a 56 / 07 plate 120d with about 100 – 130 thousand on the clock.
2. BMW 3 series touring. Again reasonably easy to find, rear wheel drive, definitely practical and could be a good basis for a “toy”. I’m thinking I’d be looking at a 56 / 07 plate 320d with about 100 thousand on the clock.
3. BMW Z4. Not practical but more fun! A harder sell to SWMBO but I’d be looking at a 03 / 53 plate 2.5 with between 100 and 150 thousand on the clock.
4. VW Polo Gti. Left field inclusion as it’ssuppose to be the spiritual successor to the MK2 Golf Gti, which I had once he loved. Looking at a 56 plate with about 100 thousand on the clock.
So over to the PistonHeads thoughts!
I wouldn't be looking at BMW's for £3k, the risks of them landing you with a bill (cooling, chain slip etc) just aren't worth it - you'd end up with something higher mileage and definitely nearing end of life (unless significant costs are budgeted for) for that cost.
Polo GTi is a fair shout but I'd also consider:
Fiesta ST
Fiesta Zetec S
Yaris 1.5 T-Sport
Focus 2.0 petrol
Many other makes/models to chose from too...
Far more likely to be reliable at this price point
Polo GTi is a fair shout but I'd also consider:
Fiesta ST
Fiesta Zetec S
Yaris 1.5 T-Sport
Focus 2.0 petrol
Many other makes/models to chose from too...
Far more likely to be reliable at this price point
I'd say forget the RWD option for now & go straight to the car that ticks all the boxes & that car is a Clio (preferably a Cup model) RS:
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...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Obviously the above won't be for sale in August but give you an idea of what to look for.
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...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Obviously the above won't be for sale in August but give you an idea of what to look for.
The Polo GTI you'll find at that budget would be the 1.4, its notoriously unreliable so I'd avoid that.
As mentioned by another poster a 3k BMW may be quite high on maintenance. I'd look at a clio 172/182 as you'll get a tidy one in budget and they're relatively reliable. They're very well rated by most who've owned one.
You may be able to get a Megane R26 for that budget, these are also a very good shout.
As mentioned by another poster a 3k BMW may be quite high on maintenance. I'd look at a clio 172/182 as you'll get a tidy one in budget and they're relatively reliable. They're very well rated by most who've owned one.
You may be able to get a Megane R26 for that budget, these are also a very good shout.
On the BMW front you'd get a very good E46 330ci for that, if a 1 series you really want a 130i and although I have seen the odd one on eBay for that kind of money you're definitely at the bottom of the market so would probably want to keep a healthy fighting fund for any potential problems.
Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll steer clear of the beemers, given what's been said, and concentrate on the hot hatches for now. I'll have to scratch the RWD itch next time when I've got a bigger "fighting fund"! I'll try and see if I can get a quick drive in the Polo and the Clio before I look at the end of next month or so.
Someone mentioned e46 330, and I daft for thinking of this?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
So there's the possibility of a change! When does life ever not! So SWMBO is now sati g that she's happy if I want to get something smaller and potentially fun for me. So immediately I start thinking about the perennial favourite the MX-5. I think that I am looking at a Mk3 1.8 or 2.0 for my budget. Is this a good thing?
I have seen this on eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
I've looked it up and the past couple of MOTs have had a number of advisories, however I've messaged the seller and they've said that all of the advisories have been fixed by replacement of the parts. Does this make it a good buy or should I just run anyway?
Thanks
I have seen this on eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
I've looked it up and the past couple of MOTs have had a number of advisories, however I've messaged the seller and they've said that all of the advisories have been fixed by replacement of the parts. Does this make it a good buy or should I just run anyway?
Thanks
So with the OK from SWMBO to allow me to look at 2 seat sports cars I find that I have become dragged into the second most important discussion topic on here (after "is MX-5 actually the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything?"), "which is better a 350Z or a Z4 3.0! There are only a handful of 350Z's close to budget and I'm more likely to find a Z4 2.5 than a Z4 3.0, but that hasn't stopped me looking.
With the new found freedom I find that I'm looking for something that will cope with @22,000 miles a year commuting but will still offer me the opportunity of enjoying a couple of trackdays a year. I am happy to start with the right car and then slowly add the necessary bits to really enjoy using it on the track, as long as normal commuting duties are not too compromised.
Searching I have found these......
350Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
An 04 plate with @100k on the clock, only covered 30K miles in the last 5 years. Some advisories on the most recent MOT but mainly consumables. Within budget.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I love this one. It looks to be a really nicely looked after example, and being sold by a reputable garage. It is, slightly, over budget but nothing that cannot be got round. MOTs are all clear and its only done 35k in the last 5 years.
Z4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
So it's only a 2.5, not a 3.0, but it is well within budget. Only 30k miles in the last 5 years and MOT's are not bad. It's also very close to me.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Again a 2.5 not a 3.0 but a 53 plate and only 100k miles in total. It's also very close.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yet another 2.5 but the face-lifted 06 model and it's a sport.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Finally a 3.0!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
And another.
So what are the PH thoughts?
Many thanks,
Jon
With the new found freedom I find that I'm looking for something that will cope with @22,000 miles a year commuting but will still offer me the opportunity of enjoying a couple of trackdays a year. I am happy to start with the right car and then slowly add the necessary bits to really enjoy using it on the track, as long as normal commuting duties are not too compromised.
Searching I have found these......
350Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
An 04 plate with @100k on the clock, only covered 30K miles in the last 5 years. Some advisories on the most recent MOT but mainly consumables. Within budget.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I love this one. It looks to be a really nicely looked after example, and being sold by a reputable garage. It is, slightly, over budget but nothing that cannot be got round. MOTs are all clear and its only done 35k in the last 5 years.
Z4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
So it's only a 2.5, not a 3.0, but it is well within budget. Only 30k miles in the last 5 years and MOT's are not bad. It's also very close to me.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Again a 2.5 not a 3.0 but a 53 plate and only 100k miles in total. It's also very close.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yet another 2.5 but the face-lifted 06 model and it's a sport.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Finally a 3.0!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
And another.
So what are the PH thoughts?
Many thanks,
Jon
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