Tales of woe - what next??

[stevekoz]

Back again! (brief amended)

I can't seem to catch a break with cars. My beloved impreza has succumb to dreaded rust and I'm having to sell for parts.

Alas such is my situation i cannot afford new. So I'll be in the market for a good drivers car. Something that handles really well. I don't do track days really. Bar a regular annual (ish) german road trip ??.

I love country A & B road driving.

I've got a budget of roughly £7k.

Hatchback preferred i think given budget or at least big enough for me plus two kids.

Prefer the way turbo cars drive. I'm a fan of boost and traditionally a japanese car fan. Id prefer not to repeat any previous cars.

So I've had

Imprezas (x6)
Bmw 130i
Civic type R
Bmw 330i/ci

To name a few.

Not bothered about mpg. My subaru got like 16mpg ??

Want a car that really involves driver. Able to drive say Welsh or Scottish Highlands and put a massive smile on your face. A car that's happy in the twists and turns amd feels light and nimble.

Like a few mod cons like aircon but that's about it.

Dont want an audi and not really any in budget and always feel numb to me.

Like something fairly easy to self maintain after the pitfalls of a 400hp impreza. Its relative i guess.

Not much of a want list. See what you guys come up with.

Help much appreciated!

Cheers Steve

Edited by stevekoz on Tuesday 26th May 14:47

[DoubleD]

Easy, Megane RS250.

[StuTheGrouch]

A few suggestions:

Alfa Romeo 159

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Saab 9-3 2.8 turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Jag S-Type

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I'd imagine that the Jag is the most refined, so wouldn't be quite as engaging as the other two (or anything else you've owned). But they are a bargain!

As you seem to like Jap cars, perhaps the Nissan 300 (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201907190262264) or 350z (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003268766121). Space for the kids might be an issue though

[Drezza]

Could probably get a MK7 Fiesta ST for that.

[aka_kerrly]

Are you maybe due a Legacy twin turbo gtb, possibility the Blitzen spec for some Porsche an STI upgrades.

[mnaylor]

Based on your budget, the fact you prefer Japanese and turbo charged, and you don't want something you have already had - Celica Gt4? There is also the mk3 Supra. These cars are getting a bit long in the tooth so it depends if you mind keeping on top of maintenance. If you do get something like this, ensure you get it properly checked for rust and then undersealed, then you won't have the same problem you have just had with your Impreza.

[stevekoz]

DoubleD said:

Easy, Megane RS250.

I like the idea of tge megane. Was looking at the f1 r26. Heard really good things about them as a drivers car. Not sure i can get an rs250 for the money but I'll look cheers :thumbsup:

[Zetec-S]

Mk2 Focus ST?

[DoubleD]

stevekoz said:

DoubleD said:

Easy, Megane RS250.

I like the idea of tge megane. Was looking at the f1 r26. Heard really good things about them as a drivers car. Not sure i can get an rs250 for the money but I'll look cheers :thumbsup:

There are a few onAutotrader in your budget. Owner clubs are often a good place to look for cars as well.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Megane RS250 will tick your boxes:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/renault-megane-rs-250/3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Megane-RS-250-o...WUAAOSwBpxevDJ0

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Or the 2.5T Focus ST-3 is a cracking car not as sharp as the Megane but a good steer & that 5pot is a peach:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Leftfield:

Mazda3 MPS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

If space isn't the biggest requirement then what about a 350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Or it's 4 seater cousin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Monaro

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Vauxhall-Monaro-5-...

[JJ55]

Another thumbs up for the Megane

[samoht]

Possibly worth considering:

Nissan 200SX - not too heavy, mechanically straightforward, nicely quick and boosty to drive, not as impractical as they look. Watch for rust! and may need to up the budget to find a decent one.

Early Mitsubishi Evo - probably heresy, but arguably best meets the turbo/practical/exciting requirements. Again, may be a bit more than £7k now, and watch out for rust.

Mazda RX-8 - very cheap and highly rated chassis, plenty of space in the back. No boost although reasonably quick when extended. Benefit of being a newish car. Downsides are the need for engine rebuilds, lack of torque, rust, and examples after 23/03/2006 hit the £570 road tax band.

[stevekoz]

I have to discount the rx8 - its just too much to risk and for the lack of performance i feel you get from them compared to oil and fuel it eats i think they are best left to those that really are rotary addicts.

I do need room for two kids so it is leaning towards the hatchback as i've just coped better with that style and packing the car than i have the coupes i've had before.

I have been looking at the 200sx but they are few and far between and alot seem to have been ruined / transformed into drift cars - don't get me wrong, i love drifting, but as a daily driver that isn't quite what i'm after

I think the top contenders are the Focus and the Megane. Whilst i can get a st-3 for my money (infact there are many dozens to be had in my budget) . The megane is something i think would be a better drivers car. However, im right at the bottom of the rs250 bracket and that worries me for reliability/longevitiy.

I am however at top budget for an f1 r26 - is that much of a different car to the rs250 ? Does anyone have any information or experience with these ?

Ive read that they are costly to repair - but surely that is subjective, im used to BMW and Subaru repair bills - the megane can't be up there can it??

=

[ZX10R NIN]

The RS250 is the better car in terms of reliability & fun, the ones I linked to seemed decent the ST-3 (which is the way I went) is a great second choice & I'd say it's a better/more composed steer than the R26.

[stevekoz]

I really need to think very hard about where to go next. I have fallen in love with liquid yellow and see so few about. Whereas here where I live, every 18yr old with a licence has an st in some shape, as do their drug dealers, which is a shame as they are good cars.

But Renault seem to have so many horror stories buying a bottom price rs250 is a worry I'd love to up my budget but realistically can't do this right now.

I hate following a crowd and I loathe boring cars so i would like something hot but it has to have an edge ,be a bit different and I think that comes at a price I don't have.

Maybe abstain altogether? Get something I don't like to fill the gap or take her another risk??

I really hate buying 2ND hand cars, so many people out there just selling awful and in some cases dangerous cars. But new is just so expensive. 30-50K for a hot hatch is just mental, but that's another gripe altogether!

Hmmmm food for thought. Back to the drawing board I guess. Helpful as ever ZX10RNIN, appreciated.

[DoubleD]

stevekoz said:

But Renault seem to have so many horror stories buying a bottom price rs250 is a worry I'd love to up my budget but realistically can't do this right now.

What horror stories?

[ZX10R NIN]

DoubleD said:

What horror stories?

I have to second this I have friends who have tracked these for years with no issue & clients that have just bought them for road use with no issues.

[Zetec-S]

ZX10R NIN said:

DoubleD said:

What horror stories?

I have to second this I have friends who have tracked these for years with no issue & clients that have just bought them for road use with no issues.

My neighbour's been through a few RS250's and no issues with any of them.

If I didn't need 5 doors then I'd have seriously considered one over my Mk3 ST3.

[stevekoz]

Let me clarify my point. It isn't just directed at the car in question but generally to most makes and models.

That said. There are many reliability threads online concerning Renault build quality. Many on PH itself.

I realise that the RS250 models are newer and more robust. I'm not questioning the car itself.

My point here is that if you buy any car at the bottom of the market (which is where i am) you are more likely to buy a car with "issues"?

Surely this is a pitfall some of you have come across yourselves or have seen/witnessed? Especially when the car in question is of tge "hotter" breed, so has likely been thrashed by one or more previous owners. Which i accept. Totally.

I've just been burnt by this "take a punt on a cheap one" logic too many times. I did this on a b8 audi - i would not have considered it cheap either at the time, but, it's ended up costing me £24k in one way or another (seriously don't ask). Let's just say i don't have much luck with cars.

So it concerns me buying a car for £7k where most of its stablemates are circa £10k+. It has to be cheaper for a reason right? That or 80% of the market is overpriced? Its just my logic and based on my experience at the stbox end of the market... I'm jaded 😂

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Octavia VRS, get a nice one within budget, parts are easy to come by, easy to tune for a few more ponies out of the engine, plenty of aftermarket parts to improve the handling and stuff.