What next for me?

[S100HP]

My Legacy should be off tonight. Good car but didn't want to spend any money on it and a combination of value vs spend required vs fuel vs age means it's going. Turns out I think I prefer budget motoring.

It leave me carless and totally unsure what to get next. Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Details: Car will be my primary mode of transport. I commute about 20 miles each way. That is fast straight A road and motorway at 6am or 7pm. Little traffic

My kids are both now in booster seats (7&3) so a 3 door is viable. We can use her C3 Picasso as our family car now pushchair is gone.

It needs to be dog suitable (hatchback or estate) and small enough that the wife will drive so I can take her car when she needs to work and I have kids.

Manual only.

Semi respectable fuel economy and not in the stupid tax bracket.

Something that I'm going to enjoy and not get fed up with quickly. It doesn't need to be stupidly fast, but engaging. Constantly changing cars is getting me in trouble.

Budget could be 4k but would rather remain nearer the 2k end of the market. I just don't like a car owning me much.

Occasionally be able to take a bike in boot/and on roof.

A degree of nice things, like keyless, auto wipers etc.

Currently I'm watching a number of cars, they include:

Clio 197 for around 2.5k or a clio 200 around 4k (I'd want to push boat out and get recaros.

Twingo 133

Mégane 225

Alfa MiTo 170

159 1.9 Diesel estate

Alfa Giulietta (generic diesel one)

Citroen C4 vts (again)

Honda Civic type R (07ish)

I'm totally lost on what I want. Have I missed anything obvious? The Clio is top of the list. 197 is the better option as cheaper but I know I'd want the 200 with recaro which pushes budget.

Help?

Edited by S100HP on Friday 18th September 13:31

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Golf 1.8t
Leon Cupra/Cupra R
Fabia VRS
Octavia VRS

[S100HP]

Being honest German cars don't do much for me. Maybe I should try one?

I've really enjoyed the 156GTA I had and the Xsara VTS. My favourite two cars.

The Panda 100HP was great but ride was tiresome. XC70 was utterly great, but dull. V70R high maintenance. Legacy the same.

[MDMA .]

You've not had the Legacy for long, have you? Problems with it?

[S100HP]

MDMA . said:

You've not had the Legacy for long, have you? Problems with it?

No problem at all, bar it enjoying a drink, needing a service and only getting radio 2. Just don't love it enough to put more money into it.

[Pericoloso]

Bentley and a Rolex ?.......

[Drezza]

An unmolested Fabia vRS 1.9TDI and get it remapped to 170bhp - 50+mpg

[MDMA .]

S100HP said:

No problem at all, bar it enjoying a drink, needing a service and only getting radio 2. Just don't love it enough to put more money into it.

Can you not just fit a band expander? And won't every car need money spent on servicing? Not worth sticking with it a bit longer?

[S100HP]

MDMA . said:

Can you not just fit a band expander? And won't every car need money spent on servicing? Not worth sticking with it a bit longer?

It's off in a short while so I'm happy with my decision. Lovely car, just something I'm not quite sure about. It might be the fact it's an auto?

[MDMA .]

If you're not happy with it, no point sticking with it I suppose. How about a Octavia VRS?

[ZX10R NIN]

Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170 Petrol

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008212...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009133...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

RCZ GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008283...

Cooper S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009153...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009103...

Haggle hard 500 Abarth

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

Corsa VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009063...

[S100HP]

Thanks for those. I need a genuine 4 seats and Vauxhall doesn't do much for me but will have a look at others.

Curve ball incoming, Freelander 2 looks interesting...

[ZX10R NIN]

A Focus ST could be a good shout they're a good steer & have that sweet 5 pot, as long as 24mpg is okay then they could be a good call.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008212...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

Leftfield

C230 Avantgarde SE it may be a little normal for your tastes but it has a decent 2.5 V6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

Insignia Elite 220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...

SRI 220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006160...

Vectra VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007131...

[redandwhite]

I have had 3 Renaultsport Clios - decent cars, but the Civic Type R FN2 was another level - felt a more 'special' place to be: VTEC and the ability to touch 40mpg if being careful - the achilies heel was the ride , it was too harsh for me even after replacing the Sachs shocks all round.

The Clio is likely to sting you with a cambelt change which will set you back around £500 (most adverts will say its been done but they wont have a receipt - you need a receipt or else assume you need to change it). I wouldnt worry about recaros too much , i had them in my old Corsa VXR and they were ok, nothing special, plus care needs to be taken with the bolsters.

I changed my FN2 for an P3 XC70 for comfortable auto cruising.

Look forward to see what you choose

Edited by redandwhite on Wednesday 23 September 09:43

[CrippsCorner]

Make a (very) cheeky offer on the best looking Clio in the best colour!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/clio-197-f1-liquid-yell...

[S100HP]

I've gone off the idea of a smaller car for now, I think I just like bigger cars, and comfort. I'm at that age. Driving my nans little car this morning to work I think the things I'm most interested in are a bit of tech, comfy seats and ride, heated seats and a good sound system.

Yesterday I went to Andover to look at a leggy Freelander 2. I liked it, but the combination of 177k, MOT running out in a few weeks and a few bits that niggled such as (little) rust on tailgate, oil pool on floor and the clattery noise on startup. I liked it, bit not enough to take a punt.

Keep looking at Citroen C6, but the lack of practically is putting me off, so the C5 touring is promoted by default. If I could find a nice Freelander 2 tho I'd jump at it.

[gman88667733]

S100HP said:

I've gone off the idea of a smaller car for now, I think I just like bigger cars, and comfort. I'm at that age. Driving my nans little car this morning to work I think the things I'm most interested in are a bit of tech, comfy seats and ride, heated seats and a good sound system.

Yesterday I went to Andover to look at a leggy Freelander 2. I liked it, but the combination of 177k, MOT running out in a few weeks and a few bits that niggled such as (little) rust on tailgate, oil pool on floor and the clattery noise on startup. I liked it, bit not enough to take a punt.

Keep looking at Citroen C6, but the lack of practically is putting me off, so the C5 touring is promoted by default. If I could find a nice Freelander 2 tho I'd jump at it.

I've driven a decent freelander 2 and it was lovely to drive. Very comfy, nice size, feels quite sturdy. Plus reliability should be about average for their age, should be better than other Land Rover products.
If budget allows, try to find an SD4, they are all auto and have a good amount of punch to them. If not, the manual TD4 I drove was fine, i'd have one.

[S100HP]

gman88667733 said:

I've driven a decent freelander 2 and it was lovely to drive. Very comfy, nice size, feels quite sturdy. Plus reliability should be about average for their age, should be better than other Land Rover products.
If budget allows, try to find an SD4, they are all auto and have a good amount of punch to them. If not, the manual TD4 I drove was fine, i'd have one.

Had a look at the SD4 tonight but I'm aiming to go budget this time. Found a few high milage ones that I'm considering. Just not sure if a Freelander is too much of a punt. I also can't keep messing around changing cars, the wife isn't happy, so whatever I get needs to stick around a while.

[Huntsman]

If you like the Freelander buy a CR-V.

[ZX10R NIN]

Santa Fe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

Kia Sorento

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008192...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009224...

TD4 HSE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007131...

Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009153...

Antara

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173...