Come one! Come all! It's a what car thread!

[evenflow]

50 mile per day commute, 25% b-roads, 25% town, 50% motorway.

Budget £7k - £9k

Less than 5 years old, <60k miles.

Preferably not diesel.

3-door is good (in fact better) than 5-door. No 2-doors.

Don't really like diesel, so maybe a 1.6 - 2.0 petrol.

0-60 < 9 seconds, 35 mpg.

Go!

[300bhp/ton]

Why less than 5 years old and 60k seems a fairly meaningless requirement when you actually get down to it. Also why 3 door but not 2? How many seats do you actually need and what sort or loads are you really likely to need to carry?

Not that you have to have a diesel, but just curious more than anything. But considering mpg seems to be an issue (although knowing distance in miles and potential fuel budget would be another approach) but have you actually driven any decent diesels?

As for suggestions I'm afraid most seem fairly boring. Are R56 MINI Cooper S or Fiat 500 Abarths in budget?

Ford Racing Puma maybe, although likely too old. Mk1 Focus RS but mpg unlikely. 330i or d e46 but again may struggle with age.

[Kaelic]

I would punt for a Alfa Romeo Brera http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Not as frugal as you may want but not too far off.

[ewenm]

Clio 172/182?

[was8v]

Nissan 350z.

Ok you will likely get 25 MPG, but you can get one for 8k and spend the grand saved on fuel.

Plus it won't depreciate like some cars in that price bracket!

[Arese]

Mazda 3 MPS? Focus ST?

[RobM77]

I know you've had/got two BMWs already, but my vote's for a 330ci. It'll do the mpg, provide comfort and quiet on the motorway, be fun and with good handling on the b roads, and be very driveable round town as well.

[Hairspray]

MINI Cooper/S.

[300bhp/ton]

Arese said:

Mazda 3 MPS? Focus ST?

Truly averaging 35mpg???

[wanacoop]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2025238.htm

this a bit different, looks like a bargian, probably reliabale & good fun. Also, if you got bored of the power, you could probably tune it up to a better power output.

[chrisispringles]

Audi S3: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2036872.htm

BMW 320Ci: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2066873.htm

Ford Focus RS: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1909960.htm

MK5 VW Golf GTi: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2035600.htm

[LukeBird]

ewenm said:

Clio 172/182?

182 FF, job done.

[evenflow]

Thanks all, definitely some food for thought there

[evenflow]

I know I said no diesel, but I've only ever driven a 1.7TDi Corsa so maybe my views are a bit skewed...

What do we think of the Alfa 159 2.4 JTDM?

[rob.e]

Mk5 Golf GTI.

Ticks all your boxes, good to drive, good residuals etc.

[lost in espace]

Prious?

[Munter]

Skoda vRS. The little one. Err..begins with an F I think. Damn my shoddy memory. Felicia? Anyway it's a sporty number but with a disesel in it and small = light(ish)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1934022.htm

Edited by Munter on Friday 17th September 14:49

[The Milfman]

Munter said:

Skoda vRS. The little one. Err..begins with an F I think. Damn my shoddy memory. Felicia? Anyway it's a sporty number but with a disesel in it and small = light(ish)

Fabia?

[patmahe]

Suzuki Swift Sport?

[va1o]

Golf (MK5) GT TSI 170

Good fun to drive, well equipped, good fuel economy and almost as quick as a GTI. £9k should get an 06/07.

EDIT: Cheaper than I thought, a shade over £7k would get a 2007 model - http://www.autoquake.com/used-volkswagen-golf/1.4-...

Edited by va1o on Friday 17th September 15:12