What car 6-7k?

[T84]

Hi guys,

Now my insurance is better with my 2nd year of NCB, the Focus is definitely going, so need a new car.

I do roughly 10k a year, 90% of that commuting 15 miles on Motorway, other 10% shopping etc.

I have a motorbike for my jollies. Unsure of whether to get something decent-ish or just get a Diesel.

Current running is:

Accord 2.2 CDTI EX
Civic 2.2 Type-S
Mondeo ST220 (Insurance is about £400 more though, and do I really need the power for commuting?)

330Ci is out, scared of running costs and will get a ropey/high miles/old one for £6k, plus I'm worried about RWD in winter.

Don't want an MR2/MX5 as I don't see the point of a two seater and a motorbike

I don't really *need* the space, but I like big cars.

I like 'toys' and I'd quite like a convertible, but not too girly.

Reliability is important as well

Don't like the MK2 Focus.

Thanks!

[RobM77]

I would have thought a 330ci would cost less to run than the Mondeo. They do a lot more to the gallon for starters.

[T84]

What about parts/servicing though? Also, I'm worried about RWD in winter... Insurance is expensive @ £1500 as well.

Edited by T84 on Monday 11th October 12:22

[chrisispringles]

Off that list I'd get the Accord, they're very good cars. The Mondeo would be a whole lot more fun, but the fuel and the insurance combined would be pretty painful. If you really want a Mondeo that budget will easily get you an ST 2.2 TDCi like this.

£7k would also get you a decent BMW 320d which will be a lot cheaper to run than a 330i.

[T84]

Thing is that I'm not sure if diesel is worth getting for my mileage, I only chose it for the Accord as the Honda diesel is supposed to be massively reliable and I'm not too bothered about the petrol engines for that car, I'd want the 330 petrol for the E46, they're supposed to have some Diesel horrors as well...

[RobM77]

T84 said:

What about parts/servicing though? Also, I'm worried about RWD in winter... Insurance is expensive @ £1500 as well.

I've never owned a Ford, so can't really comment, but from what I've heard you're probably right, I expect the parts would be a lot cheaper for Ford than BMW. My friends have had bad experiences with reliability on cheaper Fords though (Fiestas and Focuses - serious engine trouble on all of them), so it might be worth looking into that for the Mondeo in particular - it is a different engine to the Fiesta though so I don't want to put you off unecessarily. You can tell the engineering difference between the cars partly by looking at the mpg and bhp; that shows efficiency, but it also shows quality of engineering.

Front engined RWD can be an issue in the snow, yes. However, I live in the sticks, so often drive on untreated roads, and have always managed ok by just driving carefully (most people that you see getting stuck are just gunning the throttle and digging holes), but there's no denying you do get more grip in the snow with FE/FWD (and more to the point - narrower tyres!). I really don't like FWD in anything other than snow though, so it's never been a serious option for me for an all year round car.

Of course, don't forget that two of the three main protagonists of front engined rear wheel drive are based in snowy regions. BMW are, obviously, from South Bavaria, and Volvo, who always made FE/RWD cars until Ford got involved ten years ago, are from Sweden. Winter tyres and drivers knowing how to deal with snow solves the snow issue for them.

Edited by RobM77 on Monday 11th October 12:37

[T84]

Thanks for the reply, up to now this will have been the most I've spent on a vehicle so I'm keen to get it right, and I'm worried about big bills and my actual experience with cars is very small (Had bikes for so long!)

So I may be rightly or wrongly scared of BMW maybe due to their image/percieved running costs! I think a test drive is in order

[T84]

I'll take another look into them then, anything over 30mpg is fine as my Focus gets 31mpg at the moment...

[RobM77]

T84 said:

Thanks for the reply, up to now this will have been the most I've spent on a vehicle so I'm keen to get it right, and I'm worried about big bills and my actual experience with cars is very small (Had bikes for so long!)

So I may be rightly or wrongly scared of BMW maybe due to their image/percieved running costs! I think a test drive is in order

They're not the best built cars out there, but equally they're not the worst, just look at the number of E30s still going, and compare that with Sierras... The nicest thing about BMWs is their superb all round ability - the handling balance is lovely, mpg per bhp remarkably good, NVH on the four seater models pleasingly low and the amount of thought that goes into all the little things very impressive. My Dad's not into performance cars, but he's about to take delivery of his third BMW, purely on its merits as a good reliable everyday car that ticks all the boxes. The biggest problem BMWs suffer from is simply an image problem in the UK to be honest; sad, but true. The only real negative I can think of is the bits connected to the otherwise award winning engines - the clutch and throttle on some models can be particularly difficult to operate (both have a delay built in). The first 330s suffered a lot from this, but around 2002 the problem was solved. The early 330s also had electric seats set so high even I couldn't realyl fit - again, this was solved circa 2002.

[T84]

Yeah I agree that car brands in general in the UK have an image problem, and it presents problems to me as a relatively new driver as I have preconceived images of what brands I can afford and which I can't, (IE: BMW's are a 'Rich mans' car).

Weird, huh?

Edited by T84 on Monday 11th October 12:57

[RobM77]

The Crack Fox said:

T84 said:

I'll take another look into them then, anything over 30mpg is fine as my Focus gets 31mpg at the moment...

I reset my trip when I got mine at 19k miles 2 years ago. Now showing 29k miles on the clock. MPG over that is currently 30.3 MPG to include a trackday at Bedford and most of my driving is b-roads. I found that driving like a poof gave 40 MPG on the motorway, driving it very hard gave low 20s MPG. Make sure you look at a manual as Auto's are much worse on juice (but who would want that fantastic engine shackled by an Auto anyway ?). Most manuals come with cruise anyway.

Mine is probably going shortly, have a shufty at my profile, and drop me a line if you like.

Sounds about right. When I owned mine I commuted along ten miles of B road, and got about 32mpg normally, or 30mpg if I drove quickly. Around town I'd get mid 20s. Motorway around 36 was normal, though 40 is possible if you keep the speed down. I believe ST220s do mid 20s all the time, and produce the same power Incidentally, my current Z4 Coupé with the N52 3 litre engine does even better mpg than the 330ci, but with 265bhp and a low ratio gearbox!!

[300bhp/ton]

T84 said:

Hi guys,

Now my insurance is better with my 2nd year of NCB, the Focus is definitely going, so need a new car.

I do roughly 10k a year, 90% of that commuting 15 miles on Motorway, other 10% shopping etc.

I have a motorbike for my jollies. Unsure of whether to get something decent-ish or just get a Diesel.

Current running is:

Accord 2.2 CDTI EX
Civic 2.2 Type-S
Mondeo ST220 (Insurance is about £400 more though, and do I really need the power for commuting?)

330Ci is out, scared of running costs and will get a ropey/high miles/old one for £6k, plus I'm worried about RWD in winter.

Don't want an MR2/MX5 as I don't see the point of a two seater and a motorbike

I don't really *need* the space, but I like big cars.

I like 'toys' and I'd quite like a convertible, but not too girly.

Reliability is important as well

Don't like the MK2 Focus.

Thanks!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2128936.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2148184.htm
Classic Car insurance too


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2148843.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1255991.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1791507.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2086883.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2086140.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2139789.htm
Removable rear roof and good in winter


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2098275.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1847689.htm


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2150768.htm

For starters.

[Mr Roper]

300bhp/ton said:

T84 said:

Hi guys,

Now my insurance is better with my 2nd year of NCB, the Focus is definitely going, so need a new car.

I do roughly 10k a year, 90% of that commuting 15 miles on Motorway, other 10% shopping etc.

I have a motorbike for my jollies. Unsure of whether to get something decent-ish or just get a Diesel.

Current running is:

Accord 2.2 CDTI EX
Civic 2.2 Type-S
Mondeo ST220 (Insurance is about £400 more though, and do I really need the power for commuting?)

330Ci is out, scared of running costs and will get a ropey/high miles/old one for £6k, plus I'm worried about RWD in winter.

Don't want an MR2/MX5 as I don't see the point of a two seater and a motorbike

I don't really *need* the space, but I like big cars.

I like 'toys' and I'd quite like a convertible, but not too girly.

Reliability is important as well

Don't like the MK2 Focus.

Thanks!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1791507.htm



For starters.

This was a joke right? Bit of comic relief to lighten the mood?

[Herbs]

I've got a hankering for either of these at the moment as both represent great value

[T84]

Thanks for the suggestions 300, Classic's aren't my thing though I'm afraid, I can't justify getting rid of a 10 year old Focus that's getting leggy for something older

[300bhp/ton]

Mr Roper said:

300bhp/ton said:

T84 said:

Hi guys,

Now my insurance is better with my 2nd year of NCB, the Focus is definitely going, so need a new car.

I do roughly 10k a year, 90% of that commuting 15 miles on Motorway, other 10% shopping etc.

I have a motorbike for my jollies. Unsure of whether to get something decent-ish or just get a Diesel.

Current running is:

Accord 2.2 CDTI EX
Civic 2.2 Type-S
Mondeo ST220 (Insurance is about £400 more though, and do I really need the power for commuting?)

330Ci is out, scared of running costs and will get a ropey/high miles/old one for £6k, plus I'm worried about RWD in winter.

Don't want an MR2/MX5 as I don't see the point of a two seater and a motorbike

I don't really *need* the space, but I like big cars.

I like 'toys' and I'd quite like a convertible, but not too girly.

Reliability is important as well

Don't like the MK2 Focus.

Thanks!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1791507.htm



For starters.

This was a joke right? Bit of comic relief to lighten the mood?

They said they like big cars... reckon this is pretty big

[T84]

I said big, no 'woefully ste'



(Although I love older Impalas )

Edited by T84 on Monday 11th October 14:11

[andy43]

300bhp/ton said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1255991.htm

fk me.
I'm eating my lunch here.
Jesus that's ugly.
Reason for low mileage - gut-wrenchingly hideous in every way.
What were they thinking.

[300bhp/ton]

How about a last of the line Rover 75/MG ZT the diesel engines are BMW and the 2.5 KV6 petrol is pretty good.

You'll also get an 04 plate one for much less money than some of the others. ZT190 does 0-60mph in 7.8 sec, so respectable performance.

[Mr Roper]

May not be 'special' enough but going by your requirements I think this offers everything you need.

You can get them cheaper but you get the idea.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1881335.htm