A Brief Hello and Car Buying Advice Sought
A Brief Hello and Car Buying Advice Sought
Author
Discussion

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Sunday 20th February 2011
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Hello there. Just joined this forum for some advice and, as a reformed serial BMW buyer, hopefully will be able to offer some help in return.

I'm based in Northants and I'm currently driving a 2006 Audi A6 2.7TDI which, as good as it is, is a bit dull so I'm looking to change. Luckily, I'm able to afford something a bit special this time but I'm a bit stumped what to buy.

The budget is either £13K if the car is likely to suffer from depreciaition over 2 years or £17K if it's less likely to depreciate and I can get away with a balloon payment loan.

So what do I want in the car? Well, of all the cars I've owned the 2 cars that I enjoyed the most are an e24 M635csi, e30 325i Sport and a 1995 Saab 9000 Aero; rapid cars, not 'rattle your fillings' 'hardcore' sports car although can behave itself on the twisties on the occasional times I fancy a blat. Ideally the car is the same sort of 'feel' as those, manual, can have cruise control fitted (if not as standard), and will return 25mpg or better combined. As this is my last chance to buy something special, I want it to be a bit "cor mister is that your car?" (;))

As I'm looking for a daily driver, it needs to be fairly robust and reliable.

Because of my lack of imagination, I only managed to shortlist a few:

  • Porsche 996 C2 (3.4)
  • BMW M3
  • Mercedes CLK55 AMG
  • Audi RS6
The RS6 is probably too thirsty and only comes as an auto now. The CLK isn't really great on backroads. The Porsche can be expensive to fix (leaky RMS and cracked cylinders) and the M3, whilst an obvious contender is a bit 'ordinary'.

Does anyone here have any other ideas and why?

Cheers in advance.

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Monday 21st February 2011
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Sorry to bump this but I'm still looking for some advice!

dave9

579 posts

178 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
an M3 isn't ordinary!

M3 all the way

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
doogz said:
Monaro/VXR8?
Bcensoredr me senseless, they're very cheap!

Krise

632 posts

226 months

Monday 21st February 2011
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A real clean Escort Cosworth for 13 - 15k, probably wont suffer any depreciation

McSam

6,753 posts

191 months

Monday 21st February 2011
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doogz said:
Monaro/VXR8?
If you can stand a lack of visual class/interior quality compared to the cars you mention, definitely consider this. An obscene amount of power for your money.
Seeker UK said:
Bcensoredr me senseless, they're very cheap!
hehe Oh, you noticed then biggrin

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
dave9 said:
an M3 isn't ordinary!

M3 all the way
Compared to some of their 'sexier' coupes I've owned (M635csi, 840i) they're a bit, well, bland to look at.

kieranjholland

3,572 posts

186 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
Probably out of budget but have you thought about the non 'M' 3 series - 335d

0-60 in aprx 5 seconds - although I've seen a few different different figures floated around, it's clear it's a quick car for 35 mpg combined. An awesome car if you're willing to wait for it to come down to your budget, here's one just under 17K but they will come down further:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2335678.htm


touching cloth

11,706 posts

255 months

Monday 21st February 2011
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This one is sold but if you can find another at this price then it would be a pretty safe purchase.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2388530.htm


Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
kieranjholland said:
Probably out of budget but have you thought about the non 'M' 3 series - 335d
Thanks for the reply Kieran. Probably get one of those next but TBH, I've had a lot of BMWs (e24s, e30, e31, e32, e34, e36, e46) and I fancy a change of marque for a while hence why I'm driving an Audi).

kieranjholland

3,572 posts

186 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
Seeker UK said:
Thanks for the reply Kieran. Probably get one of those next but TBH, I've had a lot of BMWs (e24s, e30, e31, e32, e34, e36, e46) and I fancy a change of marque for a while hence why I'm driving an Audi).
Whoops - I should have read your thread more closely!!

Seeker UK

Original Poster:

1,443 posts

174 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
I have now populated "My Garage" - if its of any help smile