Time for something fun, again?

[mgmrw2003]

Apologies in advance if this reads as a "what car?" thread, but it is intended more as musing with a plea for advice from people who know cars.

Current dillemma is that I run a 96 plate 320 tourer for work (Lucky to be worth £1,000) and general load-lugging (dogs/bikes/etc) and have a 06 SAAB 9-3 Vector Sport TiD sat on the drive way for 5days a week.... Which still holds some value if sold on.

I am planning to enter the housing market around summer next year (when the OH finishes her p/t postgrad study and cash is freed up) and both of us commented that the SAAB seems wasted currently, and whilst there's no discernable fault with it, it's just a bit dull/sensible.

I need a car that fits me in the driving seat (6ft7 and 15st) the OH in passenger seat, and occassionally a rear passenger, and some boot space. Currently paying group 15 insurance costs on the SAAB so dont mind a small shift upwards.

The options I'd considered are as follows:

> Focus ST - best mate had one for 6months, amazing car for what it was
> Civic Type R - another in the "always wanted" category, reliabillity and performence
> E46 Soft-top beemer
> Volvo S60 T5 or C70 T5 (and tune a little)
> Landrover 90 (although 6-7k wont get much will it?)
> Golf GTi - but unsure what 7k will get and whether they're a bit flabby
> Audi TT (but would really want the 3.2)
> Subaru Impreza WRX STI (ALWAYS WANTED ONE, since was about 8years old)


The car would be used 2days a week by the OH (1day round town, 1day motorway commute) and 1day a week by me (Sundays out).

So, 1) have I missed any obvious suggestions? 2) Does anyone have glaringly obvious reasons why I shouldn't switch the 9-3 for one of these?

N.B. Last suggestion was to get the 9-3 remapped from 150-190+ps and wack on some Eibach springs and polybushes to see if it could be a little bit more entertaining on the lovely B roads around us.

Thanks, in advance.

[mgmrw2003]

What sort of age/spec will 7k get me in Golf/E46 world?


I know the ST aint no lightweight...... But I'm well aware of their tuning potential, so over the course of a year could take one to 300+ bhp which would help it shuffle.

Also, having driven golfs, and Foci' I prefer the handling of the Ford.

[mgmrw2003]

Did debate a supra, but unsure if I want to run 2x 90s cars. Hence looking at the "hot hatch" candidates. They mix something new/safe/reliable with something fun.......

I'm torn between Focus ST/Golf GTi/Civic Type R at the moment...... Although remapping and tweaking the SAAB would be a cheaper solution, and ultimately get me simillar power. Just the stupid hydro-electric steering that I'm stuck with

[mgmrw2003]

Integra type R = PERFECT! I love them and the OH does (she's gotta use whatever I get a couple of days a week)

200SX = had one. 360horse, 14grand spent, NEVER AGAIN! handling is ste, all power and turbo, no finesse.

Porsche - im 24, insurance.

V8s and RX8s are just too thirsty as the car will be doing 300miles a week, 180 of that motorway.

This is why the Golf GTi or Focus/Civic options appeal.


S60R...... REALLY? I love the stealth style of them and the fact that no-one except PH users and Volvo know what they are. Figured they were a £10k car.

[mgmrw2003]

The subaru idea does MASSIVELY APPEAL. ALthough I'd possibly go newer and UK car for my own reasons. Know of a 2002 one with circa 300bhp that is "scruffy" and possibly going cheap. Having mates in the trade could soon have it back looking A1.


I blame Colin McCrae for my Impreza horn, and Malcolm Wilson was it? Who used to hammer around in Escort Cosworths in the mid 90s in rallying?

1995.. I'd be 7, remember spending many a wet sunday afternoon using a labrador as a cushion and watching 2 or 3 hours of rallying.


If I'm playing sensible then it'd be the golf GTi or Civic Type R... then get them "tweeked" over time. If I follow my heart, we're Impreza'ing all day long.

THOUGH, as some may know, I don't like to conform.... So getting respectable power out of the 1900derv lump in the SAAB and seeing what it's like, does have some appeal, especially as at my size, it's a dream on motorways.

[mgmrw2003]

From this, it would appear that the hunt for a tidy, unmolested Impreza, newer the better, is on. My best mate who's a mechanic will refuse to speak to me for a week or 3, but I can stand that loss.

Only issue I may have is my dad loves them too, but mother said no, so he'll steal it.

The civic = someone said "hard work" - what do you mean?

[mgmrw2003]

paulmoonraker said:

However, at 24 insurance could be painful.

IMO probably the best all round hatch.

... My car is hilariously quick

-P

Insurance = yep HEADACHE. ST is only 100quid a year dearer than the SAAB

ST best all round hatch, yup. drink fuel though compared to golf.

Hillariously quick - only thing I miss from the 200SX. The whole: throttle... wait wait wait wait wait...woosh...wait..wooosh more... BANG!!!!!!!!!!! HORIZON COME TO ME NOW" style of performence.

[mgmrw2003]

yonex said:

They're great when you are pushing on but when you are not concentrating/not in the mood or on unfamiliar roads in the wet the lack of feedback and torque IMO compromises the car to a much greater extent than something like the ST and the Golf.

Valid point. I can cope with having to rev the nuts off of a 2k weekend blatter, but dont know if it'd annoy me, AND the OH on motorways when just cruising.

The ST is insurable and torquey.... best hatch. BUT the Golf is a nice place to be and looks a bit less "chav".

[mgmrw2003]

Reckon if I manage to convince myself to sell a perfectly good 9-3 it'll come down to a choice between:

Golf GTi (really like the interior, and there's a tidy 2005 one not far from me for £6500 - but never driven the GTi variant)

and the

STI impreza (dependant upon insurance - driven a 2004 one I think it was, and loved it)

[mgmrw2003]

RB5s do have a certain element of class to them, same as p1s

[mgmrw2003]

Im usless on golf mk's as Im no VAG fan (that rules out the skoda)... is mk5 the 2005 one I've seen?

Impreza would depend on insurance entirely.

Sensible = running a remapped 9-3 derv. 200ps near enough, 6speed box. sports suspension and uprated brakes.... dunnoh if I can talk myself into it

[mgmrw2003]

kpb said:

Agree - bore liners and angle gear problems are pretty prevalent on the S60R. So unless you're getting a warranty, I wouldnt bother. The later 2.4 T5's are stronger engines and have all the go faster bits from the R so will map the same.

I'm selling one BTW in the classifieds!

My dad had a C70, 2litre turbo, lovely car even with 170k on the clock.... Just unsure whether the volvo will be enough of a change from the SAAB

[mgmrw2003]

300bhp/ton said:

Very different cars though. P1 is nice, but hugely over priced. An STI IV, V, VI is much better value.

If scoob, as it needs to be OH friendly, it'd be a later model... if possible.

better manners

[mgmrw2003]

300bhp/ton said:

Would guess blobeyes but haven't really checked prices out on new age Impreza's.

Was thinking the same. Impreza's aren't about the "looks" it's all about the way they drive and the vocal accompaniement.

That said, having perused a few Golf Gti's on the net, one of them around 2005 with 60k on the clock looks rather plush.

[mgmrw2003]

300bhp/ton said:

Now I agree with the way the drive and certainly the noise but you totally lose me when you start talking about the Golf????

I don't even see how they are comparable.

Because whilst the Impreza will always have the edge on the days when my right foot is feeling abusive..... The golf will cruise better, be more reliable, be cheaper to run, be more suitable for the OH and if tweeked, still offer fun and grunt on those days I want to play a bit.

I personally detest anything VAG, but the mk5 GTI ticks a lot of boxes, and at 5800-6800 some of them I've seen are rather attractively priced.

[mgmrw2003]

maybe I misphrased reliabillity ...... amount of maintanence needed?

[mgmrw2003]

Overnight I had ideas:

Nissan 350Z ..... I see 6k is a starting price

[mgmrw2003]

I fear we're missing the 2points:

1) I AM 24, the OH is 23..... INSURANCE
2) the OH uses the car for 180miles of motorway commuting a week, so something safe/reliable and comfy is needed as well as economical (ish)

[mgmrw2003]

I had thought this, but insurance quote came back high (I'm only 1month into a new policy) and I already have 1x beemer, dunnoh if I want to have 2

[mgmrw2003]

Steameh said:

As an aside, I'm 25, and my insurance on my V8 is around 700 a year (with admiral multicar 10% discount)

what V8?

I'm 24, with 3points current, 3more inside last 5years, and only 4years NCB. OH is 23, no NCB, named on another car, clean license. Vehicle listed as: Driveway stored, doing 15k per annum