[RCUK]

Well...

Looks like im getting a new job - so the company 520d has to go - which aint no bad thing as i honestly never liked it that much -very surprising!!

Anyway... will only be driving on weekends now, and have a discovery for the normal shopping, driving long distances etc!

So.. 'Head' ... criteria is that is must have 4 seats.... and a decent(ish) boot to take a buggy.

'Heart' criteria is that it has to be quick ... and sort of decent value to run.

Current thoughts are the Subaru Impreza wrx with a prodrice pack, or an Integra Type R like i used to own.

Thought id see what other thoughts there were...

[willhollin]

Mazda 6 MPS -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

Mazda 3 MPS -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi.../mps?logcode=p

[F31-340i]

I went round and round this question some years ago looking to spend £8k on a car to do 20-30k miles a year in.

In your shoes today I would spend about £4k (or less) on the best 330i Touring E46 I could find and pocket the rest.

Example (this one is probably worth a bit more than £4k, but you never know in this market)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2742322.htm

BMW 3 Series 330i Sport Touring
3.0 Petrol 5-door Estate
5 Speed Automatic Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 2002 02
Mileage: 77,000

Estimated value of your car


Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£4200
Average condition:
£3690
Below average condition:
£3130

[sheps]

If I was spending that sort of money it'd be a Scoob all day long.
If you're buying a WRX and not an STi budget on some s/h STi stoppers - the wrx ones are the weak link.

[RCUK]

i used to have a 330d E46 touring... did 30k in it in 18 months... best car i ever owned.

(okay .. the DMS remap helped a tad!)

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by RCUK

i used to have a 330d E46 touring... did 30k in it in 18 months... best car i ever owned.

(okay .. the DMS remap helped a tad!)

ditto - did over 60k in mine in 2.5 yrs. swapped it for the E91.

not driven one but i reckon a similar 330i would be a real hoot.

its on my 'list'

[zltm089]

Type R!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Billyray911]

If youre set on a scooby,don't bother with a wrx unless you're after a new age wagon.
You should be able to find a bugeye or blobeye sti for that sort of cash.
6 speed box,265 brake which can easily be remapped to over 300.if you can find a ppp equipped sti-305 bhp!
Brembos as standard and a dccd adjustable centre diff-none of which are standard on the wrx but you'll want them after a few months in a wrx!
All in all,they are decent/bulletproof cars with trouble free motoring.
Interiors are bland,but you're paying for the mechanics behind the car!

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

I went round and round this question some years ago looking to spend £8k on a car to do 20-30k miles a year in.

In your shoes today I would spend about £4k (or less) on the best 330i Touring E46 I could find and pocket the rest.

Example (this one is probably worth a bit more than £4k, but you never know in this market)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2742322.htm

BMW 3 Series 330i Sport Touring
3.0 Petrol 5-door Estate
5 Speed Automatic Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 2002 02
Mileage: 77,000

Estimated value of your car


Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£4200
Average condition:
£3690
Below average condition:
£3130

I like that alot, im looking for a cheap touring at the mo.

[RCUK]

its def the bullet proof thing that im keen on!

Only thing is.. i dont wanna be known for driving a scooby!!

If i could afford the running costs of the Evo - its a no brainer... but servicing every 6k or 6 months... er...

[kaishang]

There is a Pug dealer near my office. They always have some very reasonable late model Peugeos in your budget. 307 or something.

Btw, what did you not like about the 520d? Not enough grunt?

[RCUK]

Partly the grunt ... and also just doesnt 'flow' esp on corners

[RCUK]

Hmm.. E36 M3??

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by Steve A

I like that alot, im looking for a cheap touring at the mo.

They are nice. One of the better looking cars BMW have ever made IMO. Better looking than an E91 for sure.

I saw a high miles early 2001 330i Touring (the launch SE one with staggered 17" M twin spokes - best looking IMO) up for £1600 a few weeks back on PH. Very tempting.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by RCUK

Hmm.. E36 M3??

Yes Yes Yes. These are now post-chav IMO. Get a pre Evo to avoid double vanos woes.

[p1tse]

with those original choices looks like insurance, fuel and running costs isn't an issue, now put thinking hat on ;-)

[335iLondon]

07 golf gti 5 door for my money

[RCUK]

bought an 06 GTi new in candy white... couldnt sell the damn thing as noone wanted a white car - 2 yrs later... white was the new silver!

Cars ive had.... 205 gti, integra, sierra cosworth, mini cooper s, golf gti - ive paid my dues for the hot hatch and max power generation!

Wont be doing more then 6k a year... so running costs wont be bad re petrol - more worried about servicing! Insurance isnt too ba deither... older and live somewhere pretty quiet.

If i didnt need 4 seats ... MX5 and BBR turbo!

[p1tse]

what was a quick decision and find

[RCUK]

Just seen Rx8's are about £3500! Thats tempting - though 14mpg... hmm

[jinjur]

If I had the bucks I would chop bonk in for this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STUNNING-2004-...item415b809036

I would most certainly say it DOES NOT meet the bullet proof criteria though bud but for me, I dont mind a bit of hands on with the motor so it would suit.

Id second the Mazda 3 MPS. Shit load of bang for the money and usual Mazda reliability. Watch the turbo's though.....as usual....

Andy

[RCUK]

Im loving some of these alternative suggestiones!! Def food for though...

I know evo rate the MPS highly as well