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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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New toy advice please
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09-27-2009, 11:56 AM | #1 |
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Guys n' gals
As you know I have sold my 335i and am getting an A4 Avant for the family car sometime in December. I am looking to P/X my wifes Honda FRV people carrier for a daily commuter for myself (happy to put a little money into the deal to get a nce fun little motor). I have looked at all sort of second hand motors and the values of small hot hatches are such that I am considering a brand new one with all the benefits of warranties etc - as I only keep cars 18 months/2 years it is easier to sell with some manufacturers warranty etc. Right, I have been speaking to dealers this weekend about the following: - RenaultSport Clio 200 - Seat Ibiza Cupra - Alfa Mito 1.4T Veloce All are in the £15k/£16k bracket new. The Clio is the drivers car of the bunch but is also the noisiest/least refined/most boy-racer (not too much of a problem as it will mostly be just me in it but I want my wife to drive it too and we have two little ones). The Mito is a fantastic looking car in my opinion (the miswah's preferred option) and the 155bhp feels quicker than it suggests on paper. The Ibiza is the most economical and has the (in my opinion) fantastic VAG DSG gearbox. All three dealerships are offering the same money as trade-in for the Honda (within a couple of hundred quid anyway) and I would have to put £3k-£4k to land any of the above choices. Anyone got any experience of any of the cars on the list (don't think the Ibiza Cura is launched until next week officially so I have not driven it)? Any comments/thoughts appreciated! John |
09-27-2009, 12:51 PM | #3 |
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Assuming it must be new?
Clio - brilliant to drive but dealers and quality are still DREADFUL. Avoid. Cupra (from road tests) - quite good fun but the handling is a bit average. Mito - mediocre handling, Alfa still build flaky cars but quite good fun. I'd also look at: Newish MX5 (or new if possible - the latest is very good again and Mazda are doing some amazing deals) - a mate of mine traded his in for an E46 M3 and missed it so much he flogged the M3 and got another one - huge amounts of fun (as was the last of the MR2s) and brilliant handling. Corsa VXR - yes the image is dire but they are actually pretty quick and not badly made. Fiat 500 Abarth - a bit flaky but fun to drive. Mountune Fiesta - not that rapid but amazing handling. Hang on for the Fiesta ST - might be a while. |
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09-27-2009, 01:28 PM | #4 |
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Reading autocar review the mito drives like dog shite.
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09-27-2009, 01:36 PM | #5 |
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Snooky - The Times have a test today of the Cupra and your other two options are also theres - spooky!! They like the Clio best.
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09-27-2009, 02:04 PM | #6 | |||
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Quote:
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I will look that out Carl - I took one for a spin yesterday and I quite liked it - I have owned an Alfa before and enjoyed it. It is difficult trying these cars as I am coming out of a 335!! Trying to be positive. Quote:
Appreciate all the comments folks - I'm away to find the articles referred to above! J
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09-27-2009, 02:11 PM | #8 |
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What bout low mileage clio 182.
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09-27-2009, 02:53 PM | #9 |
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the clio's a riot mate. would be my choice!
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09-27-2009, 04:21 PM | #10 |
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Clio - end of! What a fantastic little focus'd car, just a real hoot to drive, so confidence inspring, and will keep up will cars a lot more powerful/more money! Go for it, you wont regret it
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09-27-2009, 04:39 PM | #11 |
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09-27-2009, 05:01 PM | #12 | |||
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Its a possibility Carl. Fancied the 197 but not many decent ones about up here and those that I have seen were expensive - I'd be better getting a new 200 tbh.
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Cheers Mikey! Quote:
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Right, I think the Mito is out of the equation (unless I can get a really well-priced year-old one that saves me a few grand over the Clio/Cupra. The Seat dealer is very reluctant to do a decent discount so IF I go for a new one it is looking more likely to be the Clio. I will push the SEAT dealer and see if I get to a position where by I have a decision to make. Cheers for the help!
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09-27-2009, 05:06 PM | #13 |
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maybe a powerfull golf could get in there, maybe tune up and some mods and it would be a good fun car to drive
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09-28-2009, 02:20 AM | #14 | |
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Quote:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/dri...icle664487.ece |
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09-28-2009, 03:39 AM | #15 |
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I had a Swift Sport as a courtesy car and it was very impressive - just thought it might be a bit slow?
I currently hate Alfas with an almost unholy passion. Apart from the stunning but flawed and horribly overpriced 8C, Alfa are churning out endless tarted up Vauxhalls that handle like a bowl of porridge, cost way too much yet the owners are convinced they are in something special. The Brera (think it's been replaced now) with 4x4 and a decent 3.2 V6 - 0-60 in over 7 seconds because it weighs a mildly insane 1800kgs for example!! Add to that the fact that they are still very unreliable and I just cannot see a single reason for buying one apart from to try and look cool and for some misplaced loyalty to their heritage (which was once very good). Saab are similar too - rebadged tarted up Vauxhalls for 30% more. |
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09-28-2009, 03:55 AM | #16 |
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Clio, had a mid range model for a hire car and it was terrible, done approx 10k miles and was rattling and squeaking and the fit and finish was questionable. The dash and door cards were starting to go that shiny way, just very cheap and nasty I thought. The dealers are terrible to from what I have been told from people who own Renaults.
Alfa, hmmmmm, would stay away. Dealers are shocking and the build quality is iffy in my opinion. Basically the same floor pan as the Vauxhall agila and the same as a Panda aswell. Although, the electrics etc on a Vauxhall are a million times better. Seat would be my choice, paint work isnt that great on them, very thin. But solid build quality and well finished in all areas (paint work questionable as said). Basically a Polo in a new dress isnt it.
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09-28-2009, 07:26 AM | #17 |
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I used to own a Clio 182 - one of the best cars I've ever been in if you fancy a mad thrash somewhere - they are awesome.
However the horrible seat position and unbelievably bad dealers meant I sold it after a couple of months. I would say Fiesta ST Mountune - best allrounder? |
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09-28-2009, 02:42 PM | #18 | |||||
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The Swift Sport is certainly not quick but was it a fun drive nonetheless? For the most part I will be pootling along on my commute at 40-50mph. The new Audi when it arrives is 211PS with 0-62 in 6.7 seconds which, although slow compared to the 335i, is plenty quick enough for me to have a fun drive. Quote:
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09-28-2009, 03:04 PM | #20 |
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Civic R, yes good point. Bloke at work is getting one soon and appears from what he's said there's some decent deals to be had?
Otherwise the Fiesta imo. |
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09-28-2009, 03:45 PM | #21 |
24 cans in a case, 24 hours in a day Hmmmmmm
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Gonna sound like a 'know it all' here but, my mate bought the latest Civic type R and a Tye S for his wife, had them 6 weeks and they were with Honda more than he had them, squeaks and rattles and other issues. Eventually he got his money back (after threating to take them to court and with lawyers backing him), but when he asked about the build quality lacking with Honda in there recent models (I had an 2005 accord prior to the BMW and it was shite, so I can relate). They told him it's all the recycled materials used now in the cabin interior. Plus there was a big thing a while ago on the net regarding very very poor paintwork with the Civic's.
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