so skyline is gone, help me find new car!

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:08pm #1

So my skyline is gone and i need to move on. I though i knew what i want, when i had no money, but now when i got stuff sorted i dont want anything ffs.. :rolleyes:
So anyway, i need new car to upgrade from my bangornomics Ford. i will still keep it as an emergency car. it saved me a fantastic amount of money and it has fresh nct too.

well, so here it goes, but it has a few twists:
budget 7k/8k ( ill explain )
car has to be fun or luxury, BUT no more super modified stuff with sports coilovers
car has to have at least basic comfort
4 seats, no roadsters as i have one already. reasonably practical.
car can be up to 8k eu if it stays up to 2.0l tax wise.
car can be up to 5-6k, but tax can be up to 3.0l ( so i can pay tax for a year and a bit, from the budget.
has to be reasonable mpg, 25mpg is grand.
i do very small milage. 200 miles per 3 weeks if i go only to work. add good few miles if i decide to go to cork city etc.

so far the i have looked in to this:

astra opc - a great middle ground for me. i love looks, love 240hp, love tax, but i will need to hunt down one for around 7.5k eu. not many of them out there for sale and some of them are still around 10k.

Corsa OPC - love it, same as above. price wise it is very weird. there are one for 7.5k and one for 8.9k on donedeal. i dont know if there is a point checking carzone as it became ad graveyard with cars for sale with 100 days old ads.

Subaru WRX - i always wanted a boxer engine, but if i go for one, it would have to be as standart as possible. no engine mods or scangorizing.

bmw 520/525 ( e60 ) - its a hard one. i like the looks of it, but i have no idea how to live with one. i am really afraid to buy a modern car with more electronics, then nasa computer. if anyone knows anything about them or has one, could their share their experience, running costs mpg etc?

bmw 530d ( e60 ) as above, but it has quite a twist. i could look past 3.0 tax on it, as i could buy one for 5-6k eu and pay tax for 2-3 years, before i break even with 2.0 in the same time, which will be bought 8k eu. in the end of the day it is diesel engine too, so mpg will be better then anything above, but it will have a good kick too, when i need it. biggest problem - reliability. i know jack shiet about them, how reliable turbos and electronic on these.

Volvo s80 (07 new model ) - love the looks and interior. gets huge thumbs up from misses too. 2.0turbo engine wount win any drags, but it will be more then enough for overtaking. luxury with very affordable tax. problem - i dont have a clue about about it as a car to live with. running cots and reliability. anyone know anything? feel free to share your info.

Cars that are big NO NO:

merc e200
bmw 3 series
Saab ( misses dislike them )
volvo s40
audi a2 a3 a4 a6 a8 TT - insert any audi there.

now i will need your help on this as i am going out of my comfort zone with this next car. i always stayed up to 00' year, as those cars were simple and easy to repair. no stupid electronics. now i have to go up the years, so i am sailing in a very murky waters.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:15pm

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Something cheap and cheerful like a 1.4 16v Grande Punto Sporting?

Its not a patch on an OPC but it wont cost anything to run, plently of room,vgood mpg, nice looking.

nah, i just looked in to that. I am not a fiat hater or something, its just not my cup of tea.

Gumbo · 07-05-2012 2:15pm

2003 BMW 530d Aegean Blue Limited edition by kceire, on Flickr

One of these?

Aegean Blue 530d, only 150 Diesels produced.

Jimdagym · 07-05-2012 2:16pm

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3329998

2003 735i Auto
Taxed for 3 months, NCT till June 13. 4 new tyres quoted at €1600.
Engine is a little big at 3.6 but this is a beast. Its got all the toys too.
Parkers lists MPG at 26!!!

EDIT*** Forgot price. 5950

TestTransmission · 07-05-2012 2:17pm

ST or a Euro R?

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:20pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3329998

2003 735i Auto
Taxed for 3 months, NCT till June 13. 4 new tyres quoted at €1600.
Engine is a little big at 3.6 but this is a beast. Its got all the toys too.
Parkers lists MPG at 26!!!

EDIT*** Forgot price. 5950

nah, it will go way over my tax budget, plus i know those are not most reliable things out there. i prefer e38 over that any day of the week, month, year, decade.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:22pm

TestTransmission wrote: »

ST or a Euro R?

ST - only if i get one dirt cheap. i really dont see anything it does better then OPC with my needs. has less HP and bigger CC engine. i want to stay away from all mapping stuff too.

Euro R, those are out of my budget. are you talking about the newer shaped ones k20? I should not have problems with insurance ( 26 with 5ncb ), but Honda word is involved i can already see my insurance company go "aye, but is a rally car! "

Jimdagym · 07-05-2012 2:23pm

Well you mention reliable

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3266288

06 159, 1.9 petrol
Only 50k miles and a couple of grand left in your pocket.

TestTransmission · 07-05-2012 2:26pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Euro R, those are out of my budget. are you talking about the newer shaped ones k20? I should not have problems with insurance ( 26 with 5ncb ), but Honda word is involved i can already see my insurance company go "aye, but is a rally car! "

Yeah, the CL7. I'd say you'd pick one up for 6/7k.They're ridiculously overpriced on donedeal with the majority of sellers living in cuckoo land.I had one before, was only an extra 100 yoyo insurance wise for the year over the vRS I had previously.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:27pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

Well you mention reliable

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3266288

06 159, 1.9 petrol
Only 50k miles and a couple of grand left in your pocket.

i really loved them, when they came out, but now any alfa is "meh" to me. Again, i am not an Alfa hater, its just it is not giving me that "fizzy" feeling, that James May gets, between his tummy and testicles.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:28pm

TestTransmission wrote: »

Yeah, the CL7. I'd say you'd pick one up for 6/7k.They're ridiculously overpriced on donedeal with the majority of sellers living in cuckoo land.I had one before, was only an extra 100 yoyo insurance wise for the year over the vRS I had previously.

if i would see one for around 6k i would not mind to have a look, but not for cuckoo land prices as you said bud.

Brian · 07-05-2012 2:31pm

Mazda RX-8! Might just about squeeze 25 mpg

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:34pm

Brian wrote: »

Mazda RX-8! Might just about squeeze 25 mpg

nah, feck, mondeo made me lazy prick. i dont do big millage, so warming her up will be a problem.

dont understand me wrong - ITS AWESOME car and a great value if you are looking for sporty car, but feck, ill skip on it. No offence, but average joe on this island who bought these cars knows feck all how to look after them ( even i dont know everything and rx8 thread just made me more confused after ), so 90% of them will be dead.

Jimdagym · 07-05-2012 2:40pm

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3144644
06 Legacy estate. 2.5 but claims 35mpg. full suburu service history.
\\\\\auto, with all the toys.
7k, but I am sure a deal could be made.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 2:54pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3144644
06 Legacy estate. 2.5 but claims 35mpg. full suburu service history.
\\\\\auto, with all the toys.
7k, but I am sure a deal could be made.

Quite interesting, but misses will see and say: no coffin mobiles. She dislikes estates with a passion.

07-05-2012 3:10pm

Don't know much about cars, but I have always liked the Octavia vRS.

This one is €7,700.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3328029

07-05-2012 3:26pm

Doing as low as 200 miles every 3 weeks a diesel would be lunacy imo, especially a 530.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 3:38pm

RoverJames wrote: »

Doing as low as 200 miles every 3 weeks a diesel would be lunacy imo, especially a 530.

but older diesels, dont have stupid filters, which need long millage?

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 3:41pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Don't know much about cars, but I have always liked the Octavia vRS.

This one is €7,700.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3328029

i knew VRS would show its head here sooner or later

.

if all "big boot" stuff outsdie how are they like to live with. definitely someone owns one here? those are 200hp? is it golf gti unit?

MetzgerMeister · 07-05-2012 3:42pm

Mazda6 MPS - €4000 + VRT

07-05-2012 3:49pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

but older diesels, dont have stupid filters, which need long millage?

Indeed there's no dpf but a diesel will still appreciate being heated up fully for most journeys, if you are travelling 5 ish miles to and from work there isn't much opportunity for that, egr valves etc will still get clogged.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 3:50pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Mazda6 MPS - €4000 + VRT

i wont be touching any UK car like this. only after it is VRTed and stuff, but you gave me food for thought.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3324535

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3292164

the only downside: its in the other side of the island... so i need to make sure i want it, before i even go to look at it.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 3:52pm

RoverJames wrote: »

Indeed there's no dpf but a diesel will still appreciate being heated up fully for most journeys, if you are travelling 5 ish miles to and from work there isn't much opportunity for that, egr valves etc will still get clogged.

It is 10 miles to go one side, then 10 miles back ( ish ), i give my cars to warm up anyway, as i wake up 4:00 in the morning and i hatesitting in a cold car. i presume that would sort out, the heating up problem?

bazz26 · 07-05-2012 3:53pm

The reason to buy a diesel over a petrol is for higher mpg but it needs to be cost effective to justify it. A 3.0 litre petrol car will cost alot less to buy than a similar 3.0 litre diesel model. If you are only driving 200 miles a week it will take you along time to make paying the premium for the diesel model cost effective.

Mar4ix · 07-05-2012 3:58pm

hmmmm ... been in that situation, but with way smaller budget, .. id have look on them - http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3022898

07-05-2012 3:59pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

It is 10 miles to go one side, then 10 miles back ( ish ), i give my cars to warm up anyway, as i wake up 4:00 in the morning and i hatesitting in a cold car. i presume that would sort out, the heating up problem?

To be honest letting them heat up at idle isn't encouraged, 10 mile spin isn't too short, bit of welly a few times a week wouldn't do a diesel any harm.

vectra · 07-05-2012 4:03pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

i knew VRS would show its head here sooner or later .

if all "big boot" stuff outsdie how are they like to live with. definitely someone owns one here? those are 200hp? is it golf gti unit?

I can't speak for the petrol version.

But my experience is they are fine to live with.

Big boot

200bhp yes > Lots more to be got with a simple map or more with other mods.

Have heard of up to 40mpg on a run driving easy > "Even in 240+ bhp mapped ones"

Based on the Golf gti > Yes.

Main downside I have is road noise but this can be sorted with some simple Sound deadening.

Would I buy another one? 100% yes.. > "Roll on 2013" :pac:

ShadowHearth wrote: »

It is 10 miles to go one side, then 10 miles back ( ish ), i give my cars to warm up anyway, as i wake up 4:00 in the morning and i hatesitting in a cold car. i presume that would sort out, the heating up problem?

My diesel takes 10 miles to heat up in the winter. It will NOT heat up on tickover.

RoverJames wrote: »

To be honest letting them heat up at idle isn't encouraged, 10 mile spin isn't too short, bit of welly a few times a week wouldn't do a diesel any harm.

10 mile spins is too short to heat them

Jimdagym · 07-05-2012 4:03pm

Mar4ix wrote: »

hmmmm ... been in that situation, but with way smaller budget, .. id have look on them - http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3022898

The missus doesnt like estates.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:04pm

bazz26 wrote: »

The reason to buy a diesel over a petrol is for higher mpg but it needs to be cost effective to justify it. A 3.0 litre petrol car will cost alot less to buy than a similar 3.0 litre diesel model. If you are only driving 200 miles a week it will take you along time to make paying the premium for the diesel model cost effective.

problem is - there is no 530i out there. i prefer e60 over e39 too.

my bet on 530d was its power and being older diesel, with no problems, that is the plague of any modern diesel.

puzzle factory · 07-05-2012 4:05pm

Mar4ix wrote: »

hmmmm ... been in that situation, but with way smaller budget, .. id have look on them - http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3022898

man you really have to start reading the op in threads.

Mar4ix · 07-05-2012 4:08pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

The missus doesnt like estates.

ooppsss.. missed that, might that would be ok ? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3324303 .. that type car was on my cards also.

conzy · 07-05-2012 4:12pm

Cars that are big NO NO:

merc e200
bmw 3 series
Saab ( misses dislike them )
volvo s40
audi a2 a3 a4 a6 a8 TT - insert any audi there.

:pac:

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:15pm

on EGR thingy now, BMW lads are just disconecting them or puting in bypass valves... looks like its piss easy job too. If i can disconnect it so easy, then reconnect it for nct same way, then maybe there is no problem so?

outside of EGR valve, any other issues of diesels on short runs? or EGR is the main problem?

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=91485

vectra · 07-05-2012 4:18pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

on EGR thingy now, BMW lads are just disconecting them or puting in bypass valves... looks like its piss easy job too. If i can disconnect it so easy, then reconnect it for nct same way, then maybe there is no problem so?

outside of EGR valve, any other issues of diesels on short runs? or EGR is the main problem?

EGR valve is easy to clean out once a year anyhow so wouldn't worry about it.

Mar4ix · 07-05-2012 4:19pm

conzymaher wrote: »

:pac:

well, i never asked missis ... when bought skyline, than punto, than avensis ... if missis choose car, than might let her pick the car, and you just agree ??? or get car for missis, make her happy, and drive car what you like. my missis never asked what kind food or bed cloth to buy, as i never interested in that house hold things.
I cant judge, as everyone have own live and relations.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:19pm

conzymaher wrote: »

:pac:

i like saabs, but i find their interriors damn horrible. they havent changed for years and look very dated. Misses has a saying in it too, so if she says no, it means no. same as i will say no to pink fluffy unicorn car.

audi - i dont want to start fanboy warfare 3 here, but it is most over rated car in my books. for same money you might aswell go with BMW or merc. then again the amount of AUDIs in my friends garage is shocking. the only one which is most reliable of them all was old audi 80. I will admit, that i had a look at A6 and i like what i see, but i know how crappy those are when something goes bad.

Sonnenblumen · 07-05-2012 4:23pm

2.0l Turbo Petrol Subaru Forester 2005 (48k miles) fully specd.

Mar4ix · 07-05-2012 4:27pm

get one of them, none in your no no list, and 2 liter turbo diesel would have some poke , if do some chip tuning. - http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland/?filter%28fuelType%29=Diesel&filter%28make%29=Toyota&filter%28max_price%29=8000&filter%28min_price%29=3000&filter%28model%29=Avensis&sort=price+desc

glynf · 07-05-2012 4:28pm

Lexus IS 250?

Quick, lovely car to drive & top class finish inside..and only 16 miles on clock:eek:

Or a 2.4L Accord for <€5K?

puzzle factory · 07-05-2012 4:29pm

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

2.0l Turbo Petrol Subaru Forester 2005 (48k miles) fully specd.

my friend has one, no dout its a quick bus, but tisnt a car and tisnt a jeep , they should have called it a subaru tisnt, and the passanger windows are so big youd have to make sure youve clean socks on when your leaving the house, sitting there on display.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:30pm

Mar4ix wrote: »

well, i never asked missis ... when bought skyline, than punto, than avensis ... if missis choose car, than might let her pick the car, and you just agree ??? or get car for missis, make her happy, and drive car what you like. my missis never asked what kind food or bed cloth to buy, as i never interested in that house hold things.
I cant judge, as everyone have own live and relations.

i love my misses, and i will rip someones head for her. in 8++ years, she newer told me a thing when i bought:

every single console in the market
2x gaming PC. one of them costed 1.2k eu back then and my newest PC ( 4 months old) is clocking up 2k eu.
my huge collection of video games, which would be about 5k+++ eu over the years.
skyline, merc clk200, mx5.
she gave me back to drive mx5, when she so what 500eu ford mondeo does to me, when i need to drive it from day to day. She drove ****y 500eu mondeo and newer told me a thing. i gave it back to her now for summer, so it would put smile on her face.

i dont know how other live with their misses, but my misses really puts up with my **** for very long, and i dont see an issue to listen to her opinion too. From all car i mentioned, she only said no about Saab, i have no problem with that.

07-05-2012 4:30pm

Mar4ix wrote: »

get one of them, none in your no no list, and 2 liter turbo diesel would have some poke , if do some chip tuning. - http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland/?filter%28fuelType%29=Diesel&filter%28make%29=Toyota&filter%28max_price%29=8000&filter%28min_price%29=3000&filter%28model%29=Avensis&sort=price+desc

Yep, my brother got one of these when his land cruiser went in for some work. 2.0L D4D, it was quick!

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:32pm

ah jesus lads, dont bury me just yet! i am not in avensis range yet!

MetzgerMeister · 07-05-2012 4:33pm

I can see a full-blown row break out in Polish between the 2 lads :eek:

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 4:35pm

vectra wrote: »

EGR valve is easy to clean out once a year anyhow so wouldn't worry about it.

so if EGR valve is not an issue and to be honest, its not the hardest thing to clean up and sort out, then for low millage 530d wont be an issue? i will just go and disconect it after buying damn thing and wont worry about it untill next NCT.

Jimdagym · 07-05-2012 4:47pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

i like saabs, but i find their interriors damn horrible. they havent changed for years and look very dated. Misses has a saying in it too, so if she says no, it means no. same as i will say no to pink fluffy unicorn car.

audi - i dont want to start fanboy warfare 3 here, but it is most over rated car in my books. for same money you might aswell go with BMW or merc. then again the amount of AUDIs in my friends garage is shocking. the only one which is most reliable of them all was old audi 80. I will admit, that i had a look at A6 and i like what i see, but i know how crappy those are when something goes bad.

:pac::pac:

vectra · 07-05-2012 6:00pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

so if EGR valve is not an issue and to be honest, its not the hardest thing to clean up and sort out, then for low millage 530d wont be an issue? i will just go and disconect it after buying damn thing and wont worry about it untill next NCT.

Is there something about swirl flaps in those 3.0 engines as well?

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 6:31pm

vectra wrote: »

Is there something about swirl flaps in those 3.0 engines as well?

good question, i know i heard it, but dont know much about this problem, need to look in to it now.

MuppetCheck · 07-05-2012 6:40pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

good question, i know i heard it, but dont know much about this problem, need to look in to it now.

Why pay a premium for a diesel vehicle when you won't gain much in terms of economy benefits from it? There is also more potential for issues.

ShadowHearth · 07-05-2012 6:50pm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Why pay a premium for a diesel vehicle when you won't gain much in terms of economy benefits from it? There is also more potential for issues.

well thats why i do these threads, so people like you can give me more info on situation and a second opinion.

anyway, just read more about those swirl flaps and it is just shocking to say the least. :eek:
looks like there are good few aftermarket solutions for it. bottom line is: if you buy any BMW diesel, there is a small list of things to do:

upgrade swirl flaps.
take out and give a clean to EGR valve.
upgrade/change turbo filter.

in the end 530d might go off my books. I might find a 530i, but it is really rare here.

Brian · 07-05-2012 7:01pm

Would a Volvo C30 be too small?

so skyline is gone, help me find new car!

Comments