Help a fellow petrolhead choos a new motor!

gary the great

Im looking for a new motor to replace my 1996 Mazda 323F (i have a bad knee injury and the car is just to low down to be getting in and out of, plus I want something a bit more comfortable as I will probably be doing long journeys a few times a week). I'm 6'3 and its difficult getting into the 323F as i dont think its really built for someone as tall as me!
I'll be bringing it back from England to save a few quid to. Budget of about 8k max incl. VRT

What I really really want more than anything is a Alfa 147, i'm really into cars and these are just beautiful. i know a lot of the reptuation ALfas has is unfounded, but I know i would never be able to trust it and feel sure that its not going to let me down. Therefore the head has ruled the heart and im ruling it out, although the thought of getting an older and thus cheaper 156 and keeping soem cash for future repair bills if anything goes wrong has crossed my mind
Anyway please don't turn this into an Alfa bashing thread!

Another car i'd love but i just can't afford yet is a Mazda 6. I love mazdas and really love the 6, this would be perfect for long journeys to so would suit me, but i can't stretch the cash that far. Plus in 24 and feel the 6 is a bit "old" for me!

I drove an octavia down from Kells to Dublin the other day and my back was in bits after it, didnt enjoy the experience at all. Really dont want anything in the VAG as i think there far to expensive for what they are.

Wouldnt mind a civic, but it doesnt appeal to me that much. Although i do like the HRV but its just a bit weird or something! I considered taking a new civic out on finance, but then thought better.

I'd like a suburu legacy, but there just to heavy on the juice.

basically I wnat something that looks cool, great fun to drive, soemthing i can depend on, has plenty of toys, is comfortable for long drives and has decent mpg.


What do you's suggest?

miju

just on the Alfas there no where near as bad as people make out I've been driving one for 2 years and only prob ive had is the fan belt snapping after 65,000 miles, if you have a look back through this forum youll see more probs with other cars than alfas. BTW a 147 would tick all your requirement boxes too.

thought that said , mazda 6s are lovely cars but a tad bit on the expensive side i think. best of luck with whatever car you decide to go with in the end.also its worth taking look at honestjohn.co.uk for whatever car you decide to get

gary the great

ye i use the honest john site a bit. I change my mind on what car i want every few days, but ive to get my arse in gear cos im moving back to Dublin in a few weeks and want to bring the new motor back with me.

I know alfa's aernt as bad as there made out to be, but i'd never feel confident in its reliability, which would take away from owning one. as i said, I don't want to turn this into an alfa thread, we had one of them during the week!
Something with the stlye, looks and drivability of the alfa (and the excellent bose sound system in the Lusso) but with reliability would be my preference!

colm_mcm

Galant or Legnum VR4

Dish

Lexus IS200! They going cheap at the minute! Really comfy cars, look great and arent heavy on petrol either! Very reliable!

Atomic Pineapple

i'd second the is200 if you can afford one, very nice cars

OKenora

Something with the stlye, looks and drivability of the alfa (and the excellent bose sound system in the Lusso) but with reliability would be my preference!

Easy this one, an Alfa 147 JTD - Diesel, none of the gremlins that ruin the petrols and far more reliable as a day to day driver if looked after

louie

because you have a knee problem I will go for something like H-RV or a RAV4 or any other jeep style.

Atomic Pineapple

OKenora wrote:

Easy this one, an Alfa 147 JTD - Diesel, none of the gremlins that ruin the petrols and far more reliable as a day to day driver if looked after

can you get a jtd and vrt it for 8k?

@OP, do you mean 8k sterling or euros?

gary the great

Don't think i could afford to run a 4x4 style vehicle, remember i'll probably be doing quite a bit of mileage!

Would love a JTD Alfa or IS200 but there both out of my budget. Trust me, if I had the cash they would be the 2 motor's i'd be considering and nothing else. But just don't have the cash for them.

Quinn don't seem to like the thought of me driving a Galant and im being quoted quite a bit on them, a lot more than an IS200 etc. Wouldnt mind paying the bit extra though. The Galant is nice but theres just soemthing about it I don't really like.

I would rather a 1.6 size engine, but would go up to a 2 litre for the right car.

gary the great

8k euros incl. VRT!
Sorry if i didnt make that clear!

colm_mcm

280bhp, 4 wheel drive, active yaw control, auto.
low insurance, got a quote on one and it was cheaper than my FTO to insure despite having 80bhp more.

Atomic Pineapple

how about a honda accord 1.8 Sport?

personally think they look good, its big enough and economical enough too.




you get some vtec too

gary the great

Draffodx thats a motor I never thought of. Ticks all the boxes, anyone know what they're like of petrol?

That actual one you have the picture for is a decent price and spec, if I had the cash this is what i'd get though:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/213209.htm

Colm MCM just can't see myself driving that, plus with all the BHP i'd never be able to afford the fuel. Saying that though it was you who suggested I get a 323F and I really love that motor, but I 'm easily bored and fancy a change!

I'll have to check and see what Quinn will want insurance wise for it.

Some quality suggestions here, the

Atomic Pineapple

there pretty good on petrol if you stay out of vtec, not sure about actual figures, the type r can get 30mpg if kept out of vtec so i presume the 1.8 should get 35 - 40 mpg

yeh the newer shape is nice, not sure if you'll get one within your price range though

gary the great

No can't get a new shape within my budget.

I see you want a Type R, why don't you head over to the Uk and get one? looking at pistonheads there and there are some beauties. The 1.8 Sport is what I think i'll be going for. Although when i put Type R Accord onto Quinn they gave me a quote which was only 400euro more expensive than the 1.8, although i'll never get the fuel economy and i think the spoliers on the type R is crap.

I'll look into the Accord a bit more though, but keep the suggestions coming people - although i doubt the Accord can be beaten.

Atomic Pineapple

gary the great wrote:

No can't get a new shape within my budget.

I see you want a Type R, why don't you head over to the Uk and get one? looking at pistonheads there and there are some beauties. The 1.8 Sport is what I think i'll be going for. Although when i put Type R Accord onto Quinn they gave me a quote which was only 400euro more expensive than the 1.8, although i'll never get the fuel economy and i think the spoliers on the type R is crap.

I'll look into the Accord a bit more though, but keep the suggestions coming people - although i doubt the Accord can be beaten.

you can get a low level spoiler for the type r that may be more to your taste, yeh i will be heading over to england to get one as soon as my focus sells.

theres an accord owners club you can ask more detailed questions on if you do decide to go for the 1.8 - http://www.thaoc.co.uk

there is a few issues with the type r concerning the gearbox i'm not sure if it affects the 1.8 though

bazz26

How about an E36 3 Series 318iS coupe like this:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=631074

gary the great

bazz26 wrote:

How about an E36 3 Series 318iS coupe like this:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=631074

My dad has a 318 like that and Im not into it at all, don't find it comfortabloe to drive and nor does my dad.
I reckon it will be the Accored 1.8 Vtec SE that i'll go for.
Another option would be the Honda Prelude (the later model), are these any good?

It will probably be the 2litre version as i couldnt afford the tax and insurance and extra running costs on the 2.2 vtec version.

siralfalot

edited to say scratch that, I mis-read the first post!

TigerTim

With your height, I'd check the Jap cars carefully. I find I can't get a suitable driving position in many of them if they have a sunroof - The Avensis (2002 model) & the Primera (2001). Am on the lookout for a cheap car also but with a budget of €5K. Have driven a 2001 Primera 1.8 recently but found the roof too low with the sunroof. My dad has a 2002 Avensis & even with all the adjustments I need to tilt the seat away back to avoid my head hitting the roof. LEXUS IS200 would be my choice but away over my budget.

T

Atomic Pineapple

the prelude is not meant to be anything special i dont think unless you go for the type - s which has the 2.2 litre engine in it, the 2.0 litre engine is meant to be a bit boring, i'm not even sure if they have vtec??

tuxy

You can only get vtec in a prelude in a 2.2l engine. Technically the integra is a better car.
But I still hope to get a vtec prelude sometime in the future, I just like the look of the prelude over the integra.

Atomic Pineapple

tuxy wrote:

You can only get vtec in a prelude in a 2.2l engine. Technically the integra is a better car.
But I still hope to get a vtec prelude sometime in the future, I just like the look of the prelude over the integra.

yeh especially if it has the motegi look, very nice.

gary the great

Went for a testdrive in an accord 1.8vtec today. Was a lovely car and a lovely drive, but it just didnt toally do it for me. I just thought its a great car but theres no way i could ever totally love it and be really happy with it.

Also went out ina 220d BMW and did nothing for me.

Im starting to thin maybe the Alfa is the way to go. If the IS200 wasnt so heavy on petrol, i'd consider going for a low spec high mileage one which would be just about within my budget with a stretch.

Anyone any other ideas? What are them Xsara VTR's like? Any use? Can be got cheap.

colm_mcm

gary the great wrote:

Anyone any other ideas? What are them Xsara VTR's like? Any use? Can be got cheap.

I think you know the answer to that one yourself.

ktisel

I got an Accord SE 1.8 and have to say its a lovely car too drive.... Only thing I'll say is it is a heavy car with c/c, a/c and all electrics so you might be better off getting the 2 (or 2.2) litre version as the 1.8 seems to be a bit underpowered - but its still quick. Insurance as well is very reasonable. I only have my full licence 1 year and got fully comp for under 1K.

Don't know if it would be okay for your knee though as mine seems quite low to the ground so kinda have to bend down to get in....?

gary the great

colm_mcm wrote:

I think you know the answer to that one yourself.

ye i do stupid question really!
Im thinking of getting a better 323f now, just a better higher spec version of my own car, my own car has its fair share of dings and i like my cars to be mint, and they can be got dam cheap to here in the UK. Although i would like something a bit more comfy with a higher driving position.

I just don't know!

colm_mcm

The Xsara is the same generation as the Peugeot 306, reliability is patchy, except it hasn't dated as well. and from what I've seen, fairly good handling is all it has going for it. It has zero image and a rancid interior

Atomic Pineapple

take a test drive in a lancer mivec 1.6 if you can, nice saloon with a decent amount of power.



maybe a bora diesel tdi 130? probably lacks a bit of a sporty image?



seat leon? if you find a rare 130 diesel there pretty good if you can afford it then get a 1.8t 20v or even a 180bhp cupra version, not sure of there prices in england?

colm_mcm

V6 323f is lovely, give it a go, some have leather etc.