Decisions, Decisions

cooperguy

Ok basically within the next month or 2 Ill be buying a car. And I was hoping that everybody on here would give me some suggestions. I have about €9k to spend, im in my early 20's (so no need for a family car!) and id like something that had a bit of acceleration in it and probably no more than 5 or 6 years old. Any suggestions welcome!

colm_mcm

mini cooper?

Anan1

There was a Ford Puma Racing on carzone a few weeks ago within your budget, think it may be gone now though.

klaus23

Anan1 wrote: »

There was a Ford Puma Racing on carzone a few weeks ago within your budget, think it may be gone now though.

I take it you've seen the prices for basic bits like driveshafts and wings for these?

I thought about buying one last year but the relatively low output and crazy parts prices put me off. OP, I think a well-sorted Clio 182 Cup would be well within your budget, you would be doing well to beat that in terms of bang for your buck value.

Sqaull20

RX8 or Alfa GT would be my choice for fun and style

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/873318.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/811823.htm

Being sensibile I would look at this 06 Skoda Fabia VRS, with a remap it would be a sensational little thing to drive, torque to burn

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=95379&cat=all

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-clip-Skoda-Fabia_84232.htm

klaus23

That Alfa GT is a stupendous amount of car for the cash but VRT is quoted as close to €6000.

Same with the RX8, depending on the edition for that year it's between six and seven thousand euro VRT.

So, here's a Clio 172 Cup for £4,300 with 38,000 miles http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/871641.htm

VRT is €2812. Then take it to marque specialists KTEC Racing in Dorset in the way home. You will struggle to match performance for those cars unless you're shopping for jap scrap.

bluesguitar

you would get a nice Beemer coupe for that the rx8 is lovley too or an rx7 even better if u can find one! The tdi audis are a great car too and quite pokey.

Kartale

cooperguy wrote: »

Ok basically within the next month or 2 Ill be buying a car. And I was hoping that everybody on here would give me some suggestions. I have about €9k to spend, im in my early 20's (so no need for a family car!) and id like something that had a bit of acceleration in it and probably no more than 5 or 6 years old. Any suggestions welcome!

IMO, the only car for you is a Golf Gti. you would easily get a local 2003 model , this one is also a VW Dealer
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/GOLF-GTI/200906191756424/advert

or this 180 bhp model
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/1.8-GTI-/200848191049695/advert

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/1.8GTI-6/200906191708676/advert

klaus23

Ah yes, the Mk4 Golf GTI, that pinnacle of handling brilliance and chassis subtlety.

The Coupe Be-em is a great suggestion. 330Ci's are great value for money while the best performance bargain in the world is the E36 M3.

Anan1

The OP's in his early 20s - many of the cars mentioned so far would be uninsurable for him.

cooperguy

Anan1 wrote: »

The OP's in his early 20s - many of the cars mentioned so far would be uninsurable for him.

Id be able to get insured on everything here I think. For example fully comp on the RX8 for me is €1132 on 123.ie

Actually its kind of annoying, no matter what car I want to insure whether its an RX8 or a 1.4 Fiesta there is very little difference in the price (€900 for the Fiesta).

Zube

That's because the car is not the risk, you are. You're about as likely to land the insurance a massive 3rd party injury suit in a crappy Corolla as you are in an RX-8.

hardwoodhero

I have an 02 ep3 civic type r for sale within your budget pm me if interested.

Great car.

vinruane

I know how ya feel dude, same boat as yourself! Don't know what price but may be in your price bracket, kingers has a '99 S2000 for sale. Look at the "mad for s2000" for pics. Sweet looking car!

Best of luck with the search, will be doing the same myself soon!

cooperguy

Couple of my friends suggested an Astra sport. What do ye think?

B00MSTICK

If they meant a VXR then it will be a fun but anything less and I seriously doubt it.

Hard to find one for your budget too I imagine

SAABMAN

You could nearly get two of these
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2031368
Only about 225bhp but loads of torque and very easily tuneable.
Loads of toys and comfort too

mumblin deaf ro

I know I always answer 'saab' to these threads, but this is a serious bargain:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-3/AERO/200906191706530/advert

robtri

how about something a little bit different,

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/XK-Series/Series-X/200904191565438/advert

should be a lot of haggle room on the price as well, I would expect at least 1,000E of the asking price.....

bogmanfan

robtri wrote: »

how about something a little bit different,

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/XK-Series/Series-X/200904191565438/advert

should be a lot of haggle room on the price as well, I would expect at least 1,000E of the asking price.....

Seconded. Have one and it's fantastic

vinruane

What would the tax and running costs be for one of those?

robtri

vinruane wrote: »

What would the tax and running costs be for one of those?

€1566 to tax... a year...
20MPG roughly.....

tires expensive,

but think of the fun, you would have, if it wasn't for the road tax, I would be buying that one myself...

vinruane

It would be great fun alright, but add on the insurance for a guy who only has his license two years and is 21?!!! Ya can imagine!

cooperguy

robtri wrote: »

€1566 to tax... a year...
20MPG roughly.....

tires expensive,

but think of the fun, you would have, if it wasn't for the road tax, I would be buying that one myself...

Id be all over it if it wasnt for the tax (and MPG too actually)!!

SAABMAN wrote:

You could nearly get two of these
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2031368
Only about 225bhp but loads of torque and very easily tuneable.
Loads of toys and comfort too

Forgive the ignorance, im no expert but I thought 225bhp was pretty reasonable!

L-M

cooperguy wrote: »

Forgive the ignorance, im no expert but I thought 225bhp was pretty reasonable!

It is! And plenty enough for a front wheel drive.

That Saab 9-3 Aero that mumblin deaf ro posted for €8,950 really is cracking value. Worth a look OP.

JJJJNR

+1 on the aero, only bugbear is SAAB could be gone in a few weeks/months.

OP if your worried about the MPG that Diesel VRS is a cracker.

liam156

You could pick up a mint condition Alfa 147 2.0 L selespeed for that kinda money, quick car too:) And once it has a good service history you should have no problems:)

cooperguy

liam156 wrote: »

You could pick up a mint condition Alfa 147 2.0 L selespeed for that kinda money, quick car too:) And once it has a good service history you should have no problems:)

Iv heard way too many horror stories about Alfas. Id be too afraid to buy one of them!

johnk123

I think you should go for a Cooper S. This one looks really nice at around €10K

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1335824

There's loads of them for sale, i just picked this one for its price

Bluefoam

Alfa 147

liam156

cooperguy wrote: »

Iv heard way too many horror stories about Alfas. Id be too afraid to buy one of them!

if you pick up a good 147 with a service history you will be fine and have no more problems than any other car.

www.alfaowner.com

klaus23

Any car with an Alfa twinspark should be bought with an engine rebuild budgeted for.

The arse has finally started to fall out of used MINI prices, but for real value for money I'd recommend a Clio 182 Trophy.

liam156

klaus23 wrote: »

Any car with an Alfa twinspark should be bought with an engine rebuild budgeted for.

Ignorance or what? and what to you drive? Some boring Jap import or a bland German car?

Lord Trollington

06 Hyundai Coupe €7,000 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/1.6-FX/200909191987697/advert

Bit of a heardressers car, but nice none the less. Very very well priced, a bragain really!!

As your first proper car, and you spending a decent amount on it too, i'd stay away from alpha and older bmw's,audi's,passats ect...
You dont want something thats going to break your heart with problems and cost you a fortune.
You want something with a warranty for 6-12 months sporty lookin car, cheap to tax insure and run.

robtri

whycliff wrote: »

06 Hyundai Coupe €7,000 http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/1.6-FX/200909191987697/advert

Bit of a heardressers car, but nice none the less. Very very well priced, a bragain really!!

and the word scam is jumping to mind on that one, no number only email address..... :rolleyes:

Lord Trollington

lol.. Jasus i never even minded that to be honest!!!
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/1.6FX@RI/200904191608259/advert
This 05 one then!!!

05 Golf maybe 3dr,Sporty!!
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/1.4-Spor/200910192016817/advert

Or Honda Civic!!!
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/1.6-spor/200908191918595/advert

Focus??
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/ST-BODYK/200909191968242/advert

Astra
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/1.4-GTC-/200840190283812/advert

I'd be looking at something like one of these cars to be honest, maybe not those exact cars but something along those lines, all pretty saleable you'd imagine in a few years timw also!!

klaus23

liam156 wrote: »

Ignorance or what? and what to you drive? Some boring Jap import or a bland German car?

If they have ever been low on oil in their lifetime, their bottom ends go. Which given the way people maintain their cars is pretty much a given. Friend of mine had a TS break in his 156 and it had a complete Alfa history. Are you honestly telling me you've never heard of a TS engine lunching it's bottom end, that TS engines don't use oil and that their owners aren't used to checking the levels having come from other marque ownership, which is the main reason for this issue? Are you telling me Alfa forums and Alfa owners don't talk about the TS engines having this problem? Come off it.

As for ignorance, did you not see my signature?

L-M

klaus23 wrote: »

As for ignorance, did you not see my signature?

:eek:

Very nice! Any pics?:o

hardwoodhero

How about a Civic type r extremely reliable once looked after and oil changed

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/Type-R-J/200909191939371/advert

liam156

klaus23 wrote: »

If they have ever been low on oil in their lifetime, their bottom ends go. Which given the way people maintain their cars is pretty much a given. Friend of mine had a TS break in his 156 and it had a complete Alfa history. Are you honestly telling me you've never heard of a TS engine lunching it's bottom end, that TS engines don't use oil and that their owners aren't used to checking the levels having come from other marque ownership, which is the main reason for this issue? Are you telling me Alfa forums and Alfa owners don't talk about the TS engines having this problem? Come off it.

As for ignorance, did you not see my signature?

Well the average car enthusiast isn't going to mind checking their oil once a week and topping it up. If you look for the right car you can always find it. If I where buying another Alfa I would go to the UK and buy off someone on one of the forums that has looked after theirs and checked oil etc. Any modern car maintained properly will last. TS engines may not be as bullet proof as a VTEC but in all fairness an alfa is ALOT prettier than a civic etc...

Sorry didn't see your sig, Clio and Old Gols I like but not a fan of Mini's.. Bit too feminine, but every man for their own.

Every car manufacture has their horror stories.

klaus23

liam156 wrote: »

Well the average car enthusiast isn't going to mind checking their oil once a week and topping it up. If you look for the right car you can always find it. If I where buying another Alfa I would go to the UK and buy off someone on one of the forums that has looked after theirs and checked oil etc. Any modern car maintained properly will last. TS engines may not be as bullet proof as a VTEC but in all fairness an alfa is ALOT prettier than a civic etc

Can't argue with that really, the main problem is of course that modern car ownership has done away with the little owner inputs such as checking belts and fluid levels and this is the problem with anything that uses oil, certain BMWs and Mazda rotaries included.

The MINI is my gf's, but I drive it more than she does.