Another what to buy suggestions thread €10k-€12k

Atomic Pineapple

Yet another what to buy thread..........

Apologies but boards usually throws up some ideas that I wouldn't have otherwise have thought about.

So here's the deal.

In a month I'll be looking for a new car and hope to have €10k to €12k to spend.

Moving from an Integra Type R

What I want:

A sporty car
200bhp+
RWD/4WD preferred but open to FWD suggestions
2000 cc or under
preferably 98+
maybe something with a bit more comfort than the Integra too but again not fully pushed on extra comfort.

I had looked into getting an Rx8 231 and contacted all the dealers on carzone that had one for sale within my budget and all of them were to get back to me about taking my car as a trade in but none of them did so I don't know whether thats a sign to stay away from the Rx8 idea or not!

So just open to suggestions on what people would think would be something to look into that fits my criteria and budget.

Thanks in advance

omb0wyn5ehpij9

S2000? Evo?

Would you consider a DC5 or EP3?

murph440

Having worked in car sales, alot of dealers wont bother their barney ringing you back.

However a car such as your own would need to be looked at to give a concise figure. It might be worth going around the dealers on a saturday, looking at what they have and seeing how much they will give you for your own. Have an idea of what you want for the car.

In the current climate it is becomming more and more difficult to sell cars and some dealers wont want your trade in so you may have to sell it yourself. Try everything facebook, friends, work intranet, etc.. As for the car you are looking for; the rx-8 is a nice car. As far as i know engine problems were fairly rare when compared to the rx-7 where the rings/rubbers in the engine use to wear away and eventually cause the engine to be replaced:eek:

Anyways best of luck, but in my opinion, you need to ring the garages. Make an appointment for a time that suits you and shop around. If it was me, id buy an evo.:)

Fiona500

You should try this Top Gear Car Chooser.

Atomic Pineapple

Bryn wrote: »

S2000? Evo?

Would you consider a DC5 or EP3?

Am thinking about leaving Honda's for a period to try something else, one of my cousins has a Dc5, the other an Ep3, I'd like something different and the S2000 hasn't dropped into my budget yet has it?

An Evo was at the top of my list at one stage but I'd have to go for a 5 which I'm not sure about.

murph440 wrote: »

Having worked in car sales, alot of dealers wont bother their barney ringing you back.

However a car such as your own would need to be looked at to give a concise figure. It might be worth going around the dealers on a saturday, looking at what they have and seeing how much they will give you for your own. Have an idea of what you want for the car.

In the current climate it is becomming more and more difficult to sell cars and some dealers wont want your trade in so you may have to sell it yourself. Try everything facebook, friends, work intranet, etc.. As for the car you are looking for; the rx-8 is a nice car. As far as i know engine problems were fairly rare when compared to the rx-7 where the rings/rubbers in the engine use to wear away and eventually cause the engine to be replaced:eek:

Anyways best of luck, but in my opinion, you need to ring the garages. Make an appointment for a time that suits you and shop around. If it was me, id buy an evo.:)

Cheers for your input, Yeh I am aware car dealers are pretty much useless at ringing back, I am in the last month of my honours degree in college so I was hoping that after ringing around a few dealers I would get a feel about whether they'd take the Integra or not and know what direction to take when college finishes.

Fiona500 wrote: »

You should try this Top Gear Car Chooser.

Think that only suggest new cars and its a bit off, I selected coupe, saloon, fast, very fast and it recommended a Renault Twingo! :rolleyes:

omb0wyn5ehpij9

draffodx wrote: »

Am thinking about leaving Honda's for a period to try something else, one of my cousins has a Dc5, the other an Ep3, I'd like something different and the S2000 hasn't dropped into my budget yet has it?

An Evo was at the top of my list at one stage but I'd have to go for a 5 which I'm not sure about.

The s2000 would be in your budget now. They have dropped a lot. Last time I looked there was 2 very cleaning looking s2000's on carzone for less than 10k

drunkmonkey

draffodx wrote: »

An Evo was at the top of my list at one stage but I'd have to go for a 5 which I'm not sure about.
:rolleyes:

How about this, diff controller so you can have it anyway you want, Front Wheel, Rear Wheel, 4 Wheel drive....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Impreza/STI-TYPE/200915192456485/advert

Graham_B18C

I've always thought the VII was the best looking of the lot, how about this one? (But I'd rather waid a lil while and buy the second one, as you can probably guess why!

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1371401

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1384737

Have you sold the Teg yet? I'd love to buy that off ya but I'm too afraid of bein let go from work!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Have you sold the Teg yet? I'd love to buy that off ya but I'm too afraid of bein let go from work!

Buy it......it is a seriously cheap teg

Graham_B18C

You'd probably get this in your budget too

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1386022

I'd probably take this over the Evo to be honest!

Graham_B18C

Bryn wrote: »

Buy it......it is a seriously cheap teg

I know but I just can't risk it :mad: Stupid work!

Atomic Pineapple

Bryn wrote: »

The s2000 would be in your budget now. They have dropped a lot. Last time I looked there was 2 very cleaning looking s2000's on carzone for less than 10k

Must look into them, they wouldn't be my first choice though, maybe a little later on in life.

drunkmonkey wrote: »

How about this, diff controller so you can have it anyway you want, Front Wheel, Rear Wheel, 4 Wheel drive....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Impreza/STI-TYPE/200915192456485/advert

Very Very nice, and very tempting, but same as the S200 I'm not fully gone on the impreza's, might look into it though, the diff controller is interesting, I'd imagine it could break quite easily?

Grahamo999 wrote: »

I've always thought the VII was the best looking of the lot, how about this one? (But I'd rather waid a lil while and buy the second one, as you can probably guess why!

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1371401

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1384737

Have you sold the Teg yet? I'd love to buy that off ya but I'm too afraid of bein let go from work!

That first one is from Jap Cars Dublin, never going into that place ever again!

A decent VII would probably be pushing my budget a bit.

Haven't sold the Integra, I have a guy on adverts willing to offer me the cash but I cant get rid of the car until May 22nd now and he wants it in the next two weeks, typical! :rolleyes:

Grahamo999 wrote: »

You'd probably get this in your budget too

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1386022

I'd probably take this over the Evo to be honest!

Dont like that version of the Impreza at all, it can be nice in some variations but not gone on it

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

Haven't sold the Integra, I have a guy on adverts willing to offer me the cash but I cant get rid of the car until May 22nd now and he wants it in the next two weeks, typical! :rolleyes:

Been following the progress of your ad for ages now in case some money pops outta somewhere! Just thought it might of gone in the last day or so! Jeeze it is lovely though...

cianclarke

Only thing that'd appeal to me from the above suggestions is the s2000.

bazz26

I'd say you should call into the garages directly that have an RX-8 in stock. The RX-8 is next to impossible to shift in the current climate due to the associated running costs. I would imagine any decent garage would consider your car in part exchange if it meant moving on a RX-8.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1369708

Alternatives:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1340603

Fiona500

draffodx wrote: »

Think that only suggest new cars and its a bit off, I selected coupe, saloon, fast, very fast and it recommended a Renault Twingo! :rolleyes:

Oh sorry, it's fun though!

Fiona500

Perhaps a Porsche?
Or an Audi?
Actually there are alot of Audi TTs available.
And some Z3s.

Dan_B

How's about this :
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-ST/170/200914192355307/advert

martydunf

How about this?


Id imagine you could get this one within your budget .
Im sure its pushing out atleast 200+bhp.
May want to be careful in wet weather tho!;)

Gumbo

Grahamo999 wrote: »

You'd probably get this in your budget too

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1386022

I'd probably take this over the Evo to be honest!

you will get this within your budget, this car has been for sale for the last year at least! it has been reduced many times and i'd say a decent conversation with the seller, a drive of it and wave the money in front of him and you'll get that car for 11k approx!

i just hardballed a dealer on an E90 320d advertised at 14k down to 10,900 cash! well specced too with leather, front fogs etc etc

robtri

how about Focus RS.... seriously good value it is FWD
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/RS-TURBO/200908191910524/advert



or how about this bad boy
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/B4-Twin-/200912192220678/advert

Atomic Pineapple

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd say you should call into the garages directly that have an RX-8 in stock. The RX-8 is next to impossible to shift in the current climate due to the associated running costs. I would imagine any decent garage would consider your car in part exchange if it meant moving on a RX-8.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1369708

Alternatives:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1340603

Yeh, I was hoping that I'd be trading in a car that would be easier to sell on than an Rx8, I know an Rx8 would have more widespread appeal but in these things the woeful mpg would put normal everyday buyers off and the Rx8 doesn't really have as much appeal to the performance end of the market compared to its predecessor the Rx7.

So was hoping they'd a at least take a look at my car, I'll give it a good scrubbing up and go around the dealers to see what happens.

Audi TT doesn't do it for me in the looks department I'm afraid

Fiona500 wrote: »

Perhaps a Porsche?
Or an Audi?
Actually there are alot of Audi TTs available.
And some Z3s.

Porsche Yes!! its a 2.7litre though

Z3 is interesting, but again not really what I like in the looks department, same as the Audi.

Dan_B wrote: »

How's about this :
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus-ST/170/200914192355307/advert

I actually was looking into getting an St170 as maybe more of a daily driver as well but that's not gonna be possible till I secure myself a job.

martydunf wrote: »

How about this?


Id imagine you could get this one within your budget .
Im sure its pushing out atleast 200+bhp.
May want to be careful in wet weather tho!;)

An S15 spec R has been on my mind alright but for some reason I prefer the S14a looks and could get a powerful one much cheaper than an S15, so I have been looking at S14a's only problem is theres not many for sale in Ireland at the minute.

kceire wrote: »

you will get this within your budget, this car has been for sale for the last year at least! it has been reduced many times and i'd say a decent conversation with the seller, a drive of it and wave the money in front of him and you'll get that car for 11k approx!

i just hardballed a dealer on an E90 320d advertised at 14k down to 10,900 cash! well specced too with leather, front fogs etc etc

Did you have a straight cash offer? nice bit of haggling to get the price down that much! :cool:

robtri wrote: »

how about Focus RS.... seriously good value it is FWD
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/RS-TURBO/200908191910524/advert

or how about this bad boy
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/B4-Twin-/200912192220678/advert

Hmmm, never really thought about an RS Focus, must look into them but from what I remember reading about them when they first came out there not that great at handling?

The B4 isn't really an option, I've driven one before and the power and comfort is class but I just didn't like it

Graham_B18C

Can't belive you like the S14 more than the S15! I think the S15 is a seriously good lookin car!

What about this???

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1382134

or this?

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1380606

Nforce

These seem like great value....

2001 Audi S3

2002 Audi S3

Graham_B18C

robtri wrote: »

how about Focus RS.... seriously good value it is FWD
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/RS-TURBO/200908191910524/advert

Thats gorgeous but it aint VRT'd, can't imagine you'd get it for 12k

Atomic Pineapple

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Can't belive you like the S14 more than the S15! I think the S15 is a seriously good lookin car!

What about this???

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1382134

or this?

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1380606

Yeh i know, the s15 is a very nice looking car but for some reason i find the less styled look of the s14 its more mean or rugged looking or something.

the 2.5 litres of a skyline would push the tax bill a bit high i think

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

the 2.5 litres of a skyline would push the tax bill a bit high i think

Forgot about that!

Atomic Pineapple

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Forgot about that!

No worries.

A Honda Dealer has an Rx8 for sale at the minute so hoped they'd take the Integra as a trade but of course when I contacted them the car actually belongs to one of the sales man and is a private sale :rolleyes:


Any other suggestions? I haven't gotten that wow suggestion yet where its a car that fits what I want perfectly but I haven't thought of it, I know its in a Boards members head somewhere!

Graham_B18C

Bit of a curve ball but what about one of these? Real head turner and will go like stink, you'd get this all in for 10-10,500 Very uncommon over here too

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1011977.htm

Atomic Pineapple

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Bit of a curve ball but what about one of these? Real head turner and will go like stink, you'd get this all in for 10-10,500 Very uncommon over here too

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1011977.htm

Now thats an interesting one to throw into the hat! thanks off to do some research on it!

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

Now thats an interesting one to throw into the hat! thanks off to do some research on it!

Was lookin at em a few weeks ago just seeing how much it'd cost, for a 02 non turbo I think the VRT was about 3k

Biro

draffodx wrote: »

Yeh i know, the s15 is a very nice looking car but for some reason i find the less styled look of the s14 its more mean or rugged looking or something.

the 2.5 litres of a skyline would push the tax bill a bit high i think

The tax on a 2.5 litre isn't all that much more than a 2 litre. Maybe around €250 in a year more, which is €20 per month more. Not a lot! Maybe reconsider your tax limit! You can get a BMW 330Ci for around €8k, Tax is €550 more than a two litre car, but that means you have 4 years of ownership and you've broken even!!

Biro

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Was lookin at em a few weeks ago just seeing how much it'd cost, for a 02 non turbo I think the VRT was about 3k

Ya, they're a good suggestion. Lotus chassis, and because they're forgotton about, unlike the Elise, they're cheap!

Atomic Pineapple

there seems to be a serious lack of opel speedsters in ireland for sale though

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

there seems to be a serious lack of opel speedsters in ireland for sale though

Yer far better off goin UK, far cheaper and the VRT aint all that bad on em

Graham_B18C

Just saw yer car on Carzone, hope it goes soon.

Did ya leave out the phone number because of the scammers?

L-M

drunkmonkey wrote: »

How about this, diff controller so you can have it anyway you want, Front Wheel, Rear Wheel, 4 Wheel drive....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Impreza/STI-TYPE/200915192456485/advert

This is the only one of the lot standing out to me. Gorgeous car IMO.

Re the Rx-8, as you said, they are very heavy on juice. I was talking to some one who owns one and the found it hard to get around the 20's in mpg. Apparently you need to drive the engine hard once every so often, and IIRC, the engines need rebuilding after a certain amount of miles. I remember when they first came out here, there were two models, the 190 and 230 and there was about 7k in the difference in price new. AFAIK more models were introduced as the years went on, and even more so with Jap imports. I only ever drove one briefly around a car lot last year, lovely sound of the engine and a nice driving position. That's my vague knowledge of the RX-8, lol.

Biro

Limerick man wrote: »

This is the only one of the lot standing out to me. Gorgeous car IMO.

Re the Rx-8, as you said, they are very heavy on juice. I was talking to some one who owns one and the found it hard to get around the 20's in mpg. Apparently you need to drive the engine hard once every so often, and IIRC, the engines need rebuilding after a certain amount of miles. I remember when they first came out here, there were two models, the 190 and 230 and there was about 7k in the difference in price new. AFAIK more models were introduced as the years went on, and even more so with Jap imports. I only ever drove one briefly around a car lot last year, lovely sound of the engine and a nice driving position. That's my vague knowledge of the RX-8, lol.

They don't need an engine rebuild after a certain amount of miles. The RX7 needed the rotor tips changed after 100,000 miles, or 60,000 for the earlier ones. The RX8 has no specific time. There's always only 2 power options, not too many different models, one or two one-offs in later life, but nothing very far removed from the original.

Graham_B18C

Biro wrote: »

They don't need an engine rebuild after a certain amount of miles. The RX7 needed the rotor tips changed after 100,000 miles, or 60,000 for the earlier ones. The RX8 has no specific time. There's always only 2 power options, not too many different models, one or two one-offs in later life, but nothing very far removed from the original.

Thats all true but they aint the most reliable car in the world, my uncle lives around the corner and he had to take one of our cars to work a good few times that his just wouldn't start, looks after it like a baby too so its not like its abused.

Fantastic car all the same

martydunf

just out of curiousity with regards to the RX-7/8 rotary engines are they taxed as a 1.3 or a 2.6?

Graham_B18C

Befory July 08 they were taxed as a 1.7 but now they're in the highest bracket 2k or something like that

Atomic Pineapple

Limerick man wrote: »

This is the only one of the lot standing out to me. Gorgeous car IMO.

Re the Rx-8, as you said, they are very heavy on juice. I was talking to some one who owns one and the found it hard to get around the 20's in mpg. Apparently you need to drive the engine hard once every so often, and IIRC, the engines need rebuilding after a certain amount of miles. I remember when they first came out here, there were two models, the 190 and 230 and there was about 7k in the difference in price new. AFAIK more models were introduced as the years went on, and even more so with Jap imports. I only ever drove one briefly around a car lot last year, lovely sound of the engine and a nice driving position. That's my vague knowledge of the RX-8, lol.

I've done tonnes of reading up on the rx8 and the rx7 , i'm aware of the woeful mpg and dont worry it'll be driven hard enough every so often alright

The 231 model is what I'm after, prices on them seem to have stumbled significantly, the japanese also got a type s with 250 ps power but a 231 will do me as insurance on an import is a lot more.

Biro wrote: »

They don't need an engine rebuild after a certain amount of miles. The RX7 needed the rotor tips changed after 100,000 miles, or 60,000 for the earlier ones. The RX8 has no specific time. There's always only 2 power options, not too many different models, one or two one-offs in later life, but nothing very far removed from the original.

Yeh the rx8 hasn't got a turbo and uses the new renesis wankel engine so is much more reliable than the rx7 although it still uses as much petrol and oil!

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Thats all true but they aint the most reliable car in the world, my uncle lives around the corner and he had to take one of our cars to work a good few times that his just wouldn't start, looks after it like a baby too so its not like its abused.

Fantastic car all the same

It sounds like he's not following the start up procedure correctly or taking the car for only short trips, both can cause the engine to flood and therefore not start

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

It sounds like he's not following the start up procedure correctly or taking the car for only short trips, both can cause the engine to flood and therefore not start

He waits to turn the ingition until the light tells him to do so, and never drives it fast when the engine is cold. He lives about 15 miles from work so it gets a fairly decent run to and from work. I really mean that he babies this car, and its let him down a good few times.

He still loves it and I aint trying to talk you outta it or anything, he's the only person that I know that has one so its the only expierence with em I've had. Another thing that springs to mind is that he had to get a new Cat and insisted he bought one direct from Mazda rather than get a spurious one, cost 3100 for parts and labour.

Vic_Mackey

I own an RX8 for 18 months now. The only two issues I've had were the spark plugs (should have been changed in the service before I bought the car but weren't) and the coils. In fairness they did cost a bit to put right.

I've heard a lot about other issues. Flooding and the CAT dying early in life are probably the two biggest ones. Assuming you follow correct startup/warming procedure it should avoid floods and the CAT generally went as a result of the flooding too (just further down the line).

draffodx:
If you haven't already found it, the UK owners club is great for reading up on the experiences (good and bad) that owners have had.

upthedub

I personally wouldnt go near the rx-8 as there are alot more nicer and better cars for 10k-12k.Im also thinking of going for a evo in the next week or two...well as soon as i see a bargain "as most people are not haggling":rolleyes:

Biro

upthedub wrote: »

I personally wouldnt go near the rx-8 as there are alot more nicer and better cars for 10k-12k.Im also thinking of going for a evo in the next week or two...well as soon as i see a bargain "as most people are not haggling":rolleyes:

Actually there aren't too many nicer cars for 12k. And it's a decent car.
Good luck with the Evo hunting, you'll need it!

Atomic Pineapple

Have been looking at evo's myself and cant seem to find a decent one for my budget though.

I dont like the 5 or 6 and the 7 is out of budget

Graham_B18C

draffodx wrote: »

Have been looking at evo's myself and cant seem to find a decent one for my budget though.

I dont like the 5 or 6 and the 7 is out of budget

Wouldn't of bothered replyin to that if I were you, sounds like a bit of a Troll, the RX8 is the best looking car in your budget.

The S2k or DC5 are gorgeous too but I know ya wanna get away from Honda.

Biro

draffodx wrote: »

Have been looking at evo's myself and cant seem to find a decent one for my budget though.

I dont like the 5 or 6 and the 7 is out of budget

A good Evo is exceptionally difficult to find, and the wrong one will break your heart and wallet.

upthedub

Grahamo999 wrote: »

Wouldn't of bothered replyin to that if I were you, sounds like a bit of a Troll, the RX8 is the best looking car in your budget.

The S2k or DC5 are gorgeous too but I know ya wanna get away from Honda.

Mate i disagree when you say the rx8 is the best looking car for under 12k :rolleyes:you can get a 2001 evo for under 12k,or a sti impreza 2002 for under 12k....need i say more;)

There is nothing special about a rx8.The evos and imprezas are a class above !

Biro

upthedub wrote: »

Mate i disagree when you say the rx8 is the best looking car for under 12k :rolleyes:you can get a 2001 evo for under 12k,or a sti impreza 2002 for under 12k....need i say more;)

There is nothing special about a rx8.The evos and imprezas are a class above !

Impreza's and Evo's aren't good looking cars. Ask Mitsubishi and Subaru, they'll tell you the same thing.
And an Evo 7 for under 12k will be rough. An STI 2002 for under 12k will be even worse. There's more to a car than what your mates think is "cool".