Car Advice

s_macmahon

Hi All,
Want a bit of advice ,i'm 28 , with 6 full NCB thinking of spending around €20k cash on a new(ish) motor. want something fast. The following are the list , any advice on reliability , fuel comsumption etc.

2008 Mazda RX-8
2008 Golf GTI
2008 Focus ST
2007 BMW 320i Coupe
2008 Seat Leon 2.0T DSG
2007 Mazda 6 mps
2008 Mazda 3 mps
2008 Honda Civic Type R (even though the quotes for insurance are ridiculous)
2007 Lexus IS 220d /250

martydunf

Out of that list Id go for the GTi.

3 door and in white thay just look the business.

iirc ~30 mpg too.

Make sure to get one with the DSG box though

Tea 1000

s_macmahon wrote: »

Hi All,
Want a bit of advice ,i'm 28 , with 6 full NCB thinking of spending around €20k cash on a new(ish) motor. want something fast. The following are the list , any advice on reliability , fuel comsumption etc.

2008 Mazda RX-8 - Decent, but very heavy on fuel, 2008 might be in €2100 tax band if not registered before July. Heavy depreciation, better off going for a clean 2004 one.
2008 Golf GTI - Nice all rounder, bit of comfort, bit of speed, nice handling, reasonable mpg. Fairly good residuals.
2008 Focus ST - Better handling than Golf, higher tax though, might be tougher to sell on as a result, bit more unique though. Not sure what emissions based tax is, but can't be low!
2007 BMW 320i Coupe - Different kind of car, cruiser, comfortable, good handling, refined, not all that quick
2008 Seat Leon 2.0T DSG - Similar to Golf, hard to find, can be dear, nice looking.
2007 Mazda 6 mps - Love these, spacious, excellent handling, 4WD grip, reliable engine, quick, understated looks. Bit thirsty.
2008 Mazda 3 mps - Similar to 6, but FWD, not quite as understated, but still good. Quicker than hatches mentioned above.
2008 Honda Civic Type R (even though the quotes for insurance are ridiculous) - Hard to find, very expensive! Saloon from Japan better handling and quicker, hatch still cool though, rare!
2007 Lexus IS 220d /250 - Odd ball choice in this lot, diesel more sensible than petrol, won't set hair on fire, but won't set wallet on fire either! Will suffer when selling on due to 2008 ones about €500 less to tax.

What's your budget?

s_macmahon

Thinking bout €20k cash.
Any other suggestions for fast and somewhat discreet?

CONM

GTI gets my vote

Tea 1000

Any preference in comfort, speed, handling (as in feedback and feel of the car), economy, resale, running costs, looks, rarity, practicallity etc?
Any rating on those points?

s_macmahon

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Any preference in comfort, speed, handling (as in feedback and feel of the car), economy, resale, running costs, looks, rarity, practicallity etc?
Any rating on those points?

Thinking speed , not really worried bout consumption or practicaility , have driven a 6 mps , 6 months ago , amazing acceleration off it.

Drummerboy08

s_macmahon wrote: »

2008 Mazda RX-8

Decent to drive, if a little on the firm and jittery side. Goes through oil like no tomorrow and will need a fair bit of maintenance.

2008 Golf GTI

This has to be close to the top of the list. Good to drive, comfortable, fairly quick. Not to hard to maintain, good reliability. If your going the GTI route, try for a DSG version.

2008 Focus ST

Again, like the GTi, must be near the top. Better than the GTI to drive, but isnt as subtle. Also, your insurance is likely to be that bit higher due to the 2.5 in the Focus, compared to the 2.0 in the GTI.

2007 BMW 320i Coupe

Wouldnt really rate highly in this list - its not that quick either. If your going the BMW route, try for a 330ci, or even an E46 M3.

2008 Seat Leon 2.0T DSG

Essentially a Golf, but cheaper.

2007 Mazda 6 mps

This is a proper sleeper - nobody will know what it is at the traffic lights and will smoke everything from the line. Should be fairly cheap to pick up too.

2008 Mazda 3 mps

As above, same as its big brother. One of the guys on here used to have one until be became mental and bought a Monaro. I'm sure he'll be along to give his opinion on it.

2008 Honda Civic Type R

If I was going the Type R route, I'd be looking at a DC5 Integra, or possibly an EP3 Civic. I dont rate the new Civic Type R at all - doesn't look great, not as quick as the EP3 or DC5 either.

2007 Lexus IS 220d /250

This one confuses me. You pick out some decent cars, and then throw a retired college lecturer's car in at the end! The 220d is fairly quick in 3/4/5 gear, but you have to drive the nuts off it. Reliability also isnt great - they suffer alot from turbo issues. I havent driven a 250, so I dont know what they're like. Very cramped inside though.

Out of the bunch, I think I'd go with the Focus, followed very closely by a GTi with a DSG box.

s_macmahon

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Decent to drive, if a little on the firm and jittery side. Goes through oil like no tomorrow and will need a fair bit of maintenance.



This has to be close to the top of the list. Good to drive, comfortable, fairly quick. Not to hard to maintain, good reliability. If your going the GTI route, try for a DSG version.



Again, like the GTi, must be near the top. Better than the GTI to drive, but isnt as subtle. Also, your insurance is likely to be that bit higher due to the 2.5 in the Focus, compared to the 2.0 in the GTI.



Wouldnt really rate highly in this list - its not that quick either. If your going the BMW route, try for a 330ci, or even an E46 M3.




Essentially a Golf, but cheaper.



This is a proper sleeper - nobody will know what it is at the traffic lights and will smoke everything from the line. Should be fairly cheap to pick up too.



As above, same as its big brother. One of the guys on here used to have one until be became mental and bought a Monaro. I'm sure he'll be along to give his opinion on it.




If I was going the Type R route, I'd be looking at a DC5 Integra, or possibly an EP3 Civic. I dont rate the new Civic Type R at all - doesn't look great, not as quick as the EP3 or DC5 either.



This one confuses me. You pick out some decent cars, and then throw a retired college lecturer's car in at the end! The 220d is fairly quick in 3/4/5 gear, but you have to drive the nuts off it. Reliability also isnt great - they suffer alot from turbo issues. I havent driven a 250, so I dont know what they're like. Very cramped inside though.

Out of the bunch, I think I'd go with the Focus, followed very closely by a GTi with a DSG box.

Was actually surprised with the 250 when I drove it a while ago , is very quick but a bit disappointed with the interior

s_macmahon

Any other suggestions for something around 06-08 with a bit of performance and tax that ain't going to screw me?

Drummerboy08

Astra OPC, Octavia VRS 2.0TFSi 200bhp, Megane R26R.

Would you pick up a decent Lancer Evo or Impreza STi for that money?

Drummerboy08

Or this.....:cool:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201015197578868

s_macmahon

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Astra OPC, Octavia VRS 2.0TFSi 200bhp, Megane R26R.

Would you pick up a decent Lancer Evo or Impreza STi for that money?

Have been in an Astra , waaay too much torque steer for my liking.
Don't think Octavia has the kudos off the rest of them , don't like the look of the old megane , like the new one though

s_macmahon

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Astra OPC, Octavia VRS 2.0TFSi 200bhp, Megane R26R.

Would you pick up a decent Lancer Evo or Impreza STi for that money?

Lancer EVO or STI , can't insure either of them!

martydunf

s_macmahon wrote: »

Lancer EVO or STI , can't insure either of them!

Im presuming here, but if you tried to get a quote online only then that would explain why you couldnt get a quote on either of them.

You'd have more luck by ringing them up directly.

vectra

s_macmahon wrote: »

Hi All,
Want a bit of advice ,i'm 28 , with 6 full NCB thinking of spending around €20k cash on a new(ish) motor. want something fast. The following are the list , any advice on reliability , fuel comsumption etc.

2008 Seat Leon 2.0T DSG

2010 ? > NEW Leon 2.0T DSG €22499

Zubeneschamali

vectra wrote: »

2010 ? > NEW Leon 2.0T DSG €22499

Or a 2008 and €7000 change:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Leon/FR-TURBO/201014197503620/advert?channel=CARS

steve french

i'm in the same boat as you and i am really leaning towards the focus. plus that 5 cylinder engine makes the best noise of the lot:D

everyday taxi

steve french wrote: »

i'm in the same boat as you and i am really leaning towards the focus. plus that 5 cylinder engine makes the best noise of the lot:D

Would you happen to know what they mean about the "DSG" gearbox? I heard this before, now im curious, because im thinking of buying a VW passat.