The Big Downgrade

jimbling

Okay, I may have a buyer for my car. I've been struggling with running costs (which include repayments) as I don't make as much as I used to, so have been thinking of putting it up for sale.
Anyway, the other day a guy I met expressed interest off the cuff. He seems genuine, so I'm considering what I'll do if he makes a solid offer.

If I do sell it I will hopefully have approx 10/11k for spending money on a new car. (after repaying remaining loan)

I know there are a ton of options out there...... but perhaps I'm missing some; so looking for advice.

Requirements:

Quick
I realise I'm going to be downgrading no matter what.... but not too far if I can help it
I've never owned a diesel but would consider it if it's one of the fast ones.

Running costs
Lower would be better, but not all that important.

Reliability
Old sports cars are pretty much a no no. It's a car for daily use and I don't want something that breaks down with any regularity. Also, I am not mechanically minded in the least so couldn't deal with it.

Looks
The car needs to have some subtlety. I don't have anything against man racer cars, but the business world does. I work in that business world and deal with clients. So nothing crazy or anything that's considered(wrongly I might add) to look like a boy racer car. e.g. The Impreza
I'm not really sure where the line is drawn to be honest, but it's there somewhere. I mean, I love Evo's... I've always wanted one. There's a lovely one for sale on carzone within my price range. Not sure I'd get away with it though.

oh, another thing.....
No Convertibles. Coupe would be my favoured body type, but saloon, hatch and estate would follow before the convertible


Current Considerations:
I'm not going to list everything I'm considering, but the one I've felt the most interest in is the Ford Focus ST. There's a few for sale at good prices. I've always loved the look of the Focus and if I ever was to get a hot hatch, this would be the one.

So, thoughts and ideas??

frank gooding

What are ye coming down from?

Lots of ok Diesels out there for the 110k mark.

2006 - 2007 saab 93 150 bhp 6 speed.

A mate one quick car and nice looking in black.

2005 passat old shape highline or sport 130bhp only. Should be plenty out there well under budget.. Better option than spending the rest of the money on an Audi or BM badge.

Post 2006 passat 2.0 tdi only option again highling or sportline.
1.9 is just too gutless.

opinion guy

Golf GTD
Jetta/Passat
Audi A3/A4
Skoda Octavia
Corolla
Avensis
Mazda 3/6

Have to say I sometimes see an 08 Jetta with CD reg around. Very stlyish looking with black paintwork and lots of chrome. Great business car I would say. Don't think there woudl be many second hands around thou.

Given your running cost concerns you kind of would be better off with diesel. Golf GTD maybe ? I know golf is probably the one you've thought to yourself "I just know everyone will say a golf" - but it does kind of hit up all your requirements no ? Unless its too small for you

Conor_M1990

BMW 530d E60 with an mtec kit is wat you want should get one for 10k these days

kildare.17hmr

frank gooding wrote: »

What are ye coming down from?

Lots of ok Diesels out there for the 110k mark.

2006 - 2007 saab 93 150 bhp 6 speed.

A mate one quick car and nice looking in black.

2005 passat old shape highline or sport 130bhp only. Should be plenty out there well under budget.. Better option than spending the rest of the money on an Audi or BM badge.

Post 2006 passat 2.0 tdi only option again highling or sportline.
1.9 is just too gutless.

Keep in mind the flywheel on them passats tho, look for a 2.0 140BHP thats already had the flywheel done and ya will be laughin. should be a few around for within that budget

harr

audi TT ? you should pick up a 04 for that money.

R.O.R

Pug 407 2.2 Petrol Saloon? Would come with a huge chunk of change from your budget.

90k km and in good condition.

McCrack

harr wrote: »

audi TT ? you should pick up a 04 for that money.

Bit of a girls car that (assuming the OP is a bloke). Males should not be driving TT's or the new Mini's for that matter.

OP I would suggest a 3 or 5 series. You have plenty of choice with 10K.

frank gooding

+1

Even if the wife has either and your own car is broken down take the bus.:D

djimi

McCrack wrote: »

Males should not be driving TT's or the new Mini's for that matter.

Why not?

Testament1

Toyota Chaser JZX100.
That is if you dont mind paying tax for a 2.5 litre engine. There not supposed to be too bad on petrol if you keep them out of boost. Unfortunately you'd have to import it in from Japan but still having said that you could have one here for about 10k cleared.

Tea 1000

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/325-CI-M/201036199443919/advert?channel=CARS

Idbatterim

you can pick up 04/ 05 E60 5 series msports for nothing, or how about a 3 series coupe? Tea1000 that car is nice, but overpriced in my opinion...

skyhighflyer

You requirements scream towards one car: An Alfa 159.

It's in budget, has low-ish running costs, is an ideal car for clients as it's not too flashy but is subtly good-looking.

It's your choice between a re-mapped 1.9 if tax is an issue, or the 2.4 which would be my choice.

tuxy

Testament1 wrote: »

Toyota Chaser JZX100.
That is if you dont mind paying tax for a 2.5 litre engine. There not supposed to be too bad on petrol if you keep them out of boost. Unfortunately you'd have to import it in from Japan but still having said that you could have one here for about 10k cleared.

troll

RedorDead

McCrack wrote: »

Bit of a girls car that (assuming the OP is a bloke). Males should not be driving TT's or the new Mini's for that matter.

Please.... Both are fine cars. Nothing feminine about them.

Henry Ford III

I don't understand - you are downgrading for financial reasons, which makes sense, but running costs on the new car don't matter much?

Eric Cartman

RedorDead wrote: »

Please.... Both are fine cars. Nothing feminine about them.

yeah and theres nothing feminine about watching sex in the city either.....
(the fiat 500 and hyundai coupe are also in the woman pile fyi)

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I don't understand - you are downgrading for financial reasons, which makes sense, but running costs on the new car don't matter much?

work probably pays generous mileage, fuel card from them maybee ?

OP theres really only a few answers to this 525i, 530d, 9-5 aero 2.3T, GS300,

opinion guy

Eric Cartman wrote: »

yeah and theres nothing feminine about watching sex in the city either.....

Neurotic != feminine .....despite how much American TV tries to convince us otherwise


!= means not equal for the non coding types amongst us

Idbatterim

how about? the performance for that price is unreal! comes in on budegt too.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M5/5.0-V8-4/201036199489448/advert?channel=CARS

McCrack

djimi wrote: »

Why not?

Ah come on. Seriously.

Eric Cartman

Idbatterim wrote: »

how about? the performance for that price is unreal! comes in on budegt too.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M5/5.0-V8-4/201036199489448/advert?channel=CARS

hed have to get a job the other end of a motorway just for the smile power

jaffa20

McCrack wrote: »

Bit of a girls car that (assuming the OP is a bloke). Males should not be driving TT's or the new Mini's for that matter.

OP I would suggest a 3 or 5 series. You have plenty of choice with 10K.

McCrack wrote: »

Ah come on. Seriously.

djimi wrote: »

Why not?

Can you stop trolling. Have you ever even sat in once of the above cars? You go ahead and buy the common 318series bmw over a tt,/mini cooper s/mx5 because you think they look feminine but i know i'd choose one of the latter. It's a personal choice. Maybe the stereotypes don't bother the OP.

kildare.17hmr

McCrack wrote: »

Bit of a girls car that (assuming the OP is a bloke). Males should not be driving TT's or the new Mini's for that matter.

OP I would suggest a 3 or 5 series. You have plenty of choice with 10K.

frank gooding wrote: »

+1

Even if the wife has either and your own car is broken down take the bus.:D

It'd be a safe bet neither of you 2 have driven a TT.. I took a 220bhp quatro for a weekend and its anything but a girls car

Eric Cartman

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

It'd be a safe bet neither of you 2 have driven a TT.. I took a 220bhp quatro for a weekend and its anything but a girls car

if you paint a skyline pink is it a mans car ?

Idbatterim

The M5 puts a smile on my face even looking at it (400bhp)!, alternatively you would pick up an 01, maybe an 02 m3 for that money...

McCrack

I'm not trolling. I honestly think TT's are not men's cars. They don't suit a bloke at all. I cringe whenever I see a bloke driving one.

It doesnt matter how many horses are under the bonnet it's still a TT.

I'd take a 318 over a TT any day. (318 are ****e acknowledged)

ArphaRima

McCrack you're mad.

I owned an Audi TT mk2 for 2 years. I knew there were people out there like you who thought that way, but I never understood it. And I am BIG into cars. If I wasnt able to handle the banter I wouldnt have bought it.
I've since moved onto bigger faster and better but I loved owning that car.

The Ferrari F40, Toyota Celica, Audi TT mk1 are amongst the few cars to ever be on my wall as a teenager.

Mk1 or mk2 TT's are FAR more interesting cars than a 3-series BMW. The entire country bought those in 2007.

jimbling

frank gooding wrote: »

What are ye coming down from?

Coming from an 04 E46 M3.

frank gooding wrote: »

Lots of ok Diesels out there for the 110k mark.

2006 - 2007 saab 93 150 bhp 6 speed.

A mate one quick car and nice looking in black.

2005 passat old shape highline or sport 130bhp only. Should be plenty out there well under budget.. Better option than spending the rest of the money on an Audi or BM badge.

Post 2006 passat 2.0 tdi only option again highling or sportline.
1.9 is just too gutless.

Not a big Passat fan. I know they're a good car, but think they look quite boring. Open to persuasion though.

I do like Saabs. There's also an Aero Hot version which is pretty quick.

Eric Cartman

jimbling wrote: »

Coming from an 04 E46 M3.



Not a big Passat fan. I know they're a good car, but think they look quite boring. Open to persuasion though.

I do like Saabs. There's also an Aero Hot version which is pretty quick.

buy the M5 and its a step up , IN AWESOME

frank gooding

Thread seems to be getting way off the point.

Save the bickering for the beauty parlour.

I think the M5 wins hands down. Noice.
Job done OP.

jimbling

opinion guy wrote: »

Golf GTD
Jetta/Passat
Audi A3/A4
Skoda Octavia
Corolla
Avensis
Mazda 3/6

Have to say I sometimes see an 08 Jetta with CD reg around. Very stlyish looking with black paintwork and lots of chrome. Great business car I would say. Don't think there woudl be many second hands around thou.

Given your running cost concerns you kind of would be better off with diesel. Golf GTD maybe ? I know golf is probably the one you've thought to yourself "I just know everyone will say a golf" - but it does kind of hit up all your requirements no ? Unless its too small for you

Okay, first thing. As I said in the OP... the running costs are not all that important. Yes, I'm struggling right now with the M3, but if I wasn't paying €600 a month repaying the loan on the car it wouldn't be an issue in the least.

I'm open to most cars, but I would like them to have that little extra. Like my example of the Focus ST.
I've already owned a Octavia vRS before. Great car, but don't think I'll go back to it.

bladespin

RedorDead wrote: »

Please.... Both are fine cars. Nothing feminine about them.

Yes, there is something quite girly about the TT, there's nothing wrong with a male driving one but it's the type of car that does make a statement IMO. I have driven one and enjoyed it but would never own one.

Alfa GT JTD would be a good option.

ArphaRima

Save the bickering for the beauty parlour.

I'll ignore this one for now.

M5 gets my thumbs up. Both of them!

However it makes no sense whatsoever for the OP. Unless he doesnt mind it making no sense. I wouldnt.

jimbling

skyhighflyer wrote: »

You requirements scream towards one car: An Alfa 159.

It's in budget, has low-ish running costs, is an ideal car for clients as it's not too flashy but is subtly good-looking.

It's your choice between a re-mapped 1.9 if tax is an issue, or the 2.4 which would be my choice.

I really like the Alpha 159 I must say. Don't know much about them but I've heard they're a great car? Must have a look for a few of the 2.4 option.

Eric Cartman

fluffer wrote: »

I'll ignore this one for now.

M5 gets my thumbs up. Both of them!

However it makes no sense whatsoever for the OP. Unless he doesnt mind it making no sense. I wouldnt.

an M5 doesnt need to make sense, in the slightest, its an M5, thats all anyone needs to think about

jimbling

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I don't understand - you are downgrading for financial reasons, which makes sense, but running costs on the new car don't matter much?

In my current running costs I am including repayment of the loan, which is €600 a month. Without having to pay that (because I'll have cleared it via the sale of the M3) then running costs are no longer an issue. Also, I think almost 95% of my choice is still going to be lower cost than currently.

jimbling

Eric Cartman wrote: »

an M5 doesnt need to make sense, in the slightest, its an M5, thats all anyone needs to think about

It is something I'd genuinely consider to be honest. I haven't really looked at them though, is there nice versions for my price range?

I could also get an older M3. A 01 E46 M3 would probably be around 10-12k these days.

Eric Cartman

jimbling wrote: »

It is something I'd genuinely consider to be honest. I haven't really looked at them though, is there nice versions for my price range?

I could also get an older M3. A 01 E46 M3 would probably be around 10-12k these days.

theres a link to an 00 E39 (the nicest imho) m5 on page 2 , seriously you know how the m3 is, the m5 is just that bit better , and in the wonderful timeless e39 shell

Big Nasty

OP, a couple years back i would have said an A4 / A6 would have been perfect, i.e. subtle but tast looking with a fair amount of performance but the TDi crowd ruined that! Also the C6 has become very dated looking very quickly. That said I wouldn't mind a tasty C5 Avant Quattro! Then again, thing with Audi's is once they go over 100k miles they tend to be money pits.

Personally, if the M5 is a bit OTT I would go for a nice late model E39 530 with all the trimmings or if you do a fair bit of mileage a 530d (can't believe I just said that!). Plenty of car for small money these days and not much to worry about bar suspension and cooling problems - relatively easy fix. Better again a '01 M-Tech E38 740, but you might find that too much of a boat after the M3.

opinion guy

Audi S4 ? RS4 ? RS6 ?

jimbling

Eric Cartman wrote: »

theres a link to an 00 E39 (the nicest imho) m5 on page 2 , seriously you know how the m3 is, the m5 is just that bit better , and in the wonderful timeless e39 shell

Ya, just saw it there. Pretty sweet all right.

jimbling

On a few of the other suggestions.


Golf GTI or TDI. Nope. I dont' mind them, great car, but not really interested in getting one. Not big on hot hatches in general.

Audi TT
I wouldnt agree that it's all girlie, but I'm not a big fan. And yes, I have driven the 220bhp Quattro TT. It was a nice drive all right, but I didn't feel comfortable in the cockpit.... two small.
I'm also not that big a fan of the looks to be honest.

Mini Cooper....em, yes, that's a girlie car.
Honestly, they're fantastic car..... and a lot of fun to drive.... but I couldn't buy one.
I don't think I've ever driven past a mini without taking a sconce in the window to see what she looks like. The odd time I see a guy driving it kind of shocks me.


I'm pretty surprised nobody has mentioned my current consideration, the Focus ST??
I'm going to take a look at this version sometime this week.... great looking and is the ST3 version so is top spec.

Victor Meldrew

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

It'd be a safe bet neither of you 2 have driven a TT.. I took a 220bhp quatro for a weekend and its anything but a girls car

Can't vouch for the 220, but the Mk1 180 quattro is a bit lame and dead. Missus had one for 2 years* and whilst 180bhp and 4wd is handy for overtaking, there is little involvement unless you absolutly drive it like a nutter. Also leather buckets not that comfortable. Cloth would be better as at least you would not slide about.

you can have too much grip and there is nothing balanced about the car. Where is the fun in a car that you'd have to be a moron to NOT be able to drive fast. Skill free zone. IMHO. But, it's cool to look at.

Wife still pines for it though...


*kids stopped play....

mullingar

something iffy about that ST Focus.

From the ad:

Additional Info
Price reflects condition of car. First registered on 21st Dec 05. ST3 model so the car has the heated leather seats, xenon lights with washers & Sony 6 Disc front load changer as standard.

and the reg is 05-C-57.

Eric Cartman

M5

Testament1

tuxy wrote: »

troll

How was I being a troll? The OP was looking for suggestions for a car, I suggested a car. Dont quite see how that makes me a troll :rolleyes:

Top Dog

mullingar wrote: »

something iffy about that ST Focus.

and the reg is 05-C-57.

Very easy to reserve reg plates back then without having to pay an arm and a leg

What I found amusing was the price reflects condition statement ... the price on the linked advert is €100 :pac:

tuxy

Testament1 wrote: »

How was I being a troll? The OP was looking for suggestions for a car, I suggested a car. Dont quite see how that makes me a troll :rolleyes:

Ok sorry I was mistaken I now realise you did not read the first post in this thread.

Idbatterim

Jimbling, did you take a look at the m5 link on page 2? what year is your current m3?

jimbling

Top Dog wrote: »

Very easy to reserve reg plates back then without having to pay an arm and a leg

What I found amusing was the price reflects condition statement ... the price on the linked advert is €100 :pac:

Ya, I asked him about that. Thought it was supposed to be 10k or something. But he said he tried to put in POA but it wouldn't let him so he put 100. He's asking for 11.5k.