Next step?

Atomic Pineapple

Takes me about a year to change cars when I've decided I want something new so with that in mind and seeing as I've no idea what I want next a bit of opinion on what would be a nice car to look at adding to my car history.

Currently driving a MK II Ford Focus ST and I love it, its comfortable, is refined enough but not overly refined, has a decent bit of power and the engine sounds great.

The thing is what's a good car to follow on from the ST? Its been on my mind a bit as to what would be a good car to start looking into and start saving for.

I only drive at the weekends at the minute so dont need something economical, something petrol, powerful, good handling and seeing as all my cars have been FWD either RWD or AWD would be nice to try but I would discount FWD.

€15k would be the budget.

Suggestions on what would be a nice next step from the ST welcome....

Thanks

EPM

I know it's probably overdone but E46 M3 or E39 M5?

TestTransmission

Immediately thought of this

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2094712

ION08

15k would get you a very nice e46 m3.

Comfortable, refined but also powerful and Rwd fun. Sounds great too

Any pics of your ST by the way? (lovely cars)

Atomic Pineapple

For some reason I've lost all interest in Evo's. M5 is too big at the minute.

M3 is the obvious choice but I like to look at alternatives, think the M3 is a few years down the line yet.

.Longshanks.

How practical does it need to be?
Audi S3?

ION08

EPM wrote: »

I know it's probably overdone but E46 M3 or E39 M5?

Overdone , but overdone for a reason.

Have driven both of the above cars (owned by 2 very lucky friends of mine)

The e46 M3 really is just a fantatstic car, ticks all the right boxes.

Only 2 negatives I can think of is the fact that it is starting to become a lot more common nowdays and the 3.2L tax rate (although coming up from a 2.5 ST it wouldnt be a deal breaker)

brembo26

+1 on the evo. MR FQ 340 would be my choice of model anyway

jonathan11

Love the look of this one... got a bit of poke too...
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1880777

brembo26

i never liked those Nissan 350Z's but that one changed my opinion totally :eek: anyway this thread isnt about me sorry OP :P

ION08

Yeah, that horrible front bumper would need to be changed though!

-Corkie-

Who will be the first to say Octy VRS..;)

Seriously how about a newer ST or even the RS. I know it may not suit the budget but they are a savage car and very rare.

ShadowHearth

Oh lad. Is it that time of the year .

I did not expected you to give up on st so quick! Still remember you getting it.

I think you got mature enough for rwd .

M3 and 350z would sound great. I would not even try offering any of modified stuff as you are not in to it lad.

But will the 3.0+++ tax be worth paying for weakened driving only?

Maybe you would consider some old classic corvette or comaro? Good few quid saved and a big smile on your face!

mondeo

I've no idea what sort of cars you have had before but personally if I was after something mad I'd try an RS4 or an M3.

Evo's are not my cup of tea either, scream look at me too much.

Drummerboy08

Th only proper step from an ST is an RS.....;)


Seriously though, I'd imagine the jump to an M3 won't be cheap.

Cost to change, insurance, tax, running costs = Alot.

I'm struggling to think of a worthy car to change from an ST. Not many coming to mind.

S3 maybe? Or else why not do a bit of work to the ST? Decent exhaust, remap, and a set of decent coilovers? That would be a very different car from the standard ST. I've seen these machine's running more bhp than a standard Mk2 RS...

El Guapo!

The M3 was the first thing to pop into my head. There's not much else I can think of. There's other options like Vectra OPC, or a 3.0 legacy or something but theres not much in line with the ST or M3.

bazz26

Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201114201872169

qz

I recommend you don't get the Brera because I want it and you can't have it.

ION08

I recommend you don't get the Brera because it looks awful, you're only getting 260bhp from a 3.2, probably going to cause you many mechanical/electrical headaches and you'll have a very tough time selling it on when you get bored of it

Besides M3 .. theres not much else I'd trade into coming from an ST.

Maybe a Boxster S, if all you do is weekend driving?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/3.2-S--L/201107201315568/advert?channel=CARS

unkel

draffodx wrote: »

Takes me about a year to change cars when I've decided I want something new so with that in mind and seeing as I've no idea what I want next

draffodx is the new Cyrus

I'll second the Boxster, although it would cost a good bit more to keep on the road compared to the ST. Maybe next year or the year after?

How about a Mazda RX-8? Too tame?

While you're at it, you only need 2 seats, right? Make the most of it while you can

How about a Honda S2000?

Nissan doctor

Nissan skyline 350gt, For those with more imagination then a BMW coupe:P

Atomic Pineapple

kev_Longshanks100 wrote: »

How practical does it need to be?
Audi S3?

Do weekend driving, only me or me +1 in the car 99% of the time, travel home from Dublin on a Friday and back on a Sunday and cover about 200 - 300 miles in a weekend usually, so just has to comfortably handle that.

-Corkie- wrote: »

Who will be the first to say Octy VRS..;)

Seriously how about a newer ST or even the RS. I know it may not suit the budget but they are a savage car and very rare.

The RS is way out of budget unfortunately.

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Oh lad. Is it that time of the year .

I did not expected you to give up on st so quick! Still remember you getting it.

I think you got mature enough for rwd .

M3 and 350z would sound great. I would not even try offering any of modified stuff as you are not in to it lad.

But will the 3.0+++ tax be worth paying for weakened driving only?

Maybe you would consider some old classic corvette or comaro? Good few quid saved and a big smile on your face!

Ah I love the ST and will probably keep it for awhile longer, I started the thread because I have no idea what to start looking at next and am finding it hard to think of a suitable replacement for the ST.

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Th only proper step from an ST is an RS.....;)


Seriously though, I'd imagine the jump to an M3 won't be cheap.

Cost to change, insurance, tax, running costs = Alot.

I'm struggling to think of a worthy car to change from an ST. Not many coming to mind.

S3 maybe? Or else why not do a bit of work to the ST? Decent exhaust, remap, and a set of decent coilovers? That would be a very different car from the standard ST. I've seen these machine's running more bhp than a standard Mk2 RS...

I've thought about modding it and done a good bit of research on it, to get it to 300bhp with an LSD and RS clutch to make it worth having that much power would cost around €5000 (new parts) which I'd love to do.

But pumping €5k into a car thats probably only going to be worth €7k - €8k when I go to move it on then even with the mods might be a bit too much money to spend.

The S3 is one of them VAG cars but I might look into them a bit more but they dont seem to be a big enough step up from the ST to be worth the anguish likely of owning a VAG car

ION08 wrote: »

I recommend you don't get the Brera because it looks awful, you're only getting 260bhp from a 3.2, probably going to cause you many mechanical/electrical headaches and you'll have a very tough time selling it on when you get bored of it

Besides M3 .. theres not much else I'd trade into coming from an ST.

Maybe a Boxster S, if all you do is weekend driving?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/3.2-S--L/201107201315568/advert?channel=CARS

I actually like the Brera but your other points about it are valid, the tax for the power isn't really worth it and it would be like a wedding ring.

I like the Boxter S but I dont want a convertible.

unkel wrote: »

draffodx is the new Cyrus

I'll second the Boxster, although it would cost a good bit more to keep on the road compared to the ST. Maybe next year or the year after?

How about a Mazda RX-8? Too tame?

While you're at it, you only need 2 seats, right? Make the most of it while you can

How about a Honda S2000?

Cyrus with a less healthy budget

Yeh the Rx-8 is something I looked at while looking at the ST too and decided it wasn't for me.

Yes, only need 2 seats at the minute

Love S2000's but I don't want a convertible.

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Nissan skyline 350gt, For those with more imagination then a BMW coupe:P

Love them and looked at 350z's before I got the ST, the high tax for 280bhp put me off a bit and I talked to a few owners and got some great feedback about modding them with superchargers and got a spin in a 410bhp (I think cant remember exact figure) one and it was great!

But i would have the same concerns about them as the Brera, high tax for the power and very hard to shift on afterwards.