€6k to spend....next year

Ardennes1944

Staying in line with my typical addict ways I've found myself back on done deal the last few days looking at cars again, for 12months away. I'm 21 next august and will be able to get very good quotes with Quinn for something more than 125bhp. At present Ive a mk5 astra 1.8 ,which I love, but of course, the urge for more power is coming.
I would like something with around 150-200 bhp , preferably 03 up and a some bit nice interior.
The car number 1 on my list right now is a 320ci , but I'm not sure if I could justify the €813 tax, so I'm thinking maybe a 2litre would be my limit. Not sure if the 140bhp 318ci would be much quicker than my astra. Another car, which I don't really like but is a possibility, (don't laugh) is a TT ,I'd love the 225 but insurance could be crazy. I've seen the odd one that's not womanly looking and the 180 wouldn't be a slouch either I presume. Ideally,I'd love a dc5 but once again....insurance. Dont think anyone would insure me on a k20!
Other suggestions are extremely welcome.

Edit: I got a fake quote of 1500 with Quinn on the 320

pudzey101

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Staying in line with my typical addict ways I've found myself back on done deal the last few days looking at cars again, for 12months away. I'm 21 next august and will be able to get very good quotes with Quinn for something more than 125bhp. At present Ive a mk5 astra 1.8 ,which I love, but of course, the urge for more power is coming.
I would like something with around 150-200 bhp , preferably 03 up and a some bit nice interior.
The car number 1 on my list right now is a 320ci , but I'm not sure if I could justify the €813 tax, so I'm thinking maybe a 2litre would be my limit. Not sure if the 140bhp 318ci would be much quicker than my astra. Another car, which I don't really like but is a possibility, (don't laugh) is a TT ,I'd love the 225 but insurance could be crazy. I've seen the odd one that's not womanly looking and the 180 wouldn't be a slouch either I presume. Ideally,I'd love a dc5 but once again....insurance. Dont think anyone would insure me on a k20!
Other suggestions are extremely welcome.

golf gttdi? cheap to run + plenty of power? insurance be nothing aswell as be down as 1.9 tdi:)if id 6k to spend in the morning id snap one of these up !:)

Ardennes1944

pudzey101 wrote: »

golf gttdi? cheap to run + plenty of power? insurance be nothing aswell as be down as 1.9 tdi:)if id 6k to spend in the morning id snap one of these up !:)

Really don't want to be a tdi lumphead and I would only be able to afford the mk4 which is not at all attractive . I should have mentioned...I won't be doing much mileage so diesel ain't really a need

bfocusd

Nissan 360Z

pudzey101

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Really don't want to be a tdi lumphead and I would only be able to afford the mk4 which is not at all attractive . I should have mentioned...I won't be doing much mileage so diesel ain't really a need

wat do you have in mind?:) for eg my levin is 170bhp standerd, 1.6 on book and im payin pocket change for insurance:)

166man

A bit left field but a fine machine too

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-3/2.0-T-AE/201117202194048/advert?channel=CARS

or this

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/TYPE-R/201121202525297/advert?channel=CARS

Ardennes1944

I have looked at the saabs alright they are nice looking,the dash looks like it's from a plane though with all the buttons! The ep3 I won't get insured on as in op.

MetzgerMeister

You want something with between 150bhp and 200bhp but the quotes you get for insurance aren't what you would pay. Does that make sense?

Due to your age and wanting something with that power, all quotes you will get will be around the same mark.

If I were you I'd hold onto the lovely astra you have and wait another year.

pudzey101

pudzey101 wrote: »

golf gttdi? cheap to run + plenty of power? insurance be nothing aswell as be down as 1.9 tdi:)if id 6k to spend in the morning id snap one of these up !:)

pudzey101 wrote: »

wat do you have in mind?:) for eg my levin is 170bhp standerd, 1.6 on book and im payin pocket change for insurance:)

Of course they are down as a 1.9 and a 1.6 respectively, they're not 4 litre supercharged V8s.

EPM

I'd check out Leon FR's, although with that budget you'll be looking at older designs than your own car. What about an imported 2.0T astra. Early ones were 170 as far as I remember and would be a nice upgrade.

Jimmy Bottlehead

You'd prob get a nice 2004 E46 320ci next year for that budget - lovely car, test drove one a few weeks back. Shocked me how BMW's aren't THAT expensive to buy, although upkeep and tax/insurance will be the trade-off I guess.

I test drove the 2.2L - it's about a €200 difference, so it's a reasonable difference, but one you could also chalk up as being only €0.54c per day extra for the 2.2L.

qz

Audi S3?

TestTransmission

Octavia vRS?











I'll get my coat

EPM

TestTransmission wrote: »

Octavia vRS?











I'll get my coat

That's a good one. Tell it again:p

Ardennes1944

have thought of all the cars above. dont even go there with the vrs TT :pac: are 320's reliable? i could justify the 800 tax if it wasnt gonna cost me alot on maintenance. im getting quotes of around 1500 on all cars circa 180bhp which is pretty good. had a look at 1.6 fsi golfs last night, but slim pickings here.

jaffa20

What insurance company are you with? when i was 24, my insurance company wouldnt even consider covering me on a 180bhp TT never mind the 225bhp. I was lucky to even get cover on the mx5! Edit: just saw it's quinn. The would quote me on my mx5 as im under 30!!

Alanstrainor

A Cooper S would be within budget, not too sure about reliability on the first generation of them though. They're a fun fast car, and the insurance isn't that bad on them at all, considering a lot of lads have a problem with their image. Win win!

Next year you'd nearly get an e92 saloon in 325i guise for €6000, I'd have one of them over an e45 320ci and the insurance may well be less on them than on the Coupe which would cover the extra tax.

bijapos

You should ask a broker about insurance quotes too. Quinn might have a name for insuring young people but shopping around is often a lot cheaper. I think a lot of younger people are happy with online quotes whereas in my experience ringing around to a couple of brokers is a lot cheaper.

Quinn quoted me €810 on a Hiace van, got it for €390, Quinn were €580 on the car, €405 with a broker.

Ardennes1944

thanks for the suggestions lads. i will ring around brokers, i saved over a grand switching from axa to quinn on this astra so i didnt even try last time!
the cooper s are pretty quick but i dont think i could see myself driving it tbh.
what about TT's? i saw on an old thread that RJ said they can have electrical problems? i know they are a hairdressers car but if you fill up the arches on them, especially black ones, they can look pretty nice. rough pickings here though, most have 90k+ miles

Damokc

these don't seem to be too bad in insure even with same engine as GTi's and such.this one looks immaculate. wish i had the money to buy it!
this guy might move on price. also this is an R, normal Cupra's go for much less.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2515688

Ardennes1944

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

........ i saw on an old thread that RJ said they can have electrical problems?..........

Was I on about a specific one though? A buddy had a 2001 225bhp quottro that the bought in 2000 ish, he had a few issues
- it was claimed to have one previous owner, it has come in from England a few years ago
- it had been in a front end smash and was repaired (not too well)
- the wiring was full of scotch locks / assorted ape wiring repairs, he found that out when he dropped it into Kevin O'Learys to sort out his not working fuel gauge.

Ardennes1944

RoverJames wrote: »

Was I on about a specific one though? A buddy had a 2001 225bhp quottro that the bought in 2000 ish, he had a few issues
- it was claimed to have one previous owner, it has come in from England a few years ago
- it had been in a front end smash and was repaired (not too well)
- the wiring was full of scotch locks / assorted ape wiring repairs, he found that out when he dropped it into Kevin O'Learys to sort out his not working fuel gauge.

no it wasnt your buddy's it was tt's in general you said im sure. i think the TT , its probably top of my list atm all things considered.

Ardennes1944

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

no it wasnt your buddy's it was tt's in general you said im sure. ..........

:eek:

What was I thinking, dunno what I was on about so to be honest, no bells are ringing with me.

markoire

OP, I had an accord CL7 euro r a few years ago when I was 21. Insurance was only 1400 fully comp with aviva as they didnt know what they were!! This might still be the case!! (I did explain to the person at the time that the car had 220bhp but they said it wasnt on their system and theyd just put it down as a type s)!!

Alanstrainor

markoire wrote: »

OP, I had an accord CL7 euro r a few years ago when I was 21. Insurance was only 1400 fully comp with aviva as they didnt know what they were!! This might still be the case!! (I did explain to the person at the time that the car had 220bhp but they said it wasnt on their system and theyd just put it down as a type s)!!

Be very careful about doing this. You'd have to get all of this in writing before i'd consider everything to be okay.

markoire

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Be very careful about doing this. You'd have to get all of this in writing before i'd consider everything to be okay.

Exactly. I got them to write me a letter confirming that the car they had insured was in fact a euro r. Otherwise I'd assume you'd be pretty much uninsured?!!

challengemaster

markoire wrote: »

Exactly. I got them to write me a letter confirming that the car they had insured was in fact a euro r. Otherwise I'd assume you'd be pretty much uninsured?!!

Yup, in the event of a crash then they wont pay out as it's different to what you're policy says. Then you're up shít creek

Cupra R are some car, definitely wouldn't overlook one

Damokc

I'm sure the Cupra R would have more or less the same engine as the TT?? 1.8T VAG but probably a lot cheaper to insure? theres is some seriously clean Cupras for sale on Pistonheads.

Damokc

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2308890

Ardennes1944

Damokc wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2308890

a 3.5? are you for real man?

Alanstrainor

A bit obscure, and I don't think they're supposed to be a great drive...but how about a Corolla TSport? A bit fugly, but certainly quick, i've tried getting quotes on them and they were fine for me.

Ardennes1944

drove a t sport the other day, quick in fairness but not for me. what are the 1.8t vag engines like with high mileage? do they get costly around the 90-100k mark?

Ardennes1944

how broke would this make me in time? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2402933

166man

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

how broke would this make me in time? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2402933

Not very you would be surprised! That diesel has the 150 bhp engine so quick enough and reasonably economical. I really like that colour too if only it has leather though inside...

At that price with that mileage that 159 is cheap...

Ardennes1944

from 06- they seem to be more reliable but i dont know...such a nice car i always admire them! definitely something to consider when im buying. id like to hear from anyone who has one?

Damokc

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

a 3.5? are you for real man?

no, not really but it was within your budget-ish:P

i still stand by my my earlier post of the Cupra though:D

EPM

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

how broke would this make me in time? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2402933

ROR would be the man in the know. And from what he's said in the past they're very reliable. I've been lookin into them today and will probably go see one this weekend. Test drove them before and liked them. Slightly quirky detaila but solid cars. 150 has swirl flap issues, I'm going to see a 120 and probably remap it maybe.

Damokc

Dunno if you would consider these? 2lt but look very sporty I think. always I think they avoid insurance loading.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1927138
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2469886

166man

EPM wrote: »

ROR would be the man in the know. And from what he's said in the past they're very reliable. I've been lookin into them today and will probably go see one this weekend. Test drove them before and liked them. Slightly quirky detaila but solid cars. 150 has swirl flap issues, I'm going to see a 120 and probably remap it maybe.

Excellent choice, my old man bought one about 6 months ago with the 120 engine as a sportwagon and 30k in not one problem has arisen, no rattles no squeaks and so on. As standard the 120 is fine for moving about but we got it remapped for about 400 quid and it makes a big difference especially for overtaking... have been driving it myself and its really great.

Fuel economy hovers around 43 mpg which isn't too bad...

Any more info required just send me a pm I will try answer most questions!

I should add this post was for the OP too... :D

Alanstrainor

166man wrote: »

Excellent choice, my old man bought one about 6 months ago with the 120 engine as a sportwagon and 30k in not one problem has arisen, no rattles no squeaks and so on. As standard the 120 is fine for moving about but we got it remapped for about 400 quid and it makes a big difference especially for overtaking... have been driving it myself and its really great.

Fuel economy hovers around 43 mpg which isn't too bad...

Any more info required just send me a pm I will try answer most questions!

What did the remap bring it up to? I know slightly OT...

Ardennes1944

Is there any 120s in the price range in done deal or are they more expensive as they don't have swirl flaps? Can ya blank them off?

166man

Alanstrainor wrote: »

What did the remap bring it up to? I know slightly OT...

I think power is now 143 bhp and torque is up by about 20 too so probably 230 lb/ft I think. It makes a big difference with no real loss to fuel economy so far.

I think the 120 only came out in 2008 so probably not in price range... I am open to correction though!

Ardennes1944

Isn't there a 1.8 version swell though? Any knowledge on that?

EPM

166man wrote: »

I think power is now 143 bhp and torque is up by about 20 too so probably 230 lb/ft I think. It makes a big difference with no real loss to fuel economy so far.

I think the 120 only came out in 2008 so probably not in price range... I am open to correction though!

120's are there since launch. I thought it would respond a lot better to a remap tbh.

166man

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Isn't there a 1.8 version swell though? Any knowledge on that?

There is a 1.8 engine too which seem to be going very cheap these days compared to the diesels... I heard they aren't great though quite thirsty and just a rebadged GM product...again not sure so correct me if I'm wrong! It probably won't be any faster than your own car too.

However if doing low miles the 1.8 might suit you quite well although that diesel Alfa that was linked earlier looks very good at that price...

166man

EPM wrote: »

120's are there since launch. I thought it would respond a lot better to a remap tbh.

Oh really? Aha I stand corrected. Yeah more power could be gotten I'm sure but 143 is enough for now. See how it takes that and then maybe might increase it. Mechanic said it could take 160-170 bhp..

Ardennes1944

It's a 1.8na is it? If it's gm it's prob the same engine I have in mine! I'll keep a look out for a 120' how do you know by looking? What about the 1.6 fsi mk5 golf?

Nonoperational

EPM where did you hear the swirl flap stuff? I understand they can give a small bit of trouble but I've not heard of them ever breaking off like the BMWs can... I don't think it's a huge issue is it? I'm very tempted by a 159 TI for my next car :-)

166man

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

It's a 1.8na is it? If it's gm it's prob the same engine I have in mine! I'll keep a look out for a 120' how do you know by looking? What about the 1.6 fsi mk5 golf?

It could well be.. The 120 is the 8v version and when you look at the back of the car the 150 engine will have JTDM where the 120 just has JTDM as normal...

The golf 1.6 power wise has 113 bhp so maybe less than your own car. I don't know a huge amount about them though some other posters might have more info...

EPM

gpf101 wrote: »

EPM where did you hear the swirl flap stuff? I understand they can give a small bit of trouble but I've not heard of them ever breaking off like the BMWs can... I don't think it's a huge issue is it? I'm very tempted by a 159 TI for my next car :-)

Try Googling vectra swirl flaps maybe? Same engine. AFAIK it was sorted out on later cars but open to correction. Haven't read up on them in a while. Engines been replaced on new models now.