8 grand to spend, no idea what to buy :(

Jimbob 83

Was gonna get a diesel afew months back but hesitated as fuel prices rose, now im stumped as to what to buy, i only do about 10,000 miles a year if even that.

Suggestions welcome, car is just for myself no kids :pac:

mickdw

Alfa 159?

Stylish,
07 or 08 for your budget
Nice drive

166man

2005-2007 VW Golf Gti? Plenty around for that money and you can get reasonable fuel consumption out of them.

Anan1

I'd let the car lead you to the budget, rather than the other way around. Get out there and start test driving, see what you like.

drunkmonkey

166man wrote: »

2005-2007 VW Golf Gti? Plenty around for that money and you can get reasonable fuel consumption out of them.

They are serious value at the moment, probably the best choice. Well that or an s2000:)

Jimbob 83

Yea i was considering stretching my budget abit and trying to get a Diesel golf gti, but with the milage i do i guess a petrol Gti wouldn't cost the earth to run and i do like them alot, i tihnk there is a 1.4 supercharged version too now ?

Current car is a rather beat up 02 1.4 Skoda Octavia, 75bhp when new, now prolly around 40 bhp

I would like something abit sporty to enter my 30's with

cojomo2

166man wrote: »

2005-2007 VW Golf Gti? Plenty around for that money and you can get reasonable fuel consumption out of them.

+1 gti is a lovely drive, although you will not get a decent/any 07 for that money. A well kept 05 I'd imagine.

cojomo2

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Yea i was considering stretching my budget abit and trying to get a Diesel golf gti, but with the milage i do i guess a petrol Gti wouldn't cost the earth to run and i do like them alot, i tihnk there is a 1.4 supercharged version too now ?

Current car is a rather beat up 02 1.4 Skoda Octavia, 75bhp when new, now prolly around 40 bhp

I would like something abit sporty to enter my 30's with

No such thing. Closest would be a gtd which only came out recently, on the mk6.

The 1.4 supercharged version is the GT...170 bhp. I would go with the GTi, better and more reliable.

Jimbob 83

Yea the GT D is what i meant, they are very expensive though, even when brought over from the UK, UK 2 litre golfs seem really cheap though, i must say i do like my Octavia it's just got a massive backside and no power.

Im no boy racer just want something comfortable with abit of poke that looks nice

Bobo78

How about something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=613273237007320

Bobo78

Or maybe something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=413267921546090

eringobragh

Bobo78 wrote: »

Or maybe something like this:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=413267921546090

Lovely.....Poverty specced 316..meh

am i right in saying that it doesn't even have alloys :rolleyes:

voojeq

well you could get a mint 99-00 ek9 civc type-r jap import for about 5 grand and spend the rest on insurance, tax and smile on your face

but that's just me

Chavways

Perfect as a Sunday Drive car:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2897154

Jimbob 83

Don't really like jap cars tbh and has to be atleast 2006 as im gonna be keeping it till 2016

Timmaay

Alfa GT. Most come with very good spec. The GT, alongside the 159 suffered from far less reliability problems that plagued early '00 alfas. Service history is important though. The likes of an 06/07 has passed the worst of its deprecation.

bazz26

Yes the GT is a good suggestion, a nice example here:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=2913288110152900

Or something more practical:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2952848

Jimbob 83

VRS looks ok i hate Donedeal ads tho they are so all over the place and don't give the right info says mileage is 1001 miles

Vertakill

I've never seen so many hilarious suggestions in ages...

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

I would like something abit sporty to enter my 30's with

And then we get literally the worst specced 316 on the market, followed by a family saloon Mazda... followed by a Merc 190 (which is something your average Joe would totally not be interested in)....

Then there's this:

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Im no boy racer just want something comfortable with abit of poke that looks nice

voojeq wrote: »

well you could get a mint 99-00 ek9 civc type-r jap import for about 5 grand and spend the rest on insurance, tax and smile on your face

Aaanyways, as Timmaay suggested, the Alfa GT is a great looking car. Not a LOT of poke, but they're quick enough and look great.

350Z - quite a lot of poke and look awesome and you say you're not 'limited' by kids in this choice..

Merc CL500 - Maybe something a little thinking out of the box and it's something I've personally thought about briefly. They're dirt cheap at the moment - very fast and very comfortable. you'd have to come down a few years though to meet your budget.

E46 M3 - From experience, very fast, quite comfortable - you'd have to come down a few years though to meet your budget here too.


8k will get you a lot of car nowadays so you're spoiled for choice I think!

Anan1

Vertakill wrote: »

I've never seen so many hilarious suggestions in ages...

Vertakill wrote: »

The likes of maybe a 350Z - quite a lot of poke and look awesome and you say you're not 'limited' by kids in this choice..
Maybe something a little thinking out of the box with a Merc CL500 which are dirt cheap at the moment - very fast and very comfortable. you'd have to come down a few years though to meet your budget.
E46 M3 - very fast, quite comfortable - you'd have to come down a few years though to meet your budget here too.

Honestly, these 'pick a car for me' cars are all the same - OP gives only the haziest idea of who 'me' is, and people tell the OP what they'd like themselves.

OP needs to get out there and start driving cars, find out what they like.

166man

Anan1 wrote: »

Honestly, these 'pick a car for me' cars are all the same - OP gives only the haziest idea of who 'me' is, and people tell the OP what they'd like themselves.

OP needs to get out there and start driving cars, find out what they like.

I think the OP is just trying to get an idea of what cars he should go out and drive in the first place...

Vertakill is spot on though, some fairly poor suggestions so far..

vectra

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Current car is a rather beat up 02 1.4 Skoda Octavia, 75bhp when new, now prolly around 40 bhp

I would like something abit sporty to enter my 30's with

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Yea the GT D is what i meant, they are very expensive though, even when brought over from the UK, UK 2 litre golfs seem really cheap though, i must say i do like my Octavia it's just got a massive backside and no power.

Im no boy racer just want something comfortable with abit of poke that looks nice

You like your Octy so why change to a different model?
Get a newer one with some Poke

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2952848

Nal

Honda s2k

Anan1

166man wrote: »

I think the OP is just trying to get an idea of what cars he should go out and drive in the first place...

I think where a lot of people (especially non-car people) go wrong is in assuming that there's one 'best' car out there, and that if they find that out and buy it they'll be fine. They don't seem to realize that there is no 'right' car for everyone, that it's all down to their own wants/needs/priorities.

166man wrote: »

Vertakill is spot on though, some fairly poor suggestions so far..

In fairness, someone who 'was gonna get a diesel a few months back but hesitated as fuel prices rose' is probably not going to be best served by an elderly CL500 either!

I don't think anyone can give good advice here, there's just not enough information.

TestTransmission

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

has to be atleast 2006 as im gonna be keeping it till 2016

166man

Anan1 wrote: »

I think where a lot of people (especially non-car people) go wrong is in assuming that there's one 'best' car out there, and that if they find that out and buy it they'll be fine. They don't seem to realize that there is no 'right' car for everyone, that it's all down to their own wants/needs/priorities.

In fairness, someone who 'was gonna get a diesel a few months back but hesitated as fuel prices rose' is probably not going to be best served by an elderly CL500 either!

I don't think anyone can give good advice here, there's just not enough information.

There is no right car but just by asking the question the OP will have a list of a few cars to drive and especially if he isn't a car person then even having a few in your mind can help decide what you really want.

I think that while the CL500 is a bit left field, Vertakills post was mostly correct. I still stand by my original suggestion of a MK V GTI though.

Chonker

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3023056
Although I am not a fan of UK imports. Its a good price and spec, low milage too.

Personally I would look at the Octavia RS for that money.

But this might be worth a look too
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3032835

The best car I have ever driven. In my opinion!
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2994386

td2008

325 maybe? and yes i am biased

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/325-CI-E/201150206092274/advert?channel=CARS

freestyla

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

I would like something abit sporty to enter my 30's with

Write up a list of the things a car has to have to satisfy you - you gonna spend few years with it. Do good research on internet- whats specs they come with, average prices, common issues, positive things, running costs, driving dynamics etc..

Then narrow down to few cars go out and test.

Like suggested Alfa GT, Golf GTI, Skoda VRS.. but skip that 1.8 Mazda and 1.6 BMW

I was in the same situation last year and spent few months before found spot-on car for my needs -was thinking about and testing some of these:

• Alfa GT
• alfa 159 (2.2 petrol or 2.4 diesel)
• alfa 156 2.0 facelift 2004
• golf 5 GTI
• golf 4 2.8 V6 4motion
• Bmw e46 323Ci or 325Ci
• Passat W8 4motion
• Ford Focus ST
• Ford Mustang SN95
• Honda S2000
• Honda Accord 2.4
• Mazda RX8
• Mazda 6 MPS
• Kia pro_ceed 2.0 diesel
• Merc CLK 2.0 or 2.3 kompressor
• Bmw 523 or 525
• Bmw 530d
• Volvo S60 T5
• Lexus IS220 or 250.
• Subaru Legacy
• Nissan Skyline R34
• Nissan Sylvia S15

freestyla

Chonker wrote: »

The best car I have ever driven. In my opinion!
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2994386

Extremly nice car indeed!

td2008

What you go for in the end freestyla?

freestyla

td2008 wrote: »

What you go for in the end freestyla?

Oh yea.. Saab 9-3 2.0T and Seat Leon 1.8T were on the list too

Went for Skyline R34 GT.. needed as daily driver so non-turbo and no huge spoilers, wheels.. a bit more comfy and less petrol hungry model than GTT.

Hope to have enough funds one day and install a supercharger but as petrol prices going up LPG conversion is more likely

Chonker

freestyla wrote: »

Oh yea.. Saab 9-3 2.0T and Seat Leon 1.8T were on the list too

Went for Skyline R34 GT.. needed as daily driver so non-turbo and no huge spoilers, wheels.. a bit more comfy and less petrol hungry model than GTT.

Hope to have enough funds one day and install a supercharger but as petrol prices going up LPG conversion is more likely

Nice! my other favorite car. 200bhp still pretty quick without Turbo.

Jimbob 83

Nice thanks for all the helpful replies, forgot about the Lexus i220 and a couple others in there.

milhous

I'm sort of in the same boat, except a ****tier little boat that's travelling around 60k miles a year. (Some months there'll be alot of driving and others hardly any). Have 6-6.5kish to spend. I want to stay in the 30mpg region, it's mostly motorway i'll be driving. Year is not a major concern, reliability is tho as i plan on keeping it for a few years.
Love the alfa gt but it's a bit out of my budget at the min.
I was wondering if the 1.8T engine would be good for a bit of poke?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2974363

Open to any sorta sporty options that are around that price mark, but would like some nice spec too. Would a z4 be worth looking at? http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2843597 (not sure if i could haggle a grand.)
On the lower price bracket I was thinking about a celica,mr2 or mx5. Not sure who posted the 325 up but it's really caught my attention. http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/325-CI-E/201150206092274/advert?channel=CARS

Anyway buying something this week hopefully. I'll post when I purchase. REALLY want to look at something sporty but will prob end up with a vw 1.9tdi:o