What to buy?

Mr Benevolent

Right, I have a good bit more disposable income, much lower insurance (around €700pa, thank god for being 33) and want something with creature comforts, a bit of poke and a 2L petrol max, 3L for diesel. Ideally turbo RWD or quattro unless it has a rep for good FWD handling. Evo and Impreza are out of the picture. I'll have a second car so it may not get used every day.

The catches are that I won't be buying until the summer and budget will be €3k max. Doesn't matter about body type.

My rationale for the above? I want to get a fun car before a baby arrives. GF isn't pregnant yet, but give it a year or two...

Ideas so far:

2001 MX-5 1.8
TT Quattro 180/225

M44B19

BMW E46 of some sort?

bazz26

If you are looking for a drop top roadster like a MX-5 then buying during the winter is the best as that is the time convertibles are at their cheapest. As they are a seasonal car prices fluctuate.

bazz26

BMW 318ci:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/318-CI/201242210510016/

Mazda RX-8:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Mazda/RX8/RX-8/201235209834344/

MG TF:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MG/TF/car/201243210628016/

JohnnyCarter

Try a Nissan 200sx

Quality RW drive car which has a good reputation for reliability.

Mr Benevolent

If I was going for an E46 coupe I'd have to go for a 325Cd or up. The 1.8L is great in an MX-5 but a bit pathetic in an E46. I've had a 140hp car before, I'd like more power or less weight.

H3llR4iser

Man I'd go for the MX-5. Old school, relatively lightweight roadster. Drove one a couple of times and it feels quite nice. Plus, it's a car not every third driver owns like any Audi or BMW.

Matt Simis

Confab wrote: »

Right, I have a good bit more disposable income, much lower insurance (around €700pa, thank god for being 33) and want something with creature comforts, a bit of poke and a 2L petrol max, 3L for diesel.

If you arent going to be driving it much, why specify a much smaller engine size of the petrol, tax is the only relevant differentiator? And at that, 3.0 and above is the same as 7.0litre..

Audi TT or S3 seem like good bets though. E46 318.. not so much (not even close to the "turbo RWD" notion IMO).

Mr Benevolent

Matt Simis wrote: »

If you arent going to be driving it much, why specify a much smaller engine size of the petrol, tax is the only relevant differentiator? And at that, 3.0 and above is the same as 7.0litre..

Insurance is the issue. 2l petrol (turbo or not) is fine, so is 3L diesel, but anything above 2L petrol and they won't quote me. Make of that what you will.

Ardennes1944

try aviva and liberty. i got quote for an e46 m3 with aviva for 1900 and im 21

there were 2 lovely s3s on donedeal up till last week. a 225 tt or an s3 seem like good options. cant actually decide between them for myself.
theres a lovely mx5 1.8 in limerick thats for sale for a while and a nice 04 black 325ci put up in the last few days

listermint

Confab wrote: »

If I was going for an E46 coupe I'd have to go for a 325Cd or up. The 1.8L is great in an MX-5 but a bit pathetic in an E46. I've had a 140hp car before, I'd like more power or less weight.

There is only a 320CD and 330CD

MuppetCheck

Nice 156 diesel? Best of both worlds really. Still a good looking car, drive well and easily remapped for more power.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4257834

Drummerboy08

Knifey_spoonie has an MX5 Rs edition for sale I think...... really cool car.

166man

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Nice 156 diesel? Best of both worlds really. Still a good looking car, drive well and easily remapped for more power.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4257834

Confab had a bad experience with a 156 AFAIK, can't see him going for another one tbh.

Mr Benevolent

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I`ll be selling my 156 soon enough for peanuts :pac:

Heh, no thanks. Preferred the leather and bigger engine in mine. Anyway, no more 156s for me.

R.O.R

Maybe some driving lessons so you can eventually pass your test and prove you are competent behind the wheel of any car, before subjecting the general public to the danger of a learner permit holder in a sports car?

Mr Benevolent

R.O.R wrote: »

Maybe some driving lessons so you can eventually pass your test and prove you are competent behind the wheel of any car, before subjecting the general public to the danger of a learner permit holder in a sports car?

Off your elevated equestrian there. That's why I'm buying in the summer, I'll have my test by then. I've only had five accidents so far, and only four were my fault. Good going imo.

TestTransmission

Confab wrote: »

I've only had five accidents so far, and only four were my fault. Good going imo.

You're messing right..

Mr Benevolent

TestTransmission wrote: »

You're messing right..

Naturally. Haven't had one. Anyway, the point is that I'll only buy a higher powered car when I have my full licence, it's a condition I have to meet or my girlfriend will withdraw certain privileges for an indeterminate time. A stringent requirement, but one that must be met.

dar83

Confab wrote: »

Naturally. Haven't had one. Anyway, the point is that I'll only buy a higher powered car when I have my full licence, it's a condition I have to meet or my girlfriend will withdraw certain privileges for an indeterminate time. A stringent requirement, but one that must be met.

What, like your pocket money?

Being allowed stay up late to watch the end of your favourite program?

166man

dar83 wrote: »

What, like your pocket money?

Being allowed stay up late to watch the end of your favourite program?

I think it's just she's probably feel safer knowing that if he'd driving a faster car he has the test passed.

Mr Benevolent

dar83 wrote: »

What, like your pocket money?

Being allowed stay up late to watch the end of your favourite program?

Yeah, I won't be allowed stay up past 10pm :mad:

Any more suggestions?

MugMugs

Confab wrote: »

Yeah, I won't be allowed stay up past 10pm :mad:

Any more suggestions?

Well as you're a learner driver the only thing for you is a one litre Micra.

I'd assume anything over 1.4 on a provisional is only going to be nice to insure on the merit that you're accompanied at all times. Judging by your posts I don't think you'll be doing that so your cheap insurance is effectively void. Use the spare change from the cheap car / insurance and save it up for when you're being sued by an Insurer in recovery of their outlay from a claim they've had to pay out on your policy.

Mr Benevolent

MugMugs wrote: »

Well as you're a learner driver the only thing for you is a one litre Micra.

I'd assume anything over 1.4 on a provisional is only going to be nice to insure on the merit that you're accompanied at all times. Judging by your posts I don't think you'll be doing that so your cheap insurance is effectively void. Use the spare change from the cheap car / insurance and save it up for when you're being sued by an Insurer in recovery of their outlay from a claim they've had to pay out on your policy.

Ah, more high horses. Now I remember why I stopped posting on Motors. A simple request for advice turns into moralistic drivel.

Mark 2 mr2
The 3sge is a decent unit to be fair.

MugMugs

Confab wrote: »

Ah, more high horses. Now I remember why I stopped posting on Motors. A simple request for advice turns into moralistic drivel.

Nothing moralistic about it. I gave you advice. Sorry if you don't like it. A learner driver considering a three litre car is telling me that I am high horsed? Change the horse to a steed and I'll accept that maybe.

R.O.R

MugMugs wrote: »

A learner driver considering a three litre car is telling me that I am high horsed?

Here's my Horse - fancy a backy and we can trot off in to the sunset.....

MugMugs

Saddle up partner!

knifey_spoonie

What would come into my head would be MX 5 (not my one), Imprezza, Leagacy, Lancer evo/gsr. Fast and comfy you could look at 540i. Other options would be DC2 integra, might squeak a cooper s at that budget next year.

Also on a side note, just because you have a full license doesn't make you a capable driver. Invest some time in training, even just take the car on a track day or two. You will have a much greater understanding of how your car will react after a couple hours around a track.

Marcusm

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I`ll be selling my 156 soon enough for peanuts :pac:

Salted or dry roasted?

Tea 1000

MX5 for sheer driving enjoyment. They are legend. But I'd say once the test is passed you might get quoted for higher cc's, in which case you'll find it hard to beat a nice clean E36 325i or 328i. Go to the UK for one and you can get a very clean motor which are better to drive than the E46, which is a bit more sedate on the senses!

Mr Benevolent

So, the realistic list:

MX-5 NB
TT Quattro Turbo 180 or 225
Mini Cooper S
330Cd (maybe)

My gut says Cooper S, TT or MX-5, leaning towards the TT/MX-5, but I'll test drive a few after the full licence arrives in the post. Thanks for the advice lads.

thecomedian

I was looking for a similar car a few months back. I looked at a few 330ci but it was hard to find a clean one. If i did I would have bought one, plus they are going cheap at the moment. The S3 is a nice option but insurance could be a problem. A different one would be a high powered Volvo (can be cheaper to insure) or a focus ST.
There was one car I do regret and it at that was an 840 that was for sale on BMW driver.

I ended up with a TT, which I enjoy everytime I get in it. Just 2 things, it can understeer a wee bit, and a bit too flash for me but I'm getting use to it

Mr Benevolent

To update this thread, I've been doing more research. The MX-5 Mk2/2.5 is a rust trap from what I've learned. I'm beginning to think of Jap cars that don't rust, like the Accord and MR2. Maybe a Saab 95 Aero HOT?

Confab

Confab wrote: »

........... Maybe a Saab 95 Aero HOT?

You ditching the 2.0 max for petrol engines criteria?

Mr Benevolent

RoverJames wrote: »

You ditching the 2.0 max for petrol engines criteria?

Ever since I learned about LPG, yeah. A practical 38% saving on fuel at the moment.

So does the €3k budget go towards the car and the conversion ?

Or is the conversion being budgeted for by fuel savings, if you catch my drift

Supergurrier

Having a fun car has changed to fuel savings, just as well you didnt opt for it then

Mr Benevolent

Supergurrier wrote: »

Having a fun car has changed to fuel savings, just as well you didnt opt for it then

Bah, there are Evos on LPG!

So does the €3k budget go towards the car and the conversion ?

Or is the conversion being budgeted for by fuel savings, if you catch my drift

The conversion is now included in the budget, so about €2500 for a car now. Still not sure what to get. Definitely broadens the choice for petrol cars.

Supergurrier

The loss of power/engine responsiveness though

bop1977

Well seeing as this is motors I’m duty bound to offer up the perennial favourite, the Skoda Octavia (in VRS trim. 1.8l 180bhp).

Mr Benevolent

bop1977 wrote: »

Well seeing as this is motors I’m duty bound to offer up the perennial favourite, the Skoda Octavia (in VRS trim. 1.8l 180bhp).

My brother'd be sick with envy, he bought the 1.4 slowpoke! But no, even with the 1.8T I could never live with the shame.

The Pontiac

Supergurrier wrote: »

The loss of power/engine responsiveness though

I've done a fair bit of research on LPG and most would say that on the modern day conversions/systems you wouldn't notice any power loss at all.

Anyway, you could always just buy a bigger engine car to start with. Buy a 400bhp - 10% power loss, and you're still left with 360bhp. Do the math before you buy.

Mr Benevolent

Ok, so my priorities have shifted again since getting the test. I'm not willing to risk driving a manual car on an auto licence, so realistically that takes the MX-5 completely out of the equation. The main contenders now are the Saab Aero HOT, Honda Accord 2L and Rover 75 CDTI Connisseur SE. My main concern is the Saab, it being of a slightly more, um... challenging nature than the other two. Has anyone owned one?

BTW I know there's a big difference in performance between the three cars, with the Accord being the best compromise, but the Saab is the cheapest.

The Saab won't be cheaper than a petrol ZT

ottostreet

Alfa 166?

Mr Benevolent

ottostreet wrote: »

Alfa 166?

Gah! No more Alfas, ever!

The Saab won't be cheaper than a petrol ZT

Hmmm, that would combine my fondness of R75s with a fair bit of performance...

galwaytt

Confab wrote: »

To update this thread, I've been doing more research. The MX-5 Mk2/2.5 is a rust trap from what I've learned. I'm beginning to think of Jap cars that don't rust, like the Accord and MR2. Maybe a Saab 95 Aero HOT?

Is that a UK MX-5 you're thinking of ?

Admitedly mine is a Mk1, and at 22yrs old has no rust, so I don't understand why there should be such a difference between the two versions..........

Mr Benevolent

galwaytt wrote: »

Is that a UK MX-5 you're thinking of ?

Admitedly mine is a Mk1, and at 22yrs old has no rust, so I don't understand why there should be such a difference between the two versions..........

The Mk1s are ok, the Mk2s had the chassis rails changed to meet the NCAP tests and now they rot from the inside out. Once rust is visible on the chassis rails the car is a usually a writeoff.

Confab

Confab wrote: »

Gah! No more Alfas, ever!



Hmmm, that would combine my fondness of R75s with a fair bit of performance...

Zt180 wouldnt be much faster than a 2.0 accord, nowhere close to an aero.

ottostreet

Confab wrote: »

Gah! No more Alfas, ever!



Hmmm, that would combine my fondness of R75s with a fair bit of performance...

Why not? I'd be more worried about the maintainance carried out on a hot turbo Saab than on a N/A 2 litre Alfa!