Something for the weekend sir?

ElKavo

Hi Guys,

I am looking for a car that I can use for a daily commute. The distance isn't really all that far, furthest will be maynooth to dundrum and closest will be from maynooth to baldonnel. I am looking for something that would also be nice as a weekend car for myself and herself to head off for the odd weekend. must be reliable too and around 08 / 09 and a max budget of 20k. I will be looking at getting the car next summer July / august.

I'm thinking a coup of sorts I would like to have a bit of power but nothing that I would get held hostage for.

Ideas I have had so far are 320 / 330d coupe (330 preferred). or Rx8 ( I have heard mixed reliability reviews on the rx8 mind). I did have an 200sx s14a many moons ago so the idea of a big coupe or tourer is more appealing.

Also I do have three kids so a 4 seater is a must no 2 seaters I'm afraid.

I am open to suggestions.

Thanks for your Ideas.

dantastic

myself + herself + 3 kids = 4 seater?

I just bought an RX8. Love it so far but it's a 2+2 seater. It requires a lot of maintenance, if you are comfortable with that they are fine. If you neglect it it will end you!

ElKavo

dantastic wrote: »

myself + herself + 3 kids = 4 seater?

I just bought an RX8. Love it so far but it's a 2+2 seater. It requires a lot of maintenance, if you are comfortable with that they are fine. If you neglect it it will end you!

No the 2 + 3 isn't really an problem we already have a mondeo tit x, the only time I would have anyone in the car would probably eithr be herself or a couple of the kids. Just a 2 seater would be too small. Don't know if I am up to a load of maintenance though. Could you elaborate on what you are required to do? and how often?

Scortho

Would you consider dropping down a few years and get an m3?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Or dropping down to an 05-06 and getting an e60 m5?

Moneymaker

Mazda MPS or Mondeo ST220 are smashing cars, fast, practical, rare and reliable and will have decent MPG as well.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/2.3-MPS-/36313700951311450/advert?channel=CARS

Spend the change on a exotic holiday or do up the house :pac:

MetzgerMeister

With regards to the RX8, once you get a compression test done before buying and it doesn't have any starting issues, get it fully serviced and keep an eye on the oil level. They burn oil as part of their natural combustion cycle but it's not as bad as you'd hear in the pub

They're great cars but if you want something just as fun although FWD, the Mazda3 or 6 MPS (4WD) are good cars. I've owned an RX8 and a 6MPS and I can say they are both very good cars.

Also, the BMW 335i (have one now as my daily) would make an excellent weekend car!

Chris_Heilong

If you are looking for a newish sports car then how about the 350Z? RWD with lots of power.

dantastic

It's great fun and all, great to drive. Most of the people talking them down have either never had one and just heard stories down the pub or they have run them low on oil...

* expect about 18mpg if you are behaving.
* top oil every time you top fuel
* full oil change and oil filter every 4 months at the latest. 3 months if you're using it.

So as you can see, maintenance translate directly into feeding it fluids! They have a sensitive ignition system as well but as long as you just take notice and change the components and use the right parts this isn't really a real problem.
The RX8 is a RWD car.

ElKavo

Scortho wrote: »

Would you consider dropping down a few years and get an m3?

I'd say I would need a fortress to keep this safe. I had house broken in to for the 200 so I'd say this is a deffo hostage car. IMO

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Or dropping down to an 05-06 and getting an e60 m5?

Again would love to but as above

Moneymaker wrote: »

Mazda MPS or Mondeo ST220 are smashing cars, fast, practical, rare and reliable and will have decent MPG as well.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/2.3-MPS-/36313700951311450/advert?channel=CARS

Spend the change on a exotic holiday or do up the house :pac:

Already have a 08 mondeo titanium x 2.0 in the house not too keen on the older model mondy or a saloon either don't think it would feel all that special, If you know what i mean?

dantastic wrote: »

It's great fun and all, great to drive. Most of the people talking them down have either never had one and just heard stories down the pub or they have run them low on oil...

* expect about 18mpg if you are behaving.
* top oil every time you top fuel
* full oil change and oil filter every 4 months at the latest. 3 months if you're using it.

So as you can see, maintenance translate directly into feeding it fluids! They have a sensitive ignition system as well but as long as you just take notice and change the components and use the right parts this isn't really a real problem.
The RX8 is a RWD car.

Hmmm doesn't seem all to bad really.

thanks all for replies

ElKavo

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

If you are looking for a newish sports car then how about the 350Z? RWD with lots of power.

whats the rear space like in them? Are they a 2 + 2?

I had a look in the back of a TT and Id say you might just about fit a stamp in the back...

Chris_Heilong

ElKavo wrote: »

whats the rear space like in them? Are they a 2 + 2?

I had a look in the back of a TT and Id say you might just about fit a stamp in the back...

Sadly no back seats:(

ElKavo

Stop the search I have found my dream car!!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/350Z/350-Z/36313814929480940/advert?channel=CARS

Eh no.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

ElKavo wrote: »

Stop the search I have found my dream car!!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/350Z/350-Z/36313814929480940/advert?channel=CARS

Eh no.

I'd like it if the hood to fender join was correct!

Ardennes1944

Yeah same, id love that :pac:

wersal gummage

Would something along these lines be close to budget by next summer:

http://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mercedes-Benz-CL-Class-CL-500-COUPE..-183K-NEW---NOW-ONLY--34-995--..FINANCE-AVAILABLE..TRADE-IN-S-WELCOME..OPEN-7-DAY-S---TILL-8PM-THURSDAY-S..VISIT-WWW.BESHOFFMOTORS.IE-FOR-MORE-INFO../36313760515908580

ElKavo

wersal gummage wrote: »

Would something along these lines be close to budget by next summer:

http://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mercedes-Benz-CL-Class-CL-500-COUPE..-183K-NEW---NOW-ONLY--34-995--..FINANCE-AVAILABLE..TRADE-IN-S-WELCOME..OPEN-7-DAY-S---TILL-8PM-THURSDAY-S..VISIT-WWW.BESHOFFMOTORS.IE-FOR-MORE-INFO../36313760515908580

Oh my... I would love something like this. I used to adore its predecessor, I don't think I could afford the up keep tax or go go juice to keep something like that on the road sadly:(

wersal gummage

ElKavo wrote: »

Oh my... I would love something like this. I used to adore its predecessor, I don't think I could afford the up keep tax or go go juice to keep something like that on the road sadly:(

Predecessor be a lot cheaper again. Lpg?

Buy one for 10k and stick the rest in an emergency sinking fund?

It's certainly a bit special anyway and stands out a lot more than a 330cd etc

wersal gummage

Ps, I have no affiliation with that particular garage, never even set foot in the place but he usually has some nice stuff on his website, might get some ideas.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

wersal gummage wrote: »

Ps, I have no affiliation with that particular garage, never even set foot in the place but he usually has some nice stuff on his website, might get some ideas.

Yeah they normally seem to have high end stuff, just from browsing on carzone.
Usually a bit above market prices!

wersal gummage

Yeah I bought a car earlier this year and beshoffs were priced way above going rate, so much so that I didn't even enquire. Seems to be really tidy one owner stuff though with good specs.


There should be more of these threads, way better than which Poxy diesel should I buy for 5k that will do 70 mpg and can be taxed with magic beans.

discombobulate

Tax may be an issue but you'd have about 13k of your budget to spare!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/Brera/3.2-4X4-/201332217615456/advert?channel=CARS

Or go mad and import a Brera S from the UK which would still come in under budget for an 09

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239417373
and
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239425517

ElKavo

OSI wrote: »

Brera V6?
Scirocco 2.0T or R?
Megane RenaultSport?

I had thought about the scirocco, used to like the old and the new is a nice looking motor. I think It looks like a football helmet. Very good stance. Would you get an R for under 20K?

Not hot on the megane...

How is the reliability on the alfa, Lovely looking car but not sure about reliability.

ElKavo

OSI wrote: »

Has to be said, the Red S is an absolute stunner!

Oh yes it is... very tasty indeed. thats a 2.2?

but its €1200 for the tax. Do they do a lower sized engine?

discombobulate

ElKavo wrote: »

How is the reliability on the alfa, Lovely looking car but not sure about reliability.

It's generally considered to be a very reliable car (as are most modern Alfa's when looked after)

There's a buyers guide here which has a bit of information

Scortho

discombobulate wrote: »

Tax may be an issue but you'd have about 13k of your budget to spare!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/Brera/3.2-4X4-/201332217615456/advert?channel=CARS

Or go mad and import a Brera S from the UK which would still come in under budget for an 09

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239417373
and
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239425517

I wouldn't be mad on the gm v6's. The brera while stunning to look at could have been so much better only for pesky eu emissions. :mad:

20k?
I'd head to the uk and buy this.
It's been well looked after by one of the top alfa lads in the uk. With alfas, a well looked after one will treat you well.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/156/alfa-romeo-156-gta-q2/1741147

discombobulate

ElKavo wrote: »

Oh yes it is... very tasty indeed. thats a 2.2?

but its €1200 for the tax. Do they do a lower sized engine?

There's a 2.4 Diesel which comes in around €600-€800 or thereabouts in tax I think for an 08 up. There was also a 2.0 Diesel although its very rare. The S version only came in petrol though.

The worst thing about that 2.2 engine without looking it up now is I think because its high on emissions that it's even more expensive to tax an 08 than an 07.

Just remembered I forgot about the best engine of the lot as it wasn't released until later. The supercharged 1.75 200bhp: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309118729160/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/fuel-type/petrol/model/brera/make/alfa_romeo/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/sn57dw?logcode=p

ElKavo

discombobulate wrote: »

There's a 2.4 Diesel which comes in around €600-€800 or thereabouts in tax I think for an 08 up. There was also a 2.0 Diesel although its very rare. The S version only came in petrol though.

The worst thing about that 2.2 engine without looking it up now is I think because its high on emissions that it's even more expensive to tax an 08 than an 07.

Just remembered I forgot about the best engine of the lot as it wasn't released until later. The supercharged 1.75 200bhp: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309118729160/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/fuel-type/petrol/model/brera/make/alfa_romeo/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/sn57dw?logcode=p

Yes that is indeed a nice engine and at 750 tax it should be well within budget. Id say it goes well too.

discombobulate

ElKavo wrote: »

Oh yes it is... very tasty indeed. thats a 2.2?

but its €1200 for the tax. Do they do a lower sized engine?

ElKavo wrote: »

Yes that is indeed a nice engine and at 750 tax it should be well within budget. Id say it goes well too.

Can't say i've had the pleasure but I hope to own either a Brera or Giulieta Cloverleaf with that engine at some stage.

Moneymaker

Mercedes CLS, 4 doors, decent sized boot, and one of the best looking Mercs ever built imo. Would get easily within budget.

CLS350 has 280bhp and does 27mpg, 320CDI does close to 40mpg

And well..just look at it

Moneymaker

There should be laws forbidding eye contact with the Brera S.

One of the most beautiful cars ever built imo. Pure car porn.

Supergurrier

I find the OP confusing.

Are you after a family car or a weekend car ? (you mention you have a mondeo.

370z would be my choice anyway going by your criteria or perhaps a super saloon if space is a must.

Then again you did mention a 320d and tax prices so hard to know

pred racer

discombobulate wrote: »

Tax may be an issue but you'd have about 13k of your budget to spare!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/Brera/3.2-4X4-/201332217615456/advert?channel=CARS

Or go mad and import a Brera S from the UK which would still come in under budget for an 09

e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239417373
and
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310239425517

Thats just car porn!

discombobulate

pred racer wrote: »

Thats just car porn!

Ah stop I ended up getting a 159 like yourself I think when I was changing earlier this year. I wanted a Brera but just couldn't justify the price at the time and doing high enough mileage. Nearly bought a Tractor S (2.4 with the S alloys, callipers and lowered) but it was on over 100,000 miles so I left it.

mfceiling

GTI Golf.

Not a coupe but a bloody nice, solid car with a nice bit of poke.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Supergurrier wrote: »

I find the OP confusing.

Are you after a family car or a weekend car ? (you mention you have a mondeo.

370z would be my choice anyway going by your criteria or perhaps a super saloon if space is a must.

Then again you did mention a 320d and tax prices so hard to know

Yeah, this does not compute with a weekend fun car!

ElKavo

Supergurrier wrote: »

I find the OP confusing.

Are you after a family car or a weekend car ? (you mention you have a mondeo.

370z would be my choice anyway going by your criteria or perhaps a super saloon if space is a must.

Then again you did mention a 320d and tax prices so hard to know

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Yeah, this does not compute with a weekend fun car!

Not to cause confusion, but I do require a car that I can take the kids (3 of them) from time to time. I would never need to have 5 people in the car as we have a mondeo so a 2 + 2 coupe is an ideal. I suggested a 320 as it would fit the criteria although not very original or indeed special. I had never thought of the brarea mind so the thread is definitely serving a purpose. Call it a sign but I left the office yesterday and was heading on to the m50 and there it was an 09 white brarea waiting on the dundrum interchange roundabout. Very tasty...

I do require the car for a daily commute also so while MPG and Tax are not my primary concern they do play a factor If I can get a car that is sub 1k to tax and is reasonable on go go juice then I have found a winner.

Thanks for your reply though.

ElKavo

mfceiling wrote: »

GTI Golf.

Not a coupe but a bloody nice, solid car with a nice bit of poke.

Sorry doesn't fit in to the special box. Agreed though solid nice and pokey.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

ElKavo wrote: »

I do require the car for a daily commute also so while MPG and Tax are not my primary concern they do play a factor If I can get a car that is sub 1k to tax and is reasonable on go go juice then I have found a winner.

Thanks for your reply though.

How about an rx8, they are taxable as a 1.3, plenty of fun and not so bad on juice (for the fun/spg anyway)
And they have enough room in the back for two.

MetzgerMeister

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

How about an rx8, they are taxable as a 1.3, plenty of fun and not so bad on juice (for the fun/spg anyway)
And they have enough room in the back for two.

Have you read the thread at all??? :pac:

ElKavo

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

How about an rx8, they are taxable as a 1.3, plenty of fun and not so bad on juice (for the fun/spg anyway)
And they have enough room in the back for two.

Yeah that is in the list too. So far I have in order of special IMO

1. Brera
2. Rx8
3. Scirroco

Don't know If any others will fit the mark but I am very open to suggestions.

Cheers

techdiver

ElKavo wrote: »

How is the reliability on the alfa, Lovely looking car but not sure about reliability.

I used to own a 2.2 JTS Brera and it didn't give any reliability issue in the 4 years I owned it. No extra "babysitting" of it required either.

Beautiful car! I have also manged to sit in the back seat myself at a squeeze (6' 1'').

Cleveland Hot Pocket

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Have you read the thread at all??? :pac:

I have, but that was yesterday.
Today is a new day and all that (I may have forgotten it )

dantastic

Before I bought the RX8 I also had a hankering for the Brera. But we also have a 159 so it felt a bit wrong to get a Brera.
But it is an awesome looking car. But you'd have to get the 3.2 v6

ElKavo

techdiver wrote: »

I used to own a 2.2 JTS Brera and it didn't give any reliability issue in the 4 years I owned it. No extra "babysitting" of it required either.

Beautiful car! I have also manged to sit in the back seat myself at a squeeze (6' 1'').

That is what I like to hear... I'm 6'4" I would imagine that the driver seat would be more than adequate to hold me. As I say it will be the rare thing to have the kids in the car but will be required. There only little enough at the moment too.

Can you tell me can you get a roof rack on it? I do surf too so it would be very handy to take this rather than the mondy. Although the missus will probably tell me to take the mondy so she can have the Brera!!:rolleyes:

MetzgerMeister

I know I've mentioned it already but you didn't reply about it but would the Mazda3 MPS be an option? I know you did say that you already have a saloon and that was why you discounted the 6 MPS.

Moneymaker

ElKavo wrote: »

Yeah that is in the list too. So far I have in order of special IMO

1. Brera
2. Rx8
3. Scirroco

Don't know If any others will fit the mark but I am very open to suggestions.

Cheers

Brera!

Just don't wear tight trousers when you look, approach or drive it.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I know I've mentioned it already but you didn't reply about it but would the Mazda3 MPS be an option? I know you did say that you already have a saloon and that was why you discounted the 6 MPS.

Isn't that FWD? Which kindof takes away from the "fun weekend car" element

BMJD

Lexus LS600H
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lexus/LS600H/Hybrid/33413612029563290/advert?channel=CARS

BMW 740i
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/740i-Com/37113746869609250/advert?channel=CARS

BMW 750i
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/750i-E65/31413561118146660/advert?channel=CARS

bit older but...

E55AMG
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E55-AMG-/201343219145863/advert?channel=CARS

Porsche Cayenne Turbo
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Cayenne/TURBO-WI/36813818501988180/advert?channel=CARS

anything with less than 4 doors and 5 proper seats will be a pain in the hole with 3 kids imo

MetzgerMeister

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Isn't that FWD? Which kindof takes away from the "fun weekend car" element

Have you ever driven one?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Have you ever driven one?

No, but it is an FWD so I know it is not RWD. Therefore no need to drive it to establish that it will not be RWD.

Similar to how I have never driven a Daihatsu Sirion but I know it is not a fun track car