Something more interesting than a Focus?

Daniel S

Hi,

I have a 2006 1.6 Ford Focus Zetec. It's a grand car, I bought it last September. Has a new clutch, master cylinder, and plugs, leads and coil pack.

But it's going through about 8.6L/100km and it's about 100hp.

It's a decent spec car, alright to drive, but part of me wants faster or cheaper to run. I'm just not happy either way at the moment.

I'm 21 with 1 year NCB and 1 year named driver experience.

Any suggestions for something more exciting or cheaper?

I bought the car thinking I'd do less than 10k km per year, but since September, I've already done 14k km, maybe a diesel?

I'm open to anything, provided it's insurable. Tax doesn't bother me too much, as it's usually reflected in the price of the car.

I was thinking Toyota MR2, BMW E30/36 318is, Corolla G6r, Alfa 156.

Thanks,

Dan

Daniel S

So far I'm thinking:
- 1.8 or 2.0 Diesel version of my own car.
- New cams for my own car, with 2.0 petrol throttle body.
- Skoda VRS (Fabia or Octavia)
- BMW 320d (Doubt this is possible on insurance though).

Seems diesel gives you both some more power and cheaper fuel costs. But parts are more expensive, cars are more expensive to buy and running costs are higher too. Tax can be up or down.

mighty magpie

I went from 1.6 tcdi focus 110bhp to 2.0 diesel Audi A3 with 140bhp. Insurance didn't increase but I'm not sure if that is in your budget but i loved the audi, had it in SE spec.

W123-80's

Whats your budget.

Something like this...?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-mitsubishi-lancer-gs2-sportsback-diesel/8533078?offset=5

They are rare enough and I think they look good.

Henry Ford III

W123-80's wrote: »

Whats your budget.

Something like this...?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-mitsubishi-lancer-gs2-sportsback-diesel/8533078?offset=5

They are rare enough and I think they look good.

How the hell is the road tax €570?

macpac26

Im in the same boat, 2007 1.4L Focus that just sucks the life out of me when driving it. History of Ford trade ins every 4 years and I need something different. I was looking at 320d's myself but it seems the 2012+ models have the best economy in 50+mpg and €200 road tax. I might get one next year when they fall below €20k at the dealers.

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

How the hell is the road tax €570?

It was fitted with the old VAG 2.0 PD TDi engine and the emissions were relatively high. Some 2008 to 2010 2.0 TDCi Mondeos were the same until they were tweaked later on.

Also a hatchback or diesel Lancer was never officaly sold in Ireland back then so they didn't have to care about the change over to our emissions based tax system.

toastedpickles

Fast cars

Alfa 156 v6, one of the users on here had one around your age, he'l be able to tell you the ins and outs of the car/ insurance etc, as much as i dont like them, they sound unreal, and go like a rocket

Any six pot bmw, again this is practically a bmw forum so you'l have no issues if you go down that route

Seat leon curpa, a friend of mine has one of these and it's a hoot to drive Looks like a normal leon but with a 1.8 turbo engine

saab 9-3 aero, which is essentially a opc opel vectra underneath,comes with 207bhp and 300nm of torque which is more than enough

what else....eh a polo gti if you can find one, handles like a go kart and has 170bhp, again an absolute hoot to drive, i was given one for a trip home to get a part while my own was in the garage 15 minutes of pure sillyness

So that's my input!

emigrate2012

Volkswagen/Audi/seat/ skpda 1.9 tdi(preferably with the high output version) literally thousands of the shaggers out there for reasonable money,reliable well specced and surprisingly quick for what they are,thought the the tax is kinda high.
A4 would be pick of the bunch(or the seats look tasty,also tend to have the higher power motors) and they can be reasonably ok on juice if he don't razz it all the time,But quick if you're in the humour.
That said,bmw's are a totally different experience,I've never driven a car that so different to the majority of what's out there( also usuallyppretty well specced to boot) depends how insurance works out I suppose.....

emigrate2012

Plus I'd imagine that new cams/ throttle bodies would run into the the thousand Mark in parts and labour,it is after a he'll of a lot of wto fork minimal gains compared to shifting it on and buying something more along the lines of what your looking for......

emigrate2012

Plus I'd imagine that new cams/ throttle bodies would run into the the thousand Mark in parts and labour,it is after a he'll of a lot of wto fork minimal gains compared to shifting it on and buying something more along the lines of what your looking for......

emigrate2012

Volkswagen/Audi/seat/ skpda 1.9 tdi(preferably with the high output version) literally thousands of the shaggers out there for reasonable money,reliable well specced and surprisingly quick for what they are,thought the the tax is kinda high.
A4 would be pick of the bunch(or the seats look tasty,also tend to have the higher power motors) and they can be reasonably ok on juice if he don't razz it all the time,But quick if you're in the humour.
That said,bmw's are a totally different experience,I've never driven a car that so different to the majority of what's out there( also usuallyppretty well specced to boot) depends how insurance works out I suppose.....

emigrate2012

Volkswagen/Audi/seat/ skpda 1.9 tdi(preferably with the high output version) literally thousands of the shaggers out there for reasonable money,reliable well specced and surprisingly quick for what they are,thought the the tax is kinda high.
A4 would be pick of the bunch(or the seats look tasty,also tend to have the higher power motors) and they can be reasonably ok on juice if he don't razz it all the time,But quick if you're in the humour.
That said,bmw's are a totally different experience,I've never driven a car that so different to the majority of what's out there( also usuallyppretty well specced to boot) depends how insurance works out I suppose.....

bazz26

Must be an echo in here.




Must be an echo in here.

hedzball

toastedpickles wrote: »

Fast cars

Alfa 156 v6, one of the users on here had one around your age, he'l be able to tell you the ins and outs of the car/ insurance etc, as much as i dont like them, they sound unreal, and go like a rocket

Any six pot bmw, again this is practically a bmw forum so you'l have no issues if you go down that route

Seat leon curpa, a friend of mine has one of these and it's a hoot to drive Looks like a normal leon but with a 1.8 turbo engine

saab 9-3 aero, which is essentially a opc opel vectra underneath,comes with 207bhp and 300nm of torque which is more than enough

what else....eh a polo gti if you can find one, handles like a go kart and has 170bhp, again an absolute hoot to drive, i was given one for a trip home to get a part while my own was in the garage 15 minutes of pure sillyness

So that's my input!

How?





'hdz

bazz26

The Saab 9-3 and Vectra shared the same platform and numerous engines. General Motors which owns Opel/Vauxhall also owned Saab.

madcabbage

Sure why dont you go mental and buy an RX8? Fab looking cars, shame about the fecking engines troubles though.

Daniel S

madcabbage wrote: »

Sure why dont you go mental and buy an RX8? Fab looking cars, shame about the fecking engines troubles though.

Insurance and the distances I travel. Would love one though!

madcabbage

Daniel S wrote: »

Insurance and the distances I travel. Would love one though!

As I've been finding out. And I'm 27 coming up on 3 years NCB! :mad:

Sync

If looking for something faster I wouldn't recommend the 318is, around 130bph but still sluggish I think, heavy on fuel too and they aren't nippy enough to justify it... very nice to drive though.