Huffton Posted 7 February, 2013 Share Posted 7 February, 2013 Just changed my job so decided to treat myself to something a bit more fun than my boring everyday Mondeo. I don't have thousands to spend, probably only 3k tops so something older is not a problem, but I want something quick, something that says full on mid-life crisis, but at the same time not totally impractical as it will need to fit a couple of kids in the back and some golf clubs in the boot, and God forbid, the mrs may need to drive it at some point. I was thinking about an Impreza, any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK8267 Posted 7 February, 2013 Share Posted 7 February, 2013 Focus ST170??? impreza is fine apart from A) the wheel bearings go like a gunshot on left turns and all make the same generic noise..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 7 February, 2013 Share Posted 7 February, 2013 This looks a good deal http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301235029340/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/4000/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/engine-size-cars/2-6l_to_2-9l/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-from/2000/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/3/radius/1500/postcode/bn68qb?logcode=p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSaint Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 This looks a good deal http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301235029340/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/4000/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/engine-size-cars/2-6l_to_2-9l/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-from/2000/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/3/radius/1500/postcode/bn68qb?logcode=p God those things are cheap! Do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 Get yourself a BMW. They run and run = should be able to get a good motor for 3K ( I paid £1K for a 1998 5 series 4 years ago, which is still going ). I've become emotionally attached to my motor now, but when I eventually do get another one, plan is to spend a couple of grand on another secondhand BM. Cheap flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 Just changed my job so decided to treat myself to something a bit more fun than my boring everyday Mondeo. I don't have thousands to spend, probably only 3k tops so something older is not a problem, but I want something quick, something that says full on mid-life crisis, but at the same time not totally impractical as it will need to fit a couple of kids in the back and some golf clubs in the boot, and God forbid, the mrs may need to drive it at some point. I was thinking about an Impreza, any other suggestions? Imprezas are, without exception, driven by utter helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 Just changed my job so decided to treat myself to something a bit more fun than my boring everyday Mondeo. I don't have thousands to spend, probably only 3k tops so something older is not a problem, but I want something quick, something that says full on mid-life crisis, but at the same time not totally impractical as it will need to fit a couple of kids in the back and some golf clubs in the boot, and God forbid, the mrs may need to drive it at some point. I was thinking about an Impreza, any other suggestions? Depends how fast you want. These aren't the fatest, but are fantastic fun. I bought one when they came out in 2001, had it for 3 years and even though I've owned several great cars since, I would still like one of these again as a runaround - the noise when at full revs is amazing. This one seems like good value and has had the belt done, looks tidy, alloys look good too. You can tell it'll be well kept as they have a tidy driveway and garden (seriously, it's a good indicator of how they look after things). Plus being Japanese it should be reliable for years yet. So I give you; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301295107928 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsaint Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 (edited) Mazda RX8 - boot big enough for golf clubs, 2+2 seats and drives beautifully - just make sure the engine has been well looked after as its a w ankel running costs are NOT cheap and MPG is pretty poor plus it drinks a lot of oil but I ave never driven a car that has made me grin so widely when it is revving and the world goes blurry Edited 8 February, 2013 by sussexsaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 8 February, 2013 Share Posted 8 February, 2013 Get an original 300zx, around H or J reg, or something like an R reg 200sx. Great cars for that much, and great to drive. RX8 is a good call, but have to be really careful with the engines and how the car has been treated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambsaint Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 If youre only spending 3K and putting your kids in the back, then you should buy something safe!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 If youre only spending 3K and putting your kids in the back, then you should buy something safe!! Kind of why I suggested the BM. Nice, heavy motor. RWD bit dodge in the snow, admittedly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 9 February, 2013 Author Share Posted 9 February, 2013 If youre only spending 3K and putting your kids in the back, then you should buy something safe!! Good point, I might put the mrs in the back instead;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 Kind of why I suggested the BM. Nice, heavy motor. RWD bit dodge in the snow, admittedly It's a 5 Series you have isn't it papillon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 It's a 5 Series you have isn't it papillon? Yeah, I love it. Dinged her up a bit in the tiny streets of Liverpool, but she's lovely on a run. All things considered, prefer RWD too. Dicey as plums in the cold with the wrong tyres, but very easy to manoeuvre. Reckon it has probs saved my bacon a couple of times. The engines on BMs are very nice. Very little of the work I've had done has been mechanical. Starting motor went last month. That's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 It's a 5 Series you have isn't it papillon? Great car. You could see a winding road ahead, close your eyes, and drive through every bend just by the feel of it. The roads in his country are too busy to get the most out of one but some of the empty winding ones in France were magic. I've got a Mercedes now. It's an old man's car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 Great car. You could see a winding road ahead, close your eyes, and drive through every bend just by the feel of it. The roads in his country are too busy to get the most out of one but some of the empty winding ones in France were magic. I've got a Mercedes now. It's an old man's car. I got a 3.20d a few months back, love it but might go for a 5 series next. Just looks a little more classy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 I got a 3.20d a few months back, love it but might go for a 5 series next. Just looks a little more classy. They are very nice cars. I've just been on AutoTrader; there's a Touring version of my motor with apparently only 85K on the clock going for £1.4K. Very tempted; with the amount of driving I do that could basically be a car for the next 10 years. I've heard tell of those engines lasting well into the 230K range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 Great car. You could see a winding road ahead, close your eyes, and drive through every bend just by the feel of it. The roads in his country are too busy to get the most out of one but some of the empty winding ones in France were magic. I've got a Mercedes now. It's an old man's car. Took juvenile unit #2 and me bessie to the Derby game last year. Bit of a jam on the way out of Derby, so we engage my bessie's cheap sh!t sat nav, presumably programmed to crap the pants off the driver. Lordy, what a drive. SSS bends. Sheer drops. 5 series handled it beautifully, although I had to take her through Macclesfield. Another sworn promise broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambsaint Posted 9 February, 2013 Share Posted 9 February, 2013 I too would thoroughly recommend a BMW. If buying a late diesel though be careful of fancy flywheels and all that junk. If you don't do many miles then get a torquey petrol instead. A beautifully balanced car but not the best in the snow! Try to find a reputable BMW specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightysaints Posted 13 February, 2013 Share Posted 13 February, 2013 Simple buy a Honda CIvic Type R. I have had 2 of these. Bloody quick, good fuel mileage, room in the back for adults. Kept up with the bosses Maserati a few years back down the A34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsaint Posted 14 February, 2013 Share Posted 14 February, 2013 As well as the RX8 I had a couple of 328 BMs , beautiful to drive and very fast but insane to service and repair cost wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 14 February, 2013 Share Posted 14 February, 2013 They are very nice cars. I've just been on AutoTrader; there's a Touring version of my motor with apparently only 85K on the clock going for £1.4K. Very tempted; with the amount of driving I do that could basically be a car for the next 10 years. I've heard tell of those engines lasting well into the 230K range. A bloke at work has got a 05 plate A4 which he's done 230k in, does about the same mileage as me. Been smashing the miles on year in year out and had only the usual maintenance costs like tyres, filters, oil changes etc. still seems to be going wrong. A bloke I work with used to be sales manager at BMW say you should easily get 150-200k out of a 3 and 5 series with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 15 February, 2013 Share Posted 15 February, 2013 I got a 535d Touring and it isn't bad in the snow with the right tyres on, but dreadful with summer tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 15 February, 2013 Share Posted 15 February, 2013 I got a 535d Touring and it isn't bad in the snow with the right tyres on, but dreadful with summer tyres. If it's an automatic you have to keep slipping it into neutral and only applying the power when necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambsaint Posted 17 February, 2013 Share Posted 17 February, 2013 Or press the DTC button. Which I assume means disable traction control. First time I hit an icy slope- went three inches, stopped, three inches, stopped. I then realised that the traction control (which is almost too sensitive-sometimes cuts in if you try to enter a stream of traffic on a wet road-embarrassing) was cutting in immediately the wheels slipped. Still the emergency braking and traction control worked well when my son came round a corner at 50 to find somebody stopped just past the apex to admire a horse and carriage go. He couldn't believe he stopped in time and didn't skid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambsaint Posted 21 February, 2013 Share Posted 21 February, 2013 Took my fairly recent BMW into my local private BMW specialist. The loan 5 series, y reg has done 261,890 miles. The engine and transmission are still very smooth, it's quiet and comfortable-much less road noise than my run-flats, yes its showing its age but still very driveable!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 22 February, 2013 Share Posted 22 February, 2013 Or press the DTC button. Which I assume means disable traction control. First time I hit an icy slope- went three inches, stopped, three inches, stopped. I then realised that the traction control (which is almost too sensitive-sometimes cuts in if you try to enter a stream of traffic on a wet road-embarrassing) was cutting in immediately the wheels slipped. Still the emergency braking and traction control worked well when my son came round a corner at 50 to find somebody stopped just past the apex to admire a horse and carriage go. He couldn't believe he stopped in time and didn't skid. I generally run with the traction control off, for the reasons you state. Accidentally turned the bugger on the other morning. Came round a 90 degree corner (ok a little fast) and it kicked in. Was only really doing the speed I was because there was nothing on either side of me, but yup, scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 22 February, 2013 Share Posted 22 February, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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