Which Car would you recommend I buy?

[Bossman]

I'm currently having trouble choosing which car I should buy and was wondering if any of you can please help me out.

 

[Famine]

Try the "Preview Post" button next time.

 

[Bossman]

Famine


I've amended it.

 

[Joey D]

Well it would be helpful to know how much you have to spend but I would say VDubs, although the older ones (MK1-3) tend to be light in the running department. But save yourself the trouble and just ask M5.

 

[Ev0]

Although I'm not an expert on cars sold in Britain, I do have a fair knowledge on them. And, looking at that list, the most fun car there is almost certainly the Clio; it's the definitive hot hatch.

 

[Bossman]

BlazinXtreme

Most of the Cars on the list are around the £1000-£4500 range used (or around $1,739.31-$7,826.90 USD).

The Universal Currency Converter

.... But save yourself the trouble and just ask M5.

It's out of my price range I afraid.

 

[Joey D]

No I think you misunderstood me, ask M5Power...one of our memebers. Not the BMW M5 . And I don't think Doug would charge you for asking him .

Anyways after looking some of those cars up, I have realized I don't know anything about them so I'll let other memebers go at it.

 

[Ev0]

No, M5 is a user here. He knows virtually everything there is to know about cars.

*EDIT* Dang, beat to the punch.

 

[Bossman]

lol

Sorry about that

 

[1X83Z]

No I think you misunderstood me, ask M5Power...one of our memebers. Not the BMW M5 . And I don't think Doug would charge you for asking him .

I would, but I know **** about European cars in Europe. I'll defer to a British member on this one - you'd think Famine could manage.

 

[Revheadnz]

I'd say the Nissan 200SX, fairly cheap and reliable and a well balanced RWD chassis. However, if I could have voted twice my other vote would be for the Clio Sport 172, I've heard nothing but good things about that little car. Good luck in your search.

 

[DQuaN]

It sounds silly but the Skoda is actually a great car. I think it has the Audi TT engine in it. The build quality is great, and you get alot of car for your money.

 

[Famine]

I wouldn't be buying any of them.

Any of the hot hatches there in the <£4,500 range will not have been used lovingly. You'll be paying for parts until the cows come home.

You have a disparate selection too. What exactly do you NEED? Once you've worked that out you can probably pare the list down significantly.

 

[a6m5]

200SX/Silvia was a real cool car in Japan, but it didn't sell that well in the U.S. I have a biase for Nissan, so I say 200SX or Primera.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

200SX is going to be a nightmare. Not that it's not a great car, but its in an insurance class that's going to make it prohibitively expensive, and if you're as young as I'd assume you are, judging by the car selection you're looking at, it's likely that any major insurer won't be willing to insure you for such a car at all.

Personally? I'd think about a Honda.

 

[1X83Z]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Nissan 200SX was a front-drive car.

Or was the US-market 240SX sold in Europe with a 2-liter engine?

 

[Famine]

Yes - the 200SX in the UK is the US 240SX shape S14 Silvia with the SR20DET engine.

 

[a6m5]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Nissan 200SX was a front-drive car.

Or was the US-market 240SX sold in Europe with a 2-liter engine?

That's not a bad car, but I always forget that car existed. 200SX/Silvia I was talking about was this one:

Also, I forgot that 240SX had different name in U.K.

 

[Famine]

That's an S12. We didn't get that (officially).

 

[a6m5]

Darn. Still, any RWD 200SX would be cool. Also, M5Power(the user) was raving about the durability of Primera/G20.

 

[Bossman]

Famine

Any of the hot hatches there in the <£4,500 range will not have been used lovingly. You'll be paying for parts until the cows come home.

I do have plans to do a HPi Check (for Car history/Registration) and a used car inspection before I buy, so that should not be too much of an issue.

You have a disparate selection too. What exactly do you NEED? Once you've worked that out you can probably pare the list down significantly.

I would like something quick with some practicality, as for which body style I honestly do not mind as long as it is either a Hatchback, Saloon or Coupe.

Though this Poll will definitely help me to narrow down the list.


Takumi Fujiwara

200SX is going to be a nightmare. Not that it's not a great car, but its in an insurance class that's going to make it prohibitively expensive, and if you're as young as I'd assume you are, judging by the car selection you're looking at, it's likely that any major insurer won't be willing to insure you for such a car at all.

I'm around 30-40 ish with at least 20 years NCB (No Claims Bonus).

 

[Cosmic]

Nissan 200SX 👍

 

[Famine]

I do have plans to do a HPi Check (for Car history/Registration) and a used car inspection before I buy, so that should not be too much of an issue.

HPI won't be the issue. A "Used Car Inspection" (by whom?) would be better - but won't necessarily reveal that the engine inside that £4,500 Clio 182 has covered only 30,000 miles, but garnered the equivalent of 70,000 miles through excessive wear by being taken up to redline every shift and only had oil changes inside service schedule...

I would like something quick with some practicality, as for which body style I honestly do not mind as long as it is either a Hatchback, Saloon or Coupe.

Though this Poll will definitely help me to narrow down the list.

Thing is, you've got the Octavia vRS on there - which manages to be quick and practical with 180hp - and the Saxo VTS which is AS quick but with 50hp less. The Saxo will be cheaper to run and insure, but you won't be able to put a sofa in it. The Octavia is 4.5 metres long, the Saxo 3.7 metres - that's 3 feet difference. Will you be able to live with the shorter Saxo, or even the longer Octavia?

You need to sit down and work out what you really MUST HAVE in your car. Then you'll be able to narrow your list down. I mean, you've got a RWD 200SX, an FWD Saxo hatchback, an FWD hatchback-based coupe Puma, the 4WD saloon Octavia... The only things they have in common is that they're reasonably nippy, but in different ways.

I'm around 30-40 ish with at least 30 years NCB (No Claims Bonus).

Nice trick if you can pull it.

 

[Dave A]

Hold on you're around 30-40ish with at least 30 years no claims bonus . I'm sorry but can kids under the age of 10 acutally get car insurance 👎 . As for the list, I thnk you shouldn't rely on others to choose a car for you, go ou, drive a few of them, see what YOU like the feel of, then of the cars you've tried check what other OWNERS of thoes cars think of thiers, not people who've more than likely never driven them and are basing their opinions on how fast it is. Once you've shortlisted to 4 or 5 see which of thoes 4 or 5 is the best value for money, ie cost, condition and spec and then buy it. When I get my next car (WHEN I GET IT) I'm not gonna ask what I should get, I'm gona get what I like.

 

[Bossman]

Famine

Nice trick if you can pull it.

live4speed

Hold on you're around 30-40ish with at least 30 years no claims bonus . I'm sorry but can kids under the age of 10 acutally get car insurance

My mistake I meant 20 Years.

 

[Bossman]

Famine

A "Used Car Inspection" (by whom?) would be better - but won't necessarily reveal that the engine inside that £4,500 Clio 182 has covered only 30,000 miles, but garnered the equivalent of 70,000 miles through excessive wear by being taken up to redline every shift and only had oil changes inside service schedule...

(I am under the RAC)

I'm aware that some Cars on the list are likely to be thrashed to their limits, but I'm very unlikely to buy the first car I see.

Also I'm very much aware of the risks of Cars in the £4500 price range and that I'm likely to buy a lemon if I'm not careful.

But for most if not all of the Cars on the list, depreciation is also a factor as to why most of the Cars on the list are within the £4500 range I'm after, for example:

A Petrol and Diesel replacement for Skoda Octavia VRS has recently been announced which is likely to lower the value further on the current Car , and with the exception of the MG's it's been around 3 years (give or take) since the rest of the Cars on list have last been made.

You need to sit down and work out what you really MUST HAVE in your car. Then you'll be able to narrow your list down. I mean, you've got a RWD 200SX, an FWD Saxo hatchback, an FWD hatchback-based coupe Puma, the 4WD saloon Octavia... The only things they have in common is that they're reasonably nippy, but in different ways.

I'm not bothered whether it is FWD or RWD (the Skoda is FWD BTW) because the only thing I'm after with this Poll is to help me reduce the Cars on my list (down to 5 Cars from 14 Cars so far on the Poll from the 25/7/2005 at 1:00 am UK time), then I can decide from there which is suitable for me.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Famine



I do have plans to do a HPi Check (for Car history/Registration) and a used car inspection before I buy, so that should not be too much of an issue.




I would like something quick with some practicality, as for which body style I honestly do not mind as long as it is either a Hatchback, Saloon or Coupe.

Though this Poll will definitely help me to narrow down the list.


Takumi Fujiwara




I'm around 30-40 ish with at least 20 years NCB (No Claims Bonus).

Ah, sorry for the mistake, insurance shouldn't be a big issue then. New members who come with such a question are usually typically younger members. Is this going to be a daily driver, or a "weekend" car? For that purpose, I think the SX would be nice, or, alternately, if they're affordable, I've always had a thing for the Civic Type R.

 

[Bossman]

Takumi Fujiwara

Is this going to be a daily driver, or a "weekend" car?

It is a daily driver I'm after

 

[Famine]

*shrugs*

Here's my thoughts:

• Citroen Saxo 1.6 16v VTS - No. Dreadful build quality. Pedals so close together that you can mash all three with one foot simultaneously. Horrific ride and comfort levels (don't drive one on a motorway for 3 hours. You'll get curvature of the spine).
• Fiat Punto 1.4 GT Turbo - No. Even worse build quality - but at least it won't rust.
• Ford Puma 1.7 16v Racing - Nice, good dynamics, but Mk3 Fiesta based and still at the tail end of Ford's shoddy-manufacturing dynasty. The Puma is the Rubicon car - everything before is fun but collapses, everything after is well-built but tough to find an enjoyable one. Get the right Puma and you get fun & build quality. Get the wrong one and... Oh, there's no rear seats or boot (in that there are, but they're purely decorative - like Jacko's nose).
• MG ZR 1.8 VVC (160) - Sing it! "Where's your warranty? Where's your warranty?". No build, no dynamics, no fun - automotive Marmite. Oh, and every tosser on Earth will try to race you off the lights in your pre-Barried custard wagon. Not forgetting that it's just a 1998 Rover 200 in drag.
• MG ZS 180 5 dr - Meh. Better than the ZR - it's merely a 1999 Rover 400 in drag - but all the above applies. One notch up from the ZR, but since the ZR is already several hundred notches below the Challenger Deep, that's like saying lethal injection is better than the guillotine.
• Nissan 200SX - Great car. Not for the novice RWDer though. S14 + SR20DET + Britain's wet roads + novice RWDer = Fiery death. Running costs are higher than any other car you mention.
• Nissan Almera 2.0 16v GTi - Worst car Nissan ever made. GTi is quick enough, but its only function is to propel you away from the paparazzi, keen on photographing someone dumb enough to buy an Almera.
• Nissan Primera 2.0 GT - I like. Probably the best of this bunch - but see the guillotine comment earlier.
• Peugeot 106 1.6 Rallye - Everything that I said about the Saxo applies to the 106.
• Peugeot 306 2.0 16v GTi-6 - Everything that I said about the Saxo and 106 applies to the 306. The 6th gear was a gimmick at the time - though other manufacturers of FWD family cars have followed suit and made a better fist of it.
• Renault Clio 2.0 16V Renaultsport 172 - Rapid and fun. As a car it's better than all of the others. However, Renault dealers are notoriously stroppy, stupid, shoddy and shambolic (I could tell you MANY stories) and being a Clio, or indeed a Renault of any description, you'll be down there an awful lot.
• Rover 200 Vi - Just no. No.
• Skoda Octavia vRS - Heaviest and longest car of the lot, by some way. VW build quality without VW prices - but without VW residuals either. Don't kid yourself that Skoda mechanics are VW mechanics in different overalls either. Has a proper boot and proper back seats, unlike everything else (but the 200SX and Primera GT), and won't give you ankylosing spondulitis after a long journey. But you've still got to turn round after every journey - to press the remote central locking blipper - and see a fat ugly Passat clone with a green chicken on the bonnet.
• VW Golf 2.0 16v GTi (Mk3) - I'm probably alone in hating Golfs. I just don't see the point of them. It's a trend, perhaps, but more than any other car, the light, sporty Golf hot hatchback has become a fat, lard-arsed family car. The MkIV R32 had twice the power of the MkI Golf GTi, but was also twice the weight. It's probably a great car. It's probably more reliable than Old Faithful. It's probably quicker than The Flash. It's probably better screwed together than Paris Hilton. But it's just another boring, fattened Golf.

Do you have any other ideas for where to spend your £4,500? Would you like me to come up with some?

What do you currently drive?

(and, take an awful lot of everything I post on this site as if I were typing it while laughing. You don't seem to be having an awful lot of fun so far - we knew you'd mistyped your NCB. It wasn't a criticism - we were just cracking a gag).

 

[Bossman]

Famine

Here's my thoughts: ..

Do you have any other ideas for where to spend your £4,500?

I'm out of ideas.

Would you like me to come up with some?

Ok

What do you currently drive?

I had a VW Corrado VR6 that was sold recently.