I have been thinking for quite a while now and have decided that I am going to hang up my riding gear for a while and sell my motorbike (Honda SP-2). I have ridden for 10years but for some reason don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to anymore. So with the money I make from selling the bike and aftermarket bits I have for it (totalling £6000 fingers crossed) and selling my current car a Pug 306gti 6 phase 3 which I would hope I get £2500-£3000 for plus a bit of money I have lying around I think I should be able to stretch to a £10,000 budget for a new car. I do really like my Pug but it could do with a little bit more oomph. I can't fault the handling of it though and I think will be one thing I find hard to find in my next car.
I am still not 100% sure what I want in my next car. As in whether I still want a hot hatch or something a little more refined like a 330ci. I even have been looking at an M3 E36 Evo but I worry about running costs of it. I currently spend about £600 per year taxing, MOT, Insurance on the bike so would like to keep the extra bills for running my new car no higher than this. I am 29 and have 4years no claims but I could use my 9years of bike no claims to bump it up but I am not going to just in case in a few years time I end up going back.
Here is my current list of possibilities
Seat Cupra R. Like the looks of these. Quite practical being 4door. Not sure what they handle like? Have heard the paint finish isn't too good. Turbo car so easily tunable.
Civic Type R. 2004 onwards facelift model. Seems fast for what it is. Reliable N/A engine, not sure how easy it is to get a little more oomph from them? Read about the light steering feel and not sure I would like that after the Pug.
BMW 330ci E46. I'm a total BMW noob! Can you get different variants of the 330ci? Seem reasonably nippy though I'm not sure what its like compared to the other cars I have listed. No idea how they handle? Quite liking the idea of speed in comfortable surroundings. Easy to get a bit more hp out of?
BMW M3 E36. Whilst I can afford to get one can I afford to run it? I read something about Vanos? Being a common problem on these and that they aren't cheap to replace. Fastest car of the ones I have listed and they do sound nice. Insurance is double that of the Civic and Cupra for me, though I was only using directline as a guage.
Renault Megane 225 Cup/Trophy or the R26 F1. The cup / trophy are easier to find. Seem fast and handle well. Sloppy gear stick is mentioned a lot in right ups. French electrics though? I have had to put up with these for a few years already. The R26 F1 version has 5hp more an LSD and better suspension still but might just be outside of my price range. Turbo car though so can get good hp gains pretty easily.
Audi S3. Same engine as the Cupra R but with 4 wheel drive, well Haldrex thing or whatever it is. Servicing costs worry me a little, how do they handle?
Integra DC5. I have seen a few around the £10000 mark now and I love the styling of these. I know they handle great and don't go to bad either. Revvy engine I am aware, just like the civic. Again how easy to gain a few hp? Downside is insurance is a fair bit higher but again might just be as I only used directline.
As you can see most of the cars are more hot hatch type ones but I have been seriously considering the BMW's. I know they probably aren't quite as chuckable as the other cars on my list but I'm not sure how much I would miss that. The other downside to the BMW's is that the milage of these cars will be higher than that of the others for the same price.
The reason I mention how easy is it to get a few more hp out of each car is due to the fact I will probably have this car for 3years minimum and I can never stop myself tinkering with my vehicles.
So many decisions and considering I haven't test driven any of the above cars all I have to go on at the moment is what I have read. Test drives are to be done but I have to find places with these cars on the forecourt first. So what do you all think? I know its not easy but try to be as unbiased as possible and share what experiences you have had in each car. It would be great if you had driven 2 or 3 of my list as it would be easier for you to compare.
Cheers
Paul
I am still not 100% sure what I want in my next car. As in whether I still want a hot hatch or something a little more refined like a 330ci. I even have been looking at an M3 E36 Evo but I worry about running costs of it. I currently spend about £600 per year taxing, MOT, Insurance on the bike so would like to keep the extra bills for running my new car no higher than this. I am 29 and have 4years no claims but I could use my 9years of bike no claims to bump it up but I am not going to just in case in a few years time I end up going back.
Here is my current list of possibilities
Seat Cupra R. Like the looks of these. Quite practical being 4door. Not sure what they handle like? Have heard the paint finish isn't too good. Turbo car so easily tunable.
Civic Type R. 2004 onwards facelift model. Seems fast for what it is. Reliable N/A engine, not sure how easy it is to get a little more oomph from them? Read about the light steering feel and not sure I would like that after the Pug.
BMW 330ci E46. I'm a total BMW noob! Can you get different variants of the 330ci? Seem reasonably nippy though I'm not sure what its like compared to the other cars I have listed. No idea how they handle? Quite liking the idea of speed in comfortable surroundings. Easy to get a bit more hp out of?
BMW M3 E36. Whilst I can afford to get one can I afford to run it? I read something about Vanos? Being a common problem on these and that they aren't cheap to replace. Fastest car of the ones I have listed and they do sound nice. Insurance is double that of the Civic and Cupra for me, though I was only using directline as a guage.
Renault Megane 225 Cup/Trophy or the R26 F1. The cup / trophy are easier to find. Seem fast and handle well. Sloppy gear stick is mentioned a lot in right ups. French electrics though? I have had to put up with these for a few years already. The R26 F1 version has 5hp more an LSD and better suspension still but might just be outside of my price range. Turbo car though so can get good hp gains pretty easily.
Audi S3. Same engine as the Cupra R but with 4 wheel drive, well Haldrex thing or whatever it is. Servicing costs worry me a little, how do they handle?
Integra DC5. I have seen a few around the £10000 mark now and I love the styling of these. I know they handle great and don't go to bad either. Revvy engine I am aware, just like the civic. Again how easy to gain a few hp? Downside is insurance is a fair bit higher but again might just be as I only used directline.
As you can see most of the cars are more hot hatch type ones but I have been seriously considering the BMW's. I know they probably aren't quite as chuckable as the other cars on my list but I'm not sure how much I would miss that. The other downside to the BMW's is that the milage of these cars will be higher than that of the others for the same price.
The reason I mention how easy is it to get a few more hp out of each car is due to the fact I will probably have this car for 3years minimum and I can never stop myself tinkering with my vehicles.
So many decisions and considering I haven't test driven any of the above cars all I have to go on at the moment is what I have read. Test drives are to be done but I have to find places with these cars on the forecourt first. So what do you all think? I know its not easy but try to be as unbiased as possible and share what experiences you have had in each car. It would be great if you had driven 2 or 3 of my list as it would be easier for you to compare.
Cheers
Paul
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