Spec me a car please. £7K

Ry@n · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:50

Im looking to change my car for only a couple or reasons. My MR2 has started to bug me only having 2 seats and also no storage at all. I really love the car and its allot of fun but i think it has to go.

Now what i want is something middle sized (not too small like a mini, or too big like a mondeo). I like modern looks inside and out. I really like the look of the Audi A3 but dont know if this is a decent car or not.

Im 22 with 5 YNCB.

Thanks for any input, sorry for being vague, ive been on autotrader loads and just dont know whats good or not.

P.s. i dont like french cars.

Gaygle · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:54

You looking for something fast? Or something economical? Or both?!

Aero · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:55

Focus? Altough i do like the a3's

Aero

Ry@n · 17 Apr 2009 at 19:59

Something in the middle I suppose, was looking at the 2ltr petrol A3's. As long as it does minimum of 35 mpg I'd be happy. I don't want any 1.3 or 1.4 petrols mind!

iaind · 17 Apr 2009 at 20:06

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/991058.htm ?

ganesh · 17 Apr 2009 at 20:29

iaind said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/991058.htm ?

I really like the look of these, should be good for 35+ on a long cruise. And with 265hp will be pretty fast.

[TW]Fox · 17 Apr 2009 at 20:42

iaind said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/991058.htm ?

Overkill. He doesnt want a 1.2 and fancies a 2 litre A3. He doesnt to be sound like the sort of guy for whom the running costs of a Cupra R, nor the fact the car will be slightly older for his budget, can be easily justified.

Gaygle · 17 Apr 2009 at 22:45

Have you considered a.....2 litre A3?

Gustov · 17 Apr 2009 at 22:54

Mini cooper s ?

iaind · 17 Apr 2009 at 23:11

For that sort of money I'd either be looking at something bigger (Mondeo Mondeo Mondeo), fast (such as the LCR I posted earlier) or economical (Golf 2.0TDi maybe?), I'd think about what you want to prioritise and look at options from there. An A3 2.0 isnt that fast or that economical, you may as well get something that does one of those things well

Ricochet J · 17 Apr 2009 at 23:16

Would a Focus ST come in the price range and give 35mpg on the motorway?

iaind · 17 Apr 2009 at 23:18

A nice ST170 would, a MK2 ST wouldnt

Sold but as an indication http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/894555.htm

Should do 35mpg on the motorway...

GinG · 18 Apr 2009 at 09:05

iaind said:
A nice ST170 would, a MK2 ST wouldnt

Sold but as an indication http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/894555.htm

Should do 35mpg on the motorway...

People I know struggle to get above 30mpg in this car, probabally the most un-eco 2lt / power ratio out there.

Oxide™ · 18 Apr 2009 at 13:28

what about a 2001 BMW 330?
7k can get a very good example (I want one so bad myself)

Moeks · 18 Apr 2009 at 14:29

Running costs aren't low though, they aren't really huge either but they are certainly noticeable. On a run you can certainly turn in 30-33mpg in a 330i, but around town you'll be lucky to see 20mpg (I'm basing this on an auto though, the manuals are a bit more economical, if you drive them accordingly). I'm assuming you meant the 330i though not the 330D? ....you'll get much better fuel economy out of a 330D, obviously.

I think maybe people's definitions of car sizes differ somewhat, but you say you want a medium sized car, well an Audi A3 is quite a small car, compact really I suppose would best describe it. I think the original MK1/2 Mondeo was a medium sized car and the MK3/MK4 are perhaps a bit beyond that, but I still wouldn't call them large cars, that's what I consider a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes S-Class to be.

jongeeone · 18 Apr 2009 at 14:45

If you were to hold out a few months, i would imagine the Clio 197's would start touching £7k.

Moeks · 18 Apr 2009 at 15:03

How does a Clio of any kind possibly fit his requirments? ...he wants something that has some space, and back steats you can actually use (assuming the driver isn't 4'9") ...also he specifically said, he does not like French cars.

You should be able to get a new shape Focus of some sort for £7k, I don't really have the time to look into it right now though.

Skeeter · 18 Apr 2009 at 16:24

Im really against the common misconception that a new Mini is a 'small' car...

Actually, most modern 'small' cars are anything but.

Skeeter · 18 Apr 2009 at 16:25

Ignore

Moeks · 18 Apr 2009 at 18:30

Skeeter said:
Im really against the common misconception that a new Mini is a 'small' car...

Actually, most modern 'small' cars are anything but.

Yea, but they have no storage space in them to speak of, the boot, such that it is would struggle to fit much useful in, there is precious little room in the back, all the space they do have is in the front.