Help :( New car choice ideas?

JonnyGeee

JonnyGeee

JonnyGeee

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Hello,

I am looking to get rid of my current Impreza Sti as the upcoming fuel costs are going to be choking my wallet :(

I'm still looking for a car that's quick, but in return offers me a good MPG (30+ ideally 40ish). Would prefer RWD but open to FWD/4WD.
I would like mod cons (climate control, heated seats etc) but i would put up without these for the right car if it hasn't got them !

As a rundown of my previous cars.. Impreza, Vx220, Mg zr... i was really hoping for a 350z, but the fuel consumption is dire and i simply won't be able to put up with it. Cars similar to the Z would be great but i'm open to saloon's !

Currently have a budget of around 6-8k for the car alone. Insurance shouldn't be a problem as i do have 9 years no claims and i'm over 25 obviously.


Cheers !
 
I would suggest a Civic Type R, which can be had for £4-5k, good fun cars. The 2.0L engine might suck a lot of juice if you're in VTEC all the time.
 
Around 32 MPG if driven sensibly. I know it's not much, but at least you'll have some money left over for insurance and running costs.
 
JonnyGeee said:
Whats the typical MPG to be expected from a type R? i always thought they was as bad as my current car.
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To be honest most fast stuff is going to be as bad as your current car. If you want to make a saving on fuel costs significant enough to justify dumping your car then I suggest it's time to close the performance car book and buy a Focus 1.6.
 
You can get upto 40+ MPG out of a Type R driven very carefully, i get an average of 35 out of my DC5 which has a very similar engine albeit slightly more highly tuned from the factory.

For that money I'd say an EP3 is worth a look at, will take a bit of getting used too though going to FWD from your 4WD also the EP3 is crying out for an LSD which would transform it in the corners.

For 8k you can get a pretty decent DC5, insurance is a bit more being a group 20 import but its a better drive, 220bhp, LSD, climate control as standard and doesn't have as much of an image problem as the EP3 but the DC5 will be a 2001 for that price rather than a 2004ish EP3

EP3

DC5 - Ditch the guages and dodgy stereo and put in a classy double DIN job and it'd look a lot better
 
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BMW 330d :D

Seriously, you aren't going to get anywhere near 40mpg with a powerful petrol under the bonnet.
 
You can get 30mpg+ out of most performance cars if you drive them sensibly....but then whats the point in having a fast car if your never going to put your foot down?
 
[TW]Fox;18168675 said:
To be honest most fast stuff is going to be as bad as your current car. If you want to make a saving on fuel costs significant enough to justify dumping your car then I suggest it's time to close the performance car book and buy a Focus 1.6.
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This just isn't true.

An Impreza STI is never, ever going to see over 30MPG realistically. Most people I've spoken to seem to average around 20MPG with mixed driving.

The Honda should see 30MPG (and beyond) easily by simply staying under 5500RPM or wherever crossover is on the K20.

There are FAR more economy gains going from an STI to something like an EP3 than there would be going from an EP3 to a 1.6 Focus :)
 
Fair enough, I didn't realise the Impreza was that bad. I thought it was about the same as mine - 20something when having some fun, 20mpg around town and 30+ on a run.
 
[TW]Fox;18172283 said:
Fair enough, I didn't realise the Impreza was that bad. I thought it was about the same as mine - 20something when having some fun, 20mpg around town and 30+ on a run.
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Nah Fox. Impreza doing 30mpg+ with economical driving, no chance. My mate was fuelling his up all the time, but he did say it took him a 5quid of fuel from Leeds to Nottingham driving at average of 55mph. I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Type-R is a good drive, it certainly will have a fun factor if you go to it from an Impreza. Fair enough the power isn't the same, but still handling, and off the line launches with 6k vtec crossover can never bore you.
 
The good thing i found about the Type R engine is even if you absolutely cane it everywhere it doesn't impact the MPG anywhere near as badly as a turbo charged engine.

If i drive mine like a stole it i'll get about 31-32mpg which for the amount of fun you have driving it i think is pretty damn decent
 
Fox:- Mixed driving in my impreza Will return me approximately 20mpg. If I drive like I stole it, It will return around 12. With the current price of fuel at 6quid a gallon, this becomes an expensive car to run.

I will have to test drive an ep3, I have my obvious concerns about having to rev it hard.

In response to the other car suggestions,
I find the Clio quite small and my girlfriend has one lol. Only in 1.4 mind.
I have never been a fan of golfs if I'm honest.
The BMW 330d I presume would be an e46? Will check them out as I do like these.
The megane is a big nono, as a friend at work has one and wishes he hadn't bought it to various reasons.

To echo my first statement, jonob, if I can obtain around 30 with mixed driving it is a big improvement on my current car.
 
JonnyGeee said:
Fox:- Mixed driving in my impreza Will return me approximately 20mpg. If I drive like I stole it, It will return around 12. With the current price of fuel at 6quid a gallon, this becomes an expensive car to run.

I will have to test drive an ep3, I have my obvious concerns about having to rev it hard.

In response to the other car suggestions,
I find the Clio quite small and my girlfriend has one lol. Only in 1.4 mind.
I have never been a fan of golfs if I'm honest.
The BMW 330d I presume would be an e46? Will check them out as I do like these.
The megane is a big nono, as a friend at work has one and wishes he hadn't bought it to various reasons.

To echo my first statement, jonob, if I can obtain around 30 with mixed driving it is a big improvement on my current car.
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Do you do mainly long motorway miles or short town/A/B road miles?
 
Depends what time I get my ass out the bed. It's normally a/b roads to work but I do quite a few motorways miles when visiting friends, I do around 9k per year and it's prolly half and half
 
I think if fuel consumption is a big concern, then you cannot go wrong with an EP3.

That said, you could manage a DC5 in the upper end of your budget which is faster and looks a lot nicer.
 
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