12k Car options with a criteria

Civhb · 10 Apr 2011 at 22:56

Hi all

Could do with help looking for a new car. I'm not really that up to speed with the options out there! Have some options in mind but wanted to see if I'm not missing any others.

Have around 12k to spend on a fast large hatch/coupe small exec car.

Looking for at least 200 bhp but not over 2.5 litre engine, mpg not really an issue due to fuel card. 2006 reg or newer.

Prefer a manual & petrol, nice interior with a few gadgets like heated seats, nice sound system etc. I've been looking at a Volvo C30 T5 or failing that I might possibly go for a Focus ST-3. Any other options worth considering?

Thanks

ZG002 · 10 Apr 2011 at 23:05

Golf GTI?

Could probs pick up a 07 car with quite low miles for £12k.

Tute · 10 Apr 2011 at 23:13

You can get most of the decent warm/hot hatches into £12K.

Focus ST, Golf GTI, Civic Type-R, Mazda 3 MPS, Seat Leon FR/Cupra, Skoda Octavia vRS, the list goes on.

Best bet is to use the internet to see which ones you like the look of, and then book some test drives to whittle it down.

TomO · 11 Apr 2011 at 09:25

how come no larger than 2.5 if you are not paying the fuel?

otherwise surely the ubiquitous 330 could be mentioned.

Ant84 · 11 Apr 2011 at 09:37

Octavia VRS or Volvo S60 T5 with that criteria, I'd say.

rG-tom · 11 Apr 2011 at 09:55

how bizarre that you don't want over a certain size engine unless it's on a group insurance policy :s Engine size doesn't really make a difference to anything:

Focus ST has a 2.5l engine and far worse fuel consumption than the n54 based 330i, and costs more to insure whilst having less power

Tute · 11 Apr 2011 at 11:10

rG-tom said:
costs more to insure

I'm the exception to that rule.

Seems insurers don't mind me having five cylinders but they don't want me adding a sixth.

rG-tom · 11 Apr 2011 at 11:18

really? for me a focus ST has always been far more to insure than a 330i

LiE · 11 Apr 2011 at 11:19

I assume his company has a limit on engine size when using the fuel card, mine is also a 2.5. Pretty stupid considering modern engines.

Tute · 11 Apr 2011 at 11:28

rG-tom said:
really? for me a focus ST has always been far more to insure than a 330i

I expect it will change with time, but oddly I can't get any kind of a sensible quote on anything with 6 cylinders.

I expect it's just until I build up more experience.

rG-tom · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:46

Tute said:
I expect it will change with time, but oddly I can't get any kind of a sensible quote on anything with 6 cylinders.

I expect it's just until I build up more experience.

bizarre, I insured a V6 mondeo at 18 for ~£1500 in a manchester postcode. 1.4 MG ZR was £2900

[TW]Fox · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:47

rG-tom said:
bizarre, I insured a V6 mondeo at 18 for ~£1500 in a manchester postcode. 1.4 MG ZR was £2900

In your own name Tom?

Tute · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:55

rG-tom said:
bizarre, I insured a V6 mondeo at 18 for ~£1500 in a manchester postcode. 1.4 MG ZR was £2900

Just running quotes now:

Focus ST £668.43
Mondeo ST220 £1666.34
BMW 330i £1723.19

Go figure.

apple_man77 · 11 Apr 2011 at 18:07

Had a quick look through autotrader the most common car matching your criteria is the civic type r.

There's a couple of new shaped scoobys on there but there fairly basic.

One or two focus st's and astra vxr's

I think the best one I found was......

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...page/92/radius/1501/postcode/dy40lx?logcode=p

Axeboy · 11 Apr 2011 at 18:10

S60r?

300bhp 2.5 with 4wd too. Good seats, heated. Decent stereo, think i had dolby surround as standard.

Price will be below £10k

West · 11 Apr 2011 at 18:14

Another vote for the Octavia vRS here

flibbage0 · 11 Apr 2011 at 18:15

Ignore, didn't read the criteria.

apple_man77 · 11 Apr 2011 at 18:45

Axeboy said:
S60r?

300bhp 2.5 with 4wd too. Good seats, heated. Decent stereo, think i had dolby surround as standard.

Price will be below £10k

I cant find one on a 56plate or newer on the whole of autotrader??

Axeboy · 11 Apr 2011 at 19:20

Yeah, they probably stopped around the end of 07. Best bet is from the owners clubs, prices are actually much better on the club forums too.

Not many around, but good buys.

Civhb · 11 Apr 2011 at 21:37

LiE said:
I assume his company has a limit on engine size when using the fuel card, mine is also a 2.5. Pretty stupid considering modern engines.

Yep this is correct, limited to 2.5 engine on the fuel card although I've recently had a promotion so might need to check that!

I'll have a look at the Skoda as I hadnt considered it.

Thanks for the replies so far.