Drivers car, 4 seats, sub 10K. Opinions?
- Thread starter Gepetto
- Start date
A Focus ST, TT and MK5 VR6 are not on the same page as an E46 M3, a 330 and 335 are closer due purely to being a similar platform but seriously, go drive one, a good one, and then you'll realise it ticks all the boxes. The TT above is noise, just noise, it's a numb heap of style over substance and an admirer of the Mk5 Golf that I am, the GTi is a better car than the VR6 and will be just as quick and cheaper to own and run and MUCH cheaper to make quick if that's your thing. The ST is not as good as a GTi (IMHO) and the 2 Bimmers are fast saloons and very nice, but an M3 is more fun, quicker and has one of the greatest engines ever to grace a production car.
At 10K you should be able to locate a nice private M3, with the right stamps, the right warranty work and easily get it checked for main points of failure. The engine is pretty bullet proof if well looked after and yes, they will cost more than the others in your list, but not that much more. They still look good to my eyes if not chavved and will put a smile on your face that NONE of the cars you've listed will.
Be a man FFS!
At 10K you should be able to locate a nice private M3, with the right stamps, the right warranty work and easily get it checked for main points of failure. The engine is pretty bullet proof if well looked after and yes, they will cost more than the others in your list, but not that much more. They still look good to my eyes if not chavved and will put a smile on your face that NONE of the cars you've listed will.
Be a man FFS!
Noise counts for a-lot. It is part of the thrill.
The M3 sounds better than all of the cars above from inside and its induction noise not tuned exhaust noise....which actually sounds pretty tinny on the M3, never liked it, but never listened as I was always driving it.
Just to throw it out there if £10k isn't a target - have you considered a Mk4 Golf 2.8L 4motion? I appreciate it's a generation older than much of the stuff you're looking at but it really avoids the scene tax you suffer on the R32 both Mk4 and Mk5 due to not being the pick of the engines.
What you get - that noise, it's basically the same engine with slightly smaller cylinders. £3-4k would get you a good low mileage 2002-2003 one and you wouldn't need to spend that (mine was sub-£2k nearly 2yrs ago although at that price it's had one or two niggles but nothing major). They're all well equipped from standard which is a plus over equivalent Audi A3/Golf GTIs - the A3 had faster engines to shower the love upon whereas the 2.8L is the faster engine with the 3.2L and therefore got lots of goodies from VW as standard
Not quite as quick but shifts when you want it to and still has the temporary 4wd system of the R32, although the Haldex isn't tuned as aggressively in the Mk4s as the Mk5s (how much power it transfers to the rear wheels) IIRC.
Unfortunately they didn't continue the 2.8L for the Mk5.. it was slightly unloved due to poor fuel consumption next to the GTI without the pace of the R32 compensating the handling (a little nose-heavy due to the V6 up front), although at over 200bhp it's not a slow car (around 7s 0-60) and dat noise
What you get - that noise, it's basically the same engine with slightly smaller cylinders. £3-4k would get you a good low mileage 2002-2003 one and you wouldn't need to spend that (mine was sub-£2k nearly 2yrs ago although at that price it's had one or two niggles but nothing major). They're all well equipped from standard which is a plus over equivalent Audi A3/Golf GTIs - the A3 had faster engines to shower the love upon whereas the 2.8L is the faster engine with the 3.2L and therefore got lots of goodies from VW as standard
Not quite as quick but shifts when you want it to and still has the temporary 4wd system of the R32, although the Haldex isn't tuned as aggressively in the Mk4s as the Mk5s (how much power it transfers to the rear wheels) IIRC.
Unfortunately they didn't continue the 2.8L for the Mk5.. it was slightly unloved due to poor fuel consumption next to the GTI without the pace of the R32 compensating the handling (a little nose-heavy due to the V6 up front), although at over 200bhp it's not a slow car (around 7s 0-60) and dat noise
Golf 4 motions are fantastic cars and great vfm pick a clean example up for sub 2 1/2k
It's still a mk4 golf at the end of the day though
Buy a 3.2 Audi a3 for 5-6kcand if your handy with the spanners you'd have enough change to get a charger on there
It's still a mk4 golf at the end of the day though
Buy a 3.2 Audi a3 for 5-6kcand if your handy with the spanners you'd have enough change to get a charger on there
Soldato
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I'd discount the TT as it doesn't really have 4 seats does it.
well not unless your rear passengers are toddlers
well not unless your rear passengers are toddlers
Soldato
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Also why do people talk about the R32 golf noise like it's some form of HEMI V8, it's a V6.
It sounds ok but nothing to jack off about really.
It sounds ok but nothing to jack off about really.
Thanks again for the input guys. 
Regarding the M3. Will I find the ride too harsh to drive day-to-day on rubbish roads? Are they any larger in the back than a TT (with respect to the coupe version). My mate has a convertible and it is cramped in the back, not that this is a huge issue as the back seats are for SWMBO and the nipper. Take that Housey!
The A3 doesn't seem to be as involving a drive in comparison to the R32 (from what I've been reading) although that might be down to a different type of buyer. I can barely believe the price difference to the Golf for pretty much an identical platform, so it does make more sense. Image eh! Saying that, I do find the A3 to be very much a generic Audi, whilst thinking the Golf does stand out.
Thanks for the suggestion but the previous MK4 Golf doesn't interest me, and that is purely down to the looks. I appreciate that it is probably just as good on the road and loads cheaper, but I only like the MK5 Golf for some reason. I would prefer a MK5 over any other actually.
I do wonder if a 335i or 330i would be un-involving, even with a manual box, but the softer, perhaps I should say, less hardcore, nature of them might be better for me in day-to-day driving. The one thing that I mentioned regarding the ST, in that all their owners love them, also holds true for the E46 M3!
As I would be trading in the two cars to buy one, a private sale M3 is not really going to be an option though. I'd love to be able to buy one from an owners/enthusiasts club, or the like, as opposed to a dealer, but I don't think that is going to be possible.
Regarding the M3. Will I find the ride too harsh to drive day-to-day on rubbish roads? Are they any larger in the back than a TT (with respect to the coupe version). My mate has a convertible and it is cramped in the back, not that this is a huge issue as the back seats are for SWMBO and the nipper. Take that Housey!
The A3 doesn't seem to be as involving a drive in comparison to the R32 (from what I've been reading) although that might be down to a different type of buyer. I can barely believe the price difference to the Golf for pretty much an identical platform, so it does make more sense. Image eh! Saying that, I do find the A3 to be very much a generic Audi, whilst thinking the Golf does stand out.
Thanks for the suggestion but the previous MK4 Golf doesn't interest me, and that is purely down to the looks. I appreciate that it is probably just as good on the road and loads cheaper, but I only like the MK5 Golf for some reason. I would prefer a MK5 over any other actually.
I do wonder if a 335i or 330i would be un-involving, even with a manual box, but the softer, perhaps I should say, less hardcore, nature of them might be better for me in day-to-day driving. The one thing that I mentioned regarding the ST, in that all their owners love them, also holds true for the E46 M3!
As I would be trading in the two cars to buy one, a private sale M3 is not really going to be an option though. I'd love to be able to buy one from an owners/enthusiasts club, or the like, as opposed to a dealer, but I don't think that is going to be possible.
I like it, whilst I don't really like the sound of a Hemi, unless it's idling. Is that sacrilegious?
I like smooth revs, with the BMW straight six being up near the top of the list for mainstream cars.
I've never really noticed the m3 to be appreciably harsher than the sport e46 suspension, which I find perfectly acceptable.
Its much bigger in the back than a Tt - the Audi only has token seats whereas real people can fit in the BMW.
An s3 is a far better buy than an r32 at just a little over your budget. Not sure where the perception r.e the golfs handling comes from as tbh I'm nor sure I could tell the difference.
Its much bigger in the back than a Tt - the Audi only has token seats whereas real people can fit in the BMW.
An s3 is a far better buy than an r32 at just a little over your budget. Not sure where the perception r.e the golfs handling comes from as tbh I'm nor sure I could tell the difference.
Thanks again for the input guys.
Regarding the M3. Will I find the ride too harsh to drive day-to-day on rubbish roads?
.....
I'd love to be able to buy one from an owners/enthusiasts club, or the like, as opposed to a dealer, but I don't think that is going to be possible.
I don't think the M3 is harsh at all, if anything, it rides remarkably well given what's on offer when the mood takes you.
As for buying it, I'd have thought you just have to do the legwork and digging to find one worth buying, and IMO an owners club or enthusiast forum would be a better place to look rather than a dealer (bona fide BMW specialists excluded) I would far rather buy private and put the dealers profit margin in the "just in case it breaks" fund.
Thanks again for the input guys.
Regarding the M3. Will I find the ride too harsh to drive day-to-day on rubbish roads? Are they any larger in the back than a TT (with respect to the coupe version). My mate has a convertible and it is cramped in the back, not that this is a huge issue as the back seats are for SWMBO and the nipper. Take that Housey!
First point I have no idea, it's subjective so you need to drive one really as we are all different. The 18" wheels will provide a nicer ride, the 19's will look better in most peoples eyes, though I have come around to liking the 18's more. In terms of back seat space it's a 3 series, so has that much space, which is more than a TT and more than a cab I suspect as you don't need to hide a roof. I don't like cabs so your friends car is not a good sample I suggest. Go and find a nice coupe version, it's the better car for many reasons and will ride smoother than a cab as it is far more rigid.
3 series has more leg room than the TT but less than a Golf.
Honestly I think you should try a mk5 or mk6 GTI. They drive very well, are fairly economical and are cheaper to maintain than the M3. Obviously they won't be I the same class as an M3 for most things but as a family car with a little bit of drivers feel and reasonable performance it's hard to beat a 5 door GTI as an all rounder.
Honestly I think you should try a mk5 or mk6 GTI. They drive very well, are fairly economical and are cheaper to maintain than the M3. Obviously they won't be I the same class as an M3 for most things but as a family car with a little bit of drivers feel and reasonable performance it's hard to beat a 5 door GTI as an all rounder.
All fair points. Great all round family car the Mk5/6 GTI and fun when you want it.
So....
One of these...
Or one of these....
Until recently with the 1 series its competition, bar the S3, has not even had a V6 to compare. Show me a hot hatch with a V8 and then we'll talk
Soldato
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M3 all they way. You cant beat a bit of M power for price/performance/practicality