Car for GF £12000

I get where you're coming from @DannyW, and to be honest now after the last 3 cars my wife just trusts me to know what she would and wouldn't like. I obviously show her a shortlist and get her to be involved in the test drive/purchase, but she's more than happy with what I recommend these days.
 
I don't get the whole badge snobbery thing. Buy a car on it's own merit. People who pass up something like a Focus ST3 to buy a boggo Audi A3/BMW 1 series just because of the badge, are ridiculous.
 
I don't get the whole badge snobbery thing. Buy a car on it's own merit. People who pass up something like a Focus ST3 to buy a boggo Audi A3/BMW 1 series just because of the badge, are ridiculous.

That's a bit of a short sighted view IMO. If you have the budget to get into an ST3 or a 1.6 A3, but all you want from the car is comfort and A-B commuting, why would you lumber yourself with the ST3? Completely daft argument, not everyone wants performance at the sake of quality.
 
I was mostly joking about badge snobbery, she doesn't like fiestas - and I know they are good cars too

I'll always say to any ford or gm fan boy... once you drive German there's no going back. My mate has just got a 16 plate focus st he paid same price as my 335d... Just why would you?!?
 
I was mostly joking about badge snobbery, she doesn't like fiestas - and I know they are good cars too

I'll always say to any ford or gm fan boy... once you drive German there's no going back. My mate has just got a 16 plate focus st he paid same price as my 335d... Just why would you?!?

I'd rather have the ST than the dag dag every day of the week. And what plate is your 335d?
 
Not if you were slogging up and down the motorway every week you wouldn't. Again daft comparisons are daft, it depends entirely on the usage of the car as to which would be better suited.

I'd take the 335d over a Focus ST, and I believe DannyW's is a 2015.
 
Not if you were slogging up and down the motorway every week you wouldn't. Again daft comparisons are daft, it depends entirely on the usage of the car as to which would be better suited.

I'd take the 335d over a Focus ST, and I believe DannyW's is a 2015.

True enough, but then if I were motorway slogging I'd probably want something bigger than a 3 series.

It's a 15 plate
Nothing wrong with a focus st but for 22k so many nicer proper cars

I'm confused. Is a Focus ST an improper car? £22k does seem pretty steep mind you.
 
I'm confused. Is a Focus ST an improper car? £22k does seem pretty steep mind you.

It's mainly the price why I am turning my nose up so much
It's not that there is anything wrong with it it's just a 4 cylinder 2wd focus to me
Buying a focus st suggests you are into cars and like driving quick
But for 22k that's like e92 m3 money or Audi s4 with change to spare
 
That's a bit of a short sighted view IMO. If you have the budget to get into an ST3 or a 1.6 A3, but all you want from the car is comfort and A-B commuting, why would you lumber yourself with the ST3? Completely daft argument, not everyone wants performance at the sake of quality.

If you want comfort buy a Lexus. Audi damping is awful as "comfortable" cars go.
 
SEs ride fine. S Lines (or at least statically damped ones) can be harsh, but I believe this comes from the trend of having gigantic wheels and a veneer of tyre.

My S3 rides really well IMO, but it does have magnetically adjustable dampers. The sportback that I test drove didn't have anywhere near the same compliance, neither did it have the MagRide.
 
It's mainly the price why I am turning my nose up so much
It's not that there is anything wrong with it it's just a 4 cylinder 2wd focus to me
Buying a focus st suggests you are into cars and like driving quick
But for 22k that's like e92 m3 money or Audi s4 with change to spare

True, but when something goes wrong with your M3 it'll probably be two or three times the cost of the ST to fix. Also a £22k M3 will likely be three or four years old. The ST is likely less than a year old with much lower mileage. Of course mileage isn't everything these days. Then you also have M3 running costs as well. The ST will likely do 35+MPG on a run and be better about town too. Would an M3 of any vintage do that? Unlikely.

Just had a look. A £22k M3 is six or seven years old. You can get a ST less than a year old with less than 5k miles. To some it's effectively a new car, with warranty. Big difference to many people.
 
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Well when you care about someone you also care they are getting a good deal

I don't want her paying over the odds for a old model and year

So give her the benefit of your wisdom and let her choose for herself then :confused: If she wants any further advise then she'll ask for it surely, without any need for trying to talk her into / out of specific cars.
 
I'll always say to any ford or gm fan boy... once you drive German there's no going back. My mate has just got a 16 plate focus st he paid same price as my 335d... Just why would you?!?
LOL the mk3.5 Focus ST is made in Germany ;)

Why would anyone want pick a 335d over a focus ST :confused:
 
Why would anyone want pick a 335d over a focus ST :confused:

Ride quality, quietness, sensible fuel economy, automatic transmission, better build quality / infotainment, rear wheel drive. They are completely different cars aimed at completely different market segments. It's like saying "why would anyone buy a Range Rover over a 5-Series?" Different cars for different people.

I would absolutely buy a 335d over a Focus ST. Much the same as why I bought a Jaguar XJ over a Focus ST.
 
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