Spec me - something relatively quick, supple and practical

roadie

roadie

roadie

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Joined
22 May 2003
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Location
Wiltshire
I've had my first car, a 57 plate Honda Civic 1.8 for a couple of years now. It's my first car and is OK. It's very cheap to run (insurance with no excess is £238), it has a decent spec list and swallows huge loads (just like your mum :p). What it lacks is any fun and the suspension is dreadful! It crashes and bangs over less than smooth roads and doesn't inspire very much confidence when driving quickly. It's very much just a tool, which is fine, but I'd like something faster and more enjoyable.

I don't do many miles a year (maybe 5k) and most of them are either single carriageway A roads, smaller country roads or motorway. I do barely any 'town' driving. Whilst I'd like to retain as much as the practical element of the Civic, I don't think anything can rival it in that regard. Late model FN2 Type R pricing is too high from what I've seen and would also suffer from the same suspension issues.

My needs are a car that is:
  • relatively quick
  • has a supple ride and decent damping
  • handles well
  • is practical
  • has good build quality and interior materials
  • has HID/LED headlights
  • has Bluetooth/AUX in for music and a decent stereo
My budget would ideally be around £10k taking into account trading in my Civic, which has ~59k miles on it. However, for the right car I could push that up to around £15k. I've been browsing Megane Renaultsports, 308 GTIs and a few Golf GTIs with the intention of testing them soon.

I really like the look of the Megane; does anyone have experience of the Cup/non Cup suspension against each other?

Any other thoughts and ideas most welcome! Cheers :)
 
Focus ST - probably could get a facelift MK3 for your top budget.

Leon Cupra - again for £15k you could get into a Mk3 cupra.

The old Megane, whilst very good is quite an old car now (based on a 2008 car) and the interior feels quite dated now to be honest (one of the reasons I went for the newer, albeit slower MK 4 Megane GT recently). I wouldn't want to be spending 15K on such an old model.
 
Figure out your budget first, one being x amount, and the other being 50% higher is odd.

Secondly you shouldn't be buying the wrong car just because the budget is £10k.

IF the budget is £15k then yeah I'd say go for the bottom of the barrel M135i and get a £35 per month warranty from BMW.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Direct Line have quoted me an additional £96 on my insurance for a Cup 265 and £59 for a non Cup 275 so I don't think insurance is a massive issue.

I like the ride in the standard Focus cars I have driven and ridden in, but am not a fan of the interior so I'll rule them out. I don't mind a firmer ride if the damping is good. For instance my father has a new BMW 225i M Sport X Drive on 18" RTFs which is OK.

With regard to the budget, I'd rather spend less (who wouldn't!). For instance I have seen Megane 250s toward the bottom of my budget and 275s at the top. Just focusing on those cars for the moment, if I wanted one and I felt the 275 was clearly the better car I would go for it. I do appreciate the age of those cars and need to drive one and maybe more. Other cars like the 308GTI and Golf GTI are clearly toward the top of my budget.

I'll look at Cupras, thanks.
 
If you're wanting something relatively comfy on UK roads you don't want a cup pack Renault. This is speaking as a Clio Cup owner, I haven't been in the Megane but I'd be willing to guess that they are similar in terms of harshness.
 
The Renault sport meganes are great cars - but if you don't like the interior of the newer focus you're going to hate the Renault too as they're pretty sparse

Good compromise could be a 125i - going to be somehwere near the top end budget but you should have a selection of cars, be able to buy approved used and you'll certainly notice an interior difference vs the civic (in look at least). Still going to be a good bit quicker than the Honda too.

Feels like you're at the bottom of the market for either the Leon Cupra or 135i which would eliminate them for me right away.

Mk3 Octavia vrs could be worth considering from a refinement point of view, but they're more family car orientated than hot hatch really.

I still have a soft spot for the 8P S3, particularly in 5 door form however you're spending a lot of money on what is an old car - they're a bit numb to drive but have refinement going for them (for the size of car)
 
rodenal said:
The Renault sport meganes are great cars - but if you don't like the interior of the newer focus you're going to hate the Renault too as they're pretty sparse
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This. The Focus interior isnt too bad. The Mk3 Megane interior feels very old hat now and it put me off getting an Rs250/275. The MK4 Megane interior is very nice and feels suitably modern, up to date and well built (speaking as an owner of one!).
 
shauncr91 said:
If you're wanting something relatively comfy on UK roads you don't want a cup pack Renault. This is speaking as a Clio Cup owner, I haven't been in the Megane but I'd be willing to guess that they are similar in terms of harshness.
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How is the Clio in everyday use? They are an interesting little car! Could a non Cup Clio be an everyday proposition that isn't too loud on the motorway? My Civic does 3,000rpm at a little over 70 which is loud enough.
Dis86 said:
F10 5 series.
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I'm not sure a 520d is the answer to my question!
rodenal said:
The Renault sport meganes are great cars - but if you don't like the interior of the newer focus you're going to hate the Renault too as they're pretty sparse

Good compromise could be a 125i - going to be somehwere near the top end budget but you should have a selection of cars, be able to buy approved used and you'll certainly notice an interior difference vs the civic (in look at least). Still going to be a good bit quicker than the Honda too.

Feels like you're at the bottom of the market for either the Leon Cupra or 135i which would eliminate them for me right away.

Mk3 Octavia vrs could be worth considering from a refinement point of view, but they're more family car orientated than hot hatch really.

I still have a soft spot for the 8P S3, particularly in 5 door form however you're spending a lot of money on what is an old car - they're a bit numb to drive but have refinement going for them (for the size of car)
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BMWs are difficult. I have experience in picking my father's and getting the right combination of options is a pain! That has put me off somewhat.

Leon Cupra 280s look decent and good value.
Jono8 said:
This. The Focus interior isnt too bad. The Mk3 Megane interior feels very old hat now and it put me off getting an Rs250/275. The MK4 Megane interior is very nice and feels suitably modern, up to date and well built (speaking as an owner of one!).
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Yeah, the Megane interior does look basic compared to that of a more modern car. That's not too much of an issue for me if it is well screwed together, as it's very modest. Ford and Vauxhall interiors look like cheap, Japanese from the 90s to me!

A left field choice could be the Alfa Guilietta?
 
roadie said:
I'm not sure a 520d is the answer to my question!

BMWs are difficult. I have experience in picking my father's and getting the right combination of options is a pain! That has put me off somewhat.
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Then don't pick a 520d, go for a 520i or 528i. Heck there's even a unicorn of a 530i on AT at the minute!
 
wingman said:
IF the budget is £15k then yeah I'd say go for the bottom of the barrel M135i and get a £35 per month warranty from BMW.
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BMW are quoting £57 per month for the comprehensive warranty (£100 excess), £51 for named component and £41 per month for driveline only on that car. I thought that the N55 and ZF 'box were generally reliable? What should an owner fear breaking on a 3-4 year old 135i auto?
 
RobG said:
BMW are quoting £57 per month for the comprehensive warranty (£100 excess), £51 for named component and £41 per month for driveline only on that car. I thought that the N55 and ZF 'box were generally reliable? What should an owner fear breaking on a 3-4 year old 135i auto?
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On my 2013 M135i;

dpnTubt.jpg.png


I don't doubt the reliability of the car, I doubt my financial ability to correct an engine/gearbox rebuild should it happen (the combination of which I have seen bills of £15k come into the equation, check BabyBMW forum).

For circa £450 a year I'm not going to not have it :)
 
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