Suggest me my next car

NooBish AbbZ · 11 Oct 2022 at 19:33

All!

I feel like it's sort of time for a new car. I've had my Fiesta Mk7 ST3 for coming up to 3 years now and while it has been brilliant, I think it's time for something newer. I've only started to think this recently but it looks like interest rates are going to continue to rise so it may be a better time to change now than it would be over the next few years. Also the Fiesta is due a cam belt in the near future (£500 inc labour)

Previous cars - 2008 Ford Focus, 2016 BMW 340i (<3) and then this Fiesta.

Points to note.

I absolutely loved the 340i and sold it as I was going to be working away for 6 months and it was pretty expensive (Loan + insurance was topping around £600 a month) The Fiesta loan and insurance was just over £200 a month. Plus obviously brakes are cheaper, tyres are cheaper etc.etc.
I've taken the Fiesta from Portsmouth to John O Groats and covered the NW500 then back to Portsmouth, doing around 2500 miles across 8 days and it was brilliant. I cannot fault the car other than the mileage and needing cam-belt soon, plus the Clutch Slave cylinder will need changing eventually(big job)
I LOVE how cheap the Fiesta is. I had Brembo pads and discs all round, plus Michelin Pilot Sport 4's all around for around £600 fitted last year. Tyres on the 340i would cost something like £800 fitted, and that's before brakes.
I've set a sort of 'limit' of £300 per month on finance, not including trade in of my current Fiesta ST(hopefully would get maybe £6k) 4.9% loan from my bank would allow a £10k loan for £298 per month for 3 years. Total repayment £10750 which I'm happy with
My current Fiesta interior is dated as ****, but it doesn't bother me one bit.
Heated seats is an absolute requirement.
Not fussed between manual or automatic though if auto, semi-auto would be preferred.
Sat nav not required at all.
3 door or 5 door no preference.
4WD/RWD/FWD no Preference

Cars I've looked at

Previous Gen-BMW 140i/240i/340i. I'd love one; I love the engine but honestly I just don't want to pay for it.
Previous Gen-BMW 330d/35d's. Again, kinda expensive; don't really want to pay for it.
Fiesta Mk8 ST3. I really like the look of these but do I want to pay somewhere around £15-16K for a Fiesta? (ST3, Bang & Olufsen, Sunroof, Performance Pack)
E92/E93 3 series. 335i's sound terrible maintenance wise. 335d's I haven't done so much research, actually.
Ford Focus ST - Sat in and just wasn't anywhere near as comfortable as the Fiesta ST's are.

I like a bit of poke; if I could get a little more than my current 180 ps that would be great (Insurance on a Mk8 would allow a remap to around 220ps without increasing insurance cost over stock) I don't do a huge amount of miles but when I do they're generally around A roads of Lincolnshire and on occasion a motorway back to Manchester. As I say, I love how cheap the Fiesta is to run.

Let me know what suggestions you might have!

Scania · 11 Oct 2022 at 19:43

Frankly, I'd keep the Fiesta and keep saving for a big upgrade as & when the market is more sensible....

NooBish AbbZ · 11 Oct 2022 at 19:53

Scania said:
Frankly, I'd keep the Fiesta and keep saving for a big upgrade as & when the market is more sensible....

I could afford to go for a bigger upgrade right now, but when I had the 340i it always played on my mind how expensive it was. I simply think I want a car that is cheap to run regardless of whether I could afford something more significant

Scania · 11 Oct 2022 at 20:43

NooBish AbbZ said:
I could afford to go for a bigger upgrade right now, but when I had the 340i it always played on my mind how expensive it was. I simply think I want a car that is cheap to run regardless of whether I could afford something more significant

Sounds to me you should indeed keep the Fiesta until such a time as you specifically want/need something over your budget desires as such rather than what seems to be change because you want a change rather than changing for something specific.

The fiesta has been great thus far, unless you feel that’s about to significantly change, I’d stick and ponder your opinions rather than jumping into what looks like a tick box scenario if you see what I mean …

ShiWarrior · 11 Oct 2022 at 20:59

500 quid for a Cam belt isn't too bad at at all

Unlike the other ford engines...

NooBish AbbZ · 11 Oct 2022 at 21:00

Scania said:
Sounds to me you should indeed keep the Fiesta until such a time as you specifically want/need something over your budget desires as such rather than what seems to be change because you want a change rather than changing for something specific.

The fiesta has been great thus far, unless you feel that’s about to significantly change, I’d stick and ponder your opinions rather than jumping into what looks like a tick box scenario if you see what I mean …

Forgive me, a tick box scenario?

Scania · 11 Oct 2022 at 21:07

NooBish AbbZ said:
Forgive me, a tick box scenario?

Could have worded it better perhaps, just referring to what you’ve looked at in your list, nice cars all of them, but none to my mind at least pointing towards something particular that your looking for, more options or indeed boxes to tick as such, just strikes me that your not really set on what to change for really, of course I concede I could be wrong!!

NooBish AbbZ · 11 Oct 2022 at 21:10

Scania said:
Could have worded it better perhaps, just referring to what you’ve looked at in your list, nice cars all of them, but none to my mind at least pointing towards something particular that your looking for, more options or indeed boxes to tick as such, just strikes me that your not really set on what to change for really, of course I concede I could be wrong!!

I've had a look around a few more this evening, Audi S3's, Golf R's, Merc A45's but honestly the one I'm leaning towards most would be a newer Fiesta ST..

Spleen Sauce · 11 Oct 2022 at 21:26

Sounds like you've made up your mind. You could do a lot worse than a Fiesta ST.

NooBish AbbZ · 11 Oct 2022 at 22:03

Spleen Sauce said:
Sounds like you've made up your mind. You could do a lot worse than a Fiesta ST.

I'd say you're probably right; just wondering if there was any other great options I may have missed!

Spleen Sauce · 11 Oct 2022 at 22:05

NooBish AbbZ said:
I'd say you're probably right; just wondering if there was any other great options I may have missed!

Golf R is a good shout if the budget stretches, I like mine and I've had a few 'premium' cars over the last few years.

Gilbert89 · 11 Oct 2022 at 22:08

Test drive a MK8 Fiesta ST - If you are used to your current “poke” you may feel underwhelmed or alternatively you may love it.

It’s a logical upgrade when you regard your MK7 experience highly.

Doobedoo · 12 Oct 2022 at 08:48

Mod your current car go big or go home

Terminal_Boy · 12 Oct 2022 at 08:50

Scania said:
Frankly, I'd keep the Fiesta and keep saving for a big upgrade as & when the market is more sensible....

This!

-westy- · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:30

It seems like you've got the car you want - why spend money on a new car that you may like less?

teenwolf · 12 Oct 2022 at 11:44

Megane rs

ShiWarrior · 12 Oct 2022 at 12:31

teenwolf said:
Megane rs

that sprung in my mind
just thought it be way more expensive (could be wrong)
i know there are 2 guys on here that have them in liquid yellow, looks stunning

teenwolf · 12 Oct 2022 at 12:34

ShiWarrior said:
that sprung in my mind
just thought it be way more expensive (could be wrong)
i know there are 2 guys on here that have them in liquid yellow, looks stunning

One want past me on the m6 the other day looked great and well planted.

Looks loads of fun.

Armageus · 12 Oct 2022 at 12:48

NooBish AbbZ said:
Also the Fiesta is due a cam belt in the near future (£500 inc labour)

£500 isn't that bad, and only needs doing every 10 years or 125k miles I think on these.

NooBish AbbZ said:
plus the Clutch Slave cylinder will need changing eventually(big job)

Expect it to be around £600, as you'd do the Clutch at the same time whilst it's all apart. (I just had the Clutch done on my MK7 Fiesta - non ST and paid £700 which was on the higher side of quotes I had)

Even with both of those costs though, it's a case of whatever else you buy (especially older things like e92's) could easily need bills just as big before long.

NooBish AbbZ said:
I like a bit of poke; if I could get a little more than my current 180 ps that would be great (Insurance on a Mk8 would allow a remap to around 220ps without increasing insurance cost over stock)

Have you looked at Mountune or similar for your Mk7 ST - 215PS with only a self installable map, and an induction kit?

MT215 (mTune only) [Mk7 Fiesta ST]

The MT215 mTune comes preloaded with the correct ECU calibration engineered and developed to add maximum reliable performance to your Mk7 Fiesta ST, when equipped with the mountune induction kit. The kit delivers 215PS and 320Nm when combined with the correct hardware, enough to transform the...

www.mountunestore.com

teenwolf · 12 Oct 2022 at 12:51

Armageus said:
£500 isn't that bad, and only needs doing every 10 years or 125k miles I think on these.

Expect it to be around £600, as you'd do the Clutch at the same time whilst it's all apart. (I just had the Clutch done on my MK7 Fiesta - non ST and paid £700 which was on the higher side of quotes I had)

Even with both of those costs though, it's a case of whatever else you buy (especially older things like e92's) could easily need bills just as big before long.

Have you looked at Mountune or similar for your Mk7 ST - 215PS with only a self installable map, and an induction kit?

MT215 (mTune only) [Mk7 Fiesta ST]

The MT215 mTune comes preloaded with the correct ECU calibration engineered and developed to add maximum reliable performance to your Mk7 Fiesta ST, when equipped with the mountune induction kit. The kit delivers 215PS and 320Nm when combined with the correct hardware, enough to transform the...

www.mountunestore.com

Yes and some 6x9's in the parcel shelf init