Brand Spanking New Cars

PMKeates

PMKeates

PMKeates

Soldato
Joined
16 Jul 2004
Posts
14,075
In my quest for a car, I've turned to look at the brand-new car segment.

I'm in to power, performance and handling and can stretch to about £25,000 "all-in" (OTR price plus options and accessories).

Unfortunately I can't get insured for anything under £6k on a Focus ST or Astra VXR, and I'm not fond at all of the Civic Type-R.

Cars currently in the basket are a top of the range 2.0 Sport MX-5 with climate control, BOSE audio system, hard top and Eibach lowering kit. This weighs in at a rather respectable £20,400.

Another being considered is an RX-8 231 with optional leather upholstery and the lowering kit. This comes in at £24,400.

While it seems like £4k to go from a top MX-5 to a top RX-8, after 3 years the RX is likely to stand me £1k more than the MX.

Over 3 years, on pure purchase minus sale value, the MX-5 is likely to cost £10k, and the RX8 £13k.

So, anyone have any opinions on what I'm currently looking at, or care to throw another car in the mix? I'm partial to anything that I can insure, and basically, the faster the better!

(I'm already tempted to wait till later this year to consider the Mazda3 MPS, btw :p )
 
Thanks for all the replies so far and prepare for a fractured reply to a bit of all of them :)

Insurance is a crazy crazy thing. Admiral are nodding their heads with relatively small premium increases for a 2.0 MX-5 or an RX-8 231, yet just said "No" to a Focus ST or an Astra VXR - odd considering the FWD/RWD difference :confused:

For all interested the £25k would be financed and not paid for straight off. I've got quite a nice job, but it's not good enough to allow me to save £25k cash without a couple of years passing. I'd be looking at paying around a 20% deposit.

To Mad old tory: This is purely a consideration. The second-hand car route is definitely also in mind - I just want to consider ALL the available options and see how they balance up at the end of the day.

Gibbo, a Ford Mustang GT? Insurance not too bad? I'm pushing the boundaries finding insurance at ~200HP @ 19, RWD+300HP+19 is going to be far too expensive, I'm sure! :p

I also take offence to Fox's comments about working at McDonalds. Without the loyal troops of Maccy D's, I'd have to cook/fry/microwave/mutilate the burger myself!

I'm glad you've mentioned the MINI. The Cooper S JCW is another car I can consider - I'm quite partial to the small hatch, and don't personally see the high trims as at all girly, but in fact rather true to MINI and quite menacing.

If I can get insured with a "mainstream" insurer, the premium never really goes that high. As soon as I have to swap to something less reputable, the cost skyrockets to around £6k for a high performance hot hatch. Over 3 years, even allowing the premium to halve each year, it's over £10,000 for insurance - simply the pleasure of being able to legally drive the car on public roads. I'd much rather put the ~£6k I'd save on insurance over 3 years in to the car, whether I'd lose it all or not.

Nissan 350Z is out of the question, as is the BMW 325/330. Just too expensive.

Gilly: Yeah, it's quite silly really - £10k for 3 years motoring. That's why all this is a consideration that I'd appreciate people's opinions on :)

teaboy5: Well, I'd rather not wholly base my decisions now on the potential state of global economics in three years time, but again it's something to think about. The idea of saving the money is again something I'm considering, but it'll take some incredible patience to save £25k on my wage, although the money could be invested while saving to increase the building rate.

As I mentioned earlier, thanks for the replies so far. This is JUST a possible option that I'm looking in to, so no immediate concern from anyone is necessary :)

Another car that is starting to feature more in my mind is the Mazda3 MPS. Due for launch this Autumn, it's set to be one of the fastest hot hatches ever made. Sporting over 250HP and 380Nm of torque, a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 155mph, it's set to be quite the nifty little car.

I'll have a think.
 
I know, I know. I'll start having a look around at the higher value second hand market and see what I like.

On the issue of the 3MPS, I did think about the insurance quandary as it happens. It's no dead cert, but the 6MPS is insurable for "cheap" (Read: not £6k) and that features the higher output version of the same engine, albeit in a bigger chassis with a 4WD drivetrain - although has very similar performance. I'd have to wait and see on the matter, really.

I'd also take a hard look at yourself in the mirror Fox. You seem to keep mentioning the spanking of money, which I assume is in some absurdly sexual manner - this needs to be resolved by a medical professional :p
 
Totally OT, but you don't happen to go to Royal Holloway University, do you?

Back on topic, I'm all-in-all after something that is fast, fun, yet doesn't take Michael Schumacher to get something reasonable out of it, like the S2000. It also needs to be "safe".

By safe, I mean have some form of traction or stability control - preferably the latter. Hopefully it won't ever need to be activated, but with cars in the region of 150hp/ton+, I'd much rather have it than not!

The 172/182 might just fit the bill. I'll take a look :)
 
Ev0 said:
Careful, some of the Clios use engines that are also used in some Protons (the Savvy iirc), so when you're cruising down the street people will point and say "ooh look it's a Clio, Proton use one of their engines don't you know".

That's how it went wasn't it? :)
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Nope
 
Ev0 said:
lol I couldn't remember all the stuff but you really didn't like the idea that the proton used the same engine and thus was a reason to go for a Fiesta over a Clio.

I was going to say a 172/182 for this thread as it is a good performance/price ratio imho, don't think you'd be too disappointed :)

Best thing to do though is go and drive some of these cars first, you might drive one that you think you really want and be really disappointed!
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It was a choice of the two, and I thought I'd rather have the Fiesta than a Clio with an engine Proton see fit to use. Proton don't use the 172/182PS 2.0 16v engines, so they should be fine ;)

Test drives. Oh how hard they are to get at my age!
 
[TW]Fox said:
Why, do you think Proton's CEO says 'Right lads, go out and buy in the most awful engine you can find' :confused: s
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I'm afraid you'll have to accept I absolutely hate Proton, and so wouldn't be surprised if that was their aim.
 
Mad old tory said:
No it's true the hours aren't too bad, but my maths isn't the best so I'm struggling a little bit. Great uni though.

Back on-topic, if you like the S2000, how about a civic type-r if you can stand the looks?
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I ruled the Type-R out in the first post :p
 
[TW]Fox said:
Well with a product as highly regarded as a Rover, I don't blame you for looking down on manufacturers like Proton.

Hang on, don't Proton still make cars? Well thats them instantly one up :p
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Proton never competed with Rover. They compete with the likes of B&Q and Homebase, dominating the UK shed market :)
 
James_N said:
The CTR is a very good and capable car, and insurable, unlike the S2000.

I dislike the use of crappy plastics and silver dashboard that scratch VERY VERY easily but engine wise, its fantastic.

Why have you ruled it out so easily? I can only assume this is because the new one is due soon?
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Nah, nothing to do with the new Civic - I'm not fond of that either!

I just.. don't like the Type-R. I hate the gear shifter position and it's just a bit too crazy-Jap for me :)
 
Yeah, it's me alright. Biggest mistake was not forcing myself to make the 1,000 mile round trip (It would have been quicker to travel to Rome!!!) to get yours, to be honest :(

The hugest problem with a Coupe Turbo is finding one. I went to see one last week and ermm.. it wasn't great. Despite eventually selling for £2,850, the only thing it had going for it was 47,000 miles. It needed 4 new wheels, a new wing and £400 of paintwork. With a Coupe Turbo I don't want a ream of modifcations as long as my arm but just a good clean one. I'm willing to pay £3,000 for what is the "right" one, but I swear it just doesn't exist!
 
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rcrossco_1 said:
I think you want a coupe really! think of the character. Also I like the way the long winded full name sounds impressive.. i.e Rover 220 Coupe Turbo. Sounds like a machine.
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The ABI goes one stage further than that and calls them "Rover 220 Coupe Turbo I" - bit of a mouthful!

rcrossco_1 said:
Out of interest how much would you pay for a mint one with 17K on the clock!?
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Not the £3,950 (If I recall correctly) you paid for it I'm afraid, but it would all depend on the very specifics of the car, although I can't imagine the general condition to be poor :p
 
Toast said:
In my opinion you should wait till you're at least 21, have some NCB and insurance becomes cheaper and thus, opens your options more.

You will find nothing worse than getting financed on some car only to later get fed up of it, regret taking out the finance, wish you'd bought something else and get lumbered with negative equity.

If I was you I'd look at getting something used, there are some real bargains to be had, you probably just don't see that at the moment as they're out of your reach insurance wise.
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My insurance limit is very high for someone of my age - even the majority of Group 16/17/18/19 cars are not out of reach. The only things out of my reach are the seriously fast cars that cost so much to run, I wouldn't bother with them at my second hand price point anyway!
 
No one is quoting less than around the £5,000 mark for an ST/VXR - basically saying "Go away". The Admiral group of companies will insure drivers under 21 on some pretty high risk vehicles, including the likes of an RX-8 231, for very reasonable premiums. However, they seem to have a problem with the Focus ST or the Astra VXR.
 
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