Cheap V6 options?

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
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(Background - 33 years old, more than 10 years no claims, annual mileage ~4k).

EDIT - I bit the bullet and have gone for a 350Z... :D

I'm itching to get a fun car, ideally a V6, while I'm still young and have very few financial obligations. I'm also in the fortunate position of having a job that involves a lot of overseas travel, so I only do 4k a year.

Therefore, I can happily buy a very thirsty car.

Ideally, it would be cheap to maintain and reliable - I'm not going to do any work on it myself.

I am however tight when it comes to the actual cost of the car, but I do love the Nissan 350Z...

Current options:

Golf V6 4motion - about £2500 to buy and £400 a year to insure. (can't stretch to the R32).

Nissan 350Z - about £5500 to buy and £500 a year to insure. Don't know if I can bring myself to spend £5k+ on a car though - but the 350Z is pretty much the realistic car of my dreams (I doubt I'll ever be able to afford an Aston...)

Any others I should be looking at?

Any advice appreciated. Hopefully the car will keep its value if I'n only doing low mileage too...
 
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A3 3.2 is the best option here. Plus a miltek or if you just want some extra sound do what I did with mine last week and have a good longlife dealer take out the centre silencer and replace it with T304 stainless steel. £90 or so.
 
The mk4 2.8 4mo is not hugely well regarded tbh.

Have a Google.

It had a first generation Haldex controller which basically engages the back wheels if the fronts slip (it's a clutch as opposed to a differential). You can upgrade it (Google "Haldex Blue"). In combination with the floppy Mk4 suspension it does not make for the best handling though.

The engine is also supposed to feel slow for the fuel it chugs.

A3 3.2 R32 in a different frock. same mechanicals underneath engine running gear brakes etc. but half the price
Click to expand...

These are very subtle. If you don't know what you're looking at, you could mistake it for the Diesel.
 
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Thanks!

A3 3.2 looking nice...

DSG or manual?

I've read some very good things about the DSG, but at the price I'm looking at, 80k - 100k miles seems a worrying amount for an automatic gearbox...

How is the 350Z going to compare in terms of reliability / repair costs?
 
Manual at that price, though my tdi dsg mk1 gearbox never skipped a beat at 116k it is nowhere near as smooth as my s-tronic at 30k. Might be different gearbox though on facelift A3's.
 
I wouldn't get a 100k miles Mk5 DSG personally.

A colleague of mine bought herself a Scirocco recently and she reckons the saleswoman at the dealer asked her if she wanted a DSG. She said "No!" and the saleswoman said "Good choice!" :D
 
Another question...

350Z - grey imports?

They seem much cheaper, but my insurance quotes are the same, which I thought was the only disadvantage? What am I missing???

EDIT - automatics. :( eurgh
 
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