Get me in a fast car again...

Jono8

Jono8

Jono8

Caporegime
Joined
20 May 2007
Posts
41,032
Location
Surrey
So, I was going to bore everyone with a long story about what a stupid mistake I made in September last year and how much I regret doing what I did but I figured I would condense it down to the following:

- Had Focus ST-2, coming up to a year’s ownership

- Running it not a problem but started to think that I don't want to be spending the money on fuel/insurance e.t.c. and figured I didn’t want or need a fast car anymore. I thought I had had my little bit of fun and got it out of my system

- Decided to chop it in for a 2007 Civic Type S 1.8 iVtec (Thought process - NA bullet proof engine, very good fuel economy for a petrol of that capacity, low insurance, still a bit nippy)

- Didn’t sell the Focus for what I hoped to so ended up spending about 1k to change which means I will only start saving money after about 9 months or so. Ooops!

- Also realised that I miss owning a fast car A LOT so now every time I get in the Civic I think "boring" and cry a little inside.

So, now that I have regaled you all with my tale of fail I would now like to ask you for your advice on how to make me a happy motorist again. I can’t stop thinking about owning something quick again and every time I drive my current car, I just get upset. Clarkson is certainly correct about how a car can make you feel....

So to do this, it means changing cars...again.

Now I want something with a nice bit of torque and 200BHP or more. I don’t do more than 10,000 miles a year so not that interested in diesels. I would prefer a petrol turbo. I want 4 seats, and something fairly practical. I also wouldn’t mind a smidgen of frugality (i.e. 30mpg+ if driven with a light foot, maybe 35 on the motorway)

So this has basically narrowed it down to the VAG group hatchbacks (Octavia/Golf/Leon) with the 2.0L T engine. Budget is no more than 8k ideally.

I am currently veering towards a current shape Leon FR or Cupra.
At the moment it seems like the Leon Cupra would be a no brainer as they seem to be going for the same price as the FR’s but have 40bhp more ( insurance is higher though of course). There is a 2007 Cupra with average miles, from a franchise, up for 8.2k on Autotrader. Pretty good I thought.

So, any advice/help/experience would be much appreciated.

P.S. No telling me what a chump I am for the whole selling the Focus ST thing. I know I am a chump :P
 
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Skeeter said:
Anyone else expect something a lot more serious from the opening line than just swapping a Focus for a Civic?
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It feels serious to me! Has possibly been the biggest regret of my life so far :p (Perhaps a tad dramatic)
 
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Thanks Misscheif. You know the Megane F1 R26 is a tempting option. They seem to be going for peanuts as well at the moment. They seem to come well equipped as well.

Anyone care to shed any light on them. Anyone here own one?

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classi...s/60/postcode/sm71dz/keywords/sport?logcode=p

Looks quite nice^

Astra VXR is not for me. For some reason i just hate the look of them.

Mazda MPS is an option but i have heard the torque steer is very bad ( newer ones have an LSD though and are better, is that right?)
 
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The more I am reading about the F1 R26 230, the more i'm liking it :). Sounds perfect. Good amount of power, great handling, not crazy thirsty, lots of equipment and seemms to be good value on the used market.

Anyone care to shed light on its reliability? I know this has never been one of Renault's strong point.
 
ganesh said:
Can an sti achieve 30mpg on a cruise? Might be a nice change instead of another fwd hatchback.
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Would be tempted but from what i have read they are very thirsty and they are also a bit steep on the old insurance ( i'm 24)

i am happy ot be convinced otherwise though.
 
I almost ended up with a Yellow R26, taken several out for a drive now and i quite like them, slightly comical interior but the seats are fantastic, power was good, they drive very well, however i was slightly disappointed about the lack of grip out of tight corners, even with the LSD you could easily make the front wash wide.

Personally i'd punt my money into a a Golf GTI.
 
Firestar_3x said:
I almost ended up with a Yellow R26, taken several out for a drive now and i quite like them, slightly comical interior but the seats are fantastic, power was good, they drive very well, however i was slightly disappointed about the lack of grip out of tight corners, even with the LSD you could easily make the front wash wide.

Personally i'd punt my money into a a Golf GTI.
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Was that the 230 because from what i am reading, with the LSD it is fantastic out of tight corners and has wonderful grip?

Also, whay was the interior comical? Bad build quality or just a strange layout?
 
Nah it was a 57 plate R26 F1 Team, it could have been the front bridgestone (iirc) tyres or the pressures, i went round a roundabout several times upping the speed each time and instead of what i've experienced torsen diffs do in the past this didn't see to make much difference, like you say i was suprised too since before i took the first one out the reviews gave nothing but praise.

interior wise, cheap plastics, rattles from all over the place, flimsly knobs and rubbish painted plastics, layout was ok though.
 
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Legnum VR-4

280 horses under the bonnet, and nice and practical (if you go for the estate).

Not so great on fuel economy, you're looking at low 20s on the motorway and low teens if you push it, but considering you can get one in fantastic condition for under £3k, it leaves you with £5k for that extra fuel =P
 
Stay clear of Meganes lol. They are built out of lego. I have one, all be it not a R26 but the build quality will be the same. The interior looks ok at first glance but things start rattling and falling off pretty quick.
 
A Volvo S40/S60 T5 could be an option but the only issue is fuel consumption.
Spend less, keep the rest for fuel :)
 
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