Gutted :(

Firestar_3x · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:51

Phate said:
Take one round some back roads with decent rubber and then voice an opinion

Considering I owned one and drove it pretty hard for just over 18months which included a couple of sessions at brands I know what they can do in the hands of your average car enthusiast who isn't Lewis Hamilton.

So you've driven one car round the track and then concluded that its better than a Vectra VXR round the corners based on what exactly?

[TW]Fox · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:53

Blind Rover fanboyism

Mind you a Vauxhall Vectra on a track, I'd fancy the chances of the ZS. The Vectra can barely manage corners on the M4

LiE · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:55

The Vectra would just create a lot of noise and smoke then explode.

Firestar_3x · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:56

[TW]Fox;15476866 said:
Blind Rover fanboyism

Mind you a Vauxhall Vectra on a track, I'd fancy the chances of the ZS. The Vectra can barely manage corners on the M4

I hear tracks never had runoff areas until Vauxhall started making hot hatchbacks.......

Pitlanes didn't come around till Rover made the K series..........

Janesy B · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:58

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1346632.htm

This'll be more fun and infinitely less crap than an MG. Epic torque to vtec may be a bit of a shock though

Sin_Chase · 7 Dec 2009 at 14:59

That Accord looks tidy but at that price 2-3 grand more would get you an S2000 (if that's your kind of thing!)

VTEC is addictive and fun, screw torques

Firestar_3x · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:03

Sin_Chase said:
That Accord looks tidy but at that price 2-3 grand more would get you an S2000 (if that's your kind of thing!)

VTEC is addictive and fun, screw torques

How do you get 3 people into an S2000?

Vigoro · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:03

Janesy B said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1346632.htm

This'll be more fun and infinitely less crap than an MG. Epic torque to vtec may be a bit of a shock though

I would prefer a facelift version over that though, around the same price for one aswell

Sin_Chase · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:04

Firestar_3x said:
How do you get 3 people into an S2000?

This is indeed true, only mentioned it as a comparison to price. Not sure how much an Accord Type R goes for but knocking on 6 grand seems like a lot?

Demon · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:04

My brother (just split from them missus) was going to get an ST220 (On my recommendation), however after test driving it wasn't very happy with the performance or interior quality (and he has a Zafira VXR lol)..

He did something I thought he'd never do, he found an older but clean 330ci, 90K Miles 2001 with FSH that for £6.5K (Was up for £7250) was much much cleaner the I thought, no rattles, good build quality, and actually looks really nice.. (He did have until recently his E39 M5, which was very reliable).

Having the child, maybe a saloon 330i might be better
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1356614.htm
(Not that particular one, my brother had quite a few coupe's he went to see, he wasn't looking at spending more then £6.5K after haggling)..

Janesy B · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:05

Vigoro said:
I would prefer a facelift version over that though, around the same price for one aswell

I only picked it because it had a new uprated clutch which may come in handy

It also looks one of the best examples I've ever seen. What benefits would the facelift bring?

Phate · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:08

Firestar_3x said:
So you've driven one car round the track and then concluded that its better than a Vectra VXR round the corners based on what exactly?

Well in that track session I managed to keep up with and overtake an Astra VXR (which I would assume handle better than the Vectra)

But this thread isn't about if a zed would beat a vectra in corners it's about MrLOL's next car. And speaking from the ZS's point of view in my opinion it is NOT the right car for him

And Fox if it was blind Rover fanboyism, surely I would be recommending one to the hills?

[TW]Fox · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:09

Demon said:
Having the child, maybe a saloon 330i might be better
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1356614.htm
(Not that particular one, my brother had quite a few coupe's he went to see, he wasn't looking at spending more then £6.5K after haggling)..

His wife will go bonkers if he starts pouring money in keeping one of those going

Demon · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:20

[TW]Fox;15477017 said:
His wife will go bonkers if he starts pouring money in keeping one of those going

Just out of interest where are the main costs?

My brother seems happy it'll be cheap enough to run.. the main things being

he has come from a recent E39 M5, but still the prices he quoted me for Inspection 1 and Interval Oil changes where £170 and £100 respectively, the tyres are standard 225/40/18's on his, £100 a corner for the start of something decent.. Insurance isn't horrific (in terms of quick cars), and fuel consumption isn't terrible either...

I also have a mate with a 2003 3.0i Z4, and I'm still amazed at how reasonable that is to run, same servicing costs etc..

[TW]Fox · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:23

Servicing is reasonable but he'll need to start shelling out for bits of suspension etc etc as it gets old. Propshaft bearing has also just failed on both the 2002 Z4 and the 2003 530d my parents have

IMHO totally worth it, but his wife might not see it that way.

mjt · 7 Dec 2009 at 15:40

you know it makes sense

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1389977.htm

or if i'm being serious, how about a 9-5 HOT Aero?
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1375904.htm

lots of car for the money, and it's pretty much a torque-steering vectra anyway

Fr0dders · 7 Dec 2009 at 16:51

[TW]Fox;15477134 said:
Servicing is reasonable but he'll need to start shelling out for bits of suspension etc etc as it gets old. Propshaft bearing has also just failed on both the 2002 Z4 and the 2003 530d my parents have

IMHO totally worth it, but his wife might not see it that way.

what sort of bills would an early 330i show up ?

How quickly is my car running pot going to disappear

[TW]Fox;15476536 said:
So so harsh. Yet... so true.

Alas, it probably is quite true. Not quite that bad as its been looked after properly. Had decent tyres, replaced when necessary, serviced on time (early in fact) and had good quality consumables fitted.

Trouble is, the other half doesnt agree with the % of disposable income that is being used on the car. Reducing Tax + tyre costs helps reduce this, as does stopping modding it. Having 5k in the bank to help pay for the bills that come alone helps even further.

[TW]Fox · 7 Dec 2009 at 16:53

Nothing huge just little bits here and there which will nibble away at said pot thats all. They are fundamentally pretty reliable cars.

18 inch wheels again though, this time tyres are even more than the VXR, rears are 150ish.

LiE · 7 Dec 2009 at 16:56

Do you put away x amount month for the car running? It's a great way to manage the costs.

Fr0dders · 7 Dec 2009 at 17:00

msm722 said:
Do you put away x amount month for the car running? It's a great way to manage the costs.

No.

This is part of the reason that she's got so annoyed.

I'm terrible with money and budgeting / saving.

Hence when bills come along they tend not to be saved for and come out of the current account - again increasing frustration.

This is a great oppertunity to have something cheaper, but not necessarily crap. And to get better at budgeting and saving for car running expenses. The picasso was so dog cheaper it never mattered as tyres only cost £50 each, and bizarely it never broke down.