Hmmm. What to replace the RS with?

Goliath

Goliath

Goliath

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Ok chaps, a mission for you.

In March I will have had the RS for three years, and a little voice at the back of my head is saying "time to change". I've realised that I'm not driving the RS enough on the roads it deserves but far too much on motorways or just getting from a to b, where, to be frank, it's getting a bit wearing. Add on the fact that it's done 44,000 miles and will start requiring some big bills fairly soon and it's days are numbered.

I've had a think about what I want and have come up with the following guidelines:

Must have space for me and the girlfriend and a week's luggage

Must have torque - I like to be able to put my foot down in 4th and acellerate, not think "bugger" and have to change to third

Must be fairly individual - One of the major pluses of the RS is that you don't see many of them and when people do see them they smile/gawp/dribble.

Must cost no more than £15,000 - basically whatever I can get for the RS plus a bit of saved cash.

No bargain basement exotica - I want a reasonably recent, reliable car that isn't going to cost me a fortune to run.

No drop tops or folding metal roofs - not interested. Full stop.

Needs to be fun to drive on a twisty A or B road but comfortable when I'm slogging through traffic on the way to work. The RS is fab at one but not good at the other, and I want to have both.


So there you go. Its open to the motoring experts of OCUK to suggest my next car.


Please Note: It's highly likely that I'll ignore your good advice and buy something that doesn't tick any of the boxes above.
 
You want something powerful, fun, reliable, well built, and decent. But you also want it to be rare. Erm, this isn't going to work. If somebody releases a car that fits all your critiera, people tend to buy them. The only way you can get a damn good car thats very rare is if its either:

a) Limited supply, as per your RS
b) Very, very expensive
c) Very very expensive to run

You'll need to compromise, either get something common, or get something gash. You can't have everything. Anything half decent is likely to have been noticed, and thus bought, by others as well.
 
First things first john :(

Really don't want to see the RS go, you better get something that can keep up round the back roads!

Personally i would say LCR should be on your list, its quick enough, better inside than the RS and still good down the back roads.
 
Passat w8? Granted not so good round the corners as a FRS, but goes like stink in a straight line, handle luggage, comfy, rare, etc
 
[TW]Fox said:
You want something powerful, fun, reliable, well built, and decent. But you also want it to be rare. Erm, this isn't going to work. If somebody releases a car that fits all your critiera, people tend to buy them.
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I didn't say rare. I said fairly individual, which (in my mind at least) is a big difference. I realise I'm not going to get another RS type car, but i don't want a bog standard mass market car. To give an example, a plain mondeo wouldn't make the list, but an ST220 or STTDci would - It's just that little bit different from the mainstream.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Personally i would say LCR should be on your list, its quick enough, better inside than the RS and still good down the back roads.
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I'm not sure I'd recommend one in this scenario to be quite frank, its neither a step-up, nor really a major difference in car type. Similar running costs to the RS, but not quite as decent around the B roads (better on the A roads and Motorways however). But John knows this anyway.

Could get a decent Impreza or Evo for this money?
 
I was just about to reccomend a ST Focus, but then realised the boots about as usefull as a kick in the nuts.

If you like the RS then dont go for the mondeo st variant, as its just not the sme, they handle really well, but they just dont ofer the same driving experience as the smaller hotter hatches.

I would say RX8 if you can stand the horrific fuel bills.
 
Nissan 350Z

Early 53 plate examples on 30k miles can be had for £15k now. Storming cars if you can live with the minging interior quality.
 
Rilot said:
Nissan 350Z

Early 53 plate examples on 30k miles can be had for £15k now. Storming cars if you can live with the minging interior quality.
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was going to say the same thing, stonkingly quick and a decent sized boot, although its only a two seater its what i'd be tempted by at that kind of money - imports are seriously good value as well, but you need to do some reading up as the models are quite a bit different

if it weren't for the "not going to cost a bomb to run" i'd also add the mcoupe in there, but they cost a packet to keep on the roads... however they are damn nice :D
 
Rilot said:
Nissan 350Z

Early 53 plate examples on 30k miles can be had for £15k now. Storming cars if you can live with the minging interior quality.
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My gf probably couldn't get her shoes for a week in the boot of a 350z, nevermind an entire weeks worth of luggage :)
 
Does the latest golf GTI fall into this price bracket yet, what about an Mk4 R32?

Prolly all too expensive to run anways and not enough of an upgrade, though all will be better on the motorway.
 
Definately take a look at the Subaru Imprezza WRX or STi
For that sort of money, you'll get a good spec'ed one, and look for one with the ProDrive Performance Pack (PPP). You might find one with remaining free servicing and still under dealer warrenty!

Have a look at the Subaru website - dealers are very very good (always come top of the Surveys).
 
HI there

2005 Mustang GT V8. Search and you might get lucky and find one around that money but its gonna be hard, cheapest at moment are 18k ish for V8's. The V6 is not worth bothering with as its underpowered. This car really does fit all your criteria, only issue is finding one for 15k.

Its got everything you want and reliability wise well there aint much to go wrong. Interior wise they are nice, anybody who has seen or sat in mine will agree. Just try to get one with Fords interior upgrade package as STD they are a bit bland/dull.

Then once you've got one over the year or two ownership you have it you can transform it power and handling wise. :)
 
Gibbo said:
HI there

2005 Mustang GT V8. Search and you might get lucky and find one around that money but its gonna be hard, cheapest at moment are 18k ish for V8's. The V6 is not worth bothering with as its underpowered.

Its got everything you want and reliability wise well there aint much to go wrong. Interior wise they are nice, anybody who has seen or sat in mine will agree. Just try to get one with Fords interior upgrade package as STD they are a bit bland/dull.

Then once you've got one over the year or two ownership you have it you can transform it power and handling wise. :)
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TRouble is, there is this bloke in Stoke who has a really nice one and £15k isnt going to get anywhere near the power! ;-)
 
I'm gonna suggest something that's most probably a no, but I think I can get it to fit most criteria :p

BMW 330Ci Individual.

Must have space for me and the girlfriend and a week's luggage - Yep, it has that

Must have torque - Plenty of that to go around - 200Nm/ton

Must be fairly individual - Rare to find, but the Individual editions stand out more than you think

Must cost no more than £15,000 - Easy peasy

Needs to be fun to drive on a twisty A or B road but comfortable when I'm slogging through traffic on the way to work - I reckon so!

There you have it. If you get bored with 230hp, supercharge it to 330hp for a few thousand and have 220hp/ton :)

I'll get me coat...
 
IT Insider said:
TRouble is, there is this bloke in Stoke who has a really nice one and £15k isnt going to get anywhere near the power! ;-)
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True. :p :D

But look at this:-
Ford Mustang 2005 GT V8 @ £17,950

Get them down to £17,500 maybe less, all depends on how much you want to pay. But it meets the OPs requirements and could be a lot of fun whilst been somewhat practical, only issue is the size and parking it.
 
Beepcake said:
My gf probably couldn't get her shoes for a week in the boot of a 350z, nevermind an entire weeks worth of luggage :)
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The 350Z actually has quite a sizeable boot, as long as your luggage consists of lots of mid-sized items rather than a couple of big one. The strut brace is a little intrusive.
 
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