I've has enough of my car.

Pants

Pants

Pants

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
3,190
Location
Leicester
Hello,

It was fun for a year or so but I'm tired of my car now.

It's a VR6 with 180,000+ on the clock that breaks down a lot. I love the noise and power of the V6 on a 6 branch full system, but that doesn't outweigh it's inability to corner and the ultra crashy ride. The insurance is expensive and so is 20 mpg fuel consumption.
It's up for MOT and TAX next month. It will not pass. It needs a steering rack (£185 part), the exhaust welding, new engine mounts, etc.

So....... would it be better to get another car on finance. A car thats more fuel efficient and less costly on the insurance. I would also want it to be reliable.
I'm thinking that what I save on insurance and fuel doing 38 miles per day could offset the monthly finance. I currently spend about £250 on fuel per month and £65 on insurance.

So if I got a 30mpg car I would free up about £62.50 per month. If it was a 40 mpg car I would free up £125.00. These mpg figures look like worryingly boring cars though?

£125 per month = £4500 over three years (not includibng the inevitable APR). Time for me to get thinking about a 40 mpg car that is no woefully slow. Any help apperciated and I am willing to stretch the budget for a nice motor.

Also let me know if my logic is completely flawed!

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
No your logic isn't flawed imo but, you do need to decide if you want another hot hatch or a more sensible cost effective car. More importantly could you live with a slower car?

Don't just get hooked on MPG. It will save you money but other factors such as servicing, insurance, maintance and road tax are also contributing factors.

A decent diesel will offer a bit of performance / cost balance.
 
Maybe you could try a half way car like a Civic Vti? If (and it's a big IF) you drive it gently and keep the revs down it will do over 30mpg absolutely no problem.

Insurance should be a bit cheaper.

Reliability not an issue.

Plus then you've always got the option of 8,000rpm provided you can stomach the amount of fuel it will drink in the red zone.
 
Centainly I will look into any suiggestions.

I think I could live with a slower car as long as it can cruise effortlesly on motorways (on the way to work).

I am currently looking at the Focus TDCi which seems to be in my range. I will look at the Mondeo TDCi too. I need to find the MPG figures for these fire breathing engines. :D

Good point on the servicing / insurance. I am currently TPFT and I will have to go fully comp. I didn't think of that.
 
Last edited:
Looked at a few on auto trader, here are my mostly uneducated thoughts. Please feel free to correct me where nessasary.

Ruled Out

Seat Leon 1.9D (non cupras are fugly)
Seat Ibiza 1.9D (non cupras are fugly)
Skoda Fabia 1.9D (VRS too expensive , shame)
Skoda Octavia 1.9D (non VRS fugly)
Honda Civic VTI (tootempting to floor it! I would get bad MPG!)

Potentials

Ford Focus TDCI 100 (good mpg, looks nice, within budget possibly a winner)
Ford Focus TDCI 115 (can't moan at more power, not sure what other differences are)
Ford Mondeo TDCI 130 (more power, bigger, same mpg as focus i think, better on the motorway, less fun in the countryside?)
VW Golf 1.9 MK4 (not sure on MPG, looks ok, in budget, low on power?)
BMW 320D (I LOVE this one, good mpg, 6 pot?, looks good, nice interior, RWD, possibly bad maintanance and insurance defeating the object, stretches budget to £5500)


I think my head is telling me to get a TDCI Focus. But I want the beemer 320D.
 
[TW]Fox said:
£5k 320d's are mostly 143bhp 2 litre 4 cylinder's.
Click to expand...

Ahh ok. Would I be better off with the Mondeo then?

What cars would you reccomend I look at? I know that you have some pretty good knowledge in this area.

Cheers.
 
I highly recommend a second-hand Audi A6. Drove my old man's P-reg 2.8 30V for a week up in Scotland, and loved it. Well refined and comfortable ride without compromising the handling, goes like hell when you need it to, and gets around 32-34mpg when you don't. Runs forever too if looked after, but I guess that applies to most cars.

You might be pushed to find the 2.8 in your budget, but a decent 2.2 or 2.4 should fit the bill. Quattro is nice, but parts can be expensive, and in a cruiser it's not really essential.
 
Last edited:
mk4 Golf 1.9 TDI PD150 with a remap will see 180ish bhp with LOTS of torque, might be worth looking at?
 
I'm thinking of a Clio DCI 1.5!! :eek: 65 MPG :eek:

How do you tell which is the 65 BHP and 80 BHP models. Was there a 100 BHP one too?

I'm looking at 2003 RENAULT CLIO EXPRESSION DCI 65 RED on the bay...
 
Pants said:
I'm thinking of a Clio DCI 1.5!! :eek: 65 MPG :eek:
Click to expand...

Yes, but it's a Clio diesel. What you've posted is the equivilent of going onto a travel forum where people are discussing decent hotels and saying 'Actually, OMG, Youth Hostel, £5 a night!'
 
Is that a subtle hint that the Clio is not quite as desirable as the other options. :p

Yeah I do know that but I have to weigh the disadvantages (slow, small) with the advantages (MONEY). :D

Hmmm I could probably live with 55 MPG and something more refined like the Focus. Your not making this easier!
 
Want something with a bit of oomph but great MPG? Read on...



Went over to the UK to collect a car and I was collected by a non-descript VW Golf. As we set off I asked what an annoying vibration was..

The reply "Ah, it's the boost gauge mate."

I was thinking to myself "a boost gauge in a golf...", but to keep the conversation going, I asked what engine the car had. "1.9 Diesel" was the reply.
A long silence followed...

I then asked what power it had. "350 with gas, but it's running a standard map at the moment, so only about 220bhp."

The chap had started with a 130bhp Golf and developed a kit to get 250bhp out of the engine, another 100bhp worth of nitrous. The car ran 12s 1/4 miles.

The best part about it for me was the fact that we were cruising at 90 and he was getting 59mpg. Said he averages about 48mpg, but if he pushes it, it drops to 35-40 :eek:

Even running 200-220bhp as it was, it was quick. Very quick. He said he sells the kit for around £1800, I'm chasing up a few more details for some friends if you're interested. Maybe this is old news, but I was surprised at the bang for the buck.
 
Last edited:
I've got a new car...

TAXed and Tested...

It's a Vecrta! Yes I know I know... but it was only £250. I will get pictures tomorrow.

This will save me a packet while I save for a desent car. Hopefully I will gat a fair amount for the VR6. Then when I have the mulah I will probably get a Focus or an Octavia. :)
 
Don't look at the PS.. look at the Nm with a diesel :D

I have what is the new shape "Focus 115PS TDCi" in your list which is 280-300Nm. The block is a 1.8 litre 8V block. and I get 46-47mpg.

It's a nice car, sure it's not going to blow your socks off but it comfortable, relaxing and goes from A to B without a problem. On the motorway at 70 there's a little spoolup lag but then wosh :D rocket powered compared to the equivilent petrol.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17714136
 
Last edited:
Pants said:
Ford Mondeo TDCI 130 (more power, bigger, same mpg as focus i think, better on the motorway, less fun in the countryside?)
.
Click to expand...

where did you hear that?, the mondeo TDCi is a capable car, it is also a very well handling car, i have a mondy 130, my mate has a focus TDCI 115 with a tunig chip upto 140bhp, i kept up with him in the twisties no problem ;)
 
Warning thread ressurection:

OK so the Vectra didn't last long... the gearbox has seized up today! :mad:

I'm now going to get a Focus I think... probably on the knock! :(

Insurance permitting I might consider a Octavia VRS as I quite fancy one, but obviously this would be more than the Focus. Basically I need something reliable and nice to drive that will last me a while.
 
Well I have 6K coming my way soon so it's time to get searching pistonheads lol. I might even be bold and make a new thread for suggestions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom