Spec me a new car. Looking for a bit more poke!

[T0M0]

Hi all,

Currently on the lookout for a new car. Have been leasing a diesel Citroen DS3 Dsport for last couple of years due to doing a 100 mile a day round commute. However, having relocated I'm now on the lookout for something less practical with a bit more power.

Budget - Upwards of £5,000 - £7,000

I'd ideally like a petrol but I'm not adverse to a diesel. Number of seats isn't too important. The lower the mileage the better, I wouldn't really consider anything that's done over 70K.

Here's what I've been looking at...

MG ZT 2.5 - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...t/maximum-mileage/up_to_70000_miles?logcode=p

Jag S-Type XS - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...r/maximum-mileage/up_to_70000_miles?logcode=p

Ford Focus ST - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...mileage/up_to_70000_miles/make/ford?logcode=p

Audi TT 3.2 - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...e/up_to_70000_miles/page/3/model/tt?logcode=p

Jag X-Type V6 3.0 Sport - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...e/maximum-mileage/up_to_70000_miles?logcode=p

It's a pretty broad set of cars but the general requirement is a bit of power supplemented by good sporty looks. I have previously owned a 3 series coupe and although it was a good car ideally I'd like to try something new.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[T0M0]

Thats such a random list
That mg zt in the link is so over priced. wouldnt pay more than 1k for one of them. X type's are known to be unreliable i looked at them a while back.
Have u not looked at the Mondeo ST220 ? its a great car will surprise u how well it drives and has the comfiest seats u will find.
If i had your budget i would get a Focus ST and mod it up to 300bhp or look at the Mazda 3 MPS there really fast and quite rare.

Haven't considered the ST220 actually. Does look like a good option, do they pull well?

If you wanted a TT I'd avoid the 3.2 - I'd go for a Quattro Sport for that kind of money, with the Recaros. Just make sure the cambelt, water pump, coils and wiper arms have been attended too. Some of those are easily resolved though.

This is overpriced but a good example of what they look like: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-TT-Co...item1e9084b9cf

You can find them for around £6k-£7k.

Those TT's look fantastic. Really sporty, my only concern is the hairdresser tag they've got associated with them?

Audi S4? You should be able to pick up a 4.2 V8 within budget. Probably with very similar fuel economy to anything on your list, and with 340 BHP and 4wd it is VERY capable.

BMW M3 (E46) should also be easily enough achievable surely?

Although I am a fan of boost. Or more importantly, mapped boost. So I would personally go for something with a turbo on it. Golf GTI mk5. Would try for an edition 30 but don't know if they would appear in budget. But you could just get a normal mk5, and stick a K04 turbo in there, and break the 300 BHP mark quite easily. Or could go for an Audi A3 2.0T Quattro and do the same, so you can have 4wd with it.

Or, Mazda 6 MPS. That'll have 4wd, and a decent turbocharged lump that'll make decent gains with a remap. Silly fuel economy though apparently. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...7500?logcode=p

Basically, for something with a bit of poke, and petrol, I would be expecting somewhere sub-25 mpg really. Much more than that, and it wont have enough poke. Otherwise 330d is a good shout if you fancy a decent diesel.

The Mazda 6 looks good, how reliable are they? I can't seem to find an S4 in budget though?

Cheers all.

Tom

 

[T0M0]

Have to agree with going for the focus ST from that list. If you're willing to spend more on running costs and aren't terribly bothered about refinement then evos & imprezas are well worth a look at for your budget.

Yeah, have given the Impreza and the Evo some thought. The only thing worrying me is the servicing? I've heard it needs to be done quite regularly?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ubishi/model/lancer/postcode/dy90ue?logcode=p

 

[T0M0]

Cheers for all your advice lads, some cracking cars in here.

Based on what has been recommended in here I've drawn up the following list.

1. Ford Mondeo ST220 - Autotrader Ad
2. Audi S4 - Autotrader Ad
3. E46 330CI - Autotrader Ad
4. Mazda 6 MPS - Autotrader Ad
5. Focus ST - Autotrader Ad
6. Mazda 3 MPS - Autotrader Ad
7. Audi S3 - Autotrader Ad
8. Nissan 350Z - Autotrader Ad
9. Subaru Impreza WRX - Autotrader Ad
10. Audi TT Quattro Sport 225 - Autotrader Ad
11. Mitsubishi Evo - Autotrader Ad
12. Vauxhall Vectra VXR - Autotrader Ad

Does anyone have any personal experience with these?

What's the annual tax on the Mondeo? I've seen some places say its £285, then other places say its £485?

I can only really find high miler S4's, I heard they're good for upwards of 150,000, is this true?

I'm trying to stay away from Alfa's, heard they're a nightmare for reliability.

If anyone's got any other comments on the others would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[T0M0]

I've got the St220 and it's a great car but there's obviously better cars on your list like the 330, Audi and 350z etc but some of them have potential expensive bills written all over them were as the Mondeo Is cheap to run and maintain.depends how much spare money u have for maintaining the car.
The tax is only 485 from March 2006 onwards so 55 plate and older will only be half that. Do u do motorway driving or loads of miles?
It's still a massive range of cars your looking at probably best spending a weekend test driving some!

Ah right okay, that's good to know regarding the tax! Not really many motorway miles any more, 30 mile a day round commute in and out of Birmingham. So it's a bit of stop, start traffic unfortunately.

 

[T0M0]

Even though the St220 is great value for money and the cheapest on your list it's more a motorway cruiser IMO and unless u need the boot space etc your probably better looking for a faster car that people on here seem to love like the 350z, 330 St Focus etc.
have u test drove any?

No, not yet mate. Lease runs out end of November so I'm just spec'ing out a list of candidates I can look into further. My next car's going to stay with me a for a while so want to make sure I get it right. I only leased because I was doing tons of motorway miles every day, then I changed job so it's kind of redundant, hence the opportunity to go for something with a bit more kick.

Well for starters you can knock Vauxhall off that list

Yeah, I saw Clarkson test driving one the other day and he said it was pants (handling). It was the straight line speed that caught my attention.

 

[T0M0]

I'd probably say Focus ST out of that lot, followed by the TT. Avoid the S Type as the diesel isn't very reliable, and it's more a luxury car than a sporty one anyway.

Are the Jags really unreliable? Or is it just the diesel? Kind of like the way they look...

S-Type - Autotrader Ad
X-Type - Autotrader Ad