Suggest a car, budget 7k

ThieveryCorp

ThieveryCorp

ThieveryCorp

Associate
Joined
21 Feb 2003
Posts
461
Hi folks,

A mate at work looking to change his car in the next few weeks.
He current drives a MK2 Golf and is looking for something in a similar vein.
He has a budget of 7k for the car and up to 1k for insurance. He is 25, with 5 years no claims, in May which is when we wants the car by.

He originally set his sights on a Golf V5 (having owned 2 Golfs in the past, he is a fan). These he can get with 01/02 plates and 50/60k. This is the age/mileage he would prefer.

He would also consider saloons as he originally wanted a GS300, but it's over budget.

I am sure you guys can recommend something better! :)
 
ThieveryCorp said:
Hi folks,

A mate at work looking to change his car in the next few weeks.
He current drives a MK2 Golf and is looking for something in a similar vein.
He has a budget of 7k for the car and up to 1k for insurance. He is 25, with 5 years no claims, in May which is when we wants the car by.

He originally set his sights on a Golf V5 (having owned 2 Golfs in the past, he is a fan). These he can get with 01/02 plates and 50/60k. This is the age/mileage he would prefer.

He would also consider saloons as he originally wanted a GS300, but it's over budget.

I am sure you guys can recommend something better! :)
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Seat Mk1 Leon Cupra? A cheaper version of the Golf, and better specced/ newer for the money. If he wants something with a bit of poke to it this would be ideal (1.8 20VT, 0-60 circa 7.5 secs) He could probably get a post- facelift leather spec one for that kind of money with electric memory seats etc :)
 
If saloon size then you can get a top spec Mondeo 2.5 V6, not the most exciting choice but still a good buy. Or a BMW is possible i suppose, Fox is the man for those 2 cars.

How about a Focus?
 
I had a chat with him at lunchtime and also suggested an Octavia vRS, but he has an irrational dislike for the Skoda badge.

Being a badge snob, he's looking more towards, Audi's BMWs Mercs and VWs...
 
ThieveryCorp said:
I had a chat with him at lunchtime and also suggested an Octavia vRS, but he has an irrational dislike for the Skoda badge.

Being a badge snob, he's looking more towards, Audi's BMWs Mercs and VWs...
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Both the A3, A4 and Golf come in 1.8T flavour (same as the Octavia vRS), but expect to pay anything upto about 2 grand more those.

Avoid the Golf (mkIV) GTI 2.0 like the plague though...

BMW wise, you might get a ~99 e46 325 or 328. But I'm not sure how good these would be for your (his) money.
 
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ThieveryCorp said:
I had a chat with him at lunchtime and also suggested an Octavia vRS, but he has an irrational dislike for the Skoda badge.

Being a badge snob, he's looking more towards, Audi's BMWs Mercs and VWs...
Click to expand...
Tell him he is an idiot then :p The Seat (not too sure about the skoda) is an Audi A3 with a different shaped body and a big "S" instead of oooo on the tailgate. If he wants to spend over 2K more for a worse car because of a poxy badge then he's mad IMO
 
WILD9 said:
A Toyota Celica VVTL-i 190 can be had for about that sort of money with a bit of searching.
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Yeah I looked into these a while back. IMO really nice to drive, but I think you maybe need to spend a little more to get a good one (especially the 190's). I've also heard of some problems with the VVTL-i's when at high mileage (over 100k).
 
Scottland said:
Yeah I looked into these a while back. IMO really nice to drive, but I think you maybe need to spend a little more to get a good one (especially the 190's). I've also heard of some problems with the VVTL-i's when at high mileage (over 100k).
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Hope I can find something as im planning on going this route later in the year 190 bhp at 34 mpg with toyota reliability cant be bad, insurance group is realistic too at 15. I think the high mileage problem is the lift bolt shearing but apparently its only a few quid to replace as long as you do it before its sheared, afterwards it can be quite a problem.
 
WILD9 said:
Hope I can find something as im planning on going this route later in the year 190 bhp at 34 mpg with toyota reliability cant be bad, insurance group is realistic too at 15. I think the high mileage problem is the lift bolt shearing but apparently its only a few quid to replace as long as you do it before its sheared, afterwards it can be quite a problem.
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Thats the exact reason I was looking at them. To be honest I was quite happy to look at the 140's - but I knew I'd crave more after not too long. One of the other problems I had with them was the headroom for the driver, whilst I'm not very tall (just under 6ft) I found it quite restricting.
 
Scottland said:
Thats the exact reason I was looking at them. To be honest I was quite happy to look at the 140's - but I knew I'd crave more after not too long. One of the other problems I had with them was the headroom for the driver, whilst I'm not very tall (just under 6ft) I found it quite restricting.
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Havnt actually sat in one yet, the head room thing is a little concerning as im 6ft2 but my head skims the top of my sunroofed 306 at the moment so im pretty used to it, as long as i dont have to duck. My thoughts exactly on the 140, lovely car but its not a 190.
 
sorry to dive in and join the thread crash, but i've just purchased a Celica TSport (newer version of the 190 with shorter shift, and hence slightly better take-off) and its simply awesome.

TSport comes with full leather, climate control etc - well worth the money
 
VW Bora Sport 1.8T/TDI130
or
VW Golf 1.8T/TDI130


For £7k he could have:

Volkswagen Bora 1.9 SE TDi 130 BHP Saloon £ 6,999
Year: 2002 '52'
Mileage: 56,938 mls
Colour: Reflex Silver
Fuel: Diesel
Gearbox: 6 Speed Manual

Volkswagen Bora 1.8 T Sport Saloon £ 6,199
Year: 2003 '52'
Mileage: 53,125 mls
Colour: Silver
Fuel: Petrol
Gearbox: Manual

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 GT TDi 130 BHP 3 Dr Hatch £ 6,799
Mileage: Spaceship
Year: 2002 '02'
Colour: Blue
Fuel: Diesel
Gearbox: 6 Speed Manual

Volkswagen Golf 1.8 T GTi 150 BHP 5 Dr Hatch £ 7,399
Mileage: Spaceship
Year: 2003 '03'
Colour: Diamond Black
Fuel: Petrol
Gearbox: Manual
 
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