What should I buy instead...of a TT

[DiG]

Ok, so the only thing keeping me going through revision is choosing what car I will buy in a couple of months time when I start my new job, now at the moment I'm liking the look of an Audi TT, but have noticed a few people saying they think they are bad cars.

So what should I buy instead? My requirements are:

* £6-7k
* Probably <10k miles a year
* Comfortable on the motorway
* Quick and fun to drive

I would get myself a nice MX-5, but I will be doing regular 3 hour motorway journeys and I don't think that would be fun!

 

[DiG]

He's going to need to stretch his budget by about 3-4k to get a half decent 350z - something i doubt he's able to do.

A 330ci isn't a bad idea - can get a decent prefacelift one at this price. Just make sure you know the costs involved before you jump in.

Were you specificially after a coupe or were you interested in any sort of car?

I'm open to any suggestions, but a coupe did appeal

In terms of looks I find the BMW 3 series a bit boring, but that doesn't rule it out, how bad are the running costs? I'm coming from a Rover 220 that I'm running into the ground so anything is going to be a lot more expensive!

About £9k should get a good early one.

While I like the look of the 350z a lot, £9k is too much, I want a car where I can get a good example for £6k, that way I have £1k to find one in really good condition with all the kit!

 

[DiG]

GHD's

I'm impressed we got to post 10! Doesn't bother me in the slightest, I'm buying a car for me not the world

An LT1 engined Corvette.

Interesting curveball, can't seem to find much info about them though? A 5.7L v8 does sound like fun, though would probably end up killing me

To be honest I loved my TT's. It perhaps wasn't the absolutely best handling car on the road but it was certainly more than enough for my limited skills. It had huge amounts of grip, was quick, extremely comfortable and very practical with a huge load area when the seats were down. I only sold it because I was driving around 3k a year and was having kids.

This is what I'm thinking, it looks like a good compromise between sporty/comfortable . I'm not really looking for it to be a focused track car, that can wait until I can afford to run two cars. Most important is that I want it to be fun. That means comfortable, esp. on the motorway but also fast and good on its feet, the only area the TT seems to struggle

 

[DiG]

I'm only messing with you matey

Am I too far off base to suggest an S2000?

I know, don't worry! I would love an S2000 but they are a bit expensive, the running costs are also pretty high aren't they?

 

[DiG]

Thanks for all the information! Certainly looks like a great car, but insurance is £1500 compared to £600 on the TT! Tbh its the kind of thing I want to own when I've got some garage space to work on it myself, that and I think that much power as a second car is probably a bit unwise!

 

[DiG]

Struggling to find anything that appeals more than the TT, obviously until I acually drive one its hard to know, but you seem to get quite a lot:

This One has Leather, Cruise, Climate, Bose and Xenon.

Can anything be easily done to improve handling?

 

[DiG]

"UZZ32" V8s have a mind boggling specification. Seriously, you'll struggle to find Brand new cars today that come with options such as a TV, Sat Nav, touchscreen trip computer, reserving camera, Actively computer controlled hydraulic suspension (which makes a 1600KG+ car corner like you wouldn't believe), auto dipping LED rear view mirror, heated electric memory seats, ultrasonic folding mirrors, and 4 wheel Steering as standard. Soarers came out of the factory with stuff like this in 1991 .

Whats an Ultrasonic folding mirror, sounds dangerous Seems the TV and Sat Nav don't work in the UK, is that true?

More seriously, interesting suggestion, exactly what I wanted when I started this thread, for people who know a lot more than me to suggest things I have never thought of/heard about!

The fact that its a lot under budget is appealing, but I'm not sure about the way it looks

Keep the suggestions coming, very interesting to learn about these cars at any rate!

 

[DiG]

Its bad because most assume your a Hairdressing Ladyboy.

E46 M3.

Everybody then will assume your a drug dealing gangster thug.

(Not sure if £7k is doable yet for a decent one mind....)

Nothing wrong with being a hairdresser, everything wrong with being a drug dealer.

Anyway, interested to know what the option would be the other way, forgetting sporty for a moment (there are a few good options now), what about just luxury motorway miles? Whats best for that?

 

[DiG]

Just kidding.

Anyway,for that sort of money I'd be after - well am I guess - an e38.....

Hopefully, watch this space.....

I'm guessing the running costs on an e38 would be, well, massive, so much kit on them! If they where cheap to keep I would jump at getting one

 

[DiG]

Oh dear, you've made that very difficult! That Corvette looks great and I love the idea of owning something so classic! But the Alfa has massive appeal as well, nice engine and long list of kit. How bad are the running costs then?

 

[DiG]

Right, so time for a minor update. Went to my local Audi garage today and drove a TT, they only had a Quattro Sport in, which is 260 vs 225 bhp as well as some other minor changes.

Really enjoyed it, interior is a lovely place to be, quite fast (certainly compared to by 220). But not overwhelmingly so, which considering this is more powerful than the version I would get is a worry. Also the steering did feel numb, not as good as some cars I've driven, felt like there was endless grip, just a bit boring!

Next step is I'm going to try and drive a 3 series and a Z3. Not going to be realistically going to be able to drive a Alfa GTA. Anything else I should be test driving?

 

[DiG]

Mx5?

In most ways its perfect, but my parents own one and (apart from not liking the idea of owning the same car as the 'rents ) its not great on the motorway. Want to drive the Z3 to see if its any better!

Seems the dealer got it wrong too, the Sports only 237bhp, not 260, so its not as bad as I feared!

 

[DiG]

Well, driven both the Z3 and a 325Ci. Well the Z3 is off the list, not pleasant on the motorway at all! The 325Ci was much nicer, good interior and lots more space. But, who invented auto boxes? They are horrible! Why would anyone wilfully drive an auto?

Handing wise the 3 series is good, better than the TT. However I don't know if its just because of the auto gearbox, but it wasn't fast, certainly not noticeable faster than what I already have!

Leaning back towards just getting a TT now

 

[DiG]

What does everyone think of the Mercedes CLK 320? Seems to fit the bill, v6, good on tbd motorway and not bad in the twisties. Lots of kit too. Are the running costs going to bleed me dry?

 

[DiG]

It's a wafty Coupe and not bad as one. It isnt good in the twisties at all and £7k wont get a good later shape one only the old 1990's shape version, for which £6-7k is just too much money.

Newer shape one is unfortunately stuck with the awful C Class interior as well.

Did notice that the interior looked a bit dated, but there seem to be a few under £7k, like this one. Haven't seen it though so might be in bad condition. This is I haven't found any good handing coupes within budget that I like, so seeing as I can't have what I really want (something like an S2000) I though I might as well as lots of luxury!

 

[DiG]

I am not sure I would want to own the sort of 02-09 shape CLK that under £7k gets you, really. You dont want a shabby or iffy Merc you want a nice one.

And a CLK does not have 'lots of luxury'

Fair enough, the more I read the more I'm put off! What about a Jag XK8? lol I'm running out of cars to look at! All I want is a sporty car which looks good, has loads of toys and is good on the motorway for <£7k!

 

[DiG]

Ok, so sadly and depressingly I'm going to have to compromise on the car and buy something cheaper to buy/insure/run etc. New budget is ideally 3-4k, 5k max

This leaves me with the obvious choice of...Ford Mondeo 2.0d (kill me now)

Also spotted the X-Type diesel, which I gather is based on the Mondeo, are these any good? Anything else I should consider? Anything around at this price which is less depressing than a Mondeo?

 

[DiG]

No to diesel at this money.

I would be very happy to be convinced that a petrol is better, but my (admittedly not very detailed) calculations show the following:

Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Cost: £4000, Insurance: £800, Tax:£155, Fuel: £880
Mondeo 2.0 Petrol Cost: £4000, Insurance: £800, Tax: £235, Fuel: £1150

Meaning over a max of 2 years ownership the difference is £700.

This is obviously a small difference, but I'm guessing the 2.0 Petrol engine is too small for a car the size of the Mondeo, so to really see the benefit of a petrol over a diesel then a bigger engine is desired, which increases the gap:

Mondeo 2.5 Petrol Cost: £4000, Insurance: £1000, Tax: £245, Fuel: £1400

Total difference over 2 years = £1500