Which car would you chose?

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
160,161
Another 'omg what car' thread im afraid. More out of interest than anything as I know nobody can make this decision but me. And yes, it's a bit of an odd selection.

As you all know, im about April-May time I am intending to replace the Mondeo. Not becuase it needs it, but simply becuase I can. This last point is something of a stumbling block really - I still really like my Mondeo and I just know it's going to end up sat in the garage as I won't want to sell it..

What do I want from a new car? Well, this is going to suprise you guys but I want something that can be described as fast. I loved the performance of the 530d, I love the way you put your foot down and its off. I want that. So, anything I get must offer me that.

Last week I had the pleasure of the 530d for the entire week. It was, as ever, absolutely awesome. I loved everything about it. However, I was quite suprised to get back into my Mondeo this week and instantly feel... at home. I'd even go so far as to say I actually missed it. This got me looking at... groan... Mondeos AGAIN.

So, my shortlist as it stands:

1) 2000-2002 BMW 528i/530i Sport - 192/231bhp, 0-60 6.7 seconds, £7000-£10000.

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The 6 cylinder one. I can insure a 540i 4.4 V8 but I just think that at this stage it would be stupid - they don't handle as well, they do cost more, and I'd only be able to insure an SE, for some reason the Sport is another 600 quid a year to insure. So, the 530i will be just fine. I'd prefer a manual but would settle for steptronic.

It's pretty much my realistic dream car - I've always loved the E39 and won't continue to bore you with the details as you all already know

2) 2000 Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 ST200 - 202bhp, 0-60 7 seconds, £4500-£5500

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Hmmm. Logic dictates this shouldn't actually be here. It's just a Mk2 Mondeo - it looks identical to the car I've got now, it won't impress anyone becuase they'll just think I've repainted my car, and worse still you need about 5 grand for one and thats 5 grand for a 6 year old Mk2 Mondeo. Thats just... stupid.

Yet it's still here on the list. Maybe it's what I need. My car, but with more power, a nicer colour and... two exhuast pipes. And Recaro leather seats. I felt instantly at home as soon as I got back into my Mondy. Could an ST200 be right?

3) 2002 Ford Mondeo 3.0 V6 ST220 - 222bhp, 0-60 6.9 seconds, £9000-£10000

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This is RIGHT at the top end of my budget. I could just about manage an early 02 or 52 plate car with over 60k miles. Not neccesarily an issue but it's going to have to be REALLY good - and from what I can tell, it is. Mk3 Mondeo refinement with a load of power as well. Performance appears roughly similar to that from the 530i, Dangerous's certainly sounded pretty damn good, but I can't help wondering about the looks. It's not an ugly car, it just isn't THAT sporty looking - or is it? Both the E39 Sport and the ST200 have somewhat OTT bodystyling - sideskirts, front bumpers, etc. The ST220 looks very similar to the regular Mk3 Mondeo. Is this is a problem? I don't know..

This last one will shock you. It shocked me when it was still on my list...

4) 2000 Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000, 211bhp, 0-60 6.0

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I HATE the interior. It always leaves my lists without a second thought becuase I HATE the interior. But then I sat down and thought about it. Whilst my Mondeo's interior is damn good for a sub £3k car, infact it's pretty amazing, it's not that brilliant for a £6k car. And the ST200 is on the list, and thats a £6k car. So clearly I'm prepared to compromise for that, so why not for the Scoob?

I've always liked the Classic Impreza - I think the P1, for example, is one of the finest looking cars of all time. I was suprised to find I could afford to buy an MY2000 Turbo 2000 and have some cash left for stick on tat like a stupid big spoiler and a P1 front lip. I don't care that they are everywhere but maybe I do care that every other driver has his hat on backwards..

But can I afford to run one? How expensive are they?

Which of these 4 cars would YOU guys pick and why?

I think I want a 5 but something keeps nagging at me and I don't know what it is... :(
 
If it was me, I'd go for the Beemer m8.

But then again, you know what my car buying decisions are like with my X-Type history, so I'm not the best bloke in the world to listen to. :p
 
[TW]Fox said:
Which of these 4 cars would YOU guys pick and why?

I think I want a 5 but something keeps nagging at me and I don't know what it is... :(
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Latest e39 you can afford mate, you know you want one! Now is not the time to get cold feet, surely not after all the e39 love ins you've attended...... :p

Its a truly great feeling to finally own a car you've always wanted mate, I know, I've achieved it with my e38.

The e39 is a superb car (Christ! I don't need to tell YOU that!) stop being silly, go for it and own a car FAR better ,imo, than any Mondeo.

As for the Scooby, well if its one of those your looking at, I'd consider an e36 M3 also, and the M3 would be MY choice.

Ford or BMW? no contest. Not when your talking about the e39.

Got to get you weaned off those Mondeo's mate, hav'nt we? ;) :D
 
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Have to agree with the scooby, only live once :)

Plus you'll want to go from a scooby to a 5 series, I can't see you wanting to go to a scooby from a 5 series :P
 
Scooby is one heck of a car but the interior sucks so much, spoils the whole car imho.

BMW is super nice but i would want the 530D over the petrol

ST200 is very nice but essentially what you have already so apart from the performance increase i don't see the point.

This brings me to car 3 which imho is the best of the bunch :)
 
Do not by an Impreza. Simply do not! You'll love it's performance, drive and handling - it really is exceptional to drive. You'll then hate it for being probably, unfortunately, one of the least reliable cars ever built. I know a number of people who have bought these cars and what I've just said is their sentiments exactly - great fun, but so expensive to run (Unless you get a super-lucky one) it isn't funny.

Get the BMW Fox. It's your dream. It's what you really want in that little organ sitting roughly in the middle of your chest.

However, I'm not in your shoes. I don't know your exact financial situation and how close you are to the line spending £7k-£10k on a car minus all the other associated costs. A good combination of the heart and mind making a choice may well be the ST200. You'll kick yourself for spending £5k on a 6 year old Mondeo, and you'll say "Damn front wheel drive, wouldn't have this in the BMW" on occassion, but you'll be happy and a little better off in the pocket.

Tell you what, you spend £5k on a 6 year old Mondeo, and you'll be able to feel quite content. Why? Because I'm probably about to spend £2.5k on a *10* year old Rover!
 
Being a similar age, and being at uni as you are (I believe) I was also seriously considering larger cars such as E39 and alfa 156s but have quickly realised that, yes, you do only live once and you've gotta take every opportunity you can to enjoy yourself.

E39s and V6 156s are for later life - they're something you can have when you've got a family etc. I guess you could say the same for the subaru but I think if I was in your position I'd definately be looking at the scooby over the others due to the fact that yes, they are "immature" and might not be as practical as an E39 but they are more fun and for the cash, you're going to get more enjoyment out of it. You can always buy your dream E39 later - 1) When/if you can afford an M5 or 2) When a subaru is no longer practical enough (Although I'm struggling to see that - spacewise)

My bottom line for choosing a car is "I want a car as impractical as realistic but that is as fun as possible while I still can".
 
I think you should go for the e39. You've been banging on about it for ages :p

Seriously though, if you didn't - you'd probably still have those implulses to want one and by the time you changed [whatever else you bought] it'd be a older, not as fresh and good examples not as easy to come by perhaps.

Do you not think that after a few months of driving the BMW that'd feel homely too?

Schedule in a few days where you take out as many cars on your list as you can squeeze in and see if that helps make up your mind?
 
you are normally such a levelled headed guy, is not worth waiting till you decide what you really want. As you say you don't need to replace the mondeo yet so why stick to such a strict deadline?

If you are desperate i think you would have to get the bmw, i think the suburu would annoy you after a few weeks. The mondeo's are very nice but from previous posts you seem to of already made your mind up that the 530i is the best compromise.
 
You know I'd go for the Scooby, but you don't strike me as that kinda guy. I think you'd be better in the beemer.

First time I've ever heard the Scoob described as unreliable though...

It has its problems, like everything else, but unreliable, first I've heard of it, and I've been reading for about 6 years now..
 
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