Which Car?

syke

syke

syke

Soldato
Joined
18 Feb 2006
Posts
10,653
Okay, ive been through this before, but now closing on wanting to buy a car.

Requirements:

Sub £18k
No Older than 2 Years
Around 15-20k Miles (30k max)
Automatic
Petrol
4 Door
Quite Fast
All Electric, with nice toys :)

Car atm is an IS200.

Any recommendations? Though about ST220, IS250, Audi S3.

What you think?

Wanting 200bhp+ if possible.

Thanks in Advance.
 
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Jez said:
This has BMW written ALL over it mate...if you dont mind it being a couple of years old?
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No more than 2 years, not looking at new - forgot to mention.

Had a look at the 3-Series.

Also another requirement, dont want it too big, so around the IS200 size, we had a GS300 and was a tank to park around here.
 
Unfortunately this budget is a bit no-mans landy when it comes to smaller BMW's, i was going to suggest a 5-series which you should get a nicely specced early example of for the money (approx 2 years old)

I'd be looking at the ~260bhp 3.0 petrol, or the ~215bhp 2.5 petrol engines.

3-series wise you are looking at last gen cars for this budget really if you want a good spec :(

Its the same story with the smaller mercs too, the C-class available is last gen, you would get a nice newish one for the budget though, and they have very good automatic gearboxes and will be nicely finished.
 
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Well budget can go higher if needed. Just maybe £20k at max, depending if its worth it on top of the £18k? :)

Edit: What are Subaru Foresters like?
 
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jonno.co.uk said:
Golf GTI DSG?

:)
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Also SEAT LEON T FSI DSG, both are worth a look and the seat will fit that budget

*edit* with the FR version you get a bunch of things with it and it costs 17-18k brand new, check their site out!
 
zain said:
Also SEAT LEON T FSI DSG, both are worth a look and the seat will fit that budget

*edit* with the FR version you get a bunch of things with it and it costs 17-18k brand new, check their site out!
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Not wanting Brand New, but again not too keen on Seat's either. Wanting a more luxury car.
 
You seriously should look at the 5-series. Yes its a big car but its VERY good, the best car you will get for your criteria and budget :) You get used to a cars size within a day anyway.
 
Jez said:
You seriously should look at the 5-series. Yes its a big car but its VERY good, the best car you will get for your criteria and budget :) You get used to a cars size within a day anyway.
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We had a GS300, was too big for around the area.
Hard to park, get down roads.

Thats why we got rid of the GS300 and got the IS200.
 
This is difficult - as you want lots of power in a small saloon, whereas value for money tends to follow the slightly larger saloons.

Nevertheless, here's a few suggestions you may not have considered.

A 3.0 Jaguar X type would be a good automatic alternative to the manual only ST220 you were considering. Very comfortable and reasonably luxurious for the size, fast with 231bhp and AWD - but the styling is iffy. Easily get a low mileage-top spec 2005 car in your budget.

Other than that, a 330i would do the job - though getting a low mileage 2005 one in budget will be stretching it, a 2004 is definitely do-able though.

An oddball alternative would be a Saab 9-3 Aero - You could get a 55 plate 2.8T V6 auto for your budget. Performance is similar to a 330i auto, but handling won't be quite there - but its nice in its own way.
 
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I fail to understand how an IS200 is any easier to park than a GS300, they are not really that difference size wise, you dont exactly drive around thinking 'damn all these spaces only just big enough for an IS200, i cant fit my GS300 in'. A Mondeo ST220 is wider than the equivilent E39 5 Series, for example, and just a few cm shorter.

Grow some parking skills and increase the range of cars you can buy :p

You also wont be getting a sub 2 year old Audi S3 for £18k.
 
Did they ever do an ST220 in an auto? Cant say that i have ever known anyone to have one!
 
[TW]Fox said:
I fail to understand how an IS200 is any easier to park than a GS300, they are not really that difference size wise
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the GS300 is about 4 foot longer than the IS200 ;)

saab aero is a proper dogy handling car,only fast in a straight line and they torque steer for england.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I fail to understand how an IS200 is any easier to park than a GS300, they are not really that difference size wise, you dont exactly drive around thinking 'damn all these spaces only just big enough for an IS200, i cant fit my GS300 in'. A Mondeo ST220 is wider than the equivilent E39 5 Series, for example, and just a few cm shorter.

Grow some parking skills and increase the range of cars you can buy :p

You also wont be getting a sub 2 year old Audi S3 for £18k.
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My mum likes to drive the car - enough said? :p

And like i said, budget can be higher.
 
Syk3 said:
And like i said, budget can be higher.
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I think, in all honesty, it'd have to be to get an S3 a couple of years "young" :)

I reckon you might be able to plump for a well specced A3 in the 3-4 year range though?

Well... maybe :p
 
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