Looking for another car

[Kickstart]

Hi

We are looking for another car, but not sure what to get. Budget is really around £3k but could stretch to £4k.

We currently have an Alfa 155 which is now rather old and tired (138k and 13 years). It will need a new clutch soon and that will cost way more than the car is worth. Give the car its due, it has been reliable and has a decent boot and tows the bike trailer fine (it was picked up cheaply almost 4 years ago).

We also have a 156, and we could put a tow bar on this, which makes another car for towing not essential but useful.

Trying to decide what to get. Want something that is a bit of fun, can be reasonable on fuel (don't mind if it drinks the stuff when having fun), don't want a diesel and would like 4wd (but having had the misfortune to once have an Audi, do not want another).

In some ways an Impreza would be a half decent choice. Far few around but finding one that hasn't been played with isn't easy. Also with the position of the numberplate on the back any tow bar would probably have to be removable to avoid police hassle. Fuel consumption from most accounts is in the raging alcoholic range normally but can be persuaded to be decent on long motorway runs.

Jaguar X Type 2.5. Marginally worse than the 156 on fuel (can live with that), decent size boot, reasonable performance, shares a fair few bits with the Mondeo so should bring parts prices down, 4wd which appeals and no cam belts (cam chains) so a major regular bill avoided. Down side is that most seem to have cream leather interiors, and cream is a really bad idea with greasy hands and I am not that keen on leather (half leather black interior not that uncommon though and that would be fine). Seem to be some occasional issues with the transmission (seems topping the oil up comes under the heading of nightmare). Charlotte would prefer and auto and I would prefer a manual.

Buy another 155. Possible, but they are getting old now and not 4wd.

Buy a another 156. Would only really make sense if it were a diesel, and I don't really like diesels.

Be very sensible and buy a small diesel for normal use and just put a tow bar on the 156. Cheapest solution by far. Appeals to our bank accounts but not anything else.

Any other suggestions? Any experience of the above to add?

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[t121anf]

i'd go imprezza estate

[JAMSXR]

Volvo S40. I almost got one before blowing most of my money on a Triumph. Well reviewed and it's still the outgoing model. You could easily pick up a good example for sub 4K.

https://carscritic.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/volvo_s401.jpg
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Jodie]

We got a Subaru Forester S turbo last month Keith, it replaced our old Mondeo.
It is lovely to drive and costs me about a tenner more each week in petch (300 mile round trip). It has a nice cloth interior and very comfortable with the added bonus of being able to shift and sticks to the road well.
Although I did hear him talk to his Dad about cam belts last week

[Kickstart]

[Dazbo666]

Steer clear of the semi-auto if you're planning to stick with Alfa.
I drove one a few years ago, and it was unbearbly clunky to listen to, and to use. In fact when the owner sold the car off a few months later, it was purely down to the gearbox that he got rid of it.
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Kickstart]

[Kickstart]

[Misc]

96-03 5 Series?

[Kickstart]

Hi

BMW so generally over priced, bit big and rwd rather than 4wd.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[blurredman]

Don't get a subaru forestor. My dad has had one for a year now. It's falling to pieces, lets put it this way, I am glad he took out the extended warrenty because there is always stuff going wrong.








Get a ford capri
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Kickstart]

Hi

The Subarus are a bit tinny (and the interiors are awful), but they do have the handling and umph (although the one we looked at last weekend had a bit of a whine from the turbo and wasn't as quick as I think it should have been).

Suppose at least the exhausts most have stop you hearing the squeaks.

[Nexus Icon]

[JonB]

Another vote for the Volvo S40, have decided if I ever have to surrender a company car that I would go for one, they are so cheap to buy.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Phoenix]

Subaru Legacy, won't be messed around with like an Impreza but you get a quick, 4x4 road car and a slightly better interior. No idea on prices though without looking.

[P.addy]

[blurredman]

I agree with the legacy. My dad had one. Dual turbo blahblah. Only problem the auto gearbox failed one day when doing an overtake. So he part-ex for forestor. but as i said. forestor is underpowered realy and build quality interior is shoddy.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[P.addy]

[mistergixer]

Another vote for the Legacy, get it in GTB e-tune spec, with semi auto box.

I looked at these when MrsGixer was pressuring me to get rid of the MR2 for something 'sensible', very impressed by them.

The only put offs for me was a) their thirst, and b) the need to run them on super - still, performance must be paid for i guess.


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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

[GSF Jamie 600]

Random idea, a ford focus st170? around 2003 reg
I know its only front wheel drive but is a good handling car
Worth a mention

[ms51ves3]

[Gone]

[hmmmnz]

do you guys get legacys in the uk?
they are pretty good, as long as you get a manual, even the non turbo models handle pretty well
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[blurredman]

You're all forgetting the best car since 1980.



The SEAT Marbella!!!







____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[sulphur]

Octavia VRS gets my vote. Or the Ovlov S40.