What fairly sensible but good car to get?

[gtiteen]

Alright guys, whilst I'm still trying to sell my scoob its getting close to the time where I get something newish. Running around in an old clio at the moment which cant go on much longer!

I need something which insurance isnt too much on, not stupidly expensive to run and still a decent potentially fun car. Looking at around the 10k mark. Will go over but only if the car is likely to have good residuals.

The 2 cars ive been thinking of at the moment are BMW 120d m sport or a 56 onwards cooper s with the works kit on. Need to go drive both before I am sure obviously.

Anyone have any other ideas? I'm struggling! I did look at blobeyes but with insurance being £1700 I can't really justify it.

[Hongkongfooi]

how about a 330d then chip it.....very good bang per buck and good mpg?

the mini will hold its value as well and be fun.

[gtiteen]

Ive looked at the 330d's on autotrader. They are nice but pretty expensive and insurance is a bit more, for a good one as well I'd be getting in one of the last shape ones. Chipped must be a chuffing quick car though.

Going up to bmw and mini today so will see what they can get for my monies, if a 330d m sport is on the cards will probably be driving one next week!!!!

The mini does appeal as it'll be quite fun for a bit and I'm likely to change cars next year to hopefully a scoob or something.

Funnily enough matey, I am looking a Focus ST for myself and chopping the BMW in.

You can pick up one easily around the 10k mark on about a 06/07 plate.

The one I am hoping to get is a 58 plate, 14,000 miles ST2 @ £12,800. I had a test drive in it, and while it isn't scooby quick by any imagination, it still ticks the boxes and has an insurance group of 15 as opposed to 20.

Well worth a look IMHO

[gtiteen]

Originally Posted by worzel

Funnily enough matey, I am looking a Focus ST for myself and chopping the BMW in.

You can pick up one easily around the 10k mark on about a 06/07 plate.

The one I am hoping to get is a 58 plate, 14,000 miles ST2 @ £12,800. I had a test drive in it, and while it isn't scooby quick by any imagination, it still ticks the boxes and has an insurance group of 15 as opposed to 20.

Well worth a look IMHO

I had a very quick look at them the other day! Infact i think theres a window open somewhere with one in lol. Need to go drive one and check insurance + mpg etc.

Oh yeah and whats the difference between st-2 and 3? Assume one is better spec?

Basically want somethign that I wont have to plow loads of money in to but is still quite good for a year then will get something fun next year. Kind of a stop gap car. Focus st could be a very good shout, nice 5 pot.

Take the S out you will love it even better if you get the works rally good fun.

[2-jaffacake-tone]

A vw mate you know it makes sense (i think i convinced her)

[gtiteen]

Just been up at chandlers, he's sourcing a works one for me to have a look at. Now trying to work out how I'm gonna pay for it lol.

Now you've got her on team for the scirocco tone you need to do some work and convince her you need the R!!!!

ST2 & ST3 are different trim levels.

ST3 is leather interior and better trim.

[RobEvo5]

Mini JCW is a nice car, but the Traction control is violent on them and put me right off it. My brother had one for a while as a commute car - great and nippy fun. But traction control was forever kicking in and almost like fuel cut when it does. Traction control was way too agreesive and in your face. But apparantly after he sold it found out there is a remap that can take care of this.

ST2/ST3 nice car and trim and just a remap makes them a proper quick road car. The new leon Cupra's look well hard as well.

If you looking for something a little more subbtle and grown up then as well as BMW, the Audi Sline 2.0T FSI's 200bhp as standard and with a simple remap and your into approx 250bhp with no lag and lots of grunt.

[XRS]

I tooled around in a Cooper S Hartge for a few days.

Not at all impressed, I found it slow and dull, plus I would guess that if you go for anything that has modifications you'll be paying through the nose for insurance.

Good luck with your search, and if I were you I'd listen to what RobEvo5 has to say. He's had more cars than most people have had hot dinners

[Hongkongfooi]

this has been up for sale a while and would be good on track!

http://www.munichlegends.co.uk/compo...3/view,detail/

[WRX_Paul]

VW Golf MK5 2.0 GT TDI 170, 170 bhp and 258 lbs torque, a chip will see about 220 bhp and about 320 lbs torque and you will get 50 mpg

[RobEvo5]

Originally Posted by WRX_Paul

VW Golf MK5 2.0 GT TDI 170, 170 bhp and 258 lbs torque, a chip will see about 220 bhp and about 320 lbs torque and you will get 50 mpg

Agreed that would be a Nice car, and think you would be suprised how well they go, and the build/comfort level is superb. One of my collegaues at work has a 2010 A3 170TDI sport as a company car, and it don't half shift and its standard. It makes for a v.quick road car and the turbo spools almost instantly, and like tou say does 50mpg with ease. Lot to be said for modern turbo deisals, and I'm very close to being converted to the idea of something like this for myself.....

[rb5scooby]

Leon FR TDI has 170bhp and is based on the same platform as both golf and audi but cheaper to buy and insure, if you find one with the BTCC body kit it looks the same as the cupra/K1 Ive just bought a 57 plate Ibiza for day to day and cannot fault it.

[gtiteen]

I've got the dealers seraching out a cooper s for me but still need to drive one before I can really say, I think I like the idea of having one!

That cooper does look like good fun but would hate to do the insurance quote for it!!!! 'Does this car have any modificatons?'.. Well..........

Audi/VW/Seat do all seem quite sensible with the all round package. It's finding the time to actually go look at them all. Popped in to bmw to look at 120d, would like 123d but slightly more monies than I can really afford. Alternatively I just chicken out for now and buy something cheap to run around in for a year!?

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming!!!!!

[gtiteen]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

cheap!!!!


oh wait just realised its the dinky engine

[MIDLIFE]

Mazda 3 MPS might be worth a test drive?

[gtiteen]

Good shout midlife. A mate of mine drove one a while back and was very impressed. Insurance is less than a cooper s works too and theyre 260bhp standard! Will definitely add it to the list of 'to drive'.

[Hongkongfooi]

Originally Posted by gtiteen

Good shout midlife. A mate of mine drove one a while back and was very impressed. Insurance is less than a cooper s works too and theyre 260bhp standard! Will definitely add it to the list of 'to drive'.

make sure you try one with the aero pack....lowered on eibachs and some visual addenda...i drove one....a bit torques steer but loadsa kit as standard

[WRX_Paul]

The Mini is a womans car

[Lucky]

If you go for a mini - it has to be a JCW. The standard S to me didn't feel as quick as I thought it would be.

A while ago I had a VW Golf TDi 170 as a loan car and that was a cracking all round car. Plenty of midrange grunt, enough to embarass much 'faster' cars and the build quality is really good.

[Scott.T]

I thought the scoob was up for sale because you couldn't afford to run it, but then you are looking to spend 10K ?????
Maybe I read it wrong, or it was someone else.......

[RobEvo5]

Originally Posted by SilverSurfer

I thought the scoob was up for sale because you couldn't afford to run it, but then you are looking to spend 10K ?????
Maybe I read it wrong, or it was someone else.......

subbtle - but you have a point that perhaps we are missing.

In reality the running costs of a 10K car is unlikely to be much different to a good scoob, and arguably the overall running costs of a scoob could actually even be cheaper, with plentiful second hand parts, service parts and knowledge around for DIY fixes. And none of the mentioned cars will put as big a smile on your face as a scoob.

Keep the scoob.! - It strikes me its more the lure of a newer, comfortable car thats possibly driving this, but trust me when I say that the newer car, better build thing will tire very quickly and within months is will just be another car that will blend in with every other car on the road.

Goes back to my philosophy of pound for pound, and smiles a scoob just can't be beat. There may well be plenty of other marques out there these days that come close, match or even better the scoob. But non of them can be done on such a budget....

[scooby999]

Originally Posted by RobEvo5

subbtle - but you have a point that perhaps we are missing.

In reality the running costs of a 10K car is unlikely to be much different to a good scoob, and arguably the overall running costs of a scoob could actually even be cheaper, with plentiful second hand parts, service parts and knowledge around for DIY fixes. And none of the mentioned cars will put as big a smile on your face as a scoob.

Keep the scoob.! - It strikes me its more the lure of a newer, comfortable car thats possibly driving this, but trust me when I say that the newer car, better build thing will tire very quickly and within months is will just be another car that will blend in with every other car on the road.

Goes back to my philosophy of pound for pound, and smiles a scoob just can't be beat. There may well be plenty of other marques out there these days that come close, match or even better the scoob. But non of them can be done on such a budget....

spend the money on the scoob and buy yourself a cheap winter hack

[Bearo]

Ive been driving a new Alfa 2.4 Turbo Diesel and its a fast, good car, etc..
But its not a patch on my classic scooby for smileage (smiles per gallon)

Also the alfa is at least £11k n i got my scoob for a couple of grand.

[gtiteen]

Problem for me is cost of insurance. Scoob is just uninsurable for me for a sensible amount. Dont want to be running around in my crappy old clio much longer as its not really good enough!

So plan is to get something nearly new for a year or so which is cheaper to insure and I dont have to worry about servicing it or replacing parts etc. Can't get anything too boring tho! Mazda 3 mps is looking pretty sensible at the moment as theyre quite a lot cheaper and prett pokey!

Once insurance on a blobeye or hawkeye becomes acceptable I'll get one of those.

[Scott.T]

But the extra you pay to insure the scoob you wll lose in deprieciation on a newer car, so it's a lose lose situation.

[gtiteen]

Im hoping if buy sensibly i shouldn't lose too much as I won't be keeping too long and doing not a huge mileage.... possibly naive!??? Also if I am losing money I've got to the point where I'd rather do it on a new car. Do want to make sure I'm 100% on whatever car I go for though so not in a position where in 3 weeks go oh s**t I've bought the wrong car.

[Scottie :)]

Have you tried Gary Moulsen?

I got insured at the tender age of 20 with gary and isnt the price youve been quoted.

Why sell the scoob for a newer car still going to lose x amount of money could end up more than insurance in the first place.

Just my opinion mate.

Make the right choice

[gtiteen]

Have tried Gary and still way more than I can justify. Initially I wanted to trade up to a blob/hawkeye but with insurance costs (and insurance is pretty much burnt money!) what ill do is trade to something like Focus ST, Mazda 3 MPS or Cooper S until insurance on a scoob comes down. At the moment the cost of insuring is £1800 MORE than insuring a FOcus ST for me!!!

I do love my scoob, but I can always come back in a newer/faster one!!!!

[Lucky]

I'm sure you'll make the right decision mate. All of the cars you have mentioned are nice. Another for the mix - Renault Megane Sprot/R26

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1979237.htm

Love the look of this one:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1948860.htm

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by Lucky

I'm sure you'll make the right decision mate. All of the cars you have mentioned are nice. Another for the mix - Renault Megane Sprot/R26

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1979237.htm

Love the look of this one:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1948860.htm

Blimey, didn't realise they were under £10K now

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by SilverSurfer

Blimey, didn't realise they were under £10K now

I know Scott, thats a good car for the money. They really are chuckable little cars.

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by Lucky

I know Scott, thats a good car for the money. They really are chuckable little cars.

The guy at Goodwood Breakfast club wanted £25K IIRC for his R26R, why would you want to pay so much over the top just for the extra 'R'.

[Bearo]

Adding parents with 10years+ no claims brings down a qoute roughly 40% for me.. My mate gave his dad the money too buy his scoob so its in his dads name and then just added himself to his dads policy as a named driver... it brought his policy down from like £2400 to £1k.

I know this doesnt help everyone but it works.

[Scottie :)]

Only problem with that is that is called 'fronting' and is technically illegal.

[Steve_PPP]

Yep, what Scottie said. If you have a shunt and the insurance company finds out that you are the main driver (rather than the registered owner) then its goodbye policy at the very least....

[gtiteen]

I have my parents on my insurance as named drivers should they want to borrow my car, also happens to bring the premium down. If I'm spending a lot of money I certainely want to make sure everything is 100% legal so there is no chance should the worst happen I end up a lot out of pocket!

I'll check insurance on the Megane, only thing that i remember having see a normal megane 225 is the interior put me off somewhat. My friend has a clio 200 cup and ive driven it a few times, incredible amounts of grip!!!

Rather than spending so much on a cooper s at the moment im leaning towards:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...24uj?logcode=p
or
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1756278.htm

[bigemp]

Dave,
Another point if you got another car, cooper,mazda etc would you be happy with it even for a year and why not just get a blob sti now(£8k) and then blow the £2k on insurance and have that smile on ya face,every time i have sold a scoob(had six now)i have gone and tried something else and sold it shortly afterwards to get another one(i realise my insurance is only like £550 a year),but going to be selling the type r shortly(as mrs is fed up climbing in and out of the back-as she is the smallest lol),and i have been toying with other cars but i know if i buy something else i will sell it shortly afterwards maybe more like definitely lose some dosh and then go back to a scoob again,which you might feel the same if you got a cooper etc and cost ya more money in the long run????
God dam scoobys dont ya love them

[gtiteen]

I think I've finally had enough of throwing money away on insurance, I'd also hoped that with the amount of money I've piled in to it over the years ive been driving (stupid amounts as I'm young and always had reasonable cars) that it would at least be coming to a sensiblish amount now but its just a f****ng joke. Never made a claim either, and I dare say if I did have to claim the excess and premium rise would make it not worth it!

So what I want to do is get something acceptable for a bit and when insurance is ok get something really nice. Should make it all the sweeter when I do eventually get a Scoob running BIG power

[Bearo]

I thought it was only really fronting if the named driver on the policy turns out to be the registered keeper?

How about you just get a 2 litre turbo diesel and get one of these and some eibachs, 4pots, etc.. my mate did it with the 1.9tdi astavan, got 200hp and suprises a few people!

[gtiteen]

I believe it's fronting when the named driver turns out to be the principle user regardless fo who the cars registered to. They're pretty hot on it these days, I still think if you were careful could maybe get away with it but you're putting a lot at risk. Imagine if you had a shunt and someone made a big personal injury claim against you then the insurance company didn't pay out. Could be looking at tens/hundreds of thuosands!!!

I'd say I'm generally leaning towards Focus ST/Megane F1/Mazda MPS at the moment. Insurance is stomacbable on all of them, fairly nippy, hopefully shouldn't loose too much etc. Now it's a case of driving them and seeing if I'm hugely disappointed!!

[gtiteen]

Ok think ive seen the car I'm going to go for. Thoughts:

2008 (08) Ford Focus ST-3 5 door in performance blue. 30k. Sat nav, bluetooth, climate, xenons, parking sensors, leather, heated seats, voice activation, mp3, keyless entry, auto wipers and lights. Sticker price is 13k from a dealer.

[Hongkongfooi]

Originally Posted by gtiteen

Ok think ive seen the car I'm going to go for. Thoughts:

2008 (08) Ford Focus ST-3 5 door in performance blue. 30k. Sat nav, bluetooth, climate, xenons, parking sensors, leather, heated seats, voice activation, mp3, keyless entry, auto wipers and lights. Sticker price is 13k from a dealer.

if thats what you want buddy then go for it....or have a 400hp scoob and the ins paid for

Got the impression we want you to have a scooby?

[Steve_PPP]

i know its been said by a few already (and we're all gonna be biased here!) but with a 13k car you'll be throwing away more money on depreciation than you'd be spending on insuring the scoob The ST3 is a nice car..... but 13k buys a lot of nice cars!

Originally Posted by Hongkongfooi

Got the impression we want you to have a scooby?

Really? Surely not....

[scooby999]

I know its your money but fords lose money quicker than my scoob drinks fuel,IMO i would go German built,13k gets a nice bmw or merc and they hold their value.
But its not my cash so just make sure you enjoy what ever you buy

[Scott.T]

You will loose so much on the st especially as rs is now out.
So spill the beans , how much to insure the st vs the scoob. I would expect a 2 year old st to be quite alot to insure.

[gtiteen]

Arghhh I really don't know waht to do lol .Yesterday I was really keen on the focus st and pretty much ready to just get it but then today I'm having reservations about spending 13k!!!!!
Insurance on the focus is 1k, on a hawkeye £1750 and on a blobeye £2500!!!!