What car - decisions decisions
 

Well my company beemer is going back early due to exceding the yearly milegae by a considerable sum, got it until end of Oct.
Happy days indeed, time to start test driving.

My budget is aprox 30k and i will be buying not leasing this time.

Short list is
1. New Focus RS
2. 2nd hand M3
3. 2nd hand RS4
4. New scoob sti 330s
5. Vauxall Monaro VXR8

What would you guys and girls recomend

Thats depends - if its a company vehicle, does it need to maintain a somewhat professional image?

Steve
Yes mate, to a degree, a focus RS is ok, but not green.

Monaro vxr8 all the way!!!!! Beast

Only thing with the Monaro is i will be doing approx 25 to 30k a year, going to be loads of fuel, worth a look though.

My mate is selling his RS4, I think he is looking for about 28k. Very nice car, 51k two and a half years ago !!

RS4 for me

Depends on who's paying for the bills:-(
VXR8 sounds great and rapid, :drumroll:
Focus RS seem to be every where.
Don't like the shape of the new scoob especially from the rear, could be any modern hatch:getmecoat:

RS4 any day:doubleup:

2nd hand RS4
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1223080.htm

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1258897.htm

Who pays the fuel bills?

I do like the new scoob STi 330 I sat in one the other day VERY NICE and it would be brand NEW.

Other wise.

Its a toss up between the RS4 and Monaro.

One thing thats for sure its going to be fun test driving.

Did you check if your zimmer fitted in the hatch without taking the parcel shelf out ?

It fitted very nicely thank you.

Good job it was an automatic the old gout was playing up.:nod:

apparently Vauxhall are doing deals on new vxr8's, 425bhp rwd.....then put your supercharger and exhaust on that!
I can give you the phone number from the autocar mag in my hand if needed! 24k new!

RS4 for me - class and performance and understated but menacing too!

RS4 or Focus RS for me, wouldn't go anywhere near the Vxr with the mileage your doing....had one reading 2.2 mpg on test on the bypass.

jesus, and you're considering a monaro? you got an oil well in the back garden?!

with that kinda mileage i'd just buy something like a beemer 335D coupe - £30k might just about get you into a brand new one if you haggle a bit. :)

Cheers for all the replies guys.
I have company fuel card, so i dont pay for business fuel, but will be doing approx 110 miles a day to office and back which is deemed as personal mileage, So the Monaro would hurt.
Wish i had not started looking now, as am thinking of putting some towards my monthly budget and maybe 2nd hand new shape M3. Ahhhhhh.
Anyhow i have a month to test drive plenty of cars.

Mate, RS4 is by far the nuts car of the bunch. But you will be pushing to get a newish one in good nick for the money.

With you buying the car, are you expected to pay the maintainance? If so, sorry to say it but the RS4 and Monaro are both out of the equation.

I really wanted an RS4 or even a slightly older 911 turbo, but my budget (which was just a very small amount more) wouldn't comfortably cover the cost of service / tyres etc.

I would say the M3 is a cracking car which is still good on a budget. And you could test drive mine no problems.

The focus will be a cracking car though mate.

The only other car I seriously considered was a new fully loaded VXR Vectra.

Good luck mate, it's a minefield.

Fook that

Yes mate, i have been on a few sites reading up on them,The maintenance is going to be heavy, not good when it needs new discs and pads.
If i buy something for 30k then basically i will be paying for all maintenace out of my own pocket.

Hey scott we need to talk, i have a power FC and AVCR with all the bits and bobs that needs installing plus remap.

Toyota Prius:acid:


STi for me!

Yeah scrap that idea!! er next is the focus for me :-D

I say Focus RS (ford do some ncie tuning packs ;) ) or the 330s, the new hatch scoobies have really grown on me.

Jas

Take out THE NEW SCOOB.

You will be surprised.:doubleup:

Am going to have a butchers at this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...5415&logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...7288&logcode=p

Worzel
You are right on the masive cost of maintenance on the RS4, but i got to take a test drive.My budget would allow the purchase but the maintenence and tyres etc would all be at my own expense.And at 25,000 miles a year its going to be too much .

Thanks for offer of driving your M3, yes would definatley like to have a bit of a drive, as i didnt really get the feel last time.
Thing is, is the M3 going to be as costly to maintain?
What the difference between CSL and SMG?
What model is yours?
What about this, talk about depreciation
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...5424&logcode=p
Its going to do my head in now until i settle on something.

1st chioce would be a new sti

2nd would be the focus rs, but the focuses tend to snap a conrod when comming off boost whilst driving hard

3rd would be the monaro or the rs4

MMMMMMMM RS in white!

If my numbers come up tonight I'm getting one! :p

Jas

RS4 estate with out a doubt .

That focus looks seriously hardcore!! Think the Audi looks more comfortable for the milage you will be doing.

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/private-sal...es-around.html

nice one here 8-)

That fits the bill exactly.
I will be test driving one very soon, will be buying from a garage as it will be on finance as is company funded.

Out of the cars you have a choise of for me it would be the M3 it out handles & out performs the rest you mentioned . The Rs4 looks fantastic but understeers & there driven by cocks {Top gear said so it's true}. Ford Rs well come on all flair + even more understeer. When Cosworth get there hands on it then maybe. The VXR8 WOW but sadley no m.p.g. M3 mate that V8 & the package they have put it in is unreall. It is the V8 one your on about ?:|

The CSL is the stripped out version that has been slightly re-mapped. Mine is the E43 SMG version

Pushing aboout 380bhp / 400nm I think (don't quote me) as opposed to my M3's 343 / 360.

SMG is just Sequential Manual Gearbox (flappy paddle + console shift) they don't do a normal "manual" anymore :evil: which is a gutter. But, when you test drive mine in sport mode on the sharpest gear change setting with the traction control off, you won't be unhappy. I would put money on the fact no-one I or you know could change gear up and down as quickly. And you can short shift just by blipping the paddle twice.

If you go for a similar age / spec as mine, the depreciation you will see will be negligable. I paid 21k for mine, 3 years previously the guy who bought the car paid around 60k. The depreciation on them is on the first sale really, if I don't whack too many miles on mine and look after it, it will be worth about 15 in 3 years time.

Tyres, as you know cost me 1k to do, so that is not cheap. Oil / Standard service at a main dealer around £200.00 big service at about £600.00. So you need about £2000 - £2500 pa for service and tyres on your mileage.

I love mine, it's nowhere near as fast as the RS4, but then it's more comfortable than the RS4. It is incredibly easy to drive quickly and to cruise in. When ever you want to take mine out for a spin, just let me know.

I drove Mark at Lateral's BMW 335d last weekend :o
I never got past 2nd gear but I bet it shifts!!!! It felt like it had twice the power compaired to my 320d!!!!! Turns out it's had a mild remap and is pushing out over 300 bhp and nearly 400lbft (I think).....................and still does 50mpg :D

Sensible car for every day and a Scoob for fun ;)

How about a nice '96 WRX... it just happens that i know of one up for sale going cheap :)

The scoob 330s is a tasty bit of kit
Monaro is a Vauxhall
Focus RS is the best on the list

Have a look i your local Merc dealership if you have 30K to spend, nice 2nd hand AMG's for that price

Nice dilema to have.! You have a scoob as a toy so that rules out the STI330 and RS IMO.

RS4 is fantastic but rarely meets the expected power output, and the M3 as said above is the more drivers car is you can push the budget. For me it would be the RS4 due to its practicalility, but you managed well enough with 2 doors prevously so would say M3.

A few other suggestions:

A younger well specced BMW 335 sport. Very quick as standard and can be remaped now to exceed the M3 in pure power but not handling.

New shape M5's can be had for around the 30K mark second hand.!

How about a Merc of some sort - AMG perhaps is even within budget.

EXO X, 360's are probably within budget if you want some jap fun and think they look pretty classy, yet v.sporty.

Monaro great- but gas gusler and its just a yank vauxhall.!

And don't forget second hand exotica like a porsche 911 derivative.!

What about a S4 or A4 3.0TDI?

Ideal for work IMO.

Good compromise of running costs, practicality and both got a bit of poke.

Plus, you'll get change from your 30k.

As Rob said give the Evo X a test drive. Make sure its at least a fq330 though with your budget an fq360 would be the one. :wink: