having spent the last nine years messing about with my xr2 into it's current high powered spec, i'm at the end of the road with it, no spare cash these days to keep evolving it getting more power and keeping it in rubber. then there is time, got a kiddie now and want to spend time with her instead of tinkering with my hobby.

Down to business then, i want something reasonably new, circa 2005 onwards, four doors would be ideal for those days out with the misses and kiddie.
I want it to be able to shift pretty well, but not cost the earth to run, so thinking 3.0tdi minimum power, audi, bmw etc. something with a little prestige.
budget is around 7-8k, which is what i'd get breaking my project and also have a 53 plate 206 xsi to trade in too.
i did have a flick through the net and came up with a6, 330d, m3 for something a little naughtier, hard top convertible could be an option, also looked briefly at monaros, but would get at best the 5.7 one and fuel economy would be pretty bad wouldn't it
what do you guys suggest?

 

Maybe a bit biased but focus ST?

 

BMW 535 d

 

If you only do low miles why not get a petrol?

A big diesel car is going to be big bills when it goes wrong and if its only short trips then its going to be marginal in costs compared to a petrol.

How about a Audi a8, on LPG if possible?

 

most of the new diesels with dpf's fitted dont like doing short trips either and can lead to big bills down the line, unless you remove the dpf's and get it programmed out of the ecu

 

That's the thing. Turbo(s), injectors, dpf's, swirl flaps etc.

New diesels don't tend to give their best mpg until they are warm so short trips wouldn't get brilliant mpg.

You can't beat the instant shove of a decent diesel though.

 

fair point on the diesel front, i have a bora on a remap circa 170bhp, that gets abused everywhere and a good car on a run, but the wife has been taking that as car seat is fitted to it.
no issue with the vw in two years though, short runs are only when i go to work and back, often that isn't the case though and i end up travelling a little further, come next year i have plans to be working a little further afield, so will be racking up more miles.

i had an alfa twinny, not that quick, but that drank fuel for fun!
petrol is not off the list at all, hence the monaro

 

I would look at a evo. They have 4doors and are quick and you won't be fixing it all the time

 

i have got a bit of an itch for an evo, have for a while, just think it's a bit shouty.
was thinking more prestige and understated power house, rwd/4wd.

 

yeah but in a 330d your travelling in prestige style.
Theres a world of difference between the two.... and it sounds like xr2wishy is mellowing a bit with age

 

hey, i'm nearly 30 and been tinkering with fiesta since i was 18. they're great fun, had loads of fun in them, just want to jump in and go without worrying about damaging something i've slaved to pay for and build.

 

Skodi Vrs its got all you need great family car ,good on fuel ,an fun when out on your own boying it about had my mk1 for a wile now an will get another after Iv had my time with this one !

 

I have a 330cd msport on a 55 and love it....it's 3door but just get the 4door model. Decent power and even more when mapped and still decent on fuel. Have a go in it when I come up of you like

Alex.

 

ooh, very tempting, i do need to get out and drive something more like that i feel.
i'll take you up on that one.

 

What about a Volvo v70, comfy, very very fast if you get. R model and ain't that bad in bills

Though the BMW 330d MSport on a facelift ism the right choice, don't bother with 4 door though and theremin loads of,room in the back for a seat and fitting it in

I had a E36 coupe a few years back when my little one was a nipper and no hassle

 

Mazda 3 mps Four doors and a very capable car with 250 bhp.
Just buy one with the aero pack as they are nicer

 

i know its not as new but the b5 s4 is a mega car when remapped . i could get you a passenger ride in one if you like .

 

I have had a fiesta RST (for about 18 years now) and got my BMW 330d in 06 (e46 facelift) you can get one quite cheaply now and mine is still going stron with 144k on the clock. it is a 4 door saloon and I love it! It is not how ever like the the fiesta! I feel like a youngter again every time I get into it.... The BMW is much more refined and is absolutely fantastic for long motorway drives (I comited from Salford to London (223 miles) each way weekly and cossets you espeshally if you are tired (the DSC has saved me and my familys lifes at least once when other rad users have tried to kill us thorough their stupidaty! Oh and boy does it go. I have had it upto 150 on a runway once (radar tracked). The M sport suspention is good, I go to costco for my tryes (mitchalin sport3) and they work well the the car.

You have to shop around for OEM parts as BMW ones are expensive and some of the pattern ones are crap. The car is on its 3rd set of front lower suspetion arm bushes, the fuel pump will go about a 100k, but that about it! since I got it, it has done 38mpg on average and does more than 45mpg on a motorway unless you are a hooligan!

 

Definitely this!

Early ones are great looking cars too IMO.

 

A mark 2 Seat Leon FR or Cupra.

You'd defo get a mark 2 pre facelift mark 2 for that money say a 57/08 plate..

4 doors and plenty of poke should you wish to use it.

 

looking at a few 3 series bm's shortly, rwd has its appeal as does 231bhp from a diesel and good mpg, just worried it may be too boring though.
i did spend several hours trawling looking at evo's, but practically too much to runand stands out too much.

 

i have my eye on a 330d at the minute myself. Great cars and are quick as standard!! And as mentioned, they are comfortable and more refined than alot of cars etc!!

I wouldn't bother looking at a Evo, as your fuel bills would be ridiculous!! And fuck paying to get one fixed if it goes wrong!! My mate works on them nearly every day, and some of the bills he has hit people is fucking scary!!

 

My girlfriend used to have one of these was a lovely car but the tax was Ł450 a year and it drank the juice.

 

Therenot that bad on fuel when you are used to performance cars and there not that unreliable but there very hard on bits like brakes clutches and servicing so if money is tight there not a Car to have

Like wise with the Monaco fuck rear tyres for a pass time front disk and pads are Ł1200 tcas are Ł200 each ect so if it's a car as a weekend toy then fair play but to use as a daily the hard to run

 

looking seriously into 330d's, if only a good 535 showed up i'd be on it.
skoda ain't happening, as good as they are, just not a badge of interest.
plus not rwd/4wd.

evo is out more on insurance front and the costs of maintenance at the moment, may get one in a couple of years though when insurance will drop more and i have spare cash again.

 

I was looking at 530d's a while ago, I could afford the car but if it went tits I would be in trouble, so managed to talk myself out of pursuing it further.

 

i think the 330d will be getting my attention now, good daily with poke.
it's about time i grew up, can't be spending hundreds every month on an overpowered xr2 for occasional use at best.

 

Mk1 focus rs

 

too slow, going from a forged gt30 powered xr2 to that would suck big time.
going to try to look at some 330d's today, really quite fancy one, as long as i can find a good manual one.

 

But he will be servicing it all the time and its not something you wanna be doing your self because for re sale people like to see main or specialist history and don't forget the Ayc is part of the service

Personally I'd go Audi s4 or BMW 535

 

Got a 120d M Sport myself. Epic handling with the M suspension, turn the traction off and you can have a "little" fun. 65mpg on a run! As soon as the warranty is out its having a map, cooler and decat.

 

I bought my 330d M Sport a couple of months ago. I'm still really pleased with it and it does everything really well. I paid 8k for mine but I have probably spent a couple of Łk getting it to where it is now. I would definately recommend one

 

loving the 330
i was eyeing up petrol versions too, the biggest frustration is finding a manual, bloody autos are everywhere, i need to test out an auto to see how they are, but i've also been looking at the 530d's too, more comfort and extras usually as standard, but slower.
there are few 535's with manual, i think all are auto's and i would be fine with that if there were any tip-tronic ones.
the 330d m sports are a bit thin on the ground, lucky as i don't have the cash ready quite yet, i'm about 3k short as of yet, sell off the 206 and should need to just shift a further couple of grands worth of bits.