New Car Time, 205 Then Ctr (Ep3) What Next?

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

As title, although I did have a few other crap cars inbetween - and yes the MK3 Astra Gsi was crap, I also remember upsetting half the MK3 Astras owners club telling them the 205 Gti was better, even though most of them (under 20) owned the base model with a Gsi body kit.

 

I'm guessing the majority of you are in your 30's - or round abouts?, maybe had a 205 Gti in the 90's and are re-living the glory days, either still own a gti looking to buy or are resoring one (like me albeit a Cti).

So you have grown up now and the pressure to buy something sensible has pushed you to turn to dieseil's with lots of space and doors, maybe own a Espace or something similar, but come on here to be with like minded petrol heads again, maybe a time when you were not just happy, but excited about something?

So....

 

What if you didn't get tied down with commitments, baby and the satisfying aknowedgement that you made the right purchase by the inlaws?

Does anyone else have parents that try to make you feel guilty when you mention 2.0L petrol and sports hatchback when you tell them you're looking for a new car? Then start mumbling on about Diesels and how quick and economical they are now? or is it just my parents?

 

Aside from all that, what car would you buy if you were me for example? - please feel free to tell me how irrisponsible I am and how I should prepare for the future for when I have Kids etc.. Oh I'll learn!, which has become my catchphrase at work at the moment!

 

Here's the very short list 've come up with, and please add to!

 

#1, Seat Leon TFSI (or TSI same thing) FR (Petrol, should I mention!) with BTTC kit and 18 " alloys! 07 - This has 5 doors too so should keep my mum happy!

#2, Golf Gti 2.0 Same as above but they are 1k more for the same year and mileage.

#3, Civic type R FN2. The Ep3 has been mint, but the Fn2 isn't really an hatchback that can take a bike rack and the standard Civic looks abit like something my granddad would like though the Type R looks good on the inside.

 

Also note the budget is <8K with a CRT ep3 03 plate worth about 2.5K! I'm looking for less than 65K on the clock no erlier than a 06 plate.

 

My heart is set on a leon at the moment, but if you can think of anything that replace the 205 and the EP3 CTR then let me know.

 

 

[welshpug 1,657]

Sod the future.

 

 

In my 30's now, had my 205 since mid 20's, and its not going anywhere in the forseeable future, or ever tbh!

[welshpug 1,657]

S40 T5

[Batfink 201]

I bought an Audi estate for the family car and a finally got a loud toy car for myself.

[S@m 156]

My brother has an FN2 type R and its a great car; pretty quick, comfortable, great interior, very practical BUT i will say that its pretty much a sideways step from an EP3 rather than a step forward. Its slightly slower than an EP3 and doesn't really beat it in many areas. All i can think of is that its got a bigger boot and, in my opinion, it looks far more the part than the EP3.

Just my thoughts.

 

 

I know they are probably the same thing again but if you have the k20 bug then why not be a 'little' bit different with an FD2 or DC5?

Edited October 5, 2013 by Sam306

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

I bought an Audi estate for the family car and a finally got a loud toy car for myself.

Sensible comprimise! though I'd prefere to have both cars to enjoy. It'd after be an S3 estate, (I only do about 30 miles a week and do all my own repairs and service so running cost isn't an issue.

 

Not fussed about been different, though the FD2 and DC5 look mint!

[jord294 92]

Personally, I can't fault my CTR, but I'm after a nice 205 to replace it with

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

I have this for sale if it's of any interest to you?

 

http://www.davidhayton.co.uk/print-used.cfm?vehicle=604027505

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

I've stuck mostly to 205's since 17. I had a VW Beetle for a little bit until I realized they rot over night. I started with a 1.6 GTi then a 1.8 Diesel (which my Mum now drives) then I bought a 1.9 GTi but it was too thirsty now i'm 26 I drive an STDT in my opinion it's GTi good-looks with good economy!

[mowflow 67]

Holy crap, am I that predictable? Second paragraph describes me to a T.

 

I've had a lot of the cars you mention as possibles. Went from an ep3 to an fn2 and wished I hadn't. Had a mk5 gti 5 door and must be one of the few that thought it crap. It was just boring and flat. Interestingly people say the Leon fr drives a little better but I would have to get a cupra if I went Seat. It has the better map, brakes etc from the ed30 as far as I'm aware.

 

Last year I made a brief excursion into Audi ownership with an S3 sportback dsg. Ran fine, quick, capable, loved the dsg but it's not rewarding, interesting or fun in any way so it never lasted long.

 

In the past few years I find myself always returning to BMWs as good all rounders (and practical for the family). They arent perfect and i dare say someone here will be a long any minute to say they are all crap (seems to be the norm here).Dare say you'd get a very good 330i or a 130i for your money. The 6 pots really are lovely and smooth.

 

I might also be tempted by an ST. Again I love that 5 cylinder engine and they have some of the best steering and handling I've experienced on a modern car. Miles better than any of the VAG stuff (just noticed auto correct tries to change that to vague. How ironic).

[tartanbloke 35 1 Cars]

Just get a vx220 turbo, enjoy it and have fun.

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

E46 M3

[MiniGibbo 142]

I'd go rear wheel drive if it was me.. Bias opinion or not haha

 

M3 all day long. Be it the superior 36 or inferior 46

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

I have this for sale if it's of any interest to you?

 

http://www.davidhayton.co.uk/print-used.cfm?vehicle=604027505

 

I test drove one exactly the same in glashoughton last week and I nearly bought it, even though the colour is a bit loud.

After looking around 7K for a 2006 plate is on the high side even though the mialage was low aswell that and that He'd only offer rock bottom 2K for mine.

Id like one with the BTCC kit but they are a bit harder to find.

[feb 47]

You can get a prefacelift Forester STi within your budget.

Fun and function

It's the car I have owned the longest (just about longer than my first 205 GTi) but then again I should have never sold my first GTi.

[Rich_p 23]

I'm going through a simialar dicision process at the moment.

 

My budget is about the same, I want 5 doors too.

 

Despite the cars I'm test driving being quicker than my civic the engines just seem dull without the revs at the top end. They might lack torque but I never get tired of vtec!

 

I'm thinking of going to look at a 130i and seeing what I think of those.

[Rich_p 23]

I might also be tempted by an ST. Again I love that 5 cylinder engine and they have some of the best steering and handling I've experienced on a modern car. Miles better than any of the VAG stuff (just noticed auto correct tries to change that to vague. How ironic).

 

My friend has had a couple of ST's and I've driven both. I love the sound of the engine but for some reason felt disconnected from both cars when driving them.

 

The both seemed to have a weird almost dead spot in the centre of the steering. I thought they lacked feedback too.

 

More modern cars may just be like that though.

[notamondayfan 44]

Porche Boxster?

 

Evo?

 

A3 Quattro?

 

You can still justify a Golf, Civic, Leon, etc even with commitments, (I guess even the Evo and Quattro would pass at a push), but I'd go for something along those lines Enjoy the lack of commitments while you can!!

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Sod the future.

 

 

In my 30's now, had my 205 since mid 20's, and its not going anywhere in the forseeable future, or ever tbh!

 

I'm 40 had 205's uninterrupted since mid twenties!.................Miles is a bit older than me and had them since his teens!

 

(I do have a german diesel luxo barge for family duties though)

My dad (I haven't lived at home for 22 years!!) doesn't like my NC30!

[jr83 1]

Mazda3 mps?

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

I'm going through a simialar dicision process at the moment.

 

My budget is about the same, I want 5 doors too.

 

Despite the cars I'm test driving being quicker than my civic the engines just seem dull without the revs at the top end. They might lack torque but I never get tired of vtec!

 

I'm thinking of going to look at a 130i and seeing what I think of those.

 

The K20 engine is the dogs bol*ocks!

Why is the FN2 so crap!!? dam u Honda! I remember when it first came out and thinking it's not as good as the old one!

I also remeber the review on Topgear, the audience had a dissagrement (About the time I was buying an Ep3) saying the old one was better!

The FN2 looks like a sloon IMO, the front I can live with but the rear and ratio of old fogies driving around in the diesel version with low MPG and low running cost has put me off forever!

The Civic would have been the car I'd have been branded with when I'm 50! if they had made at least 3 consecutive good cars after. (A bit like your grandad who still says british cars are the best! (i.e. MG's)).

Oh 'll learn! See I get it from all angles, though there seems to be a middle zone, a bit where I am at the moment, where the old and slighty less older contradict each other, but still manage to unite against me? The world I live in is similar to the one where I was when I was 17 and didn't know anything acording to my folks and the generations beyond.

 

What I Need Is a Leon, 5 doors and I'll say to my mum it's a desel (even though it's got 200 petrol ponies under the bonnet) she'd never know!

I could even show her the engine and take her for a test spin under full throttle saying diesils are the future and it runs on waste poo, no seriously, she'd be non the wiser.

It's like when she asks how much have you spent on that old banger? (See sig 205 Cti restoration), shortly followed by how much is it worth.

 

I did an experiment the other day, I lied said it was worth 10K and se believed me .

[mowflow 67]

Rich_p, the steering is a little dead when centred but really you need to experience some other modern cars to realise it's about as good as things get these days.

 

ALEX, They screwed the rear suspension set up and lowered the VTEC on the FN2 making it s*it as the Type R was all about revving beyond where normal cars would go before you felt anything. They totally removed the fun even if they do claim it's faster round some stupid track. In saying all this, I have very high hopes for the rumours of the next gen model.

 

If you buy a Leon or any other car with that 2.0 TFSI VAG lump you could quite easily fool even the most avid motoring enthusiast let alone your mother into believing it was an oil burner. They sound extremely agricultural on idle.

Edited October 14, 2013 by mowflow

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

Finaly bought one, I was supprised when one came up with the BTCC kit and in a nice colour too.

 

 

 

Chuffed to bits with it.

 

It feels quicker than the Type R I traded in, but not as much fun, I do miss the vtec a little.

it has a tyre check button on the centre console, not sure what it does though? can't find anything in the manual anyone care to enlighten me?

Makes a beep if I hold the button down?