.

OLOP - have you driven one? I've heard that running an Omega diesel with blown turbo and 10psi in each tyre is more fun. Experiences welcome..

lol! no i haven't, but how bad can they be..wouldn't you agree they're cool and seem to be inline with you're needs/wants ?

E30, i also agree with the audi cabby...

How does a modern Audi make you look like a idiot..?

Reputation earned and endorsed by the majority of a group is a harsh but powerful vote.

..And why does she have so many opinions, buy her a A3 Sportback and tell her shut the fook up.

She'd be happy with a mint 306 HDi but why loose a grand over the next year? It will,they're dying fast,going where the Citroen ZX they're based on went. I've looked at quick 405's etc But i want her to have a proper feel-good car - her old car was an A4, she's never had a fun car yet likes driving and likes the lively nature of mine (but hates it taking up my time..).

My polo cost 100 plus 300 for a new shell plus 1,000 to spec it to how it is now. I've been offered two grand,seven years later. I dont do depreciation,this one aint doing bad so far for a Polo.

My polo cost 100 plus 300 for a new shell plus 1,000 to spec it to how it is now. I've been offered two grand,seven years later. I dont do depreciation,this one aint doing bad so far for a Polo.

I need to take a leaf from you're book!

.

OLOP - have you driven one? I've heard that running an Omega diesel with blown turbo and 10psi in each tyre is more fun. Experiences welcome..

lol! no i haven't, but how bad can they be..wouldn't you agree they're cool and seem to be inline with you're needs/wants ?

It does look good in picture and paper. But the tin top is bad enough to drive,let alone throwing in even more weight. They're strong,though..

Pretty pictures aint rare though. I've seen a light metallic green early 90s E30 318i in mint condition with subtle bottletops giving the car a less lanky look than the BBS,and grey leather,this evening. Looked amazing,and drives considerably better than a MK3 Golf.

Thats where the liability comes in - i dont want more than three grand in the thing,tbh. A merc E220 or Saab 900 (proper ones Andy,not the rebodied Vectra nobody cares about) and paying a small fortune for a tail light and quarter panel that's been hit in the car park is no more desirable than it was last time.

The proper Saab is out of budget for you, which is why I suggested the Posh Cavalier (stretched Vectra floorplan is the 9-5). It's miles nicer than any Vauxhall, and they're cheap because no-one likes the badge. It'd also be fairly cheap to run - service items can be had from GSF, and they're at an age where parts are plentiful in scrappers and eBay. Having said that, I think a BMW would suit your persona much better.

I've just shown her a few early Saab 9-3's and she's really keen,only disliking them in the early 900 trim which makes them a bit ugly.

Hoped they'd have 4+1 seats like even the MK2 Polo has,what with the back being the size of a bus,but the trend of cabs being strict four-seaters is an awakening,think I've watched too many american road movies.. This is the only real problem with the 90s Audi tbh,as its face doesnt carry the reputation of the A4's.

Might have to re-consider a tin top,or our need to get all of us in it at any time ever,but the search continues for now.

Seen a few smashing 2-seaters,i wouldn't mind a CRX Del Sol myself and i dont care how gay id look!

Volvo estate. Enough space, nice and square, all the toys in the world, option of a 7 seat conversion if you pop out anymore sprogs, huge boot space and plenty out there with an LPG conversion so you can get better MPG than the standard ones. Volvos are the future.

Maybe so. Id actually go for a very early or very late 240 'loon myself,slammed on banded steels with stretched balloons. But she aint feeling a C70 so i doubt sh'd take kindly to that. Id do better bringing home a Cadillac Eldorado.

Incidentally,this is the ideal so far..

A touring version could be considered,if we can find one that hasn't been drifted to death.

Seen a few smashing 2-seaters,i wouldn't mind a CRX Del Sol myself and i dont care how gay id look!

Del Sol = Fwd & pig ugly = epic fail

This coming from a man who drove an MX-5 for 18 months so I'm not bothered about the Gay connotations thing. The difference with the MX-5 is that it's price worth paying to enjoy a true drivers car. Buy a standard BBR turbo Mk1 and you'll enjoy 150 bhp per tonne and zero depreciation, cheap running costs and replacement parts and they are a joy to work on.

Just because a car is front drive doesn't mean it's fail... especially in a small car like the CRX you're better off with front drive. Everyone goes on about MX-5s, but any time I've seen them on track they are getting hounded by Mk2 Golfs, Saxos, 106s etc.

For your needs Mikey, my choice would be an Alfa 145! Just on the point where Alfas stopped rusting away but started being particularly electrically unreliable, so you'll either end up with a brilliant car or really rubbish car. I'd take the risk...

Guess what? We're both still alive. As with millions of others who were babies in 70s and 80s city cars.

I've always been critical of being forced by law to spend thousands of pounds and lbs and tax for airbags,tensioners,extra fuel etc i'll never use. But we're forced to by the corrupt euro governments.

The hype may have brainwashed millions today,but it aint brainwashed me. Maybe I'm complacent in my 19 years of driving,and the horror crash in my '80s XR3i i walked away from unharmed,to attempt to save the futile life of a man horrifically injured in the airbag equipped car i collided with,was just luck - but whatever,the car industry always needs mugs bailing them out.

So if we can deviate from a deeper questioning of my judgement as a parent and more on the question in hand,it'd be welcomed warmly - though all comments are welcome and points taken in and appreciated for their intent.

For the first part I see what you mean but in the 70's and 80's the most popular cars were similar when it came to safety. But bring those 70's/80's cars forward to today they aren't

going to stand up to the newer cars that again..most people are driving around in..whether we are 'brainwashed' or not.

I wasn't questioning your parenting, you asked 'new car - what to get?' and given that you mentioned a new baby on the way I took that in to consideration when narrowing down possible cars for you. Whether you do the same is up to you and nothing to do with me or my choices.

Love 145's - get one purchased Mikey

Just because a car is front drive doesn't mean it's fail... especially in a small car like the CRX you're better off with front drive. Everyone goes on about MX-5s, but any time I've seen them on track they are getting hounded by Mk2 Golfs, Saxos, 106s etc.

It does when said car is styled as a 2 seated sports car. I don't have a problem with fwd hot hatches, they have their place. But don't imagine that for a similar bhp/tonne they can be equal to an MX-5 around a track.

Fair enough. A Saxo VTS weighs roughly the same as a basic MX-5, and I'm pretty confident that standard vs standard the Saxo would be a better car round a track. For one, it's considerably quicker than a 1.8 MX-5, even with a "worse" power to weight ratio. As standard MX-5s are all over the place, they may well be nicely balanced but they don't grip very hard. Get in a Saxo with VTR/VTS spec suspension components that are in good nick and it really is sublime what you can do with it. Better balanced than a 205 GTI so ever so slightly less tail happy, but more than enough to tuck the car back in no matter how wide you start going (unless you are a retard lol)

Start modifying things and I think the gap would get even bigger. The whole time that a small front drive car can put the power down, personally I believe it's going to be better than rear drive. Start adding more power and weight into it, and rear drive shows it's advantages.

Just as an example, a VTS has a 50 bhp disadvantage to a Clio 172/182 with little weight difference, but is no slower round your average twisty track. They are far faster than people give them credit for.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by tobyk

The 145 is interesting,id completely forgotten about Alfa. I'm not a great auto electrician though,being colourblind. I thought they were all scrapped apart from the Mito,i'll have a look at some.

bollocks, i shoulda read the thread properly and seen the Audi Cabriolet was already suggested, ah well, I'm'a post a link anyway so i don't feel like i've wasted my time

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv.../true?logcode=p

Perfect:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-ROVER-216-CABRI...=item19c1448e63

Incidentally,this is the ideal so far..

A touring version could be considered,if we can find one that hasn't been drifted to death.

My old mans just put his up for sale. Its a 2.5 turbo, petrol, manual, dark blue, full cream leather interior ect ... been his pride and joy for over 10 years now.

I know its not a convertible, but Volvo S40s are unbelievable value for money! Heated and electric everything, genuinely bulletproof engines, nice styling...

My bro had one and I can honestly say that they've gotta be one of the most reliable cars around. They'll sail past 200,000 miles and not give any hint of stopping. The only bad thing about them is that the steering is far too light, but then again thats a good thing for women

You can get a 10 year old S40 for around £600-£1000, miles better value then most of the other shit of the same age and newer!

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Phataz1

Perfect:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-ROVER-216-CABRI...=item19c1448e63

The colour is the last of the problems there.. Mind you,there is a showroom condition 16k mile 216 on the bay that does actually appeal. I dont think a glass rear window is too much to ask though.

I should've said, big engines are not favourable. Fun is a major requirement yes,but gas-guzzlers kinda go against the whole point of getting rid of the 207 diesel which is also to at least break even if not save money on the total ownership cost.

I know its not a convertible, but Volvo S40s are unbelievable value for money! Heated and electric everything, genuinely bulletproof engines, nice styling...

My bro had one and I can honestly say that they've gotta be one of the most reliable cars around. They'll sail past 200,000 miles and not give any hint of stopping. The only bad thing about them is that the steering is far too light, but then again thats a good thing for women

You can get a 10 year old S40 for around £600-£1000, miles better value then most of the other shit of the same age and newer!

No offence meant here, but owner satisfaction surveys suggest not everyone is as happy with their S40s as your brother was!

^^

A neighbour has one,not a bad looking thing but she'll hardly feel a million dollars. I looked at some earlier this year to use as a work van but they were typically hanging.

I'll be amazed if they're fun to drive but i'll ask her what she thinks of the neighbours one,its her car - i'll ask them,too..

You know it makes sense.