Vauxhall Vectra SRI Diesel 150 (150bhp)

VW Golf MK4 GTI 2.0 (115bhp)

Subaru Impreza GX (approx 125bhp)

Bora 2.0 Sport (115bhp)

Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec (00-07reg) (approx 145bhp)

BMW 318ci Coupe (E46 - 143bhp)

Lexus IS200 (153bhp)

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport (150bhp)

Mercedes C180 (129bhp)

Really that's about all I have at the moment, looking at 2.0 non turbo cars really for insurance purposes. Like I've had to go with the 2.0 MK4 Golf not the 1.8T for that reason. Budget is about £2500 - £3000.

Current car is a 75bhp Polo. Don't do very many miles at all so thirsty isn't a problem, however insurance is. Looked at diesels but there's just no point so sticking with petrols for now.

Quite like the idea of an Impreza GX to be fair,

i would have a vasectomy as any libido you once had would be sucked out of you driving one of those beigeboxes

Thanks for your helpful post, so that's how you get to 12k :p

i would have a vasectomy as any libido you once had would be sucked out of you driving one of those beigeboxes

you asked what i would have, not what i think you should have, from that list. your question was answered, albeit not the answer you wanted.

cant see the point in having a sporty denoted model that weighs well over a tonne and sub 150bhp. Not particularly going to be fast or economical, and probably have a worse ride than standard if they have slightly sporty suspension.

the main bulk of my posts is actually in the technical section, but stupid questions get stupid answers.

plus 3 grand for a car in this day and age, what will insurance cost? you can get some absolutely fantastic cars for a grand and that woudl give you at least 2k for insurance and running costs.

Any car with 150bhp is going to be quick compared to the 75bhp skate I drive now to be honest.

And I begrudge spending the money on insurance, petrol costs etc as it is, I'm not about to take out a loan to blow £2k on it - but that is a very valid idea. (Mk2 Golf GTI etc etc)

And if you're posts are mostly in technical then fair enough, (I'm not technical at all so you've prob helped me at some point!) but I don't think it's a stupid question really? Just asking for people's opinions on that list.

Gotta be a diesel for the mileage I now do for work so I would have:

6n2 TDI: remapped (this is what I really want!)

Mk4 golf GT TDI 130 or the equivalent in a leon

Renault clio 1.5dci 105

And I begrudge spending the money on insurance, petrol costs etc as it is, I'm not about to take out a loan to blow £2k on it - but that is a very valid idea. (Mk2 Golf GTI etc etc)

I wouldnt even be considering taking out a loan for anything on that list tbh, before youre anywhere paying it off you will be long bored of the car, as 150hp might feel quick now but you can guarantee it wony in a couple of years

I'd say go for the Astra 1.9 SRI 150

0-60 is crazy is those, get it remapped, diesel and speed, best of both worlds

What Grungeisdead said. But hey, if he wants to drive a taxi and doesn't understand power-to-weight ratios, and doesn't want advice other than which we'd choose, i'm game.

Vauxhall Vectra SRI Diesel 150 (150bhp) - Not until i'm at least 75 years old.

VW Golf MK4 GTI 2.0 (115bhp) - Your Polo is probably quicker, and handles better.

Subaru Impreza GX (approx 125bhp) - Everyone will call it it a fake, the behaviour of other motorists will be annoying/frustrating at times.

Bora 2.0 Sport (115bhp) - See Golf.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec (00-07reg) (approx 145bhp) - See Vectra.

BMW 318ci Coupe (E46 - 143bhp) - See Imprezza.

Lexus IS200 (153bhp) - Thirsty, still look good, nice place to be (if not fun to drive, dunno, never driven one).

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport (150bhp) - It's a Focus, but better looking.

Mercedes C180 (129bhp) - Not their best..

Out of that lot, if i was being suspended by my eyelids and dunked in live manure at 20,000 volts, would be the BMW. Slow, but still likely to be the best to drive. Hardly 2dr of the century, though..

i'd have the BMW 318ci Coupe, been looking at them myself recently and they arent too bad to insure

If it had to be a non turbo but sport oriented car I'd go for a much smaller car to make the most of the power to weight (if space isn't an issue it would be a lupo gti for me I think). If you do need a sporty but non performance barge then without a shadow of a doubt it would ne a bora tdi

Big under powered petrol cars are bad on fuel, don't hold value at all and are so dull to drive that you will be bored within weeks. Also taking a loan out for some thing like that is crazy, by the time you've paid it off you will of paid a fair chunk more than the 3k back and be left with a car worth hundreds

they are fairly unfantastic cars tbh. why not get an AFH equipped mk1-3 polo if you want speed and a sensation of speed.

Subaru Impreza GX (approx 125bhp) ....absolute dog...drinks petrol like theres no tomorrow...don't waste your money.

they are fairly unfantastic cars tbh. why not get an AFH equipped mk1-3 polo if you want speed and a sensation of speed.

If insurance is an issue tho a heavily modified car may not be the best idea, also they are hardly the most sophisticated pieces of kit

What does sporty mean? Surely its just a phrase used to sell average cars with red brake calipers and alloy wheels and power doesn't mean a car will be fun to drive, I'm pretty sure I will enjoy driving my 55bhp polo more than my next door neighbour who owns a turbo diesel astra 5 door in maroon, buy the car you want and can insure

mk4 golf pd130.

If insurance is that much of an issue and you're having to take a loan out, why don't you just wait until you can afford something quicker?

What does sporty mean? Surely its just a phrase used to sell average cars with red brake calipers and alloy wheels and power doesn't mean a car will be fun to drive, I'm pretty sure I will enjoy driving my 55bhp polo more than my next door neighbour who owns a turbo diesel astra 5 door in maroon, buy the car you want and can insure

Standard for standard... I wouldn't bank on it

What does sporty mean? Surely its just a phrase used to sell average cars with red brake calipers and alloy wheels and power doesn't mean a car will be fun to drive, I'm pretty sure I will enjoy driving my 55bhp polo more than my next door neighbour who owns a turbo diesel astra 5 door in maroon, buy the car you want and can insure

Standard for standard... I wouldn't bank on it

He's got a point though. I've had a lot of cars and power hasn't been the top factor in which were the most enjoyable to drive.

In '02 i owned a Seicento Sporting and a 306 XSI 2.0 16v - the Seicento was far more fun (even a 405 1.9 8v SRi i had shortly before was more fun than the 306, so it's not just a size thing). My next car was a 55bhp Polo coupe, which turned out to be a keeper, so..

But nothing is as soul destroying as a diesel, i always avoided them but the wife loves them. The 207sw 1.6d and Corsa eco-flex we've had in the last three years, plus current Golf TDI, have destroyed my faith in them.

Get a Vento VR6. Seat Torledo V5. Audi A6 Bi Turbo. If your not doing miles driving spend 1k on the car and 2k on insurance and fuel.

Loans are for tools.

I'm not saying it's by any means a fantastic or especially rare car but come a year or 2 I fancy a Mk1 TT Quattro as a daily*.

Just like the look of them.

*I say this but I'll probably still be bashing around in the loon, with the Audi ad 'Ugly Duckling' looks wherever I go.

they are fairly unfantastic cars tbh. why not get an AFH equipped mk1-3 polo if you want speed and a sensation of speed.

If insurance is an issue tho a heavily modified car may not be the best idea, also they are hardly the most sophisticated pieces of kit

oh god yeah I had great fun in my 1.3 with a weber but this chap seems to have horsepower on the mind, sophistication is overratednothing is more fun and cheap to run than a mk2 you know it, I know it and secretly the mk3 crew know it.

Loans are for tools.

x2

You're already loosing money on depreciation, tying up your resources into it's condition, but to pay someone interest on top..?

There are times when i pay someone to let me spend my own money. But on a car? Hell no.

Diesels are fantastic! I'd never go back to anything else as a daily. However, for 'driving' and blatting about, it has to be a petrol.