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Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
#1463971
16/12/2013 21:53
16/12/2013 21:53
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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At the moment - and for the foreseeable future - I don't have a car. A combination of financial circumstances, hindered by the untimely demise of my Kia Sedona, and a lack of everyday need for a car means that there is no replacement on the horizon. However, I haven't stopped loving cars and hopefully one day I'll be in a position to buy another one. This has led to a slightly confusing twist to my perpetual window shopping: I have no idea what type of car to fantasise about. I'm not talking about supercar-type fantasy, just literal imagining of ownership.
The brief is pretty broad and I'm really just seeking a bit of thought and discussion about different approaches to owning a motor vehicle.
The only thing that would be essential at this stage would be that we need at least 5 seats. When that changes - once kids start to leave home, a whole new world of possibilities opens up (including a notable Italian 4-seater).
The trouble is, I can convince myself that a small, minimalist cheap-as-chips diesel is the way to go just as easily as a gas guzzling execu-barge. Unless my life changes drastically, I won't need to do enough miles to demand one solution over another. Before it unceremoniously expired, I was really beginning to enjoy the endless, effortless practicality of the Sedona, something I never thought I'd say. Dynamically, it was like driving an economy-sized block of cheddar, but I'd still consider another.
However, recently, I've been trying to work out the ultimate combination of comfort, performance and practicality for under a nominal £5k. That really should include any work that needs doing plus insurance, but I could be flexible on that - it's my game!
Bonus points are available for every £500 under budget.
Can any clever people devise a formula for motoring bang per buck that factors in running costs, fun and style?
Shed of the Week on Pistonheads has been providing me with a lot of food for thought.
Current favourite is a Saab 9-5 2.3t Aero HOT.
Other ideas?
Last edited by Jim_Clennell; 16/12/2013 21:59. Reason: Saab model
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1463977
16/12/2013 22:34
16/12/2013 22:34
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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You see, initially I thought "nah, don't fancy that!", but on reflection, it's true that no cool points combines neatly with don't-give-a-sh1t paintwork, and low-cost comfortable motoring. The equivalent of my old 2000 Brava, which I still think was the best value car I ever bought.
Ok, good first effort, though I am still leaning towards a bit more horsepower...
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1463980
16/12/2013 22:51
16/12/2013 22:51
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,018 ation
szkom
Club member 2000
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Club member 2000
Forum is my life
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,018
ation
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Ok, good first effort, though I am still leaning towards a bit more horsepower...
The 1800?
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: szkom]
#1463997
16/12/2013 23:53
16/12/2013 23:53
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Ok, good first effort, though I am still leaning towards a bit more horsepower...
The 1800? Er, maybe...! Is there a turbo version to be remapped...?
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464002
17/12/2013 00:06
17/12/2013 00:06
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,162 Glos
Brilly1uk
Club member 1034
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Club member 1034
Competition Level
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,162
Glos
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No street cred, but what about a 1.9 diesel Zafira??? Pretty versatile, lots about and I believe quite a good drive, for not lots of money? Better than an Astra, but shame it is GM as they are responsible for anything I don't like about my Saab 9-3. They also did a mad, bad Zafira with something like 200bhp, if you want to go for a fast van!!!???
Fiat Coupe 20VT Alfa Romeo Spider BMW X3
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464022
17/12/2013 03:19
17/12/2013 03:19
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,112 The clues in the name
DanTheManc
Competition Level
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Competition Level
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,112
The clues in the name
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Mercedes C43 Mercedes C32 Volvo T5 Audi S4 Subaru Legacy MG ZT V8
All fairly practical, especially in estate form.
2000 Moony 20VT6 VXR BMW 335i BMW M135i 2017 Cupra 290 Black Edition
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464026
17/12/2013 07:27
17/12/2013 07:27
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,280 West Berks
skinflint
I need some sleep
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I need some sleep
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,280
West Berks
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Given your low mileage, how about something classic? This Citroen CX Turbo would be a pile of trouble great with its enormous interior, huge waft, and you might find people letting you out at junctions etc. because they want a better look.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464030
17/12/2013 08:55
17/12/2013 08:55
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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This is the ultimate in effortless, silent and beautiful movement. You will be the gentleman that always gets let out of junctions and if you want to hoon and sound a bit like an old F1 car then with some new pipes you can!
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464031
17/12/2013 09:16
17/12/2013 09:16
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,018 ation
szkom
Club member 2000
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Club member 2000
Forum is my life
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Posts: 5,018
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Ok, good first effort, though I am still leaning towards a bit more horsepower...
The 1800? Er, maybe...! Is there a turbo version to be remapped...? 2 litre diesel is the best you'll get in standard trim. But, here's the good bit. Most PSA cars of that era seem to built from the same parts bin. Big brakes needed? No problem 306 GTi6 front brakes are bolt on, same for the Brembo calipers from the 406 coupé. Maybe even use the v6 engine also?
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464072
17/12/2013 14:21
17/12/2013 14:21
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,417 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
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Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,417
Lightwater, Surrey
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Ah, so you mean a 3 cylinder motorbike, like this? But wait, Jim wants 5 seats, so he needs a 6 wheeled vehicle with a V8 engine perhaps? One of these perhaps?
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464100
17/12/2013 17:13
17/12/2013 17:13
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TimR
Unregistered
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TimR
Unregistered
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Some amusing suggestions, except the last one. Skinflint, I don't care how many wheels it's got, it's still a bloody Land Rover! You need one of the 6 wheel Range Rovers then. You could find a Sbarro one and drive in the lap of luxury.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: ]
#1464101
17/12/2013 17:30
17/12/2013 17:30
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Some amusing suggestions, except the last one. Skinflint, I don't care how many wheels it's got, it's still a bloody Land Rover! You need one of the 6 wheel Range Rovers then. You could find a Sbarro one and drive in the lap of luxury. I misread that as "dive in the lap of luxury". Something very different indeed.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464102
17/12/2013 17:31
17/12/2013 17:31
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TimR
Unregistered
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TimR
Unregistered
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Indeed
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464112
17/12/2013 18:12
17/12/2013 18:12
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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read this blog written just for you Jim! Buses for you to chose from.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464200
18/12/2013 09:43
18/12/2013 09:43
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Some interesting ideas. Like that blog - I've either owned or considered most of that list! When we did our "transport the family to France on holiday" adventure (eventually won by the Chevy Astro), we looked at minibuses and indeed buses. There were some awesome ex tour-buses which were amazing, but probably deeply unhygienic having been inhabited by who-knows-what band. I have to say I've never shared the love for the XJS - I always thought it was the epitome of seventies disappointment; lacklustre design, crap quality - a missed opportunity. Definitely a car of its time! Neat though Barnacle's definition of bolide is, I'm going to struggle to match it with my needs - which is almost the raison d'etre of this thread - 5 (or even 7) seats. I just don't want more than 2 axles or 4 tyres, thanks! I quite like that Mitsubishi, though there are no performance figures, I suspect it shifts (in a straight line, anyway). This still looks good to me...
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464215
18/12/2013 11:33
18/12/2013 11:33
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Just buy it - bargain! I think the V12 XJS is about as under rated as a car can be! The engine is a peach, they have a beautiful interior and kill miles in massive comfort. The rear is ok if you're a dwarf.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: ]
#1464218
18/12/2013 11:51
18/12/2013 11:51
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proccy
Unregistered
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proccy
Unregistered
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Top bargain - have a look at the 330d BMW's on Autotrader, for quite a bit less than £5k you're getting great performance and 48mpg - possibly my next car once i'm fed up of visiting every petrol station so i can feed this M3
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464220
18/12/2013 12:05
18/12/2013 12:05
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patch234
Unregistered
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patch234
Unregistered
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My friend owned a SAAB 9-5 HOT, it was terrible on fuel. Terrible
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464236
18/12/2013 13:55
18/12/2013 13:55
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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BANG! all boxes ticked! I thank you.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464250
18/12/2013 14:28
18/12/2013 14:28
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TimR
Unregistered
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TimR
Unregistered
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I did love our 530d M-Sport, so a 330d could be a contender, though as the kids have got bigger, I don't know that moving to a smaller version of a car we already had would be a good thing.
Did I mention that a manual gearbox is much preferred? If you can wait a couple of years I'll sell you my recently acquired 530d M-Sport manual
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464267
18/12/2013 15:31
18/12/2013 15:31
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TimR
Unregistered
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TimR
Unregistered
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It'll probably be knackered by then
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464277
18/12/2013 15:54
18/12/2013 15:54
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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It's a nice-looking jam jar, but I think I'd go slightly older with the 6-pot if I was going to look at the E Class. I did consider it before we bought the 530, but MrsC abhors estates like nature abhors a vacuum. I'm flying a kite on the Saab...! My best efforts are always thwarted by women!
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: ]
#1464379
19/12/2013 00:26
19/12/2013 00:26
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Hanny
Unregistered
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Hanny
Unregistered
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BANG! all boxes ticked! I thank you. I've been looking at some of the E Classes as a run-about to dump mileage on, how ever it has been hard to find decent ones as the pre 06 models are prone to expensive electrical faults. A class Merc is butt ugly but not bad price and decent room in the Avantgarde diesel 1.7 long wheel base - might just get one for a giggle and see how it lasts either that or the Audi A2 - same butt ugly but seem to have a following...... Or shall I get my coat........
Last edited by Hanny; 19/12/2013 00:26.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464388
19/12/2013 08:49
19/12/2013 08:49
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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I had an A class, massive inside for the size of the car, plastic wings, spark plugs are a PITA to change as are front bulbs.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464404
19/12/2013 10:57
19/12/2013 10:57
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Hanny
Unregistered
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Hanny
Unregistered
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Agree - and butt ugly to boot - but if just to dump mileage on so that the decent cars get preserved - my vehicle tax bill next year is going to be a bugger, £475 for the R32, £270 MCS and what ever I get for my work commuter on top of that......if not careful I could end up near £1k for all three.
Hence looking for an oil burner in a lower tax band
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464408
19/12/2013 11:31
19/12/2013 11:31
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Hanny
Unregistered
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Hanny
Unregistered
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Yikes! That's a lot just for tax. Have you looked at a Mégane 1.5 dci? They are in the £35 bracket and can be had for very little wedge. Renaults arent really my bag, misses had a Clio 172 for a short while, I know the sporty Renaults can be quick and the high end version have great toys/lux bits, but I just dont seem to be happy 'wearing' them.....
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464442
19/12/2013 14:48
19/12/2013 14:48
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,988 Sunny Darlo
Wishy
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
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Posts: 5,988
Sunny Darlo
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If you're looking at Saabs, have a gander around here. You may even find me skulking around although for reasons apparent in the other thread I've just posted in this section, I may not be around those parts for much longer (at least on the ownership front).
Last edited by Wishy; 20/12/2013 00:24. Reason: You're FFS and now it's been quoted!
Up yours Photobucket.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464469
19/12/2013 17:29
19/12/2013 17:29
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294 Portsmouth
ali_hire
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
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Yikes! That's a lot just for tax. Have you looked at a Mégane 1.5 dci? They are in the £35 bracket and can be had for very little wedge. I had one as a company car a few years ago. No poke whatsoever but it was a very comfortable cruiser. It was pretty spacious, looked ok (subjective, I know) and had a nice amount of kit too.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Wishy]
#1464473
19/12/2013 17:43
19/12/2013 17:43
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603 Corridor of Uncertainty
Jim_Clennell
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Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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If your looking at Saabs, have a gander around here. You may even find me skulking around although for reasons apparent in the other thread I've just posted in this section, I may not be around those parts for much longer (at least on the ownership front). I did have a look around there Wishy. I'm worried your 9-5 going pop will spoil my torrid fantasy affair with a HOT Aero; it's no fun if real world stuff like uneconomic repair happens!
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464475
19/12/2013 17:52
19/12/2013 17:52
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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They do have issues - chains to replace, coil pack (1 unit) they do like to break too.... lots of Vectra parts on them so not too expensive.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: ]
#1464502
19/12/2013 20:30
19/12/2013 20:30
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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They do have issues - chains to replace, coil pack (1 unit) they do like to break too.... lots of Vectra parts on them so not too expensive. Don't I just know it bro. Plenty of toys though in the top end model's.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464504
19/12/2013 20:53
19/12/2013 20:53
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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Big_Muzzie
Unregistered
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You live to buy cars that have issues! It's your destiny!!!
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464507
19/12/2013 22:32
19/12/2013 22:32
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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I do it on purpose. I just like messing with cars.
Anyway lacetti estate. Butt ugly but cheap as chips.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464532
20/12/2013 00:23
20/12/2013 00:23
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,988 Sunny Darlo
Wishy
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,988
Sunny Darlo
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I'm worried your 9-5 going pop will spoil my torrid fantasy affair with a HOT Aero; it's no fun if real world stuff like uneconomic repair happens! I wouldn't let my "sample size of one" tale of woe worry you too much. I haven't ruled out a HOT Aero yet for the replacement, although yes they do drink fuel if that's a concern. Mine (2.2Tid) has been a rock for the 4 years PC (post coupe), it's just now down to the banger money level of value that something like this will take it down on a head over heart point of view. Same as any other car on that front.
Up yours Photobucket.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464536
20/12/2013 00:37
20/12/2013 00:37
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,988 Sunny Darlo
Wishy
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,988
Sunny Darlo
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At least I'll get the little bugger back in my sig.
Up yours Photobucket.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: ]
#1464588
20/12/2013 13:42
20/12/2013 13:42
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TimR
Unregistered
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TimR
Unregistered
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You live to buy cars that have issues! It's your destiny!!! I thought that was aimed at Jim
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464600
20/12/2013 14:31
20/12/2013 14:31
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Definitely aimed at me. It's what I do. It's my thing.
Although it sounds like you like to do it 2 Jim.
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Re: Hypothetical "Which car?" thread - just for fun.
[Re: Jim_Clennell]
#1464613
20/12/2013 15:12
20/12/2013 15:12
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Muzzynumber2
Unregistered
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Oh it's never deliberately done on my part. I just can't help myself. I see it, I want it and you know how the rest of it goes. I know that saying well.
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