So welcome to the Barmybob What Car? thread.

This started off with thoughts of purchasing an Audi TT 3.2 DSG, a car I had always fancied, but it has moved on quite a bit. I have moved through later model TT's, Audi A/S3's. VW Scirocco's and many more. Current thoughts are towards the Audi A5.

I've been so wrapped up in owning old cheap cars that I have no real idea of what is available, nor indeed what I really want. This has been made worse because I have increased the budget somewhat.


Current thoughts:

• The cars main function will be to commute - 45 miles a day.
• The car needs to be reasonably quick - The current 156 isn't and I hate it Previous cars - Alfa 166 V6 / Audi 2.8 Quattro were perfect.
  
• However - The current 156 has significantly reduced my fuel costs so finding something that can return mpg in the 30's or better would be nice.
• Style - I've always preferred 3 door Coupés - I don't need four doors.
• Age like mileage is not really important. The condition is key. I get a bit sick of viewing cars claiming to be 50,000 miles and prefect but that appear to be 200,000 mile taxis

Alfa GT 3.2 V6

Lovely indigo blue on around 68k for sale just up the road from me, 7k. I'd be there like a shot if I could.

Gt86

45mile a day commute and also knowing your route you don't have to worry about mpg Bob.
Get whatever tickles your fancy mate.

A sporty A5 over a TT any day .

Cayman 2.7.
Quite quick and should do high teens mpg.

High teens? Not quite in the 30's!

I still think the gt86 ticks all your boxes!

A GT86 isn't a nice place to spend any amount of time, especially not a daily commute. Cheap nasty looking dash, swathes of plastic, a gutless engine and a ride that become tiresome after 30 minutes. I did a 45 minute drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in a friends car, I didn't enjoy it as a cruising car.

What's your budget Bob?

Around about £14k

Seat Leon fr?
Lower end of budget ticking most along with quick diesel engines with good mpg.

Mercedes e class coupe? Loads under 14k fully loaded,diesel.

This car is still for sale on an Audi Forum, it's a lovely spec S5 4.2 V8

Audi S5

His price is down to £15K but I think he'll accept £14K if you offered it.

old ebay add

Sorry.
Meant high twenties.
Mid thirties on a run.

Or possibly a bmw 325 coupe? Or 320 or 330? All over 30mpg and under 8 secs with baring specs for choice. Loads at 6k onwards



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509217110058?onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&quantity-of-doors=2&postcode=cm241qw&fuel-consumption=high&radius=1500&search-target=usedcars&maximum-mileage=up_to_80000_miles&make=bmw&body-type=coupe&sort=atcustom&minimum-seats=4&price-to=12000&zero-to-60=fast&page=1&logcode=p

I went to look over an A5 today. The closest one was at a trader in Stansted... The fellow also had a couple of TT2's and after spending time looking over all the cars I discovered that I prefer the size - shape and specification of the A5 over the TT2.

The car was a base model 1.8 Tsi SE and wasn't fitted with the wheels shown. He also had a rather nice S5 4.2 V8. This was also in base spec rather than the "BLACK" and being a 2012 was well outside the budget.

There are a few V8 S5's in budget, the one Jimbo has linked to looks really nice, and the performance looks impressive too. But the fuel economy and the £505 road tax, year on year and I suspect insurance would be murder. If I didn't still have to go to work it could work, but we're treading on the Aston dream now! (Hmmm RS5 )

Having looked over the 2008 Audi A5 sales brochure on-line it appears that the 3.0 Tdi Quattro with the S-line, and if possible Black Line, trim would be the best. The online community and road test reports seem to suggest the 7 speed auto makes the most of the huge torque and I think I would prefer an auto too. Some of the options available on the A5 are crazy, and cost quite a bit too So seeing any fitted could be a big bonus

So, I have booked an appointment to see a 3.0 Tdi Quattro S-line Auto tomorrow. The mileage is a bit higher than I would like but it is a one owner car it has some extras and is slightly under budget.

Nice Spec slightly high on the budget but that's the starting price, you'd get it down £1K easily.

There is really nice looking 2008 which has CAT D against it, I believe it's got the full repair video on YouTube, they put the face lift front and rear bumper and lights on it, it looks great, is a really high spec and good price, it's just the CAT D if you can live with it.
If it's the same car, it looks like it had been the centre car in a 3 car shunt.

Let me try and find it

Here

Ah no, the video I'm thinking of is a white A5 Cabriolet.

Cat D is the lightest of repair categories, would be interesting to see what happened to it at that price.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510238080248?page=2&model=a5&make=audi&postcode=cm241qw&sort=priceasc&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

Why burst the budget. Some nice a5 lower down the scale but obviously higher miles etc

An ex neighbour had exactly the a5 you're looking at, he loves it! Red it is, lots of toys and he's been really impressed, he traded it in for a new non Quat and hated it and went back to audi and swapped back!!!

Bob, if you do look at the 4.2 V8 (which sound amazing) it would be worth taking it for a carbon clean. By 40K miles the intake is pretty gummed up and will really benefit from a clean. It costs around £100 for the service so factor that into your costs or add it to the discount you're looking for.

Give me a shout if you've got any questions on the car or the optional extras, I ticked all the options boxes when I ordered my RS5, some of the options are great, some are pointless and not worth paying extra for.

I love the big coupe, I hope you do too.

There was a time when I would have been silly enough to have gone for the V8 without any thought of if I could afford to run / own it. Somewhat sadly those days are gone and the sensible head tends to dominate proceedings... so sadly no S5 or RS5 is on the cards for me

Wow that one is cheap.

Having looked at quite a few adverts I have decided that I much prefer the S-line specification to the SE. The Black headlining, upgraded MMI, S-line seats, styling touches and Xenon Plus lamps are all items I would like. If I could find one the Black Edition with the privacy glass, B&O sound and black rather than chrome trim, would be even better.

Alfa Brera 3.2 V6 ? I do love the shape and have been tempted, a late model pro drive model for around £12-15k

I looked at the Brera and GT, asked around and all positive feed-back came from GT owners, so GT it was. Very pleased.

Went to see a 2.7 S-Line Multitronic yesterday. We really liked the S-line spec and the A5 Coupé is growing on us too. The car was in white and had after market tints which didn't look good on the rear window The car looked a bit scruffy in places but inside there was little sign of wear and the car actually looked ok. All it did was convince me I didn't want the 2.7!

Having done some more research I have now ruled out the 2.0Tfsi, 2.7tdi, 2.0tdi, Multitronic and S-tronic.

If I go A5 it has to be 3.0 with Quattro and tiptronic or manual gearbox and as higher spec as can be found. There are a few sought after options on my list so I can narrow down the search.

On the way home we stopped to see another A5. It was a soft top, which we don't want but thought it would be good to get a feel of the cars. sadly it had sold but a blooming Passat CC caught the wife's eye. have to say it was rather nice - 2012, low mileage and in budget, just seems a bit too big!

The Brera was on my list. I've looked and driven a few but sadly they just didn't feel that well put together to me

About three years ago I looked for a GT but I just couldn't find a nice one I spent a couple of weeks trawling dealers and looked at perhaps 15 GT's. They all either had issues or were looking like the mileage had been adjusted. There was just one that I considered buying but even that had window issues - not dropping when the door was opened. We went to Leeds to collect my son from Uni and rather than take the train home (Car was full of his stuff) I bought a very cheap 2005 156. Sadly I have never liked the 156, it was a significant backwards step from the much older 166 . Regrettably I don't think I'll ever have another Alfa

Oh, on the way home yesterday we were passed on the A14 by a brand new UK spec Bright Orange Ford Mustang Coupé. I jokingly said to the Mr's "shall we just go to the Ford Dealer and order one of those"? I got the reply I wanted but I don't think she meant it.. " Oh for God's sake, if that's what you want to do!"

Bob, you're bonkers!!

From a MK1 TT to a Mustang......

Yep -- "Barmy"Bob

I guess the madness comes from not knowing exactly what it is that I want! Big car - small car - quick or economical I just don't know. All I do know is that even a big budget, for me, can seem quite small when you are looking for cars.