New Car Time / Paging the Car-isti

Hehe wimp ;-) I'm not sure I can have a VX220 now (in either Turbo or NA
form), as my back is largely disagreeable - and I'm pretty sure after the
novelty had worn off the lack of amenities would start to bug me - so I'm
back to looking at the hot hatches. I think I fear the owning of a 147 GTA
too much (and actually the insurance is a load more than I thought it was),
so I reckon we're down to Civic Type-R, or Leon Cupra R... The Civic is
cheaper, and I know I enjoy driving them, but I have a hospital appointment
in Leeds on Friday, so whilst I'm out there anyway I've found a Cupra R to
test, so we'll see on that... I seem to recall you once saying you were a
big fan of the Leon Pete?

Heh, I know **** all about platform sharing, I just knew they shared the 2.8
turbo engine.

 

In

Wimp? Aye, spose so.

Sack the VXR off, try a 330 bhp Rangie with two live axles for fun. Four
wheel drifting a bungalow is amusing..


--
Pete M - Using the Scouse Side of the Force -
Golf GTi Mk2 2.0 8v
Wood and Pickett Range Rover V8 Turbo
Golf GTi Mk1 (For Sale)
OMF#9

Currently listening to The White Stripes

 

You *have* to get a video of that up

 

Akkshirley I had thought about the Leon Cupra but forgot to shove it on
the list. Good call.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

It is if you're doing it in a public place.

 

I was thinking the same, all the cars I've had with aircon maintained
the same temperature if the car was moving or not. Including the day I
spent 4 hours crawling down the M5 in the middle of summer.

 

It wasn't a proper English summer if you needed the aircon on.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

I blame global warming.

 

Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TDI SE DSG[1][2][3]

[1] In a "recommend you're own car" stylee[4]
[2] In a break from the usual 3/5 door variants, it's longer than the
3-door, so has more boot space (possibly only with rear seats down, as
the extra length is given over to space for rear passengers, I think).
[3] Don't get the Sport or S-Line models, unless you really like hard
suspension.
[4] I don't have a Sportback. Or a TDI.

 

Actually , that does ring a bell about turbo failures.
I've seen a couple of mentions of that happening too.

I'm pretty sure there can be other causes as well , but thrashing the car
then shutting down straight away won't help , especially if there's no oil.
My 2.0tdi certainly uses more oil than the older 1.9 did which I think could
catch a few people out.

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk www.ebayfaq.co.uk

 

well, you should certainly be able to pick up the lo-power version in
your budget, because no bugger wants them[1]

[1] why on earth when there is a choice of a fast or a slow version of
something, otherwise identical in every respect[2], would anyone
choose the slow one?
[2] well, 5-speed gearbox as well, but...

 

My 2.0TDi PD140 is using less oil now it has 20000 miles on the clock.
Still a significant consumption which requires regular checking though.
It did 18000 before the first 'variable' service BTW.

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

<snip>

This...

Only partially ties in with this:

I have a Mazda 6 TS2 and it's an excellent car, with an enormous boot too.
However, it's definitely a mile munching repmobile/sensible family style of
car (which is fine for me, I just want to be comfy and have lots of toys to
play with!)

Well this is also one of the reasons why I rate the 6 so highly. It's quiet,
comfy, has climate control, cruise control, Bose sound system and lots of
cubby holes/storage places.

http://www.mazdaapprovedusedcarssite.co.uk/

lets you see what's avaiable from Mazda dealers nationally. There's 8
Automatic Madza 6's with the top spec on there. One of them only has 1,200
miles on it for £15,495.

 

Heh. I'll bet the engine struggled to move the car, though

 

It's a bit more than that, insofar as platform sharing dictates where
you're going to put the wheels, engine and so forth. I mean, you're not
going to be able to take a Golf floorpan (for example....) and build a
mid-engined two-seater out of it.

But I'm with you in that it's a reasonable thing to do, per se. I mean,
nobody would ever have said the old Alfa 164 and the Saab 9000 were
similar cars, yet they shared the same platform.

 

I'm assuming this was one of those new model Pandas? They look rather
funky. Fiat really does build good small cars.

<VBG>

 

SWMBO's Micra is like that. I think there's a "energy" switch with two
settings: thermal or kinetic

 

Reckon you could do a lot worse than a Hyundai.

I bought one of these (year old coupe 2.0 SE) last year for the
missus to run around in because we needed a second car. Changed from
EKS to permie employment at the beginning of 2006 and the nature of
the role meant I could no longer use the bike as day to day transport.
My current job pays a car allowance plus 40p per mile so the plan was
for me to use existing family car for business and get a cheapish run
around for SWMBO.

Being tight and realising that the little Hyundai was far more fuel
efficient than our main car (Saab 95 2.3 LPT estate) has resulted in
me doing nearly all my business miles in it. I don't really agree with
Bears "average" observation. I have to say that it is very well
screwed together and quite fun to drive in its own way (for cheap
coupe values of fun). If it were rear wheel drive it would be a great
little car. Ours has given no trouble in 30k miles.

Pros:

Great fuel economy. I get 40mpg without trying.
Well equipped for price. Leccy sunroof, leather etc etc.
OK to drive.
Looks. I think they are nice looking though rather girly (subjective,
I know).
Five year manufacturer warranty. Buy a year old example, keep it for
two years and then out it with two years warranty still remaining.
Cheap to insure.
Usable rear seats (dwarves or < 10 year olds only) and a surprisingly
large boot.

Cons:

Ride will rattle your fillings out in less than a mile. OK on
motorways but painful on normal roads.
Motor (well, the 2 litre anyway) is harsh and noisy at the top of the
rev range. Quite refined at motorway speeds though. The 2.7 V6 sounds
nice but is thirsty so defeats the object IMO.
Looks. You can always wear sunglasses if you're afraid your mates will
think you are gay.
Shit "it's a hyundai" image. Again, I find wearing sunglasses a cheap
and effective solution.

I am a big Saab fan and would think a second hand 95 would make an
excellent buy. Especially as they depreciate so disgracefully in the
first couple of years. 16k would buy you a decent aero or mint LPT I
would imagine.

 

SteveH banged the rocks together and said:

And thats the 2.0 TDI?

Pity, I like the new Passats/Boras, and 170bhp coupled with diesel
economy sounds good. Well, an Audi A3 with same engine and DSG box.