Suggestions on used coupe purchase

Father_Ted

Hi All,

I am facing a bit of a dilemma and would like your inputs or suggestions. I will be looking to change my car in the next month or two for a coupe or sports saloon. My budget is 15 grand but I would be willing to push this up for something special. I will be looking for a drivers car, handling and feel is more important to me then outright power. I am 32 with full NCB so insurance is not to big a worry but fuel consumption is, as I communte to work from Mullingar to Celbridge 3-4 times a week. I would like to think myself as a mature driver in that I am not a speed merchant but when conditions allow I like to go for a blast down a quiet country road just for the sake of it. I have owned various Celica's, FTO and VTEC Civics in the past and currently own a
W124 series MB E220 coupe. I bought the Merc to see if driving a bigger car would suit me, sad to say it does'nt. Its great for carriage and motorways but I miss being able to take it buy the scruff of the neck.

My shortlist is
1998-2000 Honda Intergra Type R. DC2
+ Great handling and feel, what an engine. Going buy EVO mag it will be a
future classic.
- Might be a bit to raw for everyday, that engine all or nothing, questionable image.

1999-2000 Toyota Celcia VVTI 190
+ Handling, reliabilty, runnig costs
- Not to sure on the looks, everyone has one.

1998-1999 Toyota Altezza
+ RWD, reliabilty
- Have yet to drive one, again questionable image.

The Honda would be my first choice but I hate the boy racer image that goes with it. I keep asking myself would I be able to live with all the attention it would attract from what I would see as the wrong crowd. Thats not to say that their wrong, I was in that crowd a couple of years back just that I am now older if not wiser. Question is if image plays such an important role that it puts me off a car that I really want.

Cyrus

Image on all the cars listed is a bit iffy, thats not to say they arent good cars but there a lot of scangers driving dc2s and altezzas at the moment. Also while for me a nice dc2 would be a great weekend car, you will soon tire of driving it daily esp coming from the merc.

The celica would have a slightly better image and imo of the 3 cars listed would be the one to go for, nice 190bhp engine, okay interior and in the right colour isnt a bad looking car.

If it was my money id be looking at either an e36 bmw m3

something like this for example, altho maybe a manual:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=543357

or an e46 323/328/330 like the following:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=512509&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20BMW%20330%2C%20Year%3A%202000%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=16976941&CFTOKEN=82864534

or

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=563295

Some of the bmws are over budget but its for illustration really, handle well for a larger coupe, plenty of power in the smooth straight six engines, interior will and comfort will be streets ahead of any cars mentioned and image is in a different league.

Anyway just food for thought

peasant

May I promote my usual "unusual" suggestion ?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=343530

Deffo no "boy racer" image ...but you'll surely leave them standing when it comes to it while still getting a very comfortable and unharassed daily commute.

The one in the ad has been for sale for a while ...so a good price should be feasible for the seriously interested.

overdriver

What about an older 911?

peasant

overdriver wrote:

What about an older 911?

The cost (and hazzle of) getting it serviced ...:eek:

pburns

I agree with Cyrus. A 3-series coupe would be a good half-way house between the big Merc you currently have & the Jap buzz-box from your youth. If you want a Japanese performance car with less of a skanger image what about a Legacy Turbo? No bigger than the Merc but much more of a drivers car...

An everyday 911 for 15 grand? Mmmm...don't think so... But you might get a very tidy 944 coupe for this money. Nothing on Carzone at the mo' that matches your requirements exactly but this is a beaut:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=423633

JHMEG

Cyrus wrote:

there a lot of scangers driving dc2s

White Jap imports.

Get a black UK-spec model and you'll be the envy of everyone, including me.

mike65

Fr Ted, just as a matter of interest, whats the spec on your E220 and how much will you be looking for?

Mike.

TCP/IP

How about a one of these:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=430861

Rocket to go and if you can get one with the hard top as well great for winter and summer driving. If you want you can have a go in mine.

Father_Ted

Thanks for all your inputs guys,

The M3 would be on top of my wish list but the running costs rule it out. The 323ci or 320ci would be the best compromise for me in terms or performance\running costs. Never really considered it as I taught they have an image problem all off their own. Might just look into one.


The Saab 9-3 as suggested by Peasant is a fine car but not for me. I had a chance to drive a 9-5 areo a while back and loved the kick of the engine but the rest of the car left me cold. Still for performance in a straight line and comfort it's a lot of car for the money.

The MG is an interesting suggestion, its different which is what I like but I need a car with useable back seats.

As for the Merc she is a 1994 UK spec with two owners from new. Was brought into Ireland back in 1996 and has an extensive service history. Currently has 92K on the clock, has all usual equipment including leather.
Will be looking around the 10K mark when I go to sell, have a lot interest in the car so should be fairly easy to sell.

Might narrow down my criteria to a car of max 2500cc, non turbo, with useable back seats. Another suggestion I got was to have a look at an Octavia vRS.

Please keep your suggestions comming as they are giveing me plenty of food for taught.

Vikings

Was looking at this one myself:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=309331

Very nice cars!

gary the great

I personally think that octavia is horrible, looks like a grandads car trying to be cool. Especially the spoiler, just doesnt suit. Dont get me wrong the octavia is a lovley car but it wouldnt do it for me tbh

The New Integras coming in from Japan are lovely, i wouldnt get a white one but the blue ones are nice

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=556569

But you'd probly want to take the massive spolier off it to de-boy racer it

EDIT Sorry just saw your budget is 15k, you want get a new DC5 itegra with that. But out of the cars you suggested id get an integra.

gary the great

gary the great wrote:

I personally think that octavia is horrible, looks like a grandads car trying to be cool. Especially the spoiler, just doesnt suit. Dont get me wrong the octavia is a lovley car but it wouldnt do it for me tbh

The New Integras coming in from Japan are lovely, i wouldnt get a white one but the blue ones are nice

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=556569

But you'd probly want to take the massive spolier off it to de-boy racer it

EDIT Sorry just saw your budget is 15k, you want get a new DC5 itegra with that. But out of the cars you suggested id get an integra.

Those Integra type rs come with that spoiler. Also unusually for a FWD car because of the special type of differential in the front the back end is often more likely to step out in cornering than the front. So ditching that spoiler could hurt traction at the rear!

Edit: Have you considered a Honda Prelude? They are rare as hen's teeth but have a 2.2ltr VTEC engine pushing out 200+bhp and are well known for their excellent handling for a FWD. They also don't have as much of the drug dealer car look about them like the Celica and Integra.

bbbbb

Did similar research a year or so back, was leaning towards a volvo c70. In the end decided my mileage had dropped too much to warrant spending the money.
e.g. here
second hand guide from the sunday times

bazz26

How about a Seat Leon Cupra? I know this is outside your budget but I'm sure the price has dropped a bit since it is a year older now:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=453326

Spitfire666

2L hyundai coupe?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=540773

Dilbert75

Probably get one of these in from England for better money if you were interested http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=563365

JHMEG

Dilbert75 wrote:

Probably get one of these in from England for better money if you were interested http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=563365

Ugghh, those lipstick coloured seats are making my eyes bleed!

endplate

Surprised this one hasn't been mentioned already it's a bit outside your budget tho

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=563822

Father_Ted

Thanks for all your suggestions and advice. I have been thinking things through and have come to the conclusion that the Intergra type R DC5 is the car for me. My budget was 15K but I am going to increase this to around the 20k mark for the right car. Will be arranging a test drive in one over the next few days.

Love the F355 pity it's not a real one.

JHMEG

Good choice!

Dilbert75

JHMEG wrote:

Ugghh, those lipstick coloured seats are making my eyes bleed!

Pretty gross alright - think I'd avoid that particular one if I was going for a 406. Still a class car, specially with the diesel or the V6

slickmcvic

~I was in the exact same siuation as you and I settled for an 2001 astra Coupe 1.8, For €15K you'd get a fully loaded turbo....they're greeat cruisers and the sports suspension is top notch for a bit of fun!!

with €15k u'd get this bad boy


check out its speck on http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=526802

galwaytt

Nissan S15??

And, you're nearly in TT money now, too.........

And no, don't do the 'old 911 thing'. BTDT. Cool 'n' everything, but as someone said, with a Porsche, make sure you always have 5k under the bed......you'll need it...........I'm seriously thinking of a 968, though, but the 3.0 is a killer - a 944 turbo would be a good compromise, and classic insurance eleigible too........and, technically it's still a hatchback, and they're renowned for not drinking juice.........sounds ideal

Have a look here for Eur 11k....... http://content.us.porsche-clubs.porsche.com/PorscheClubs/pc_ireland/pc_main.nsf/web/C1256FA500591CD4C12570E0004B285C

http://content.us.porsche-clubs.porsche.com/PorscheClubs/pc_ireland/pc_main.nsf/web/CBB6B4E993F107BDC12570AD0059D62F/$File/mick_daly1.jpg

Father_Ted

Will have to wait until I am a little older and richer to go down the Porsche route. Of what I have heard the 968 CS is the one to go for, getting harder to find a good one and buy the time I get into a position of being able to run one they will be all gone.

As updated I have increased my budget up to the 20k mark and today I took a DC5 Intergra type R out for a test drive. Bit of a shock to the system after the Merc, lots of noise and pretty hard suspension but I was expecting that. Overall very impressed with the car the engine is a peach and it makes you feel like your 21 again which is the opposite to the Merc. All was going well untill I rang up the insurance company, initially I was looking at a DC2 Intergra type R and I was getting quotes from various insurers from 600euros upwards fully comb. The DC5 is a whole different kettle of fish most places I rang did not have it listed and other's with not even quote me saying that it is restricted and thats with 10 years NCB and a clean license. I haven't given up yet but I am running out of options. I like he car but I am not prepared to get shafted again for the privilege of owning something different. With that in mind I am going to have a look at an Audi S3 it's a 00 with all the kit, leather etc. I know at the start I said I wanted a coupe non turbo car but the Audi is a bit different and I have checked the insurance which is running at 680 fully comb. I considered the TT but to get a 225bhp model with half decent mileage is out of my price range. If I can get the Intergra insured for sensible money i'll buy it, if not maybe the S3.

scargill

Father_Ted wrote:

Love the F355 pity it's not a real one.

But you get a REAL child with it !

Mr. Larson

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=562368

Okay the colour is a bit rank but you get the idea - good few others for sale out there if you were interested. Very rarely seen on the road and plenty of bang for your buck - fast, comfortable, reliable and look well too.

JHMEG

OP: someone must be insuring the new ITRs... there are a few around. Maybe post a new thread asking who does them.

Or try a broker?

Cyrus

maybe try xsdirect.ie

if you are over 30 they do ins for around a grand on any car with a 2.5k excess