Help Polarbear choose a car

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:
4 wheel drive vehicles are very safe...but when they go out of control, there is no coming back.
andy

And you have to be seriously pushing a 4wd car on a road for it to loose control.

Including nearly new I would seriously consider either M3 or Porsche Boxter. Despite what you say about the Boxter I would really suggest you give one a spin - one hell of a lot of car for the money. Sod the 911 comparisons.

New, I would look to the 350Z, Honda S2000 or an Audi TT (don't know how much the new one is though).

Best bet is to tke a few test drives.

quote:

Originally posted by Polarbear:
Very nice Jo but again over budget!

sell the 555 then....

I guess this will be my budget in 2 to 3 years time so i have been thinking about this now

How about a Maserati 4200 GT or a CLK 55 AMG
The Nissan 350Z is also a good choice as already recommended.
Naturally Nissan will be cheaper to service

John

The A Team van plus BA

quote:

And you have to be seriously pushing a 4wd car on a road for it to loose control.

Indeed,
But are we talking about safety or driving thrills? It's also about driver control - a 4wd is easier to control IMV than a good RWD vehicle...IME...

quote:

Originally posted by Jo Sharp:

quote:

Originally posted by Polarbear:
Very nice Jo but again over budget!

sell the 555 then....

never, NEVER I say

quote:

You can always penny-pinch by buying the misus a "C" Class instead of an "E" Class. Most of the neighbours won't realise - well ours didn't

Don, certain C class mercs are V nice

Neither an S, nor an E, nor a C are sports cars in the traditional sense though, despite some mega engines.

This week's Autocar is made for you PB - tests Audi TT vs BMW Z4 Coupe (both still to be launched later this year) with notes on the Nissan 350Z, Merc SLK, Alfa something and there's even a bit on merits of a 993 in there.

Peter

Thanks for that Peter, I will be rushing out to buy one.

BTW, I only want two seats, this cars for me!

Regards

PB

Not everyone shares Don's enthusiasm for modern Mercedes, in particular the people in the US and UK who complete customer satisfaction surveys.

I recently tested a new A class as an option whhen choosing a new car. A decent spec car was hilariously overpriced, and frankly not that good either. Trading on past glories perhaps?

The proble, with Mercedes is that you need to splash the cash to get a decent car.

I am looking circa £30k new and that doesn't buy you much with Mercedes!

Regards

PB

I have to say the local merc garage have been fine with both mine, one of which was not purchased from them but under warranty. I think the secret is NOT to buy new...

Still, the car market is saturated at the mo so there shoud be something out there for PB, if indded he actually needs to chage what he has!!!

I am sure I will find something

"Don, certain C class mercs are V nice"

So my wife tells me, Andy. At the moment she is enjoying both her old E Class AND her new C Class............especially the fact that she got 72mpg out of it yesterday going to the Mailbox in Birmingham and back...

NB, as you noticed earlier, I see that you are having to penny-pinch on the car. Of course you can't get a decent new car for £30k any more that you can't get a decent hifi system for £30k.

Most people on this forum HAVE to make-do with a severe compromise on both the car and the hifi. You are fortunate in only having to compromise on the car......

Ditch the old jeep thing you had. I only use mine in Alberta, BC, the Yukon and Alaska where it has a REAL use. In the UK its only for Posers or hill farmers.

I agree with whoever said that Mercs' recent quality has suffered a decline. But the NEW S Class has definitely put this right. In fact, IMHO they managed to put it right a couple of years ago. Just avoid the period from Crysler's involvement up until 2 years ago.

So, Polarbear, discard the idea of a mid-life-crisis boy-racer. Borrow the extra cash. Spend £60+K and buy a proper car. Just because it has 4 doors doesn't mean you have fill all the seats..........

Cheers

Don

Ok for something very different...

This would be my choice



A replica 356 built by Chesil

Then something modern for day to day - VX220 - cheap to run, insure, its fast etc etc.

£30k spent.

Hi Don,

Mid-life crisis, what mid life crisis?

The jag about not being able to buy a decent system for £30k was very much tongue in cheek.

I am more than happy to spend under £30k for a new car and I am more than happy with the car I currently have.

The Jeep is the family car and is the compramise if a Grand Cherokee could ever be called a compramise.

The "other" car is my own personal car, that only I use and I cannot see the point in spending more than £30k at the moment.

If circumstances in my life change and they may be doing soon, then in a year or two I may swap both vehicles for what you call a proper car,

regards

PB

quote:

Mid-life crisis, what mid life crisis?........

......then in a year or two I may swap both vehicles for what you call a proper car,

Nigel,

looks like you're in "denial" re the mid-life element and are already suffering from the prediced "upgradeitis" that I predicted..........

But don't let my words of wisdom spoil your last fling of rapidly-receding youth.....you might even borrow a pair of yellow gloves from your dad.

Cheers

Don

(Lonnie Donigan - for those who can't quite remember, and those who are too young to know - like Nigel)

quote:

looks like you're in "denial" re the mid-life element

Mid life, I am long past that

PB

For goodness sake, you come across as some middle aged, new money oik.

Stop poncing about with vehicles which will be owned by chavs in a few years timeand buy either a Merc, a Jag or a Bristol.

Regards

Mick ... see how easy it is to write a posting with using the other chav habit of using smilies.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick Parry:
PB

For goodness sake , you come across as some middle aged, new money oik .

Stop poncing about with vehicles which will be owned by chavs in a few years time and buy either a Merc, a Jag or a Bristol .

Regards

Mick ... see how easy it is to write a posting with using the other chav habit of using smilies .

It looks much better with the smilies!
I went for a test drive of the new Jag XKR but the 20 month waiting list put me off. I want my new car delivered on the 1st September,

Regards

P(Loads of money!)B

quote:

I want my new car delivered on the 1st September

Buy a decent Merc and either have it delivered, or take the misus over to Germany to collect it and enjoy the short holiday comming back.

You do have to endure the factory tour and the Americams who have come over to collect theirs - God knows which ferry they take back home -

But 1st Sep shouldn't be a problem, and it will save you pissing about for the next two years

....and £60k for a decent car isn't "loads a money" these days.......so stop bragging

Cheers

Don

quote:

But 1st Sep shouldn't be a problem, and it will save you pissing about for the next two years

Just in time for the Lexus LS500

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:
a 4wd is easier to control IMV than a good RWD vehicle...IME...

Yes, but not half as much fun as getting the tail out round a roundabout

quote:

Mick ... see how easy it is to write a posting with using the other chav habit of using smilies.

Guess the chavs know it is "without" using smilies.