i agree, it doesnt look cheap does it?

i know they look baaaad but half the mileage and cheaper

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...cars&logcode=p

cheaper & older BM

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...--2006/4452858

Fokki

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...educed/4493831

Monaro

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...--2004/4397362

 

Some interesting cars there, but I need 4/5 doors which discounts a couple of them, although I know that model Focus is available with 5 doors.

I just can't see myself in a Cavalier tbh. I like the Monaro / VXR 4 door, but they're out of budget at the moment.

Reason this has come about is I'm starting to get itchy feet even though there's 8 months left on the BMW Lease.
Ending the lease early would cost me half the rental, and what ever mileage excess I've done. Factoring that against the full rental price, plus service which will be due and the 4 new tyres it'll need (probably a month before the end of the lease so I'll see little benefit)....and jumping into a "new" car right now starts to appeal.

Couple that with easier access for child seat (The BMW is 3 door) and even my wife's starting to be convinced.

On average I see one "that'd be really interesting and looks in good condition" car per week, usually of a different model each week.
I have considered buying another GTA and giving the three grand difference straight to an Alfa specialist but I don't think Mrs B would go for that.

 

I had a 9-3 Vector TiD 150 as family wheels for about six years. I liked the styling inside and out, but that was pretty much all it had going for it. There was nothing awful, but everything about it was below average compared to the competition. The trim was creaky, the stereo was crap, the ride wasn't great, the engine was a bit unrefined, etc. etc.

It was economical though, and torquey.

Reliability wise, it had a couple of ball joints done under warranty, but the big one was the top end. The PSA diesel uses a water pump with a plastic impeller, which had a tendency to cease/melt. Not a big issue in itself, but it's driven by the cam belt, which can (and did) jump a few teeth, which has the same effect on the valves as the belt snapping. The rockers are designed to snap, to avoid valves hitting pistons, but it still cost over a grand to have the top end rebuilt (back street garage rates, not main dealer)!!!

The car had done less than 50k when I punted it on to We Buy Any Car, but it already smoked on start up (even before the head rebuild) and felt like it was down on power.

We had a Vectra courtesy car for a while, after the Saab got bumped, and despite it not having the Saab's multi link suspension, it drove better and the trim quality was better, even if it wasn't as stylish.

In short, it was one of those cars that I didn't necessarily regret buying, but could have done a lot better for the money and was pleased to see the back of. That said, mine was bought less than a year old with a handful of miles on it so I felt a bit aggrieved, but it's quite a lot of car for the money at the going rate now.

 

We had a Vec DTi and it was sooooo uninspiring to drive. The later Signum VXR is supposed to be a reasonable steed but not that cheap yet

I'd stick with the BM and shop for someone else

 

i like the omega coupe...but its got the inferior LS1

 

Arent all of the diesels Fiat ? Multi jet units which although frugal and high torque can be very tractorish.

And. The 9000 was shared platform with Alfa wasn't it?

 

Yup and yup.

 

Sorry Chipstick, you're right, it's a Fiat JTD engine I used to tell people I had a flash car with an Alfa Romeo turbo engine before showing them the terrible truth

Just had a quick Google and PSA used it instead of their own HDi in some applications. I'd read stuff about the engine being used in PSA tackle so assumed it was the same across the board, but I now know the truth and am ashamed of my horrible misleading of the forum.

I apologise unreservedly.

Picky bast@rd.

 

A Saab 96 with two-stroke engine is one of the most inexpensive routes into racing at the Le Mans Classic.

Just thought I would throw that in...