Possibly changing my car!

[Dave]

only problem with that is that it's a clio!!

[colm_mcm]

only problem with that is that it's a clio!!

you're being too kind!

[optical illusion]

Nothing wrong with the clio, have you even read the reviews? An article I read recently in a big car magazine in Britain (can't remember the name) rated it third best out of 20 cars tested (this included the likes of focus ST, golf gti and mini cooper s etc) second was audi s3 and first - YES! - megane sport r27!

Speaking of the focus ST, how about that? In a nice hasbro orange perhaps?

[Dave]

ha ha, the old asbo ST(i) Focus!!
Ah no, I'm sure the Clio is a cracking car, but i just don't like them, never did!! I'm trying to stay Jap if possible and keeping away from the hot hatch scene....

I've a list so far

Evo
s15
Impreza
Legacy B4
Supra
DC5
M3 (maybe, looking through the uk)

There are a few others

[Wildhound]

*cough* GTO

[Dave]

I think it may be you that should buy a GTO!!

I used to like em, but they've become dated over the last couple of years..IMO of course!

[Wildhound]

I'm actually starting to agree with you. I was obsessed with them and I still see gorgeous ones on the road from time to time, but in general they are starting to age. It's unfortunate because they'll probably be looking far too retro before I get around to owning one!

[Bernard]

I'd go for the Supra, fabulous car, loads of power.
It looks like the FTO's big brother, more so than the GTO imo.

[Kace]

GTOs are definitely past their 'best before' date. Absolutely no problem though if you look like Tom Selleck and / or sport a bare chest medallion .

[optical illusion]

That's cool, fair enough.

Ohhhh a list...

*coughs louder*

Evo...

[soc]

M3

This would be my choice - cracking car - good value about now too. Potentially horrendous running costs though if things go wrong. That's what has put me off them so far

[Muad_dib77]

Dave what's a supra doing on that list - did you see the seats in them? you wont be able to fit anything other than a baguette there.

M3 is a good choice - also a fan of the Legacy - nice and understated but quite powerful if you choose to speak with your foot..

Can't go wronge with a Nice evo... Whip off that rear spoiler they come with and you have something that looks more like a saloon but with a bit of fun in the mix..

actually I like your list... get them all.. go on - I dare you

[Myfeckin FTO]

..........

I've a list so far

Evo
s15
Impreza
Legacy B4
Supra
DC5
M3

Hmm - the only cars off that list I'd consider an adequate replacement for the Zed would be the Evo or M3 and a good example will cost you similar money to the Zed. I imagine both will be costlier to run than the Zed though.

The others are good cars just suffer a little in the looks department plus a couple are moving on in age now and it'll be hard to find examples that you won't have to spend money on maintaining as opposed to just performance/cosmetic mods which is all your Zed needs at present.

Unfortunately I think you'll find that if you want rear seats - a modern (03+) Jap coupe and 200bhp+ and still have money left for a runabout for the missus then its the RX8 (238bhp) for you - they are going for very reasonable money these days. Stick a nice Borla exhaust on it and a set of rims and you'll be sorted.

[optical illusion]

You know why there are going for reasonable money though? They are infamous for their engine going ar$e up after 50,000 miles. The joys of rotary engines... If you look at all the ones for sale on autotrader currently, they are all under 50K...

If you don't mind spending loads of money on getting your engine replaced, then get one.

I do love the look of them I have to admit but they are like mini coopers, they scream 'girls car'

[Myfeckin FTO]

......They are infamous for their engine going ar$e up after 50,000 miles. The joys of rotary engines... ......

If you don't mind spending loads of money on getting your engine replaced, then get one. ...............

Umm - No! Are you maybe confusing the RX8 with the RX7 ?
Theres no reason why an RX8 engine can't have a long and happy life if properly maintained.
In any case you wouldn't "replace" an RX7 engine at 50K miles - its "rebuilt".

[mcgon1979]

my mates driving (hard) a 350bhp RX-7 (1999) for the past 18 months anyways. not a sniff of a problem on it. the apex seals have a tendency to fail after 100k etc (you lose compression) but they can be replaced easily if you have a garage and a bit of know how. The RX-8 uses a much improved generation Renesis engine. This engine does not have any issues like the older RX-7 one had. I would expect you could drive it for 150,000 miles without any issues with seals etc. It's non turbo too so less stress on the engine.

[optical illusion]

I know the RX7 had its problems but I've heard of these problems with RX8s too... Not as bad as RX7s obviously but still problems nonetheless.

A friend of mine had one, kicked its heels at 52k, mechanics options given were rebuild or sell (cheaper)

[Mustang]

......They are infamous for their engine going ar$e up after 50,000 miles. The joys of rotary engines... ......

If you don't mind spending loads of money on getting your engine replaced, then get one. ...............

Umm - No! Are you maybe confusing the RX8 with the RX7 ?
Theres no reason why an RX8 engine can't have a long and happy life if properly maintained.
In any case you wouldn't "replace" an RX7 engine at 50K miles - its "rebuilt".

Agree with MfFTO, I certainly have not heard any issues about the renesis engine.

[CJ]

I know the RX7 had its problems but I've heard of these problems with RX8s too... Not as bad as RX7s obviously but still problems nonetheless.

A friend of mine had one, kicked its heels at 52k, mechanics options given were rebuild or sell (cheaper)

Some pretty broad statements there Optical - if you look after a rotary, they are very forgiving, they need more maintanence that a piston engine (which is where a lot of owners fall down). I owned an RX7 for a year and a half and the engine did not loose compression during this time, it never let me down. Any problems I had were related to other mechanical parts such as the differential. The Renesis in the RX8 is a very relaible lump and is not prone to early failure as far as I'm aware. I suggest you head over to www.irishrotary.com and get clued up

Back on topic - Dave, go out and test drive the cars on your list to get a feel for each one, its ok to be a 'time waster' every so often!

CJ

[Dave]

yeah it went off on a bit of a tangent there, i had a look at a skyline GT yesterday, didn't bother driving it as i wasn't really interested in that particular one, i was just passing, but i am going to do just as you said CJ, i'll do a bit of tyre kicking....

[Dave]

The car was viewed yesterday and the guy more or less wanted it without arguing on the price... I had a serious think about it and went through Carzone last night, and I can't bring myself to sell, so I'm holding onto it and going to tighten the belt and get a car for herself that has the 4 doors!!

[Mustang]

The car was viewed yesterday and the guy more or less wanted it without arguing on the price... I had a serious think about it and went through Carzone last night, and I can't bring myself to sell, so I'm holding onto it and going to tighten the belt and get a car for herself that has the 4 doors!!

That's an interesting change of roles, the seller becomes the timewaster

[Dave]

Yeah i know, I was to meet up with him again during the week and what not as it was only a passing thing yesterday and I knew i'd be devastated to loose the car so decided to keep it!!

Now....

a four door for say about €10K.....Suggestions?

[Myfeckin FTO]

Yeah i know, I was to meet up with him again during the week and what not as it was only a passing thing yesterday and I knew i'd be devastated to loose the car so decided to keep it!!

Now....

a four door for say about €10K.....Suggestions?

Good decision - you'd def have regreted selling the Zed - it would be hard to drive anything less after a few months of Zed ownership. They really are fantastic cars - good performance and handling, looks and incredible reliability. I really don't know what I'd change to - quite probably another Zed. The only disadvantage is the whole 2 seater thing - but its no problem if you have a second car in the family.

As for a 4 door for 10K -

This would be my list -
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=802313

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=849945

(My mother has owned both of these models and they've been nice to drive and v v reliable).

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=843914

(Wife currently has one of these - nice car to drive)

My personal favorites for the money - http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=857443
OR
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=816369
(You'll need to pay VRT on the 9K though)



If you want max car metal - low miles and a newish plate - the amount of money that has fallen of these is unbelievable - v good 2nd hand buys though -
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=744179

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=812410
(these are only worth about 10K private)

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=837346

Something retro (expensive to run though)?

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=761864

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=860027

[colm_mcm]

What sort of car does the Missus need, any constraints on mpg, engine size, body shape etc?