View Full Version : 146 or Civic
guybirch
04-11-2003, 20:22
got £20,000 to spend on a car which will have to be driven everyday long distances so has to be comfortable, and fast.
Graeme*Kustom*
04-11-2003, 20:27
Originally posted by guybirch
driven everyday
Get the Honda.
The choice from those 2 has to be the Honda. The Alpha just isn't as reliable, build quality isn't there and the servicing cost are huge!
Alternatively, go for a 6-12 month old BMW 5 Series or a Merc. Better to let somebody else take a big hit on the depreciation and you can reap the benefit:)
I've got a Civic Coupe, and it is a damn fine motor. 'nuff said.
guybirch
04-11-2003, 20:38
its not for me..i couldnt afford the insurance..its for my mum. she drives a punto atm buts hates it so a new car it is. i quite liked the 3.2litre v6 146 but its £23000:eek:
Originally posted by guybirch
i quite liked the 3.2litre v6 146 but its £23000:eek:
Worth every penny for the sounds it would make...
;)
The 2.0L Civic sport is a nice compromise between the standard hatch and the Type R. We have one at work and it's a nice drive. Well priced at 14K as well.
Fireblade
04-11-2003, 20:48
Originally posted by guybirch
its not for me.. its for my mum... I quite liked the 3.2litre v6 146.
That's a contradiction of terms surely :confused: :D Unless yer Mum is a girl-racer at heart, I too would suggest the Civic... but no... not the 'Type R' :p
guybirch
04-11-2003, 21:40
Originally posted by creepy
.
That's a contradiction of terms surely :confused: :D Unless yer Mum is a girl-racer at heart, I too would suggest the Civic... but no... not the 'Type R' :p
why not the type r..she needs something to thrash the ******** off like she did to her punto (many clutches and a gearbox later)
I'd choose the Alfa.
If I had 20k for the car, i'd probably be tempted by spending the full whack and getting an Audi TT, seen quite a few 2nd hand ones for that sort of price. Or else i'd save some of the cash and get a TDi Golf :D
Graeme*Kustom*
04-11-2003, 22:14
Originally posted by *abe*
I'd choose the Alfa.
If I had 20k for the car, i'd probably be tempted by spending the full whack and getting an Audi TT, seen quite a few 2nd hand ones for that sort of price. Or else i'd save some of the cash and get a TDi Golf :D
Alfa's certainly have the reputation of being the car you buy with your heart rather than your head - judging by the guybirch's description, the car needs to be used a lot and alfa's don't have the reputation for reliability that Honda do.
The sportier Hondas should be enough to amuse even the most adventurous girl-racer mum :)
Actually I have to go up and look at cars tomorrow, I'm going to look at VW's first but theres an Audi place across the road by the same dealer.
It's not for me, my Mums tax runs out soon and the car really needs replaced and I've been sent the task of looking at my local dealers for her :)
kessellrun
07-11-2003, 19:27
Get a Golf V6.
Mine cost me 20 grand and it's effin fantastic!! Worth every penny!!
Sounds great even when it's idling! Its 'only' a 2.8 though, if you really wanted a 3.2 you could go one better and get the Golf R32. Oh baby!!!!
Rather have an Escort Cossie for that sort of money.
Don't forget the Focus ST170 -- The handling is top notch with those things.
But, between the Alfa and the Civic ... A Type R sounds like it'd suit her down to the ground!
Get yourself a Honda mate, Nothing beats a Vtec moment :D but if your loopking at 20k to spend.. tell your mom's to get a Nice R33, or possibly Impreza 22B :D Im sure there are some out for that sort of price range. Don't get an Alfa though.. Unless you wannna be changing your gear box every couple of months..:S
Loay.
Monkey Rob
10-11-2003, 19:00
Have a look at importing.
www.bestjapancar.com
Ther's pros and there's cons. But most of the time you get an immaculate car for dirt cheap. A bloke at work got one off these guys and is getting his next one soon. I couldn't afford the insurance on one but I'm sure you mother is a fine upstanding pillar of the community and so wouldn't be charged too much.
You know you want the GTO
Can you believe 10 year old cars that have done 24000 miles?
Stephen B
07-12-2003, 19:30
Wait a few months and get an Alfa GT coupe, I own a 156 JTS Lusso and it is pretty OK for the M8 trudge every day, leather interior cruise control and 165 BHP
I used to own a chipped 200BHP 2.2 VTEC Prelude and that aint the car you want for a motorway.
"Can you believe 10 year old cars that have done 24000 miles?"
Not for a second!!!!!
Id steer clear of the Alpha as the Italians cant do electrics to save their lives. We have 3 alphas in our company the second it gets damp, wet, cold they dont start, they stall, the auto gearboxes play about.
Get the Honda, since its a mass produced jap car the parts and servicing should be fairly cheap
Nikumba
Stephen B
10-12-2003, 17:37
Don't want to get into an Alfa/Honda debate, but in my experience, Alfas are no worse than any other car I have owned for damp starting, done nearly 30K on a 2002 156 with no problems whatsoever, [this is my 5th Alfa BTW]. And the only time I open the bonnet is to check oil and add water to my screen wash.
Selespeeds are worrying, which is why I never got one. But how much of that can be levelled at driver abuse and or poor driving technique is anyones guess.
As far as Hondas go, yes they are very well engineered and built but I owned one for 3 years and even at £50 per hour servicing costs my main dealer consistently failed to resolve a 4 Wheel steer problem I had on my Prelude. Free cups of coffee and a nice waiting area are no consolation when you can't get you car sorted properly. Parts prices are on a par with Alfas, certainly not cheap, but they do tend to last the distance better than Alfas.
As regards a type R, if your mum likes to rev the engine, she will need a hearing aid before too long, drove one myself as it was on my list for a new car last year, but too noisy and stiffly sprung for a 60 mile a day trip on a motorway.
Oh, and they are also one of the most anaesthytised cars I have ever driven, only real highlight is a VTEC engine, like I said earlier what good is power at high revs when you are in a slow moving traffic queue to work. Basic low down torque is the key here which is why so many VAG turbo diesels are an irritation to get by.
Hmm let me suggest an alternative
Mazda RX8
http://www.zen34268.zen.co.uk/studio1_1024x768.jpg
:)
Firelord
19-12-2003, 09:15
How about the Seat Leon Cupra R?? Great car for the money (had under £20k easily). Has the fantastic 1.8T with 225BHP from the range topping Audi TT and now its owned by Audi the reliability has gone through the roof!!
Evo magazine loved the car and was amazed how well built uit was and how much fun of a car it was!!!
I want one so if your mum doesn't mind she could buy me one for xmas!
tjmartin1978
24-12-2003, 17:08
id recomend a bmw e36 328 coupe... I love it..
Not got the posy nickable value of an m3, lower insurance, but close performace with a few teaks here and there
Get a nice second hand one for £10000.....
well, as clarkson says the TT is a poser / total girly car :P.
Get a vx220 turbo lol :P.
If ur mums lazy and doesnt have any passion for cars i think she'd break the rx8 with no oil services etc :).
Originally posted by Hutchy
Get a vx220 turbo lol :P
Vauxhall? Me slappeths Hutchy.
Euphoria
20-01-2004, 01:41
If I had £20k I would probably hunt me down a Type R Civic! :D But that's me. A 3.2V6 Alpha would also be sweet but both are a HUGE upgrade from a Punto!
I would go with the RX8, it looks cool, is full of cool touches and gadgets, AND has a ****LE engine. Its only a 1.3 but goes like the clappers!
Edit: Oh come on, it blocks the coolest engine name ever?
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