Next step up / sideways from my Cupra R

[Kartracer69]

Hi guys

I've been pretty much non-existant on the forum for the time I've had my Leon, it has given me very little issues and lots of fun.

Basically I drive my car only to work and back 52 miles on the motorway. Truly boring, long are the days I used to take my cars out for a social drive and now I find myself grown up, daily commuting, a property owner and needing to move on

I have about 10k to spend on something more economical for work, something with a decent image and nothing too crap. For the type of driving I do (boring motorways) I'm looking at 320d, IS22d, A3 / A4 etc etc.

I've always stepped up from car to car as insurance becomes cheaper and I'm not an impoverished student anymore, but I can't really think of what to step up from a remapped 260 bhp Leon Cupra R without spending 15 to 20k on something mental.

Any ideas more than welcome!

James

 

[StephenJ]

A4 S-line

 

[s_purs]

I dont see why you would want to buy an A3 over a new TDI Cupra R (whatever the official name is)? Cupra is much better looking and is essentially the same thing underneath. No where near as common on the roads either. You could get a really nice couple of year old one for that money

 

[Kartracer69]

I'm definately keeping an open mind as I'm not really after an A3 just trying to give an indication of where my head is at, away from Mondeo, Pug 207 etc. not that there are anything majorally wrong with these cars.

 

[sootycupra]

335d coupe mate! its my weapon of choice to run along side the cupra - dont sell it!!

 

[JamJay]

To be honest I find all untuned VAG diesels boring, very boring, I hate them. I'd choose something from the BMW family personally, 135/335d won't be as economical as say a 120/320d but they're a lot of fun, pretty quick as standard like the petrol 135/335 but a well tuned Stage 1/2 LCR will still show one up.

Personally I'd never choose a diesel as I don't do the miles but I'd choose a BMW based on the test drives, a 335i petrol up next, remapped of course .

 

[stewbie55]

I'm in a similar position James - soon to be travelling further to work and wanting something more economical for commuting but not too boring and about 10k to spend (once I've sold the R).

The obvious move would have been a mk2 leon FR diesel but I'm struggling to get excited by the prospect...

I'm now seriously considering buying 2 cars instead - possibly an early mk4 Golf diesel (PD130 GTi ?) for commuting about £2.5k and maybe a Nissan 350Z for fun on the weekends - a good Uk registered one of these can be had for £8k or so...

 

[Cowie]

I'm in a similar position James - soon to be travelling further to work and wanting something more economical for commuting but not too boring and about 10k to spend (once I've sold the R).

The obvious move would have been a mk2 leon FR diesel but I'm struggling to get excited by the prospect...

I'm now seriously considering buying 2 cars instead - possibly an early mk4 Golf diesel (PD130 GTi ?) for commuting about £2.5k and maybe a Nissan 350Z for fun on the weekends - a good Uk registered one of these can be had for £8k or so...

Looking for a 350Z too

 

[jclaydon]

Tough one chaps.

I suspect i will be in this scenario in the next 12 months.

Did think about an 888 Astra diesel, 1 series BMW seems a very good option.

 

[Kartracer69]

Appreciate all the replies so far

It really has to be the hardest car decision as you are right.... it's hard to get excited about getting rid of what I love to drive and let my head make a choice for me.

The 335d is immense but for my price range it's not going to happen. I'm reluctant to spend such a huge wedge of my hard earned cash on a diesel commuter but I can't have two cars as I don't have the parking space, because if I did I'd have a terrible daily car and a caterham!

So ideally I need the phatom car... Something that doesn't bankrupt me on monthly fuel bills for cash flow, but enough to satisfy my driving pleasure and feel good driving it!

 

[ab1702_123]

Get an Audi a3 170, fair enough it's a diesel but it's 170 bhp, u could get an s line version for 10 grand, u wouldnt have much change though, iv looked at a couple and there 100 times better looking on the inside than my cupra,cheap to run and tax etc.

 

[Torred1771]

Curveball...Mazda 3 Sport 2.2 Diesel.

 

[Kartracer69]

Hi, I've had a look for the above spec car, and it's still a lot of cash for what I consider a very common car that would only be an 06 reg etc. They really do command a premium don't they

 

[Kartracer69]

I meant the Audi... keep the curveballs coming!! I'm gonna have a look at the mazda but quite sceptical. I think I'm a car snob lol

 

[Torred1771]

I love the Mazda, ive got one as a company car, its fantastic!

 

[ab1702_123]

Yeah they are very expensive the audi for the reg u get,very nice tho different class to my Leon. The mazda looks good,gealous of anyone with a company car wish I had one,got a company van and it's just not the same lol

 

[Willie]

Well having a LCR track car and needing a decent family car and something a bit fun to drive too I bought an A4 2.0 TDI S Line 140 BHP. This car has big miles on it but looks like new. It drives WAY better than any Seat due to its double wishbone suspension. TBH I'd say it would out handle my LCR and its well sorted.
If you are only really doing daily commute then you want something to make this as pleasurable as possible.
I bought the above car with 82,000 miles 2 years ago on a 06 plate with black leather seats for £9,950. The stereo system is very impressive, even though its not the Bose one.
TBH I love driving this car, its way more fun to drive than a LCR and makes fools out of lots of other cars on the twisties.
The 140 BHP doesn't have the DPF and maps to a better car than the 170 BHP is.
Take a test drive in one, you will be surprised

 

[ArosaRacer]

i went from an 03 LCR with remap to a 400 bhp evo and now im looking to go up in power again

 

[JaWalks]

i went from an 03 LCR with remap to a 400 bhp evo and now im looking to go up in power again

Thanks for sharing!

 

[ArosaRacer]

Thanks for sharing!

sarcastic ?