I have a car related challenge for you all !

[easty027]

Have a challenge for you all:

Basically the other half wants a new car to replace her mini cooper s. Now this is were you all come in as I have started to struggle in finding something suitable.

The brief is as follows:-
Practical to an extent – or certainly no less than a mini (we have no kids so it’s not an issue although another strict 2 seater might not be that clever)
Needs to look good, stylish and cant be something too common.
Needs to be farily new, no older than 2003 ish ?
Needs to be comfy with gadgets, she has had enough of the mini’s hard ride I think.
12-15K Budget.
Coupe or convertible – no preference really.

I have suggested so far:-
Audi TT new shape – likes them but out of the price range at the minute
Golf GTI 2.0 FSI - Too bland and common apparently
E46 3 series coupe – she liked the one I had but still a little bit common.
Mercedes CLK Coupe / Cabriolet (newer model) I think she likes them, but it’s a bit long ?

Its obvious I have quite a challenge ahead !

Any ideas / suggestions please feel free to post!

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Alfa Brera + AA membership

Fantastic looking car. Some good value ones to be had these days. Okay, not the most reliable... or how about the GT V6? It seems to be more reliable than the Brera - also looks good and a little more practical.

More sensibly... how about a 1 series? A friend (chick) has one and loves it!

 

[sk93]

Alfa Romeo Brera perhaps?
Lotus Elise or Honda S2000.. I know they're two seaters... but

 

[TH3R4POR]

Alfa Brera + AA membership

I love them

 

[EdButler]

Alpha Romeo Mito (Cool and Iccle)
Alpha GT Coupe (Cool, but AA Card at the ready!)
Audi A4 Cabriolet (Saw a V6 TDi today and looked gorgeous in black!)
BMW 1 Series Coupe (Too expensive?)
Mazda 3 MPS
Seat Leon Cupra (Golf but faster and look much cooler)
VW Scirocco (Yuck, but may float her boat)
Volvo C30 (Still quite rare, nice interior but really love/hate styling)

 

[peddy]

mazda rx8 (crap on fuel though)
doesn't comply with the brief, but how about an X5??

or you could tell her no, sell your own car add that to your 15k budget and get the M or the new Z4.

 

[a11y]

Along the lines of the Audi A4 Cabriolet, Merc CLK coupe or convertible? Not a big fan myself, but it's a proper 4-seater coupe or soft top, so plus points for practicality. Guess they'd be comfy and full of toys too. Not sure on reliability of Mercs of this age though?

Lots of varients on PH classifieds but 5.0l on a 54-plate for <£13k: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1336540.htm

And this meets all the criteria: Vaux Monaro 6.0 V8 2005 but might be a bit too OTT...

 

[Breaker]

Whatever she chooses she will be back in a MINI later in the year!

How old is the MINI? Is it pre-facelift? If it is, how about the face-lift MINI? My missus has an S and it's a fantastic car. More comfy than the pre-facelift ones also.

 

[un1eash]

E90 Coupe?

 

[easty027]

Some good suggestions guys.

Alfa- it will be me getting the ear ache everytime it falls apart, and it will for sure.
1 series - she is not keen on, and the ones that seem to fall in the price range look complete dog s**t
Mazda - no prestige to the brand, not sure i would even suggest it to her.
Leon Cupra, quick and i like them, however after she has said no to a golf gti FSI its gonna be a no for a seat for sure.
Volvo, despite the model and engine i have to draw the line somewhere. Plus she doesnt wear 'tweed' so probably not suitable.

I think the two options below might be worth while looking into - thanks!
Audi A4 Cabriolet: this might be a good option actually, i will look into this further -thanks.
Scriocco - she likes them but im not sure they are in the price range ?

 

[easty027]

mazda rx8 (crap on fuel though)
doesn't comply with the brief, but how about an X5??

or you could tell her no, sell your own car add that to your 15k budget and get the M or the new Z4.

RX8 - hate the things personally, plus i should have added no 'japanese cars' to the brief.
X5 ? now that is thinking outside the box ? could be an option ? i did suggest a porsche cayenne, however i have heard horry stories with running costs and reliability - it fell on def ears actually.

As for getting the new z4, also not keen would i woudl rather have a Z4M Coupe or used 911 for that money, doesnt look special enough in my opinion.

 

[Dreamer]

A3 cab. Are they cheap yet?

Edit: no they're not cheap yet, still if she wants to push the boat out and get one, she can race you in the putting roof down competition

 

[PawnSacrifice]

X5 ? now that is thinking outside the box ? could be an option ? i did suggest a porsche cayenne, however i have heard horry stories with running costs and reliability - it fell on def ears actually.

Cayenne... had one for 24 hours... I could not believe how much fuel that thing used! Absolute staggering feat of engineering though, the speed and handling (relative) for something that size was amazing!

If an X5 is on the table... not sure how cheap the current Freelanders are - they really are mini Range Rovers and worth a look!

 

[easty027]

freelander looks like you bought it to ship your labradors around in. its a dog lovers car. And its obvious that a range rover sport was out of the price range at the time of purchase. Mega plasticy inside as well.

Jesus, not sure who is more picky, me or the mrs ?

 

[PawnSacrifice]

easty027, seriously, can you put your other half on oke:

Well, I've given up being sensible! About the only criteria this makes is the price... ummm... extra seats... good traction in the snow... prestige, sort of... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1397932.htm

If you get her to buy one I propose we put you picture on the homepage for 1 month as an example of how "it's" done!

 

[bigshurv]

SLK 350, stylish, quick, good to drive, ladies love 'em. 4 seat cabrio's IMO look a bit crap with the roof down, 2 seats better.Steer clear of anything Land Rover, falls to bits!! Scirrocco also nice, it's growing on me.

 

[mcbeee]

I know you said "no Japanese cars" but if you don't want an older M3 cabriolet (lots of room, big boot, 4 seats and will eat most of the competition) you could look at a Subaru WRX.

 

[easty027]

a subaru ? i am beggining to think this was a bad idea posting this. :rofl:

The brief (revised) is as follows:-

Nothing Japanese
Nothing unreliable that falls to bits. (rules out any alfa)
Nothing that looks chavved (rules out anything by subaru)
Nothing manufactured by Land rover.
Nothing that looks like a hairdressers car 'i had to laugh at that one ' when i suggeted a SLK. (the cheek of it).
Has to be comfy
Has to have gadgets
No older than 2003 (ish)
Coupe or Cabriolet / maybe 4x4 ?
Doesnt have to have loads of power, but needs a little something under the hood to make it interesting.
12-15K budget
Classy looking
Sporty
Prestige badge (that should also rule out anything japanese like a mazda rx8)

In fact the only car she said she likes so far is the new shape TT ? But a bit out of the budget range at the minute. I dont think a car which meets the above brief actually exists does it ?

 

[easty027]

easty027, seriously, can you put your other half on oke:

Well, I've given up being sensible! About the only criteria this makes is the price... ummm... extra seats... good traction in the snow... prestige, sort of... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1397932.htm

If you get her to buy one I propose we put you picture on the homepage for 1 month as an example of how "it's" done!

that is seriously cool, however you would have to live next to a dealrership due to relaibility issues. That would mean moving house again, ir taking a lodger in who is a mechanic !

 

[Dreamer]

It does exist, a mk 1 TT. Leave your own preconceptions at the door and its not as bad as you think and she'd have change left over.