Small-ish car recommendations please, fairly new, £10-14k ?

[bigblue]

Yeah, the 3 is too big. Missus doesn't fancy parking anything that size in town. I wouldn't be parking in town much, so it doesnt worry me, but I must defer!

Despite the missus finding an pristine example of it's kind, with one very careful lady owner, less than 8000 miles on it and a very (very) low price tag, I'm not taking anything to do with a compact !

She's also showed me a selection of TT's, but they're all a bit old, although admittedly low mileage. But more importantly, as someone mentioned earlier, neither of us cut hair

[Howard]

Z4. S2000. 1 series. gogogo

[hitman67]

Looks like I'll have to back up the TT then.

Fantastic car. ignore the image. now. What you get is a 225bhp (anything less is reallu just camp) 1.8T, and you also get the 4 wheel drive which means it sticks like poo to a blanket.

Or if you can get a 3.2 V6 you get two clutches and that very special DSG Gearbox!

[Howard]

Nice enough cars but what you really get is most-of-the-time FWD and a somewhat underwhelming drive in comparison with some of the other motors mentioned in this thread.

[hitman67]

Had a couple of play's with my mums 225bhp Cabrio and it's a cracking car. Really handles nicely imo, and tbh 95% of people want a car that drives itself most of the time, needs little input other than pointing it the right way and that's what a TT is. It's not as livley as an S2000 granted, but it's also less likley to punt you off into a hedge!

[Ben_]

Nice enough cars but what you really get is most-of-the-time FWD and a somewhat underwhelming drive in comparison with some of the other motors mentioned in this thread.

Reading through your posts.

I am willing to bet money you haven't driven any of the cars mentioned here, could you please tell me what is underwhelming about the drive?

[Ben_]

Yeah, the 3 is too big. Missus doesn't fancy parking anything that size in town. I wouldn't be parking in town much, so it doesnt worry me, but I must defer!

Despite the missus finding an pristine example of it's kind, with one very careful lady owner, less than 8000 miles on it and a very (very) low price tag, I'm not taking anything to do with a compact !

She's also showed me a selection of TT's, but they're all a bit old, although admittedly low mileage. But more importantly, as someone mentioned earlier, neither of us cut hair

If you think you are escaping the hairdresser image by ruling out the TT, then you better get rif of the z4 too. Its seen in a similar light by many. Despite how good the car may be..

[hitman67]

I am actually agreeing with Ben? *checks the temperature of hell*

I would have a TT any day. As long as it's a 225bhp or a V6 it's worth having.

[Ben_]

I would have one too if I was in the market for a car of that genre.

It goes well, looks ok still imo with the right wheels. And also has a pretty classy interior.

[staffsMike]

I would say the TT was the sensible choice.

Not going to blow your socks off but not a bad drive either. Same with the old Curpa R, it wasn't the best hot hatch but it was the best compromise

I'm not that sensible though so my money would be on the s2000

[hitman67]

As I said before, we don't all want a car we'd have to wrestle to work and back every day. As a track car you want it to be raw but for the roads a bit of safety is good. I've had Audi's with the 4x4 and it made them so insanley grippy and stable it was unreal, the TT is the same. It really feels like you could stick it to a building and it'd climb it!

Edit: OOOO in your budget and very very pretty...

Audi TT 225 Quattro dsg body kit bose music 18 inch... on eBay, also, Audi, Cars, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 26-May-08 11:19:01 BST)

[Ben_]

Think it looks pretty good tbh

[Howard]

Reading through your posts.

I am willing to bet money you haven't driven any of the cars mentioned here, could you please tell me what is underwhelming about the drive?

I haven't driven one, and I'm sure it's great compared to most FWD hatchbacks, but I also expect things like the Z4 will feel sharper through the bends etc.

Hitman, this idea of it being "safe" and "Predictable" is fine, but we're not suggesting stripped out track cars, a Z4 or other BMW is hardly going to be wanting you dead through every corner

[hitman67]

Hitman, this idea of it being "safe" and "Predictable" is fine, but we're not suggesting stripped out track cars, a Z4 or other BMW is hardly going to be wanting you dead through every corner

Didn't say it was, I know which car I'd rarther be in though when it came to the twistys. I used to love my A3 because you could chuck it around like a lunatic and the computer constantly fired power in all directions and kept the thing straight. You could see off BMWs with much more bhp as the 4x4 allowed every corner like like it was glued, the TT is the same but being a bit lower and longer than an A3 feels even more sorted than the A3 did.

Howard, I have a lot of respect for you and you're obviously an intelligent guy (unusual for a ginger ) so will have to agree to disagree on this one. Personally I'd have the TT over the Z4 any day.

[Howard]

chuck it around like a lunatic and the computer constantly fired power in all directions and kept the thing straight.

Heh, now where's the fun in that

[Ben_]

I haven't driven one, and I'm sure it's great compared to most FWD hatchbacks, but I also expect things like the Z4 will feel sharper through the bends etc.

Hitman, this idea of it being "safe" and "Predictable" is fine, but we're not suggesting stripped out track cars, a Z4 or other BMW is hardly going to be wanting you dead through every corner

Wrong.

Most things of that class dont feel as sharp through a bend as said model of TT. It really is a wonder how it has very little roll and sticks.