In my last article, I took a look at ‘green’ cars that you could buy – stuff that if you drove it every day it wouldn’t try too hard to stuff up the environment on your way to work. What I’m going to do in this article is exactly the opposite. Why, I’m sure you’re wondering?
The simple answer is that apparently we’re all ignoring the government’s advice (read massive taxing) and going for larger cars. This is proven in the figures that show that:
‘Car buyers opting for larger vehicles made up 11.5% of all sales in the first ten months of 2007, compared to 9.5% in 2006. This is the first time that larger cars have represented more than one in ten used cars sold in the UK.’
So, in that case, what should you buy? What I’d like to offer here are not just large cars, but rather performance cars that the government (and some of the rest of the world) seem to hate. The reason being, I quite like them. I like the roar of a big V6, the throb of a V8. Not only that, but right now it’s a great idea to get one.
Yes, I know. I’ve already written about the barmy-as-hell huge road tax costs that you’ll pay for a more polluting vehicle. I’m also aware that in some places petrol has gone well above 105p per litre. However, the savings you make on buying a bigger engined or sports-performance vehicle (and the fun they will provide) should certainly make up for it. So, without further ado, here’s what I’d recommend.
COUPE
Audi TT
What a great, now classic car this is. Granted, there’s a new model, but come on, the old one still looks really interesting. These days, you can get a 2001 model 1.8T 225 Quattro (that means 4 wheel drive) for around £8,000. This, by anyone’s imagination is a great bargain. All you need to look out for really is that it has been regularly serviced, as it is difficult to get at the oily bits. Imports also may be an issue, as they might not put up with UK weather too well.
Mazda RX-8
This is one of the few cars on the road that comes with a Wankel rotary engine. What does that mean? Well how about revving beyond 9,000rpm with super-smooth power delivery? Yeah, that’s sure a great benefit. The RX-8 is an interesting looking beast, and it sounds great. The bad points? Well, the (ahem) running costs might scare you. The engine is only 1.3, delivers 2.5 performance and drinks like a 3 litre. Drive one though, I found a 192 on a 2004 for only £7,500.
SALOON
Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
If you’re looking for something with Italian flair, four-wheel drive and a monstrous amount of power then look no further. This is a car that is serious. Bite your head off serious. How about a 3.2 litre engine. Why not try 250bhp. Not sure about the torque delivery? This car will pull away smoothly from fourth gear. The interior looks classy without being over the top and you can get lovely leather heated seats. As usual, in Alfa style, you get cowelled instruments that only the driver can see. This stops your passenger from screaming when they see you’re doing 140mph. The bad points are pretty much summed up by also saying (much like the good points) that it’s an Alfa. You should be reassured that the 156 was the turning point – with the release of this car the UK dealerships and service centres were proved to be much better. However, check the head gaskets, the 60,000 service intervals and just about everything else. I’d certainly recommend a full main dealer service history. I found a 156 GTA for slightly over £8,000.
BMW M3
This motor is an absolute legend. If you ask anybody, they’ll tell you that one of the most revered BMWs ever made is the M3. This thing is fast. Seriously fast. It is one of the few cars in the world that you won’t mind pulling up at Tesco’s in, before roaring off to hit the Channel Tunnel and then heading on to the Nurburgring. It is a serious driving machine. Faults? Not many. One thing to certainly bear in mind however is the running costs. This is a supercar. If it hasn’t been treated as such, it might be a bit of a grumpy motor. Alongside that, imagine getting less than 18mpg. But what can you do? I found an M3 Evolution with tonnes of kit for only £5,995.
I’ll certainly be following this with some other ‘types’ of motor that you might well be interested in, but in the meantime, explore the options I’ve offered here. You might well find a hidden gem that you didn’t realise was out there, or even that it was available in your budget.
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