Help me choose a new car OcUK

Soldato
Joined
26 Jul 2004
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3,268
Location
Thunderdome
When reading about Giulia Q owner's experiences, It sounded awfully like the car was destined to make non scheduled visits to the dearships and when it did, the CS would be terrible :(

That alone was reason enough for me not to take the chance on this stunning car. The recent merger with PSA hasn't filled me with confidence that CS will get much better soon either.
 
Soldato
Joined
29 Jul 2004
Posts
9,671
Location
Somerset
Can confirm, however bad you think Alfa customer service is - it's worse. Only car I've ever owned where I'm actually glad the warranty has expired so I never have to deal with them again.
 
Caporegime
Joined
28 Feb 2004
Posts
74,822
I was in the exact same position just over a year ago, and test drove most on your list.

Finally bought 2019 Mustang GT Auto.

Had a splurge and got brand new, so the uprated engine, with the 10 speed gearbox, and magneride suspension, £46k.

Never looked back since.

No other car I have ever owned gives as many smiles per mile, every time it fires up, I just end up grinning like a maniac, that sound is so damn addictive.



Might not be what you are after, but the Mustang has been the biggest head turner of the lot, and gets the most compliments of any car I've owned.

About a couple of grand in upgrades to suspension and engine give a brilliant handling car with close on 490bhp and enough torque to tow your house with.

And for a big 5.0 litre V8 cruising at 70-75 in tenth is barely 2k revs and 33-35mpg easily, not that mileage should be a consideration at all when getting a Mustang.
 
Associate
Joined
31 Aug 2017
Posts
2,209
My 10p worth.
Important to me are driving fun and feel, i dont care if a car can do 0-200 in 6 seconds if its like driving a grand piano about.


Sensible Head
----------------
2017 - 2018 - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio £38,000 - £40,000 - Prob looking at a lot of hassle as most Alfas are - looks good but imho very heavy and i am yet to be convinced.
2015 - 2015 - Audi - RS6 Avant £37,000 - £40,000 - Another borefest Audi, i hate them all so thats all you will get from me on those things.
2015 - 2015 - Audi - RS7 Sportback - £39,000 - £40,000 See above, more massive yawns
2017 - 2018 - BMW M3 Competition Pack - £37,000 - £40,000 - imho more add on costs for stuff that should be part of the car as standard - still not too bad but another very heavy german car with a lacking of driving soal.
2017 - 2019 - BMW M4 BiTurbo DCT - £33,000 - £40,000 - Same as above, another boosted BMW, heavy as **** but quick.
2019 - 2020 - Ford Mustang V8 Auto - £35,000 - £40,000 - Nawp no thanks
2015 - 2015 - Jaguar XFR-S - £35,000 - Cant say this does anything for me, another big power big weight sofa on stiff suspension.
2017 - 2020 - Kia Stinger GT S - £28,000 - £35,000 - Interesting side option, cant say more until i rag the ass off one. But another very heavy car.
2016 - 2018 - Mercedes-Benz C63 BiTurbo - £33,000 - £40,000 - Nice choice, but this will be a firm ride on yet another photocopied german heavy coupe/4 door.
2019 - 2020 - Volvo S60 T8 Polestar - £38,000 - £40,000 - FFS why does this keep appearing, volvo make safe but very boring cars. I have yet to be convinced polestar is anything but a gimmick.
**** it Head
--------------
2009 - 2011 - Audi R8 V8 Manual - £35,000 - £40,000 - One of the very few audis i like. Although overshadowed in the driving dept (like every other audi) by many other cars its still a thrill to see and hear.
2009 - 2011 - Nissan GT-R - £33,000 - £38,000 - Godzilla appears in eveylist. Bad points are its now getting on a bit with the interior especially but other than that its a god tier car for a reason.
2016 - 2016 - Porsche 718 Cayman S - £38,000 - £40,000 - Top wheels here, same with the Boxer equiv
2009 - 2011 - Porsche 911 997 Carrera S - £35,000 - £40,000 - Imho the Cayman makes a lot of the early 911 line up look crap.
2009 - 2010 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - £34,000 - £40,000 - Naa... prob a money pit.
 
Caporegime
Joined
28 Feb 2004
Posts
74,822
My 10p worth.
Important to me are driving fun and feel, i dont care if a car can do 0-200 in 6 seconds if its like driving a grand piano about.


Sensible Head
----------------
2017 - 2018 - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio £38,000 - £40,000 - Prob looking at a lot of hassle as most Alfas are - looks good but imho very heavy and i am yet to be convinced.
2015 - 2015 - Audi - RS6 Avant £37,000 - £40,000 - Another borefest Audi, i hate them all so thats all you will get from me on those things.
2015 - 2015 - Audi - RS7 Sportback - £39,000 - £40,000 See above, more massive yawns
2017 - 2018 - BMW M3 Competition Pack - £37,000 - £40,000 - imho more add on costs for stuff that should be part of the car as standard - still not too bad but another very heavy german car with a lacking of driving soal.
2017 - 2019 - BMW M4 BiTurbo DCT - £33,000 - £40,000 - Same as above, another boosted BMW, heavy as **** but quick.
2019 - 2020 - Ford Mustang V8 Auto - £35,000 - £40,000 - Nawp no thanks
2015 - 2015 - Jaguar XFR-S - £35,000 - Cant say this does anything for me, another big power big weight sofa on stiff suspension.
2017 - 2020 - Kia Stinger GT S - £28,000 - £35,000 - Interesting side option, cant say more until i rag the ass off one. But another very heavy car.
2016 - 2018 - Mercedes-Benz C63 BiTurbo - £33,000 - £40,000 - Nice choice, but this will be a firm ride on yet another photocopied german heavy coupe/4 door.
2019 - 2020 - Volvo S60 T8 Polestar - £38,000 - £40,000 - FFS why does this keep appearing, volvo make safe but very boring cars. I have yet to be convinced polestar is anything but a gimmick.
**** it Head
--------------
2009 - 2011 - Audi R8 V8 Manual - £35,000 - £40,000 - One of the very few audis i like. Although overshadowed in the driving dept (like every other audi) by many other cars its still a thrill to see and hear.
2009 - 2011 - Nissan GT-R - £33,000 - £38,000 - Godzilla appears in eveylist. Bad points are its now getting on a bit with the interior especially but other than that its a god tier car for a reason.
2016 - 2016 - Porsche 718 Cayman S - £38,000 - £40,000 - Top wheels here, same with the Boxer equiv
2009 - 2011 - Porsche 911 997 Carrera S - £35,000 - £40,000 - Imho the Cayman makes a lot of the early 911 line up look crap.
2009 - 2010 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - £34,000 - £40,000 - Naa... prob a money pit.




With a name like sideways, you should love a Mustang ;) ;) :D :D
 
Associate
Joined
31 Aug 2017
Posts
2,209
Not a fan of Yank cars, but yes i have had a long history of motors that do skidz sideways :)

I do not like fat cars that compensate with big bhp figures - unfortunately the flipping market is full of them because folk are easily impressed with big boosted bhp numbers.
 
Caporegime
Joined
28 Feb 2004
Posts
74,822
Not a fan of Yank cars, but yes i have had a long history of motors that do skidz sideways :)

I do not like fat cars that compensate with big bhp figures - unfortunately the flipping market is full of them because folk are easily impressed with big boosted bhp numbers.


One of the reasons I was drawn to the Mustang is my dislike for boosted forced induction.

I prefer engines producing power the old fashioned way, "'ain't no replacement for displacement" as they say, and to be fair ok 1680 kilo odd is not lightweight, but its no beached whale either.
 
Associate
Joined
31 Aug 2017
Posts
2,209
Been through a lot of FI cars, right now i am preferring NA due to the weight advantage, nowt like having a throttle that reacts as if you just think it.
Anything over 1400 kilos to me is obese, why are cars getting so big and heavy?
This emissions or safety crap bugs my happiness, no.... cars are heavy because it cheaper for manufacturers to develop heavy cars and fit them with ever increasing power thanks to advances in turbos and fuel. Plus the inevitable whines from the public about wanting more space. Jesus i was behind a Q7 the other day, it was like a flipping single decker bus in share scale compared to me.

Just...dont....like....it.
 
Caporegime
Joined
17 Jul 2010
Posts
25,659
Not a fan of Yank cars, but yes i have had a long history of motors that do skidz sideways :)

I do not like fat cars that compensate with big bhp figures - unfortunately the flipping market is full of them because folk are easily impressed with big boosted bhp numbers.

Safety standards mean more bracing, more safety systems and more airbags. All this adds weight sadly so to keep the performance up they have to add power. And people want the best of both worlds too, cosseting, quiet cruising which usually means 100's of kilos of sound deadening too, not to mention all these fancy suspension systems that weigh massive amounts too. Cars are getting heavier overall.
 
Sgarrista
Commissario
Joined
9 Aug 2013
Posts
10,421
Location
Bromsgrove
2009 - 2011 - Audi R8 V8 Manual - £35,000 - £40,000

If youre going for an r8, get the v10. The v8 is crap.

2009 - 2011 - Nissan GT-R - £33,000 - £38,000

Would get my vote. Having owned one and all.

2016 - 2016 - Porsche 718 Cayman S - £38,000 - £40,000

Boring

2009 - 2011 - Porsche 911 997 Carrera S - £35,000 - £40,000

Boring

2009 - 2010 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage - £34,000 - £40,000

If it tickles an itch only.
 
Caporegime
Joined
28 Feb 2004
Posts
74,822
Been through a lot of FI cars, right now i am preferring NA due to the weight advantage, nowt like having a throttle that reacts as if you just think it.
Anything over 1400 kilos to me is obese, why are cars getting so big and heavy?
This emissions or safety crap bugs my happiness, no.... cars are heavy because it cheaper for manufacturers to develop heavy cars and fit them with ever increasing power thanks to advances in turbos and fuel. Plus the inevitable whines from the public about wanting more space. Jesus i was behind a Q7 the other day, it was like a flipping single decker bus in share scale compared to me.

Just...dont....like....it.


So how exactly is it cheaper, for manufacturers to use more materials, more steel, more aluminium, more plastics, and also how is it cheaper to employ hundreds of people to design develop and fit more safety kit, comfort kit, noise deadening etc?

More anything is always more expensive, they would far rather not have to develop and fit any extra stuff.
 
Soldato
Joined
26 Jul 2004
Posts
3,268
Location
Thunderdome
2015 - 2015 - Audi - RS6 Avant £37,000 - £40,000 - Another borefest Audi, i hate them all so thats all you will get from me on those things.

I don't know about your '10p worth' but it's obviously not the full Schilling... Have you even driven all the cars you've commented on, I'd suggest not. I'm having huge fun in this heavy, 'borefest Audi'. Coming from one of the best balanced and handling sports cars, I'd say you can't simply relate weight to the amount of enjoyment that can be had.

If the OP wants the most honed of driving tools - and looking at the list Id say that's not the case - he should simply go with a car like the 981 Cayman GTS.
 
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