Paul, how are you finding your V8 tyreshredder? Need to know if I should cross it off the shortlist for "what car to buy at the end of next year"

Horners Rochdale have on one their forecourt (not the SE though)...worth a test drive?

Rob.

My Dad has one and seems to like it. It's a bit big for my taste.

Horners Rochdale have on one their forecourt (not the SE though)...worth a test drive?

I've looked around it a couple of times but haven't taken one for a drive yet. A test drive is all well and good, but I want to know what it's like to live with on a daily basis. Current shortlist is:

Volvo V70 R (strong contender)

BMW M5 (seems unlikely)

MKII Octavia vRS (strong contender)

Porshe 993 C2/C2S (strong contender)

Porsche 996 Cr (seems unlikely)

Audi S4 Avant - V6 bi-turbo (seems unlikely)

Audi S4 Avant - V8 (attractive, but not favourite)

MG ZT-T 260 (strong contender)

Out of those, I suspect the MG will have the most favourable running costs, as Rover places still seem to have sane labour charges, and the engine is pretty simple. And highly tunable... :rubchin:

Oh, and despite those "rear seats" in the Porsche's it will make a lousy family car...

Rob.

Out of those, I suspect the MG will have the most favourable running costs, as Rover places still seem to have sane labour charges, and the engine is pretty simple. And highly tunable... :rubchin:

Well, there is an Octy on the list too, and I'd have thought Volvo servicing wouldn't be too pricey. Besides, the ZT 260 requires an oil change every 5000 miles. It's highly tunable, but of the cars listed, gave me amongst the highest insurance quotes! (And that's with Tracker Monitor fitted too!)

Oh, and despite those "rear seats" in the Porsche's it will make a lousy family car...

True, but Mrs Witchfinder would have a good practical car too.

Well, there is an Octy on the list too, and I'd have thought Volvo servicing wouldn't be too pricey.

I'm pretty convinced Skoda pricing will go the way of the Audi/VW service charges, especially as the vehicles get "more complex".

Mate of mine has a C70, he says he wouldn't pay main dealer service costs on it...maybe he's just a skinflint, but AFAIK "Volvo" and "cheap" don't go hand in hand for anything...

Rob.

Mate of mine has a C70, he says he wouldn't pay main dealer service costs on it...maybe he's just a skinflint, but AFAIK "Volvo" and "cheap" don't go hand in hand for anything

I ran an 850 T-5 for over a year and can vouch that Volvo main dealer servicing is VERY expensive. In fact my old man (who's car it was first) got a 5 series BM to replace it and believe it or not the Beemer is cheaper to maintain.

out of interest why is the S4 unlikely, as far as i can they are fantastic, fast, big, comfortable and reliable and also very tunable. add about

Well, if it was me, I'd look at all the ones on your list and I'd add one other, based on previous experience - SAAB 9-5 Aero estate.

May be a bit left field, but I loved my old one, used to think of it as a Volvo with a bad attitude.

If you want a big block n rwd, have you thought about vauxhall monaro?

All I can say about Paul's MG is that it has a drinking problem - and with Paul's right foot I can't see it changing

Volvo V70 R (strong contender) terminal understeer

BMW M5 (seems unlikely) excessive running costs

MKII Octavia vRS (strong contender) cheap option.

Porshe 993 C2/C2S (strong contender) tricky in wet and running costys high

Porsche 996 Cr (seems unlikely) nice motor but maybe a little short on power for chassis...

Audi S4 Avant - V6 bi-turbo (seems unlikely) too old ...

Audi S4 Avant - V8 (attractive, but not favourite) nice but understeery

MG ZT-T 260 (strong contender) loving it but fuel costs high... nearly as much of a bargain as octy on purchase costs...

will take you out for a spin in mine...

If you want a big block n rwd' date=' have you thought about vauxhall monaro?

All I can say about Paul's MG is that it has a drinking problem - and with Paul's right foot I can't see it changing [/quote']

25mpg is best..

20 is avg..:confused:

been as low as 10 towing a deadweight.:eek:

but you will get no better on avg out of most of the others except the octy... then if you push it hard.......

I noticed a local MG Rover dealer has a brand new (pre-reg I would assume) ZT 260 SE for

Seems to be the norm..... bargain as long as every dealer doesn't do it and damage resale value...

Sounds like an ideal candidate for a gas conversion if fuel costs were a problem though....

Until the tax on LPG goes up and it costs as much per litre as petrol, and the higher consumption means it actually works out more expensive... :(

Rob.

Always the optimist... at the end of the day is fuel cost is a concern then don't buy anything with a 4.6litre engine!

Pretty sure I heard somewhere that LPG tax has gone up significantly...

But yes, the only way to be sure of not getting done over on fuel tax is to get a car which doesn't use much of anything in the first place - I don't think any of the cars on the list would qualify for that!

Rob.

its a 4.6 FFS! economy is irrelevant either you get hard at the sound of it or you dont.. if you dont then dont buy it...

just wait till next week.. rumour has it my optional X-power exhausts are not too far away.. seismic actvity warning..... :D

LPG is still under 40p a litre.

and going up,yes of course it will go up,but it'll take a long while to cost as much as petrol especially as petrol will keep rising in cost.

LPG is still under 40p a litre.

and going up' date='yes of course it will go up,but it'll take a long while to cost as much as petrol especially as petrol will keep rising in cost.[/quote']

Not convinced - going back about 3-4 years, I was paying pretty much the same for fuel as I am now...

The government aren't going to let a potential revenue stream go to waste, especially not if there are motorists involved. And if all the LPG users went into outrage about it rising to 60p a litre, I doubt anyone would really take any notice...

Rob.

its a 4.6 FFS! economy is irrelevant either you get hard at the sound of it or you dont.. if you dont then dont buy it...

just wait till next week.. rumour has it my optional X-power exhausts are not too far away.. seismic actvity warning..... :D

I've seen a demo with one fitted already or so it says! :confused:

Have to say "if" I had the money it would be on my list as I have a soft spot for Rovers/MG.

Paul - I'll definately take you up on your offer of a spin in your ZT.

The V6 S4 looks unlikely because I've heard some horror stories about how they eat turbos. Ian, I thought about the Monaro, but the insurance would be stupid on a VXR one, and that would be the one I wanted.

I know porkers aren't cheap to run, but they hold their value well and aren't as bad as a lot of cars if you can find a good independent. To be honest, RWD in the wet doesn't scare me - I don't have a club foot - so the 993 or 996 ought to be fine.

Mrs Witchfinder likes Saabs, but I don't. Sorry Jon, they just don't do anything for me.

Thanks all for the comments - keep 'em coming No doubt some cars will be added to the list and some will be removed over the next 18 months.

Whatabout a Smart?

Rob.