Must be the pending summer, but I'm seriously considering changing my car for something newer. The Octy is now 5 years old and I figure it is still worth something, so rather than waiting for it to disintegrate, why not see what is available now...

So I've made a short list of suitable candidates, and am wondering if anyone has any other suggestions I can take a look at.

So far, I've come up with the following cars:

1) new Octavia vRS MK2 (ofcourse)

2) year old Subary Legacy 3.0R Spec B

3) year old Ford Mondeo ST220

4) nearly new Mazda 6 MPS

5) nearly new Vectra VXR (maybe)

The things I need from a car are:

1) Petrol engine

2) Manual gearbox

3) Boot (and a big one at that)

4) Lots of legroom inside

5) Hatchback/saloon

6) Fast

7) Not French or Italian

Oh, and my budget is between £15K and £20K. Am I missing some obvious choices?

Q.

I love the Legacy.

Have you looked at the Mazda MPS?

P.S.: You could always just stick an orange stripe on the Octy Makes it seem like a whole new car...

You could consider the new Vauxhall Vectra VXR, 2.8 V6 Turbo (Yum Yum!), there is an ex-demo on a Network-Q website for £20k, piccy of it below.

I second the Vectra. Shame about boot space requirement or I'd have suggested an Evo How about a Subaru Forester? Rover 75 V8? Ford Focus ST or secondhand RS?

Umm best keep an eye out for vectra's now...could be embarassing

Of that short list Q,

Either new rs or legacy spec b

Mondeo is viable, but tired shape imho.

Remember a roof box is an option, if not a good looking one.

Actually debating a grand tourer myself since I've rediscovered the hills and crags...problem is traffic, I'd miss the ability to shave hours of a drive through wales.

Why petrol anyway?

I'm seriously tempted to track down a 2.0l oil burner vrs or maybe a golf to see if it's viable. With a mild tweak and I mean mild it will be one hell of a tourer.

Or maybe, consider a merc 220, 230 or whatever they come in, bit, that rover 75 is an option, V8 nice and cheap as chips for what I saw at least to be a good car, sorry that was the MG, same difference.

Col, you have PM

I actually menat the 75 like Paul had, the MG V8 it's just that I always think of it as a 75

Ouyt of the cars you've listed, Q, the new VRS has to be the winner. You'll find the legacy seriously lacking inside compared to the other choices.

Is MPG not an issue for you? given your daily commute.

New Octy vRS would fit the bill perfectly, and is a stunning car. But that Vectra... :drool:

I'm interested in a Merc 220cdi estate with the sports pack.....would have to be the face lift model, which would make it around the

That Subaru's not as fast as you think :thumbdwn:

From that list I'd take the Octy, though for a couple of quid (£3K) more the 6MPS is a good buy

Hadn't thought of the Mazda (didn't even know they did a mildly amusing one ), so that's onto the list.

The Vectra looks very good on paper, but if it is anything like the previous model/shape internally then it won't be big enough. I could hardly fit behind the steering wheel 3 years ago (length wise, I am not that fat ). I'll put it on the list only cos the Vauxhall garage is next to the Skoda garage

Evo: Too fast too furious with the servicing

Subaru Forester: Living in the country doesn't mean I'm a farmer

Rover 75/MG V8: Uhm... Not sure about them Rovers/MGs. Need to find out a bit more before I dismiss it, but it's prolly in the same corner as the Italians and French

Ford Focus ST/RS: Too small bootwise, otherwise a good suggestion

Regards to consumption... As long as it's > 30mpg on the motorway I'm happy enough. Sure it is an issue, but I find fun more important than economy (to a certain point, I looked at some older BMW M5's, but the servicing just scares the **** out of me).

Keep them coming !

For those who have't met Quinten it should be pointed out that he's about 9ft tall - so Focus sized cars will all be out of the question

General running costs for the Mazda shoul dbe good, and it's certainally going to be less of a yob magnet than the rest (I would imagine insurance will be less as a result).

Mondeo is viable' date=' but tired shape imho.

[/quote']

they sound fantasic though

http://media.putfile.com/st220-full

Vectra VXR was highly rated when tested in EVO last month against the EVOFQ320, Scooby and BM 330m sport.

the evo was the only car to convincingly pull a gap on welsh roads from the vectra...

i think thats pretty impressive considering the poo vectras of the past.

my list would have the vRS at the top

then the vectra

then the mazda mps although that wasnt rated very well in a recent EVO drive.

they compared it to a saab 93 and apparently those arent much of a drivers car either.

how about a forester sti !? import only but appreantly very entertaining.

they sound fantasic though

http://media.putfile.com/st220-full

Christ alive that sounds good, I hope thats what the old shape st200 sounds like when I test drive it later in the week!

Vauxhall have started selling the Monaro VXR now too.

In favour of the Octy II, I had a fantastic opportunity to drive a remapped Octy for a reasonable distance earlier this week and all I can say is it's awesome. The mid range torque and pulling power of an oil burner even when in 6th gear - amazing.

For obvious reasons I'll not divulge who's car it is but rest assured it is a lovely drive. Q perhaps if you are going to L&B you might be able to try one

For obvious reasons I'll not divulge who's car it is but rest assured it is a lovely drive. Q perhaps if you are going to L&B you might be able to try one

Failing that, you can have a drive in mine

I'd hope to have a testdrive of an mk2 a bit earlier than that, as it does remain favourite in the 'bang for buck' category. Especially with the potential to get a lot more out of the engine, something I have yet to discover for the other candidates.

This might be one sided. But you asked our opinion so here it is:

Subaru drinks fuel !!

Vectra is a rep mobile and depreciates like a brick

Mondeo even worse than the Vauxhall and its a Ford. I hate ALL Fords

The Mazda is worth considering but it has no outstanding features for me

BUT

With your shortlist. There is only one choice: The car to be seen in and get all your family and your belongings in:

Octavia vRS. THE SENSIBLE CHOICE

You are missing the car which everyone will probably hate me for mentioning but which is worth having a look at...

BMW 3 series. You can get a fully loaded, low mileage 330 for that budget easy on a 2004/5 plate. They are fast, comfy, reliable and BMWs handle beautifully. Have a look on the autotrader.

Higher mileage '53

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=BMW&model=3+SERIES&variant=330&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=20000&mileage=&agerange=1&postcode=hp10+9lt&miles=60&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=1&distance=23&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200617233307370

Low miles (OK is a coupe but you get the idea!)

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=BMW&model=3+SERIES&variant=330&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=20000&mileage=&agerange=1&postcode=hp10+9lt&miles=60&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=9&distance=36&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200618234209152

...trust me im a programmer

If you need space you are missing the obvious....Superb...comes with the 150bhp petrol 1.8 .........seats go back so far you can't touch the pedals

If you need space you are missing the obvious....Superb...comes with the 150bhp petrol 1.8 .........seats go back so far you can't touch the pedals

Or the 2.8 V6!! 180 odd BHP I think?

I can understand why you might not want anything French, but you should take a serious look at the new Alfa 159 with the 3.2 V6 24v, variable valve timing etc 6 Speed box and 140 BHP, it's a seriously good car, and build quality isn't an issue with Alfa's any more, go look at one and then tell me you dont want one!!

That V8 motor in the MG ZT (Rover 75 shape MG) is basically a Ford Mustang (1999-2004 model) GT engine.

Some good suggestions so far.

If you find the 3 series BMW is too small for you, why not try the 5 series 540i (4.4. V8)?

I'd love a Superb as I know they are roomy inside. The boot is however dissappointing, and coming from a 216bhp vRS to something lesser is a step back... I want to progress in life

As said above, I did have a look at some older BMW M5's, but servicing these cars is a scary prospect. Haven't really looked at the 3 series (or other 5 series) to see 'what they can do'. Same goes for Audi's really. Would love an RS4/RS6, but they are at the high end of my budget and I don't think I'll be able to maintain them in the same meticulous way as I treat the Octy...