Thetownend.com

After 7 years I am finally looking to change my car.  My old Subaru Forester has done 190,000 miles and is looking the worse for wear so here's the dilemma....

1) I want something a bit special; but not something that shouts 'what a cunt' or 'fucking pikey' or 'Motobility'. 
2) I live in the sticks; so something with 4 wheel drive
3) I have two dogs; so something with load space
4) I want something sporty (proper sporty not just look sporty); but not a Range Rover Sport or other WAG cars (see point 1)
5) I've got a decent budget; but hate depreciation

What should I buy?!?

Ford ranger.

Point one edited to include 'fucking pikey'

Nissan QashQai

Volkswagen Touareg

how about a mitzubishi? decent range of 4x4 vehicles.

Octavia Scout seem very highly rated

a new forester,

Thought about that but they no longer make the STI version which means the performance is wank - if they did then there would be no discussion

Certainly a contender - they just revamped it as well which goes in its favour.  Not sure f it can be classed as a WAG car or is proper sporty

hmmm... can't say too much as one of my forking brethren has one...

If they did a VRS version...

Skoda Yeti ?

Depreciation kills me...

:hmmm: Point 1 modified to included 'Motobility'

Audi Q7

Find your own poxy car then. :)

Is it just the dogs you'll have to carry about? If so an Audi A6 Quattro 3.0 TFSI is rapid and apparently handles itself off road well too...

WAG and the Q5 is just fucking stupid money due to the waiting list (it's in budget but just not prepared to pay 50% more than it should be)

Subaru Legacy?

This is the problem - I'm driving my missus nuts!!

if you plan on keeping the car for a few years is that really an issue?

Not really a wag car but sporty enough if you get the V8 4.1 litre version, 0-60 in under 6 seconds and 150+mph in a car that weighs as much as Norway!

On contract hire it means you pay more for a car that depreciates faster so yes

And the same engine as the RS4 in vw guise - added to the shopping cart for consideration
...

Volvo XC90 R Design.
Cracking deals on these at the moment, loads of space and seven seats too.

Volvo XC60

Neither of the Volvos have very good acceleration and top speed though, that said I love my new V50 diesel and that will pull 135 with ease, just ask Herthab ;)

Doesn't the T6 do 0-60 in under 8 seconds? That's quick enough.

Is the forester knackered?  If not then why not keep it for transporting the dogs and then buy something which is more sporty and doesn't need to have a huge back end. 

Personally, I would go for the RS4.

This is a thought I've been toying with but Audi don't make an RS version of the new A4 (they do an S4 but it's not an RS4) which means I'd need to go for a 3 year old one... It certainly ticks all the boxes, just not available on contract hire so would need financing another way unless I can find a VAT qualifying one...

Ford Transit Sport  :)

So not just the dogs, then?

http://www.4wdonline.com/Lada/Lada.html

RS6. Ticks all the boxes. And will be available on contract hire.

Or you could look at an AMG E or C estate with the 6.3. Fast as fuck.

EDIT: The Mercs are RWD innit. And I presume when you talk of an RS4 you're talking about an Avant/estate version not saloon?

Whats your budget ?

£800 a month - the RS6 is way off...

How about a BMW X3 or if your budget stretches to it, an X5.

Ralphy, see point 1 in his needs. ;)

I also can't imagine any off-roading 4x4 is gonna be sporty enough, otherwise a Touareg R50 would be a cool 4x4 and quick to boot.

Drive an X5 M.

I guarantee that will be 'sporty enough' for anyone.

Ralphy, I know you like BMW, but nobody who likes to drive quickly would buy any 4x4, no matter how many M badges get stuck on it. A 14 ton M-truck wouldn't out-corner a Ford Fiesta. It's also very chav WAG. I suppose he could buy an X6 M in white. If you're gonna be a cunt you may as well go the whole hog. :)

The M is terrible off road

What does he want then? A quick car or an off roader?!

The X5 M is at least a compromise between both.

And as for the X5 being terrible off road, have you driven one?

Heres a couple of reviews on the X5

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249566

Range Rover V8 then.

I thought he wanted 4 wheel drive, not specifically an Off-Roader? He also stated no Range Rovers and no footballers wives stuff, which discounts all Audi, BMW and Merc 4x4s straight away.

I'd reckon maybe a Subaru Legacy Spec B would be quite good. Not slow, 4x4, estate car. And he's just finished with a Subaru so might be an easy step to make.

While you may consider Beemers, Audi's and Merc's to be 'footballer's wifes' cars have you considered that the interior build quality on Subaru's is absolute shit? They look about 25 years out of date.

Well of course, but I'm not buying it. He's just owned a Subaru for 7 years and 190,000 miles, so he can't think they're 'absolute shit.'

And I quote him regarding footballers wives:

"1) I want something a bit special; but not something that shouts 'what a cunt' or 'fucking pikey' or 'Motobility'. "
"4) I want something sporty (proper sporty not just look sporty); but not a Range Rover Sport or other WAG cars (see point 1)"

Most, if not all, of the big German 4x4s comfortably hit too many points on the head in the above 2 criteria he doesn't want in a car.

He also said he wants something abit special. A Subaru is not that.

How about an Audi A6 Quattro Avant then if the RS6 is out of budget?

They do powerful and torquey Diesels and smooth petrol engines.

Or the Allroad model...

http://www.audi.co.uk/new-cars/a6/a6-allroad-quattro.html

True. :D
 
Volvo V70 T6 AWD which isn't slow and pretty functional? About as special as wiping your arse though.

It's one hell of a difficult thing to find - beyond an RS4. Unless he's not fussed too much about performace (7 secs or so to 60) and doesn't care about size (4x4 as opposed to car).

Pretty sure i put the allroad forward earlier and had no response to it.... :toocool:

An Audi estate is the only option.

1) It's 4 wheel drive not rear like BMW's

2) Plenty of space for Rover the dog

3) Well built, quality car

4) Plenty of engine choices with good performance.

Now you all know why my missus is doing her crunch - the A6 allroad is good but it's due for a major facelift and I hate getting a car that is immediately out of date - the A4 allroad is good but suffers the same problem as the Q5 - long waiting lists so no discount a the dealers.

Having read this...
http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,40308.msg862334/topicseen.html#new

I am now thinking the new Touareg Hybrid is the way to go...

An Audi diesel will give you very good MPG anyway.

My old dear has got a Touareg 3.0 TDI and it's a properly nice car. Massive, but nice. She spent ages doing the women in shops thing before falling in love with it and then buying it - not that she cares about performance or handling!

When I bought my new car in February fuel costs were a major issue, thats why I got the Diesel V50 stop start and not a petrol version, giving me 27 mpg more urban, 35mpg more extra urban and 32mpg more combined compaired to the 1.6 petrol V50.

Which over a year really adds up, and its a London congestion charge free vehicle, as is the hybrid.

I have just ordered a A4 deisel with that stop start thingy

Feels wierd when you first drive it but you dont even notice the engine stopping after a while Andy.

TBH doesnt make a huge amount of difference to fuel consumption unless you are sat in traffic for 15 mins or more at a ime without moving.

Reguarly mate unfortunately

A brake?

You will notice a diffence then mate, down in Somerset I don't!

On the subject of stop-start, I've noticed loads of cars with it now and I was next to a Fiat 500 with stop-start that got me thinking. If I owned an Italian (or French) car I wouldn't want to run the risk of turning the engine off and it deciding it doesn't want to work again for a few hours.

Sure I'd trust it on the reliable marques, but I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing my Italian or French car is going to decide when to stop and start on a busy motorway.

Thats very true! I know my V50 has 2 starter motors and 2 batteries but in an italian or french car...you takes yer chances!

FFS Paul.  :zzz: You'll still be picking me up in that POS Forester in 5 years time!!!

cant be bothered to read through the 5 pages, but ive allways wanted a mitsubishi warrior.

Yes, but that POS has got your sorry drunken arse home a few times - I may keep it just for that purpose in the future...

It was also one of the few cars tat made it from Calne to Swindon (via bushton) in floods and blizzards

I think that we should just get ben to build him a car.

For a pint or two, of course.