15 replies to this topic

[M.Green]

Hello all,

 

Have been reading some threads for a few days and hope you can help an excited, intrigued but quite frankly far from a mechanic future buyer! P.s, I've been a member of car forums before and hope I haven't made the rookie mistake of posting in the wrong place!!

 

 

So time has come (earlier than planned) to replace my Alfa 159ti diesel and yes I'm looking to change to a vx220 (2.2), huge change I know!  But now I'm only covering about 6,000 miles a year the tractors 50+mpg is no longer needed and it's not particularly happy with the lack of use (only a matter of time till the dreaded DPF cloggs! My Alfa has 210bhp and a huge lump of torque but having once tried my luck against a VX220, it doesn't even come close to matching the performance despite the huge power difference, all I got from that was a 'don't you look silly' from the missus... I did! I assume many naïve drivers spot the Vauxhall badge and try the same?? Admittedly I'm yet to drive one, but I must say it looks great and from the reviews I'm sure it goes great too! Had looked at an S1 Elise, but it looks so outdated compared to the VX220 and is slower, less practical etc.

 

This will be my 'everyday car' but really it will only travel to the golf club a few times a week (I realise they will live on the passenger seat), running errands.... and probably spontaneous blasts when bored   It will however be required to do a 240 mile round trip every 3 weeks or so from Leeds to Warwickshire- is this going to be an uncomfortable and deafening experience? Obviously I'm not expecting comfort like the Alfa but it needs to be bearable at best! The smile will make up for a lot I'm sure!

 

It will be used in all weather, is the roof really likely to leak when it's raining? Ideally I'm after a hard-top but this won't be too much of an influencing factor, so hopefully this isn't an issue!

 

As previously stated I'm far from a mechanic- mad on cars but know nothing about them! I've read about lots of things to look out for but wouldn't have the first idea where to start to inspect! Can anyone simplify this perhaps?   Sorry!

 

My budget is around 10k if this helps and from what I've seen this will equate to about an 04 plate with 50k miles.

 

Look forwards to hearing some responses

 

M

[Rickwoo118]

Welcome to the forum. Your budget should get you a fine example. In that price range what about a tubby?

[Bumblebee]

Welcome to the forum, there's a few owners near you and I'm not far away (in York) and have a Stage 4 Turbo. If you see a car that you like post it up on here as someone may no some history of it and also may offer to have a look over it with you

[M.Green]

Struggling to see any under the 12k mark with the kind of miles on the clock I'm after, I've looked on Autotrader and Pistonheads...

 

[Acidpopstar]

Welcome. Mine is my only car and I commute 100 miles a day. Personally, I like being in the car as much as possible. Yes it's noisy, the roofs vary but mine doesn't leak unless monsoon rain fall happens over night then a small puddle forms on the sill but is easily wiped off. I knew nothing about car maintenance before getting the car two years ago. I now know a little but have really enjoyed learning about it. That budget will get a lovely NA. Do you plan to track it? It's where the car really shows what it can do

[turboluca]

You can get a nice cat d tubby or c tubby

[M.Green]

Hey,

 

That's good to hear about the roof!

Yeah, I'm hoping to try and learn some as I go, you'd think being an Alfa owner I'd be experienced!

Tracking It definitely sounds like fun, I'm sure I could find a compromise with the missus... maybe a spa nearby!

Have you tracked yours? Guess it would be rude to buy one and never really see what it can do...

[M.Green]

Cheapest turbo I can see anywhere is 11,950, as much as I'd love to stretch my budget, it's just not feasible

Am I going to regret it if I no for a n/a? I could be patient and save but that would be torture!

[WrightStuff]

Cheapest turbo I can see anywhere is 11,950, as much as I'd love to stretch my budget, it's just not feasible

Am I going to regret it if I no for a n/a? I could be patient and save but that would be torture!

 

No because you can supercharge it later to 250bhp for £3.5k. You have that option.

[Acidpopstar]

Yes I've tracked mine and it blew my mind. Just about to go supercharged

[Harry Hornet]

No problem to all your concerns Daily drive within often 150 mile trips each way Golfer as well just watch the woods they to be taken and stored individually Power imo go NA route you won't be disappointed Hh

[myles]

No problem to all your concerns Daily drive within often 150 mile trips each way Golfer as well just watch the woods they to be taken and stored individually Power imo go NA route you won't be disappointed Hh

Well, I thought I was putting too many miles on at 25 a day! As stated above, going NA will get you a much better car for your money and there is the option of supercharging if you feel you need to.

[Rudy]

Agree with Myles and HH, for value for money an NA works out really well. For the money you've got you should have change to put towards some mods

[ollie2007]

Turbo all the wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hope you find a nice car, if you wait a little till the weather changes some people may sell for less, always an awkward time buying a nice convertible in the summer.

[turboluca]

Will have a blue tubby forsale soon 8450 cat d if intrested

[M.Green]

Liking all the responses, think I will be an involved member on here!

Returning from Mauritius tomorrow (it's a hard life) and will be wasting no time in driving one, spotted an N/A 20 miles away from me 

As for the buying after summer... totally agree, convertible prices soar in summer!! I'm in no rush and trying to avoid being impulsive!

Does anyone know of any meets in the West Midlands coming up? Hopefully I'd be welcome turn up in an Alfa... I have good intentions!!

 

Turboluca, do you have more details/ pics? martingreen4@talktalk.net