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how do i decide?

2.8K views 23 replies 14 participants last post by  MalcQV  
#1 ·
am unlucky to be swapping my car for a while just yet, but been finding myself looking at autotrader and parkers more and more recently.

the plan is to swap next year... but for what?

initially, i wanted an L200 so i could chug along, but with a budget of about 7-9k, its looking impossible to get the facelift that i like.
part of me keeps going back to an alfa gt, but my head knows i need something realiable.
always had a soft spot for the 5 series, but then, i see new chevy cruze's and caddy BLS's for dirt cheap.... and now my mileage has dropped drastically, do i really need a big car?

what do i doooooooo :banghead:

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#6 ·
i wish, but i doubt i could fit a baby deano in the back of one :lol:
TF Saturday and Sunday and a nice Alfa Brera for Monday to Friday
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again, i wish.

you buying with your head or your heart?

and we need a list of must haves....

i really want to buy with my heart, but i think its best if i go with my head. i only do about 14 miles a day now, so decent MPG is always good, but not a massive requirement.... hence my desires for a dodge ram or something.

and for that reason, i haev even considered getting a V8 muscle car from the 70's or something.



i have spotted a nice 2.0d x-type from 06-07 for ÂŁ7k, but the same 520d has to be an 04-05 plate... but my head prefers the 5 series and the heart does as well :lol:

4x4 is out of window due to stupid road tax. needs to be a biggish car to carry stuff and a baby etc...and ideally has to put a smile on my face.

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#5 ·
Get something that puts a smile on your face. As Dee says - only you know what that's going to be - my ZS makes me smile when I look at it and especially going around roundabouts and the twisty B-roads around our way :D - something that does 70 mpg might be the thing that makes you smile . . . . . . :dunno: :err:
 
#11 ·
You certainly will chug along in an L200 - Here are a few snaps of mine chunnging away last weekend :D

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And a few of it chugging away on some local lanes :D

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Good times - One thing though, The L200 is VERY agricultural - think long and hard about other vehicles if you have to commute a long distance - especially since in standard guise they only return about 350 miles to 70 litres of fuel :eek: Then when modified like I have done they return a lot less due to the style of tyres - I see around 250 to 280 out of a tank if used for road only but that soon drops to about 150 to a tank if used offroad (which of the miles I have done since buying the truck and modifying it will be about 90% offroad use)

Other than that, good workhorse and can come highly specced with leather, aircon, electric mirrors, 4x electric windows, etc etc :) I gave ÂŁ4800 for mine 8 months ago and it came with the tub cover but I exchanged that with an L200 club member for ÂŁ400 and the stainless roll bars :) - Still though, a lot of money for something I wanted to use purely for an offroad toy :eek:
 
#14 ·
Chrysler 300c diesel you know you want too :D i want one but im not allowed so making you get one is the next best thing!

What about a Saab convertible or something of that nature? All the goodies, solid build, bit quirky and has character in spades yet utterly dependable at the same time.

Of course you could get a REALLY classy performance saloon - a Triumph 2.5 Pi or a Dolly :) big smiles guaranteed but practical enough for everyday and half your budget would get you a mint one, leaving you a healthy fund to cope with any surprises/modifications. Classic insurance is peanuts and you might even get a tax exempt one. Besides which all the cool kids have got one!