Forum menu
I'd have one of these: Mini GP2
Like the Fiesta, with around 220BHp and a light kerb weight. Just right for UK roads and will surprise many modern super hatches with 350bhp+ around a track too, in fact you'd need a very long straight to overcome the 1500-1600kg kerb weight of those bigger 4wd hatches.
That Megane speaks to me...but I'm not sure it's as good as the older ones.
My neighbour has a BMW 530d with the straight 6, I have a Passat TDI. They are the same age and we both paid the same. Only difference is his was 5 years old when he bought it and mine 3. 7 years later I still have a boring car and he still has a really nice one. For the same money.
I’m bemused how you’d turn down a german car over possible one of the worst Fords (maybe) on the current Ford retail list.
This bit has had me pondering somewhat; seeing as how the EcoSport is based entirely on the Fiesta platform, and uses all of the main parts of the Fiesta, and many of the Focus as well, like the entire drivetrain, suspension, interior, etc, the only significant difference being the body shape and dimensions, are you actually saying that those cars are the worst in the Ford range? Mechanically, there’s no difference at all, same engine, the British-designed 1.0 three-cylinder Ecoboost, which I’ve read is an exceptional engine, same gearbox, etc.
Just because you seem to be obsessed with German cars, I’m not, but neither am I dismissing them, they just don’t fulfill my requirements as a replacement for my twenty year old Skoda. I have driven pretty much every model of VW, Audi, Mercedes and most BMW’s: have you?
My new car has heated screen, satnav, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, it’s seating position suits me perfectly, it’s exactly the right size for my needs, and it’s styling, I think, is nicer than any current German car.
And it’s fun to drive, remapping it will bring it up to about 150hp, with a lot mor. torque.
It’s currently at the dealers, having its first service and a paint protection system applied, hopefully I’ll be picking it up on Saturday morning.
are you actually saying that those cars are the worst in the Ford range?
I've not driven one but every single review is pretty damning. They were designed and built for emerging markets, so lots of things are built as cheaply as possible, then sold here with a couple of toys at an over-inflated price. They sell for £8k in india (new) vs £18k here. Owners here seem to like them, maybe they just didn't drive the competition?
I’ve not driven one but every single review is pretty damning.
That’s not true - the review I just read said the original was a pile of poo, but they then swapped everything out for the European market making it even more of a Frankenstein car. Now it’s been replaced by a brand new car anyhow.
Anyhow as long as the person is happy with the car they drive does it matter? Wouldn’t be my choice, I drove nothing but Fords for years as they make good cars, but I now can afford to drive a more premium brand. The difference are probably more subtle than 25yrs ago, but they are still better
Anyhow as long as the person is happy with the car they drive does it matter?
This, no need to be as tetchy as to write 2 rants. My comments where based on the original Ecosport review which compared to my 3 series I’m sure most people and certainly the motoring press will agree the 3 is a better car in general. But, no I can’t tell you what’s best for you and I’m sure your new Ecosport is very nice.
I’ve also driven - and own a Kuga - many Fords some of them excellent cars but none have been to the standard of the two BM’s I’ve owned. Still pondering on the Kuga replacement, recently had a look over a CX5, but can’t see past and XC40 Recharge currently, especially with the 2021 base specs all included leather and pretty much every safety feature you can think of. We need to drive it though.
but can’t see past and XC40 Recharge
my folks bought one of those this week. Its lovely, but priced very strongly, and they'll end up paying the additional 'posh car tax' for the next few years as a result.
New to this site, and randomly clicked on this thread, ended up reading the lot (I'm still furloughed) and rarely have I felt so invested in one man's quest to buy a new car. Saw the first post and though christ this is long, who the hell's gonna read all that... here I am 142 posts later! Congrats on the car Sharky! Also congrats in general, sounds like you've got quite a story!
I'm in a similar(ish) boat car wise, however I'm on the other end of the spectrum and thinking of selling my current car that I had pretty much from new and buying a 'modern classic' such as: https://www.carsite.co.uk/used-car/bmw/3-series/mtz_38438_56471196
Am I crazy?
Also I just want to echo the sentiment made before me that the 'cars are just to get you from a to b' tribe are a gang of dougs who probably eat steamed veg and don't season their meat, because food is just fuel afterall.
Am I crazy?
The E30 3 Series is probably the prettiest and good examples are starting to appreciate.
That one also has a 6 cylinder engine, but auto and convertible wouldn't be my first choice.
A modern classic is good, but i can't think of anything that bmw can do that a 996 pork wouldn't do much more effectively.
Yeah I just love the look of the old BMWs, never been a Porsche fan!
That colour in this weather is perfect.
Have you had a chance to go for another drive since?
We've been for a few slow loops around the Peak. Still under 300 miles on the clock because I'm back at work and the mrs is on school holidays. We're driving up to visit family tomorrow in Zoocastle so I might take it down some old familiar roads over the weekend.
It makes a cool noise. It's not obnoxiously loud but having 3 cylinders gives it a kind of warbly, put-put sound. It sounds very Subaru but thankfully without the thirst.
Most importantly, she loves it. She'll be driving to and from a primary school 5 days a week so as much as I wanted a Focus RS or an Elise or a JDM STi, that was never going to work.
Saw the first post and though christ this is long, who the hell’s gonna read all that… here I am 142 posts later! Congrats on the car Sharky! Also congrats in general, sounds like you’ve got quite a story!
Thanks for reading. I didn't mean for it to be such a soap opera I just wanted advice from people who buy new cars and are familiar with PCP because all I get from my family is doom and gloom!
You are absolutely not mad for wanting an E30. They are really good fun. They're not really investments any more, they've already been invested in. Prices are sky high and owners know it. Fortunately, I passed my test when they were worthless so while I never owned one I did know plenty of people who did and spent lots of time going backwards around wet roundabouts.
We used to have the free run of an entire, gated industrial estate in the northeast (after hours) back when we all had RWD Volvos, BMW's, MX5's and stuff. Wild nights, but that's another story.
As I have finally completed the paperwork, I thought I'd add my new car to the list (delivered in September).
All the whistles and bells and a very stealthy 0-60 of just 6.5 seconds.
I did know plenty of people who did and spent lots of time going backwards around wet roundabouts.
😂
Hang about, you can buy a fiesta that costs 26k?? I know the st is meant to be a great little car but that is an insane amount of money for a small Ford.
I've already said this but no one has paid 26k for one. Especially not in the first week that the dealerships went back to work and were falling over themselves to sell PCP.
insane amount of money for a small Ford.
Have you seen the prices of the bikes that have been reviewed recently?
The ONS has the average UK salary at £36k, on minimum wage annual earnings would be c£18k. In 1960 when he was 17, my Dad bought a brand new 105E Anglia that cost over £600 and his annual wage was just over £500. Not much has changed.
Have you seen the prices of the bikes that have been reviewed recently?
Very good point - over £10k for a Specialized S-Works full-suss. Now THAT is crazy.
Another 2 weeks on.. how are you finding it?
I'm still toying with the idea of getting one, but with the recession and COVID aftermarth still coming into full effect, I'm tempted to wait and see what happens to values.
Still loving it to be honest. I'm still comparing it to a 10 year old Panda so it feels amazing. Stuff normal people take for granted like not having to shout at each other on the motorway and being able to listen to music and actually hear it.
If you want one, just go and check one out. It's not like there's anything else in this segment that's better than it. I've heard they're stopping production until next year so not sure how many will be around in the near future.
I still haven't really thrashed it. I've never driven a FWD car with an LSD before and it's quite addictive to see how tight a line you can hold on a tight corner. Feeding the throttle way past the point where the inside wheel would usually light up and feeling it pulling the nose in tighter and tighter. It's magic.
I've also briefly driven it in torrential rain on some familiar roads up north and unlocked the lift-off oversteer function. I did it a few times just to get the feel for how much grip the tyres have obviously, for safety reasons.
If you enjoy driving and using the pedals to make a car shuffle about then it's brilliant. I'll have to do a track day or two. Although it's not monstrously fast it's still too much to fully unleash it on the road. I want to completely abuse it on some twisty corners and I don't really have the appetite for doing it out in the wild.
I think a trip to Cadwell Park is on the cards.
We’ve got a couple of Focus ST’s at work at the moment, one black, one the same vivid orange as the OP’s, and I really do like the orange, however, that one is a diesel, and for some reason that just doesn’t seem quite right. There are plenty of rapid oil-burners, like the Skoda VRS models, the Golf GTD, etc, but, I just can’t help thinking a Focus or Fiesta ST should be petrol!
Sadly, I only get to drive them short distances, so no opportunity to really play with them, but the same’s true of the Golf R’s and the Tesla’s, the Porsche Macan and the Merc GLC45 AMG we have on site. ☹️
know the st is meant to be a great little car but that is an insane amount of money for a small Ford.
Seems like a less insane notion than an old Porsche tbh.
Could be worse - could have been a faux SUV.
Stuff normal people take for granted like not having to shout at each other on the motorway and being able to listen to music and actually hear it
Moving from my old Civic EP3 to a modern(63 plate) Golf this difference was massive, so much quieter at motorway speeds. Having bluetooth and DAB built in as well has been great.
Seems like a less insane notion than an old Porsche tbh.
Could be worse – could have been a faux SUV.
True but there is so much in between. If you want performance here is a 2018 BMW M2. Its done 7k miles. That is 2x the car of the fiesta.
https://www.carsite.co.uk/used-car/bmw/m2/mtz_87181_57450773
but like the Porsche - when that starts to become fun on the public highway - its A. License losing B. dangerous for other road users and C. Feels like your in a fast sofa isolated from the outside world rather than a go kart fun car which it seems like the OP wants.
If doing a track day, just budget for 4 new tyres. My son has done two and he didn't realise the wear you get on the near side due to tracks mainly being clockwise. Completely wore the left shoulder on both front tyres, and the near side rear. Too much hooning it.
I know people won't have read the full thread but I've already said I'm very well aware of everything else available for the same money. But yes I wanted more of a go-kart than a muscle car, and whatever we bought has to have reasonable running costs because our Doris has a currently unavoidable 20 mile commute. If we could afford the petrol for a Monaro VXR she might be driving one of those today.
I've had classics, bangers, vans, pickups, drifters, off-roaders etc, ect.
I've never had a modern car with a warranty, comfy seats and a nice stereo. Now we have and we both love it. As an added a bonus, it's an absolute blast to drive at very reasonable speeds.
If doing a track day, just budget for 4 new tyres
Don't worry I've already picked my track wheels nevermind tyres! I love the factory wheels so I want to keep them as fresh as possible and thrash something cheaper.
Sharkattack, how are you getting on? Must be a nice contrast seeing the car out on a winters day.
I’m still eyeing one up myself. I’ve seen some nice examples close to £20k now.
The novelty hasn't worn off yet as I only get to drive it once a week. Monday to Friday the mrs. drives it to school and back with the heated seats and steering wheel on full blast. She loves it and that's what's important.
No problems yet or build quality issues. Yes, the colour does look amazing on a dreary, miserable day. It's almost neon in the way it pops in low light. It's the only thing that breaks up the chain of white Audis and SUV's in my street.
As for enthusiastic driving all I've really done is a day out with a mate following his Elise around his favourite twisty bits. Let's just say he wasn't capable of disappearing into the distance as expected. I think it's about as fun as it can be without jumping into something that would be very compromised on the daily commute. If I ever find a suitcase full of cash I'll still buy an Exige.
The super sport tyres are a little loose in the current conditions. They don't like when it's cold and greasy so I might try to get some 17" wheels and winter tyres or even just regular PS4's which are supposed to be better all rounders. That's the only issue at the minute apart from it being constantly covered in grey road slime.
I struggle to get my head round how a fiesta can cost 26 grand! They are by all accounts brilliant little cars...but it's a fiesta!! Not So long ago my mate picked up an Audi s3 for less than that (ok it was at least 10 years ago)
I am clearly way behind on how much cars cost nowadays as just looked and a golf gti starting price is 33k!
Can't think why anyone would buy a new car, myself.
As much as you hear about second hand cars breaking down, you hear about new cars ending up back in the dealer week after week because actually, despite being brand new, its rubbish.
In my opinion, a 30-40k mile car has had its manufacturing faults worked out of it by the previous owners.
I always assumed the brand new cars on the road are company/lease cars, or on finance at a level where the owner cant even afford a banger.
Second hand from a dealer, and they still have to give you 6 months warranty, which can often be extended to a year or two for a fee.
Having said that, and now i come to think about it:, my dad bought a yeti when they first came out. in 2009, and he still has it with 130k on it. which i think is pretty cool.
Similarly, my mum went through a phase of buying new Minis, because for the first to or three years its under warranty, the servicing is included, the MOTs are not required, and at the end of the 2 or 3 years, she was fierce enough to go back into the dealer and demand a new one, and a good part ex for her old one which has less than 20k on it. They got new car turnover, and a mint second hand car to push on, she was perpetually in a <2 yr old car (even if they were all identical). She did however have a couple that were in and out of the garage regularly, so she's stopped that game now and is hanging on to the one she's got.
struggle to get my head round how a fiesta can cost 26 grand! They are by all accounts brilliant little cars…but it’s a fiesta!! Not So long ago my mate picked up an Audi s3 for less than that (ok it was at least 10 years ago)
£26k 10 years ago is equivalent to over £35k today though.
Just wait till you here what the latest Toyota GR Yaris cost...I think someone mentioned rumours of this thing a few months and pages back. It's not something that was ever on my radar but if anyone hasn't heard about it yet, read some of the reviews that appeared a few weeks back. 10/10 all over, possibly one if the most interesting cars of a decade etc. etc...(rally homologation special for the uninitiated). 33k+ for a Toyota Yaris...a Yaris...and worth every single penny. I have never lusted after a Toyota, and now I 'need' one. Folks on Pistonheads ditching their sports car PCP Ferrari's/ Porsche's to get their orders placed for a Yaris...a Yaris. Worlds gone mad, this time in a good way. Exactly the right sort of car for a UK driving enthusiast (dare I say, chassis enthusiast), Lightweight, modest power, interaction - with that and the FST its a good time for hot hatches, and sadly probably the last generation of them too.
Not this again
I struggle to get my head round how a fiesta can cost 26 grand!
It didn't. No one that I know of paid full price for one of these cars.
I am clearly way behind on how much cars cost nowadays as just looked and a golf gti starting price is 33k!
Yes you are. The price of absolutely everything has shot up across the board. Also 10 years ago a Fiesta was basic, empty box with nothing in it and they're just not anymore. They've got all the kit from the class above while being smaller and mint to drive.
How much is the current 2020 S3?
Just kidding, not actually interested.
Can’t think why anyone would buy a new car, myself.
Yeah same here, we just wanted one. First time. Might never do it again.
Just wait till you here what the latest Toyota GR Yaris cost
That thing is awesome. All the people crying "30 grand for a Yaris" are basically admitting they have no idea what it is. It's only a Yaris in name. It only shares the front and rear lights with a regular car, everything else is bespoke and Toyota won't make a penny on them. They just wanted to go rallying in a more dedicated car rather than a modified shopping trolley.
Price wise it's a step too far for us but I'll consider one in a few years if I've still got a job.
I bought my Focus ST estate back in 2017 for £23.6K and it is apparently worth £13.3K looking on autotrader. Not too bad for a car that will be 4 years old in March next year. Probably get £15K selling it privately as they seem to be advertised for about £16K-18K on Ebay/autotrader.
The price of absolutely everything has shot up across the board.
My high spec BMW 320d listed at £41k new in early 2018, same model and spec is now £47k and come January, gawd knows.
As for enthusiastic driving all I’ve really done is a day out with a mate following his Elise around his favourite twisty bits. Let’s just say he wasn’t capable of disappearing into the distance as expected.
He can't know how to drive quickly as well as you then – two evenly-matched drivers in those cars and the Elise would be way ahead on a twisty road.
Yeah 10 years of karting and 5 years of tin tops must have taught him nothing. I didn't say he wasn't faster but considering we're both being relatively sensible there wasn't much in it. Flat out he'd rinse me obviously.
Elise would be way ahead on a twisty road.
My mate had an Elise, everytime i went in it it felt like a bit of an occasion. Contrast that to the focus st he replaced it with, which was nice enough, but when all things said and done, felt about as 'special' as you'd expect a Ford to feel. That said it was a lot more practical!
Great colour on the Fiesta. My girlfriend's terrifies me as I end up going way too fast without realising it. My chug a chug 17 year old T4 just got its MOT no issues. It's CAF in my little driving world.
Yeah 10 years of karting and 5 years of tin tops must have taught him nothing. I didn’t say he wasn’t faster but considering we’re both being relatively sensible there wasn’t much in it. Flat out he’d rinse me obviously.
Only commenting based on my opinion of being a passenger in an Elise driven by a semi-pro driver - there is no comparison with the handling of one a twisty circuit against a production car given that they weigh less than Kate Moss on a diet. On that day I felt seriously scared for my safety the way he was driving. Afterwards he said he was taking it quite easy because he didn't know the (closed) road :-O
Lotus ELise vs Gr Yaris on a twisty uneven B road, slightly damp in places, now there'd be a race on our hands. Hazard a guess the GR might edge it...on a dry track maybe Elise still wins...4wd vs maybe 5 Kate Mosses worth of weight difference (have no idea what a Kate Moss weighs).
My Mrs has a new shape Puma on PCP. She got it direct from Ford. She also got a much cheaper quote from a broker, went back to Ford and they managed to beat it.
Elise's are an event to drive at very sensible speeds below the speed limit on the road, but you are so low you sometimes don't have sufficient view down the road to push on. On the track though they are great fun without killing brakes and tyres like heavier cars, they are a sort nice half way house between a Caterham and a sensible car.
Yes, guilty of about to spend £33500 on a Toyota Yaris, my car history is littered with cast me offs, just needs this fixing and eBay bargains so gonna treat myself because it looks a beast of a motor, roll on January.😊