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You could get yourself a nice mid-late 90s twin-turbo Subaru Legacy for that sort of money "only" 280bhp but it's all low down where it matters. Much quicker than that BMW and none of the image problem associated with BMW and Subaru.

It looks kinda similar to the 3-series too, so I'm sure it'd get your wife's approval. [Pictures]

Of course, I'm biassed since I own one (and am thinking of selling) there's tons of cars that meet those requirements. Hell you can get RWD Skylines for that money these days, just avoid ones that have been owned by drifters.

Lum,

You didn't mention the following about the Legacy:

The pillarless doors which are a pretty nice feature.

The permanent AWD that means that it won't slide backwards down the slightest slope when the 1" of snow falls (watching high power BMWs & Mercs outside our house is hillarious when it snows, and we barely live on a hill at all).

The fuel consumption... well that comes down to how you drive it of course, but if you want a powerful car then higher fuel bills come with it.

And of course you don't have to have the twin-turbo B4, there are cheaper lower-powered versions, and they all have AWD.

A nice Polo auto is what you want. Yours for £3k

Indeed, but the only other turbo versions out there are the old ones that look like the old-shape Rover 200 only a little uglier. I imagine these wouldn't fly with the OPs partner. But yes, the 3 litre naturally aspirated ones (about 240bhp, not sure on the older models) are nice too, probably less hassle than a twin-turbo.

Fuel consumption.. you get get 30mpg if you're gentle. (I managed it doing a constant 70ish from Glasgow to Birmingham) probably more like 25-27 in normal use and if you really thrash it, as with any car, be ready to open your wallet at the other end.

an oxymoron.
fatboytim

Legacy = very nice

_________________
"Are you sh**ing me?"
"John Spartan, you are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute."

I have a Saab 9-3 Aero HOT (an '02 Convertible, so "old shape" like the ones you will be considering in tin-top guise)

I really like it (the seats are stunningly comfortable - I had an XJ40 shape Daimler before it and the Saab's are more comfortable).

Mid -range acceleration will be MUCH quicker than a 3-series - even in 325 style. Yes it is FWD, but you could always learn to drive it properly. Build quality is very good (my wife's 900S - the same shape Saab in an older model, is now up to 210K miles on an "L" plate).

Also - nice people drive Saabs

Prof,
Funnily enough I went from a classic 900, into the last of the XJ40's, Saab seats are very good, but the overall comfort, ride, handling and power were better in the Jag.
just my opinion!
fatboytim

I don't disagree - I just said the SEATS were better! Mind you my Aero is a much faster car than the Daimler 4.0 was... But overall a Daimler is about as good as it gets for "Space Pace and Grace"

[quote="prof beard"][
I don't disagree - I just said the SEATS were better[quote]


Always wondered why someone could call a car after something we sit on - e.g. seat

Prof Beard, are you sure it's faster, does the turbo beat the Jag's 'grunt' in the mid-range, as the figures are similar.

In September 1989, Jaguar announced considerable enhancements to the XJ6 range. The fundamental change was an enlarging of the 3.6 litre AJ6 engine to 4 litres. This new 235 bhp engine would accept either or unleaded petrol and gave a 14% improvement in torque. This was reflected in the 0-60 mph times reducing from 7.4 seconds to 7.1, and a top speed now of 140 mph for the manual model.

2.0T Aero 6-speed manual convertible: 0-60 7.7 seconds; top speed 144 mph; combined mpg: 31.0; CO2 emissions: TBA g/km. IG TBC

fatboytim

The VW empire had major issues with coils on, well certainly the 1.8T and some of the other 4cyl engines. Bosch had a fix at failure policy. They could recall them because they were failing faster than they could build replacements.

I was talking about the old 93 aero - which although only having 205 bhp (nominally - in truth usually more like 215) - they have faster 0-60 than the later 210 bhp models by dint of being lighter.

I'd say the 4.0 XJ40 and the aero are similar from a standing start, but the aero is faster on 40-90 type stuff.

Well, we went shopping....the wife didn't like the shape of the 9-3 Aero at all, so I ended up buying...



wait for it....




wait for it....

1999 V plate 528i SE auto (tiptronic)

_________________
"Are you sh**ing me?"
"John Spartan, you are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute."

My late uncle had one of those, a 1997. 196,000 miles and all original.

Yes, yes, yes. Mine's approaching two and a half years old now, has 37k on and it just gets better and better. A smile-a-mile car.

_________________
"Experience isn't everything - but it's most of it".

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.