I'm getting frustrated ;-)

They're not great handlers - too narrow for their length. ISTR they tipped a few over in BTCC at one point.

Ugly as sin, too.

Only one at sensible money within 40 miles (as the crow flies) - and that's been round the clock and a fair bit more.

Civic is quick, but very peaky. The advantage of the 2lt twin-spark is the variable timing and inlet tract which makes it _very_ driveable from low revs. At launch, it was reckoned to be the best 2lt petrol motor on the market.

Would you _seriously_ drive a Rover 218? Be honest with yourself now ;-)

I want a comination of style, handling and an engine with character.

Just spent hours on Autotrader looking at Pugs, Renaults, Fords, Vauxhalls etc. The closest thing I can find is a Xantia - and that suspension worries me.

Better handler than the clio 16v. The williams used the 19's suspension.

Matter of opinion

But BTCC is a different ball game to on the road...

Hmm, they're not that bad... and besides, we're talking in comparison to the

Plenty with sensible miles on Autotrader. You might have to travel to get a decent one, that's all, and given you've travelled 4 hours today to look at a 33, I fail to see this as an excuse not to get one.

That Xsara you were considering looking at - I reckon that was definitely worth at least going to have a drive of.

Which is why so few were sold?

Me?

My mate had a chipped 420SLi... if ever there was a Q car, that was it, and it was mental in the way it delivered its power, so yes, I probably would.

Style... you've really s*it out on that front then, if a 146 is the answer.

Didn't like the one I drove, but maybe the Activa is better - a lot of car for the money these days, anyway.

-- JackH

Ok, I have to throw my 2p worth in, after 10 years in the car hire / car sales trade, if I've not owned one, I've probably had a go in one..

Peugeot 306 S16 / GTi 6.- Good looks, excellent handling, bad seats, always need more poke because they handle that well. Alfa 145 / 146 - Excellent to drive, sound good, handle well, but I've seen too many new ones with the oil pressure light on. Alfa 155 2.0 (late ones) - Lovely to drive, cheap cabin, turning circle of QE2, expensive to keep healthy Fiat Bravo HGT - Sound lovely, not that quick, dodgy build quality, but I like em. Although a Focus is much better. Citroen Xantia - incredibly comfortable, Activa is good fun but not much feedback. Reliable, but you'd hate it Steve. Citroen Xsara - Peugeot 306's ugly sister. Good Q car though. Almera GTi - Handle fantastically, but by god it's ugly Pug 309 GTi - Handle well, but rattle like hell and not well built VW Golf VR6 - Great engine, soggy suspension, not worth the money Alfa 156 - 2.0 is the best to chuck down a lane, V6 makes the handling that bit nose heavy. 2.5 V.expensive to service Fiat Coupe Turbo - great cars, but price the servicing and weep. Non Turbo just isn't the done thing. Escort RS2000 Mk5 - Great car, cheap to run, fix, handle well, gearboxes weak, but they rust like an Alfasud in a salt bath. Lancia Thema LX Turbo 16v, you'd love the car, but you'd need a grand a year to maintain it. I'd like one Vauxhall Omega 3.0 Elite - better than you'd believe, but it's damned by the Griffin. MV6 is great fun though.

Pete M

Exactly the same here. Luckily for me, the TI even had the boot-mounted CD changer :D

Exactly what I did. Took me about 6 months to get the TI !

Surely it's worth that for the lack of hassle ?

Have you looked at the 620 TI ? If not, why not ?

I took my TI to my local garage as soon as I'd bought it, and paid £120 for a *full* service. Also got him to check the car over, and see if there's anything I should be replacing. It got a clean bill of health :)

And in other news Dan405 is quoted as saying:

I'm not too keen on boot-mounted CD changers - I'm rather keen on the 6-disc in-dash jobbie I've got in the Fiesta (6006E).

The only thing is, I need to sell the Carlton and the Fiesta to pay for the Audi. And I want to sell both of them privately, as I reckon between the two of them, I could quite easily get about a grand extra than what I'd get if I traded them in (mainly due to their mileages). That'd mean putting them both on ebay, and hoping the Audi I find is still there after I've sold them.

Anyway, I'd better start looking for the ideal Audi as a starting point!

Peter

Ditto - which is why, when I fitted my Kenwood Headunits, I put the Kenwood changer under the passenger seat. I've kept the Rover stuff for resale time though :)

Nah - sell yours now, so you've got the money in the bank. Go and buy a £50 poop car, to use until the right Audi comes along - should only be a few months.

boot-mounted

sierra?

Pah! Plenty of rusty old Carltons with up to 6 months MOT available for around £100-£150 (or less) that I could easily sell on for spares when the MOT runs out for minimal loss. I ain't downgrading!

Peter

I spent a day in hull a couple of weeks ago, roughly 90 mile trip. Cost £about 20.