Horney's Polo TDI - 3 pot boost yo!

[Jimp]

Two diesels, a 1.8T and an S4. Quite the variety there  I'd go for the Alfa, they are properly nice 

[Jack3559]

I'd recommend test driving the Alfa first.

Terrible driving position, so uncomfortable...

That may be because I'm larger than the average bear though.

[SoundillusioN]

Because I get bored easily and I want something a bit more grown up than a Polo. There are several options on the list depending on how things pan out at work in the next six months.

Alfa 156 JTD Lusso
Skoda Octavia VRS 1.8T
B6 Audi A4 TDI Avant
B5 Audi S4 Avant

Nick

Nice choices although you'll probably need someone to tail you while driving the Alfa so they can collect the parts that fall off.    

[Horney]

Yeah it all kinda depends on what the wife buys next. She does a lot of driving with work (500+ miles a week) and is looking at a new car to replace her 1.3 96 Fiesta. If she gets something new and derv then we have that for trips away etc so I can splash the cash on something a little more thirsty as I only do about 250 miles a week.

TBH the S4 is a bit of a pipe dream as I think the running costs would cripple me for servicing etc. The Alfa and the Octavia are the top runners at the moment.

I'd recommend test driving the Alfa first.

Terrible driving position, so uncomfortable...

That may be because I'm larger than the average bear though.

I find them OK, my old man has a GT which is pretty mcuh the same inside.

nick

[SoundillusioN]

Are Alfa's not too expensive too service then?

[Horney]

Nah, 156 is cheap as chips to run. As it's a derv it doesn't have 8 spark plugs like the TS petrols. Only things that do cost a bit is the wishbones. 

nick

[Wayne]

Because I get bored easily and I want something a bit more grown up than a Polo. There are several options on the list depending on how things pan out at work in the next six months.

Alfa 156 JTD Lusso
Skoda Octavia VRS 1.8T
B6 Audi A4 TDI Avant
B5 Audi S4 Avant

Has to be the winner 

Nah, 156 is cheap as chips to run. As it's a derv it doesn't have 8 spark plugs like the TS petrols. Only things that do cost a bit is the wishbones. 

nick

Cam belt is mega bucks to sort plus they seem to suffer more electrical problems than the petrols.

[Horney]

I think that's the earlier 156's Wayne, the post 2003 facelift ones have a good track record apart fromt eh 156 wishbone wear.

But yeah, the Octavia is currently the one that ticks the most boxes.

nick

[Jack3559]

Only crit of the Octavia is that it looks a little plain...

Certainly does the job practicality and performance wise though.

[Chris-White]

TBH the S4 is a bit of a pipe dream as I think the running costs would cripple me for servicing etc.

nick

you only live once, and the vrs and jtd are just a bit too common.

plus life starts at 250bhp.