I think buying another Zed at the moment is out of the question. Not many manual LWB n/a's around and those that are, are out of my budget. So back to the original plan to wait til after uni and get myself a SWB manual TT.

Been looking around at various cars this weekend. Test drove a Lexus IS200 yesterday - what a lovely drive! But the car had some issues, nothing major though - but the biggest one was the asking price - advertised at £1395 by a private seller who then told me, after I'd traipsed to his house, and driven the car, that he actually wants £1600 for the car it was just that he'd had no interest in it priced like that online :cursing::confused1::scared:

T0sser! Totally wasted my time! But, on the upside I drove his car and what a beautiful smooth drive it was...

Then went to see a couple of Saabs - a 93 and a 95, although both were in a dealership, at the back of the lot, late in the day so I'm hoping to return on Weds to test drive them both.

The other was today, a local Saab 93 - very nice car, loved it again, smooth ride, superb handling but again a few issues, non working air con, brakes needed sorting, central locking partially broken...

 

I'll post the links below in case anyone's interested. Feel quite chuffed to have driven a couple of nice cars this weekend tho - and not felt obligated to hand over my wedge just yet!

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201124391027536/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/lexus/quicksearch/true/radius/10/page/1/postcode/ts78sj?logcode=p

The price WAS £1395, he amended it after the test drive!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-Saab-9-5-Silver-/310304206544?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item483f926ed0#ht_1335wt_1139

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-Saab-93-9-3-/310310299084?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item483fef65cc#ht_1250wt_1139

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-SAAB-9-3-S-TURBO-BLACK-/220802199893?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3368d63155#ht_500wt_1156

 

Anyone ever had a Saab? I know they're marmite cars but I love em!

Is this something for you to drive? I thought you was getting small sporty cars

never driven either but going on aesthetics alone I'd go for the lexus hands down, wouldn't tuch that particular one however, the guy sounds a right tool!

 

That said I'm not a Saab fan, like you say they're marmite cars, really works in silver though!

 

Both are a million miles from a zed though :D

Is this something for you to drive? I thought you was getting small sporty cars

 

Yep its my daily driver. I just can't get away with small cars Marty, I just HATE them. I feel too enclosed and hate the lack of power - the Polo lasted 9 days. I have tried to be eco and failed. Balls to it I want a proper, grown up car lol

Even test drove an FTO last week. Looked stunning too, but it had the worst sounding tappity engine, the gear stick was like stirring porridge too. It just ain't Zedward! So til I can replace Zedward with another Zed, I need a nice, big, powerful, reliable, luxury car that I can fit my family in, and enjoy driving on trips back down South to visit my family etc....

never driven either but going on aesthetics alone I'd go for the lexus hands down, wouldn't tuch that particular one however, the guy sounds a right tool!

 

That said I'm not a Saab fan, like you say they're marmite cars, really works in silver though!

 

Oh, that Lexus was lovely, but it needed new brake discs and pads which the guy had but hasn't fitted (wtf?!) and like you said, the seller was a complete tool.

Saabs aren't the prettiest of cars but I think they look mean and the power delivery was superb - super smooth and really rather fast :tt1:

Only downside for me is the silver one, which Marc and my daughter seem rather taken with, lol, is bloody HUGE. Like massive. And I am 5ft 3. I like big cars but i would rather die than have to sit on cushions to see out of it lol - or use Tasha's booster seat ha!

Oh, that Lexus was lovely, but it needed new brake discs and pads which the guy had but hasn't fitted (wtf?!) and like you said, the seller was a complete tool.

Saabs aren't the prettiest of cars but I think they look mean and the power delivery was superb - super smooth and really rather fast :tt1:

Only downside for me is the silver one, which Marc and my daughter seem rather taken with, lol, is bloody HUGE. Like massive. And I am 5ft 3. I like big cars but i would rather die than have to sit on cushions to see out of it lol - or use Tasha's booster seat ha!

 

you could always get an automatic, hand controls for the throttle and break pedals and just kneel :P

you could always get an automatic, hand controls for the throttle and break pedals and just kneel :P

 

I will never EVER drive an auto again lol

I will never EVER drive an auto again lol

 

i wouldnt wish one on my worst enemy after driving one for the first time the other day. maybe it was just the car itself but given there are only two pedals and so simple already simple enough to find anyway, why did some berk then see it necessary to extend the width of the brake pedal to where the clutch should be! :@

 

pulling up to that first round about is an experience I shall never forget ha

i wouldnt wish one on my worst enemy after driving one for the first time the other day. maybe it was just the car itself but given there are only two pedals and so simple already simple enough to find anyway, why did some berk then see it necessary to extend the width of the brake pedal to where the clutch should be! :@

 

pulling up to that first round about is an experience I shall never forget ha

 

There are lots of people on here who love em, and they have their place I guess, but for me, I prefer to do it manually!

As Rose says - "They're so much more fun, when they're harder to drive!"

As Rose says - "They're so much more fun, when they're harder to drive!"

 

Absobloodylutely! Can't get on with stop and go pedals!!

Ive decided you fookin mental and you will never be happy with a car :lol::lol:

 

My aunt had a saab 95 vert, and it was a soild very well built car and it just went on forever without fault :)

 

My mate has an IS200 and again a very nice car but i doubt you will be happy :lol:

Ive decided you fookin mental and you will never be happy with a car :lol::lol:

 

My aunt had a saab 95 vert, and it was a soild very well built car and it just went on forever without fault :)

 

My mate has an IS200 and again a very nice car but i doubt you will be happy :lol:

 

Bottom line is I won't be truly happy til I get another Zed, but its just out of the budget unless I buy one with a million issues that I won't have the time, money or skills to fix.

The Saab verts are really nice, I so almost bought one in the winter then decided not too - wish I had though!

The IS200 are lovely cars, it really was a fab drive, shame about the total dick selling it :huh:

And as for being mental, who ain't?! :clap:

Lexus!:yes:-even at £1600:chinese:

Lexus!:yes:-even at £1600:chinese:

 

Its out of budget and would leave me with nowt to fix the issues with!

Anyway, I test drove the red Saab 9-3 and the silver Saab 9-5 today. Silver one won it hands down and got a few hundred off the asking price too. Should be getting it Thurs or Fri with new MOT and air con re-gassed etc :winkiss:

i will give it 4 weeks till you sell it :lol:

i will give it 4 weeks till you sell it :lol:

 

I can see why you'd think that! :tt2:

Bantambunny said I''ll give the Polo 2 weeks before you sell it, 9 days actually lol

I didnt even know you had a polo :lol::lol:

 

how many have you had since the starlet?

I didnt even know you had a polo :lol::lol:

 

how many have you had since the starlet?

 

Just the Polo lol. It was pants. I give up on small eco cars. They suck. I hate them. I'll just get on my bike if I wanna be eco, which I pretty much do anyway, I only drive 2 or 3 days a week tops!

Hi Jane

 

Seller aside (and I'd have probably been a bot pissed off with him to say the least), a Lexus IS is probably a good bet. Lexus always comes up as the most reliable brand in reliability surveys; plus they are well equipped and nice to drive.

 

The Saabs are a bit quirky (and according to Top Gear, driven by dentists) but still not bad. Although don't forget that many of them are turbod and, given your budget, will have covered a few miles by now so might cost you a bit more to run.

 

If you like the Lexus go for it - although perhaps not the one being sold by the t055er......:crying:

 

Richard:winkiss:

 

.....................My aunt had a saab 95 vert, and it was a soild very well built car and it just went on forever without fault :)

 

My mate has an IS200 and again a very nice car but i doubt you will be happy :lol:

 

PS - Dave, the 95 is the bigger saloon - it's the 93 that comes as the cabrio.....:smartass: