Got An LCR - What Next ?

[Crafty]

My LCR is 3.5 years old now and whilst I've had virtually no trouble with it (apart from the leaking radiator thats being sorted next week..) I've got itchy feet.
So, what next ?

New leon - no.. I didn't like it when it came out and I still don't now. I drove a 1600 boggo one and didn't like the stupid mirror that hangs down and blocks the view out of the windscreen on the left and I didn't like the small quarter windows at the front that only serve to show you the white line in the road on the offside. The cupra is (like for like) more expensive that the LCR was when new and its not half the car IMHO.

Astra VXR ? get a nearly new one for £15-16k, sounds fair. But its just the same car an an LCR, haven't bothered to drive one yet but I cant see how it will be mega different. I always had vauxhall before the LCR so that isn't a problem.

Vectra VXR ? bit more cash but it is a step up - lots more whizzy bits like the suspension control etc.. A friend has one and I do like the car but I don't need
something that big..

Audi S3 ? nice, I like the style, quattro (still miss my old 4x4 cars), has a subtle presence. But at £27k + options its a whole chunk of cash, I'd have to borrow more than I paid for the LCR to change to it for a new one. S/h ones arent about yet so I can hang on and see what happens there, but even at say £24k and say a year old its alot of money for a car.

Conclusions ? I don't really know which way to turn - any ideas ?
One thing is for sure the LCRs were a bargain for what you got when new - shame the new one just doesnt live up to it.

 

[paullec]

Hmm depends what you need it for how about alfa coupe, or nissan 350z 15k would pick one up. Also leave you to a honda civic new shape ? How about even a z4 really depends on what you use your car for. I loved my s2k but it was totally a wkend car only i'd have another and a better if i had a garage lol

 

[RobM]

What sort of thing do you want from your next car? Faster? Bigger? Smaller? More luxury? More hardcore? More practical? Cheaper to run?

And what's your budget? Do you want brand new or are you happy second hand?

Thinking along similar lines to the LCR... how about...

Focus ST?
New shape Audi TT?
BMW M3?
Golf GTi?
Porsche Boxter?
Scooby?
Evo?
Lotus Elise / Exige
Vauxhall VX220?

Hard to make a specific suggestion without knowing your limitations and requirements!

 

[karlosR]

my sisters boyfriend a salesman at the local vauxhall dealership and reckons hardly anybody has brought the vectra VXR because it will depreciate as fast as an alfa romeo due to the rep-mobile image.

 

[RobM]

my sisters boyfriend a salesman at the local vauxhall dealership and reckons hardly anybody has brought the vectra VXR because it will depreciate as fast as an alfa romeo due to the rep-mobile image.

I think the various magazine and TV reports on it haven't helped... Top Gear especially slated it! Unfortunately for Vauxhall, those sort of reports tend to stick!

 

[sportbilly]

I think the various magazine and TV reports on it haven't helped... Top Gear especially slated it! Unfortunately for Vauxhall, those sort of reports tend to stick!

The fact that its a great car to demo understear ....

 

[Vtec220]

Golf R32

 

[cupra r rob]

Get a second hand noble like this one (my next car) and a cheep run about for in the week.

 

[jetsetjimbo]

Get a second hand noble like this one (my next car) and a cheep run about for in the week.

I like the rear clusters on that. The Mondeo rear lights really turn me off!

 

[cuprablue]

In your position I would go for something completely different. In other words don't bother with and FWD cars and definitely not another hatchback they're all just going to be slightly different versions of an LCR.

You can pick up S/H Boxsters and even 911s for the kind of money you're talking about. If I had that kind of cash and wanted the best driving experience for the money that's where my money would go.


Cuprablue

 

[cupra r rob]

I like the rear clusters on that. The Mondeo rear lights really turn me off!

Yea, i know what you mean. Loved this car for ages, think its the cheapest supercar lookalike, with speeds to match. Probably be able to live with the mondeo locks, lights and other bits. There not really that noticeable.

 

[Rokerlad]

I will probably change my car later in the year when I've had the LCR for 3 happy years. The Focus ST is my current favourite, they seem good value for money. Agree about the new Leon, just don't like them .

 

[si-mate]

I too have had my LCR for over 3 years now and can't think of anything that could replace it. The MKII Cupra is the nearest but I can't quite get my head round to liking it yet.
I will keep mine for the forseeable future and maybe when I've a bit more cash and driveway space buy a VX220 / similar nutter mobile for weekends etc.

 

[shamoo]

like what most peeps have said, depends on what your looking at, if its hothatch, i wud say alfa 147 or 157 (i know its ont a hatchback) gta not many around and can pick em up for about 11-15k if u can find 1 lol, or wait for the NEW focus rs (4wd) should be a beast!

 

[RobM]

The 'new RS' isn't official yet, as although spy shots are around and TeamRS have commented on the fact it's being worked on, there is no official commitment to actually releasing the car. The closest we have to that is a statement saying if anything, it will come sometime in 2008 when the current Focus is coming to the end of it's life.

 

[shamoo]

oh well, i reckon it will be a beast, if it does come out! the was forward is 4wd hothatch!

 

[dj_hektik]

I know its a different price braket, but I was so impressed with the Porsche Cayman S, I really thought of selling my Leon. Its an amazing car - everything I imagine a Porsche should be - looks great, good interior, 295 bhp,

Definitely my next car.

 

[si-mate]

I know its a different price braket, but I was so impressed with the Porsche Cayman S, I really thought of selling my Leon. Its an amazing car - everything I imagine a Porsche should be - looks great, good interior, 295 bhp,

Definitely my next car.

If I could afford it, and I didn't need the space then I would definitely get one too. My old man has got a Boxster S and that is an awesome car, but I'm not a fan of soft tops.

 

[dj_hektik]

If I could afford it, and I didn't need the space then I would definitely get one too. My old man has got a Boxster S and that is an awesome car, but I'm not a fan of soft tops.

Golf R32 then.

 

[Crafty]

Hi guys,

Some interesting suggestions, good to know other LCR owners are in the same boat as me!

Someone asked about budget - difficult ones, I've got a reasonable amount fo equity in the house and a bit sat in accounts, so if I wanted a brand new S3 could be done, but as I said Im not really sure its worth that money.

Far as two seat coupes go (350Z, z4, VX220 etc) that just aint my bag. It'll more than likely stay hot hatch and as I've had turbo cars for something like 8 years it needs to stand up to that sort of performance.
S/H vs brand new ? The leon was new, simply because thats what I'd decided one and there werent any about s/h. This time I'm more likely to buy something thats 6 months old, save a chunk of money and still have virtually a new car. I'll more than likely do p/ex as I can't be without a car for work (inaccessible by any other means) unless some nice person commits to the leon at the right time.
The difficulty with the astra is they only do them in two colours that I'd want and I don't like the stock wheels - so its got to be a silver or blue one with the optional wheels and preferably climate control (its an option - they get air con as stock). That kid of narrows the field somewhat looking at s/h ones!

This is for an every day car, so "toy" cars like the VX220, noble etc dont really fit the bill - my toys (when I've got em done!) look a bit like these http://crafty.f2s.com/olds/oldsout.htm and http://www.crafty.f2s.com/chevy/chevy.htm The first is a 1955 Oldsmobile and the second is a '37 chevrolet - someone built a chevy over in the US that ended up like this : http://www.crafty.f2s.com/chevy/boyce4.jpg
Anyway the point is that I just want something I jump in and drive and will take a boot full of stuff / passengers when I need to.
As far as the Alfa go I'd be too worried about it breaking, simply because I don't know of an alfa that hasn't - old or new.

I notice that my mates Vectra VXR is more refined than the LCR and as an ex vauxhall man I have to say I'm very impressed with it - they really raised their game from the old cavaliers and astras. Far as depreciation on those goes he bought an ex demo car with all sorts of extras on it for under £20k - equivelent cars are selling now for £18k so hes lost pretty much nothing over the last year. They have just upped the power to 280ps on those cars. There is a new vectra next year and the VXR is expected to have 4x4. If anything it looks like the astras depreciate more because there are more of them around.