Hello from a future owner - 2.0 vs. 2.2 advice?

Feeniks · Post by **Feeniks** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:25 am

@simonc, wow, that's quite the ringing endorsement! Reckon I'll count that as two votes for the 2.2

Thanks for the welcomes too, y'all! Though I must say being called "mate" and "fella" will take some getting used to

preludemanh22 · Post by **preludemanh22** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:49 am

U can't compare 2.0 is flat as a pancake 2.2 is like a wild bumble bee

Post by **simonc** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:32 am

Nice similes Dave.

Shiny · Post by **Shiny** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 10:52 am

Depends if you want to look at your car or drive it.

If you want to look at it, buy a 4th Gen.

If you want to drive it, buy a 2.2 Vtec and a manual gearbox. Don't buy an auto in a sports car, you tell it what gear you want. I've just bought an automatic bus for lazy driving and having the car choose the gears is annoying at times. Take away the manual box and you take away a lot of the cars capabilities.

Now if you want a car to look and drive, then a 4g 2.2 Vtec is the perfect solution. Unless you like the look of the 5G of course.

Grey imports are generally more expensive to insure, especially as an inexperienced driver, so try to stick to the UK models.

The 2.2 Vtec may be more expensive to insure too as an inexperienced driver, but so will the 2.0. But once you've held your licence for 12 months things won't be so bad.

In another note, if you pass your manual test, do not buy an automatic. Buy a manual and get proper experience driving a manual car. If you get an auto now, you may find it hard to go back to a manual at a later date.

Feeniks · Post by **Feeniks** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 11:34 am

Thanks for the valuable advice, @Shiny!

Post by **norks27** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:16 pm

@Feeniks, regardless of which engine you end up or which gen you get, make sure it's a clean example, there's will be solid info within the forum on what to look for aside from the usual rust issues, (which can be sorted anyway).

From my point of view, having owned a 4G 2.0 and then 2.2 4g and 5G, i'd genuinally say either would be a fantastic first car, if you do get a 2.2, as a fresh driver I'd say the 2.2 was more likely to get you into trouble with cameras etc, the VTEC is just enormous fun, 3rd gear on the way up to 7500+ rpm will always put a smile on your face.
But the 2.0 litre is just a great engine for a steady cruise, and was such a lovely predictable car to drive.

Feeniks · Post by **Feeniks** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 3:01 pm

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... e/usedcars

Thoughts?

Shiny · Post by **Shiny** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 3:21 pm

Auto

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 3:27 pm

Nice car. As new as they come, great colour top spec 2.3 UKDM.
Rust starting on the passenger rear arch which is a shame, but not unusual. Given that though, and that it's an auto (generally less desirable) the dealer is asking top money. £800 would be a fairer price imo.

The 2.3 is a great engine, the 4th gen auto box is bullet proof, it would be a great cruiser.

If you want an auto, then buy an auto

Feeniks · Post by **Feeniks** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:41 am

The auto's gone. Guess they found a buyer who didn't mind the howling we heard on the test drive (presumably a bearing). Not to worry – wasn't mean to be, the search continues!