Fast and spacious enough for a mountainbike
Discussion
Sideways Rich said:
thinfourth2 said:
Oh feck off
Get a bike rack
Lol, not entirely convinced a bike rack on the Cayman is the way forward - where exactly would I put my passengers?! Get a bike rack
That GTB looks interesting as a slightly left-field choice, my head is telling me that the MK5 GTI is the sensible all-rounder, fun to drive and I could use it for work.
Compromised on every level IMO.
Not great/good to drive
Not good too look at
Not great to be in
Not luxury or really comfy
Not interesting
Not got a good image
It just so average, but with an up their own arse image.
300bhp/ton said:
Sideways Rich said:
After a 10 year hiatus I bought a mountainbike and am keen to use it, neither the Cayman S or the Boxster are ideal for weekends away with bikes + luggage, so I am selling the Boxster and looking for another car (will keep the Cayman)to be used as the daily/biking weekend away cruiser, criteria as follows;
<> Taken most of it's depreciation hit
<> reliable, it will do 15k miles per year
<> Fun and Fast
<> 30mpg plus on a run if possible
<> enough space to get a bike in the boot (doesn't matter if front wheel needs to come off)
I originally thought an Impreza WRX wagon as four-wheel drive (good fun in the winter/snow) and relatively good performance (not so good mpg) however I had a look inside one and their not exactly cavernous when it comes to space and image wise (I will use the car for work occasionally) it's not really me.
Other contenders;
<> MK5 Golf GTI - Seats go down or could buy a rack
<> Audi A4/A6 Avant - diesel quattro
<> Audi S4 Avant
<> BMW touring
Budget is up to £7,500.
Bike rack???<> Taken most of it's depreciation hit
<> reliable, it will do 15k miles per year
<> Fun and Fast
<> 30mpg plus on a run if possible
<> enough space to get a bike in the boot (doesn't matter if front wheel needs to come off)
I originally thought an Impreza WRX wagon as four-wheel drive (good fun in the winter/snow) and relatively good performance (not so good mpg) however I had a look inside one and their not exactly cavernous when it comes to space and image wise (I will use the car for work occasionally) it's not really me.
Other contenders;
<> MK5 Golf GTI - Seats go down or could buy a rack
<> Audi A4/A6 Avant - diesel quattro
<> Audi S4 Avant
<> BMW touring
Budget is up to £7,500.
Seems like quite a boring list of cars tbh.
How about trying something totally different like a 4x4? Bike will fit in easy, will be a nicer place to be in if you are going away. And because it's totally different you won't end up comparing it to the Porsche.
Also many 4x4's can be rather fun to drive, just in a rather different way.
£7.5k would get you looking at Mitsu Warriors, Landy Defenders, Disco's, Cherokee's (and Grand), Wranglers, Surfs, G0Wagens and many others.
The only thing they don't do so well is the fast bit, but if you still have a Porsche, does it matter?
300bhp/ton said:
Sideways Rich said:
thinfourth2 said:
Oh feck off
Get a bike rack
Lol, not entirely convinced a bike rack on the Cayman is the way forward - where exactly would I put my passengers?! Get a bike rack
That GTB looks interesting as a slightly left-field choice, my head is telling me that the MK5 GTI is the sensible all-rounder, fun to drive and I could use it for work.
Compromised on every level IMO.
Not great/good to drive
Not good too look at
Not great to be in
Not luxury or really comfy
Not interesting
Not got a good image
It just so average, but with an up their own arse image.
Come on now tell us what you really think about the golf! Just kidding. I 100% agree that the TD Mk5's are a pile of crap to drive (my mother has the GT TD and it is crap to drive) I remember test driving the MK5 GTI when it first came out and being impressed, I've also heard they are good to drive. Will need to take one for a run to see if my opinion is still the same.
People always recommend estates in these threads, but how many 4WD estates are actually that engaging to drive? Genuine question as I haven't sampled many, but I'd iomagine RS6s and Legacys can be very quick in a straight line, but perhaps aren't the last word in tactility and response.
You can easily get two bikes and a load of kit in a typical mid-sized hatchback with the rear seats folded. A mate and I often take his Fiat Panda down to the trails with two full size full sussers in the back. Megane R26s, Golf GTIs, Focus STs and the go-faster Seats all spring to mind.
Going back to the original estate idea If you haven't tried an ST220 it's well worth doing. They're huge inside, they handle surprisingly well, sound nice and the later ones are pretty well built for an affordable ex-repmobile. If you want something a bit more leftfield you could try tracking down an Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon. Never driven one admittedly, but the standard Alfa 156 Sportwagon was a bit of an anti-climax for me, so if you're tempted by one I'd suggest looking at the extra drama of the GTA.
You can easily get two bikes and a load of kit in a typical mid-sized hatchback with the rear seats folded. A mate and I often take his Fiat Panda down to the trails with two full size full sussers in the back. Megane R26s, Golf GTIs, Focus STs and the go-faster Seats all spring to mind.
Going back to the original estate idea If you haven't tried an ST220 it's well worth doing. They're huge inside, they handle surprisingly well, sound nice and the later ones are pretty well built for an affordable ex-repmobile. If you want something a bit more leftfield you could try tracking down an Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon. Never driven one admittedly, but the standard Alfa 156 Sportwagon was a bit of an anti-climax for me, so if you're tempted by one I'd suggest looking at the extra drama of the GTA.
I've got a similar dilema, and have tested fast saloons such as an M3 and an RS4. I found them too compromised to be honest, and have ended up buying my Dad's 320d. All the M3 and RS4 provided was speed (the M3 was a very decent driver's car, but it hid it all from the driver), they didn't have that wonderful shrink around you feeling, light weight and manouverability of a sports car; if I was buying a saloon then I just felt better off in the 320d with lower running costs.
That said, Porsche do a roof rack for the Cayman. I've seen it with skis on in the Porsche accessory brochure, but if your bikes are reasonably light I don't see why not - speak to your OPC.
That said, Porsche do a roof rack for the Cayman. I've seen it with skis on in the Porsche accessory brochure, but if your bikes are reasonably light I don't see why not - speak to your OPC.
Bonefish Blues said:
Clio Trophty will accommodate a bike and meets your criteria.
Quite tempted by one of these myself. You can get one in very easily, I suspect two would be okay with both wheels. Feels like a proper old school hot hatch to drive to - a real sense of occasion despite all the plastic and allegedly the best part of 40mpg on a run!It is a small car by modern standards though. If you're looking for utiliterian MTB transport to go with a second fun car the Clio possibly isn't the one. As an affordable daily driver though... Tempting. Very tempting.
this might be a be a bit un ph...
the thing is,
you have a fun car for hooning, it fufils all you blip BLAAAARRRP blip BAAARRRP, whoooooo arrrrr mmmm
needs.
So that is dealt with, for the bike-mobile why get something so compromised?
£7.5k?
Buy a car that needs a rack - instantly boring to drive when the rack and bike are mounted. Wind noise, wobbling, fear (probably unfounded) of it falling off will all play on your mind. Roof rack? you will put a dent in your roof at some point (Neil?!). Ok I admit Mr Bolton's M5 solution is neat one but even then its a tad compromised.
Buy a hatch back that fits 2 bikes comfortably and is up there with the best of the FWD? DC2, clio, megane. Ok great. Fun for hooning sans bikes, but no RWD balanced bit of boxtah is it? Nope. Picture the scene, you and your buddy in your Ford racing puma* (delete as appropriate) and in the back there are between you several k's worth of bike, brake disc, frame, hydraulic hoses etc. Are you really going to attempt some Gigi Galli col du Turini replica moves while bombing across the beacons? Nope, your mate might belt you one if you start chipping his carbon so to speak
Fast estate. Subaru? S2? Legacy? etc. So all the problems of the above with a bit more acceleration and worse fuel consumption. Great.
and now lets throw this into the mix. You're going to do some proper MTBing right? not just laps of Richmond park
..... So what that involves is an early start, long drives in the arse end of nowhere, leaving your chosen stead in the arse end of nowhere (sometimes up a rough track) for the best part of the day, coming back wet, cold, tired, in the rain and the dark and then making the tired lucozade fueled drive back home on a Sunday evening down the M1 / M6 or whatever filled with the joys of a day on the hill. Oh, you have to get changed to before driving off.
Still want bucket seats? hard ride? something the local scrotes would like to have away for the day?
look man, you have a boxter
get a van
drive with bikes fully ready to go
cruise up the motorway in your T5 with some nice gentle tunes on
chat to your 1 or 2 buddies next to you. 3's up in a van, for some reason, is always fun
wheel out the bikes, leave your spares in the back
come back, get changed inside
wheel the bikes back in
cup of tea
and then bimble back home
job jobbed?
exhibit A
exhibit B
(and yes you can get some early T5s for that sort of budget and you'll sell em a year or two later for not much less)
the thing is,
you have a fun car for hooning, it fufils all you blip BLAAAARRRP blip BAAARRRP, whoooooo arrrrr mmmm
needs.So that is dealt with, for the bike-mobile why get something so compromised?
£7.5k?
Buy a car that needs a rack - instantly boring to drive when the rack and bike are mounted. Wind noise, wobbling, fear (probably unfounded) of it falling off will all play on your mind. Roof rack? you will put a dent in your roof at some point (Neil?!). Ok I admit Mr Bolton's M5 solution is neat one but even then its a tad compromised.
Buy a hatch back that fits 2 bikes comfortably and is up there with the best of the FWD? DC2, clio, megane. Ok great. Fun for hooning sans bikes, but no RWD balanced bit of boxtah is it? Nope. Picture the scene, you and your buddy in your Ford racing puma* (delete as appropriate) and in the back there are between you several k's worth of bike, brake disc, frame, hydraulic hoses etc. Are you really going to attempt some Gigi Galli col du Turini replica moves while bombing across the beacons? Nope, your mate might belt you one if you start chipping his carbon so to speak
Fast estate. Subaru? S2? Legacy? etc. So all the problems of the above with a bit more acceleration and worse fuel consumption. Great.
and now lets throw this into the mix. You're going to do some proper MTBing right? not just laps of Richmond park
..... So what that involves is an early start, long drives in the arse end of nowhere, leaving your chosen stead in the arse end of nowhere (sometimes up a rough track) for the best part of the day, coming back wet, cold, tired, in the rain and the dark and then making the tired lucozade fueled drive back home on a Sunday evening down the M1 / M6 or whatever filled with the joys of a day on the hill. Oh, you have to get changed to before driving off.Still want bucket seats? hard ride? something the local scrotes would like to have away for the day?
look man, you have a boxter
get a van
drive with bikes fully ready to go
cruise up the motorway in your T5 with some nice gentle tunes on
chat to your 1 or 2 buddies next to you. 3's up in a van, for some reason, is always fun
wheel out the bikes, leave your spares in the back
come back, get changed inside
wheel the bikes back in
cup of tea
and then bimble back home
job jobbed?
exhibit A
exhibit B
(and yes you can get some early T5s for that sort of budget and you'll sell em a year or two later for not much less)
Edited by theboymoon on Tuesday 7th September 13:28
I've had 4 bikes and 5 people inside a Legacy wagon at the same time before if that helps.
Driving-wise they're very nice, obviously not as involving as the likes of an MX5 but quite precise and satisfying all the same. 280bhp/1450-1500kg (GTB) provides plenty of grunt (unless you compare with an RS6
) with a very smooth power delivery from the TT setup, they're much nicer and more comfortable than an Impreza (and bigger) and deceptively good at going from A-B quickly in any weather or road conditions.
I usually average 26ish mpg in mixed use and 30-32 on the open road on 98RON fuel, ~10% worse on 95. Happy enough with that considering the performance, but apparently the 4th-gen Legacy is generally a bit more economical.
Driving-wise they're very nice, obviously not as involving as the likes of an MX5 but quite precise and satisfying all the same. 280bhp/1450-1500kg (GTB) provides plenty of grunt (unless you compare with an RS6
) with a very smooth power delivery from the TT setup, they're much nicer and more comfortable than an Impreza (and bigger) and deceptively good at going from A-B quickly in any weather or road conditions.I usually average 26ish mpg in mixed use and 30-32 on the open road on 98RON fuel, ~10% worse on 95. Happy enough with that considering the performance, but apparently the 4th-gen Legacy is generally a bit more economical.
Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 7th September 13:51
Nearly 300bhp
4WD + loads of room inside
Ok, so no way you will get 30mpg but who cares and it will go forever.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
4WD + loads of room inside
Ok, so no way you will get 30mpg but who cares and it will go forever.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
AbarthChris said:
neil_bolton said:
If you get a bike rack, it opens up everything to you:
M5 + Towbar + rack...
Works for me...
Shame about the sh*t bikes on the back of a nice car!M5 + Towbar + rack...
Works for me...
- seriously though Neil, thats frikkin' awesome!*
ker.I couldn't be arsed to dig the MTB's out of the cupboard, so the easily accessed and much lighter road bikes went on.
Ones which don't break.
GravelBen said:
I've had 4 bikes and 5 people inside a Legacy wagon at the same time before if that helps.
Driving-wise they're very nice, obviously not as involving as the likes of an MX5 but quite precise and satisfying all the same. 280bhp/1450-1500kg (GTB) provides plenty of grunt (unless you compare with an RS6 ) with a very smooth power delivery from the TT setup, they're much nicer and more comfortable than an Impreza (and bigger) and deceptively good at going from A-B quickly in any weather or road conditions.
I usually average 26ish mpg in mixed use and 30-32 on the open road on 98RON fuel, ~10% worse on 95. Happy enough with that considering the performance, but apparently the 4th-gen Legacy is generally a bit more economical.
... and if you're not running a taxi service, the boot with the seats down in the Legacy will easily swallow a whole mountain bike with the wheels on. You can be on the trail easily within seconds of parking!Driving-wise they're very nice, obviously not as involving as the likes of an MX5 but quite precise and satisfying all the same. 280bhp/1450-1500kg (GTB) provides plenty of grunt (unless you compare with an RS6
) with a very smooth power delivery from the TT setup, they're much nicer and more comfortable than an Impreza (and bigger) and deceptively good at going from A-B quickly in any weather or road conditions.I usually average 26ish mpg in mixed use and 30-32 on the open road on 98RON fuel, ~10% worse on 95. Happy enough with that considering the performance, but apparently the 4th-gen Legacy is generally a bit more economical.
Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 7th September 13:51
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