What £5k car for euro roadtrip?
Discussion
Craikeybaby said:
Chris71 said:
I'd be all over this if I had £5k to spare: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
My old S3 was the best all-round ownership experience I've ever had. Good compromise of B-road chuckability and long distance cruising, reasonably practical for a two seat convertible, wonderful noise (better than the V8s IMHO), reliable and not even particularly expensive to fuel.
That is nice, there's a maroon one in the classifieds too that I like. My only concern is lack of garage at the moment, but that could be worked around...My old S3 was the best all-round ownership experience I've ever had. Good compromise of B-road chuckability and long distance cruising, reasonably practical for a two seat convertible, wonderful noise (better than the V8s IMHO), reliable and not even particularly expensive to fuel.
Have just done this in my E36 M3 vert, the french alps and on to the med from Nothumberland and it was a lovely way to travel, we had the roof down for most of it.
With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
Craikeybaby said:
Krikkit said:
Early Boxster S imo - they'll be £5k for reasonable ones once the summer's over for this year. Great engine and handling, not too impractical, and in the right colour/wheel combo imo look fantastic too. Definitely a car that's growing more appealing as the years pass.
I've noticed a few Boxster Ss, for some reason they don't seem to be much more expensive than the 2.5/2.7s. Not sure why that is?twizellb said:
Have just done this in my E36 M3 vert, the french alps and on to the med from Nothumberland and it was a lovely way to travel, we had the roof down for most of it.
With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
Absolutely agree with this, especially about that engine. The wife and I did a 2500 mile 11 day trip in an E36 M3 Evo Coupe, including alpine passes, Route Napoleon, Switzerland and then back via the Rhine valley, a few laps of the 'Ring and some high speed autobahn work, and it was pretty much perfect. With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
I didn't drive the passes like my hair was on fire, but didn't hang around, and had great fun. Car averaged something like 28mpg over the whole trip, didn't use a drop of any fluid, had great aircon (as said above, essential for a summer trip to the Alps) and loads of space for luggage. I can also report it sounds excellent in the tunnel at Monaco
In addition to the usual buyer's guide stuff, tips on M3 purchasing/ownership for this trip are:
1. Make sure the aircon works on the one you buy. If the seller says it just needs a regas, it may well need a new compressor instead - they're a known weak point. I had mine done before the trip.
2. A storm motorwerks weighted gearknob is well worth it in terms of improving shift quality.
Enjoy!
twizellb said:
Have just done this in my E36 M3 vert, the french alps and on to the med from Nothumberland and it was a lovely way to travel, we had the roof down for most of it.
With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
Thanks, I think the M3 is sneaking into the lead. I've found one locally to have a look at. With the roof up you can cruise at well in to 3 figures, they are fairly good on petrol if your not in to much of a hurry, 3;5 revs in top is bang on 100 and redline is 7;5 so they are long in 6th.
One of the really great engines imho.
Have also done it in a Boxster s and that was really good aswell but doing it in 5 grand one might be a bit optomistic.
Have done in a Tuscan aswell when I was feelling really brave, it was the best experience to honest as the attention you got had been seen, but this is a bit outside your budget.
For 5grand, I would get a M3.
Gaz. said:
S2000. So much fun. Roof is brilliant, engine is a gem and changing gear is never a chore. Light but numb steering and quite loud with the roof up. The boot is a good size, the driving position and seats are comfortable but not as good as the 944's. Stereo is utter crap. I can drive it all day and get out as fresh as a daisy. It's a mechanically simple car and bomb proof. Put the keys to my Porsche or Honda infront of me for a road trip and I'd take the Honda without hesitation.
M3. Capable chassis, legendary engine, dreadful steering & gearchange. For straight line heroics this is your car, but ultimately is is just a hot version of a family saloon and feels just as boring in this company. Other than a straight line speed advantage, it does nothing that the 944 can't do better, and as you're considering S2000's and 350Z's I'm assuming you don't need 4 seats which is the M3's only trump card. M3s are great for parents who want an all rounder that offers some kind of excitement, but for a Euro-trip it wouldn't even make my shortlist.
Each to their own, but I think "a hot version of a family saloon" is being too dismissive of the M3. It's a special-feeling car, but I agree it's not a small sports car like an S2000. M3. Capable chassis, legendary engine, dreadful steering & gearchange. For straight line heroics this is your car, but ultimately is is just a hot version of a family saloon and feels just as boring in this company. Other than a straight line speed advantage, it does nothing that the 944 can't do better, and as you're considering S2000's and 350Z's I'm assuming you don't need 4 seats which is the M3's only trump card. M3s are great for parents who want an all rounder that offers some kind of excitement, but for a Euro-trip it wouldn't even make my shortlist.
For me, the steering on the S2000 detracts far more from the driving experience than the steering on the M3, although I agree the steering on the M3 isn't great either. The engine is also far nicer to use, in terms of smoothness, sound and top-end punch, than the 4 cylinder turbo in the 944.
I found the S2000 wearing on a high-speed cruise too - engine just sounds thrashy - and you will want the roof up in the day if it's hot. Stunning gearchange though.
Edited by _Neal_ on Wednesday 24th July 15:28
Id look for a £1,500 944 S2 and carefully spend £3,500 on it. Buying the right car wont be the easiest thing, but good core cars are available for this price and youll have enough money if you spend wisely to make everything good with the remaining budget.
Dont expect the air conditioning to work though!
Dont expect the air conditioning to work though!
Ved said:
If it's just for a trip or fun have you thought about just renting something?
Flying down and renting something could be an option, but I do enjoy roadtrips. I've just been looking at mk3 MR2s, which are what I'd be buying if I didn't need luggage space for a road trip and have seen far more cars I'd consider buying. Craikeybaby said:
Ved said:
If it's just for a trip or fun have you thought about just renting something?
Flying down and renting something could be an option, but I do enjoy roadtrips. I've just been looking at mk3 MR2s, which are what I'd be buying if I didn't need luggage space for a road trip and have seen far more cars I'd consider buying. Gaz. said:
Owned a 944 Turbo, own a S2000 and driven a handful of M3 Evos.
Of the 944's, only the turbos have a/c and the chances of it working are slim and even if it does you won't notice. Their seats are fantastic, driving position is good, handling is fantastic as is the ride quality although not a patch on the jags mentioned so far. On the autoroutes it'll be quite relaxing and a joy in the mountains, if turbo lag doesn't get on your tits. If it does then an S2 would be better. Power steering is very heavy so may get tiresome threading your way through a town at the end of a long day and my wife hated ours for this reason. Waterpumps are weak spots so change that before your trip. They also like to consume oil. The sun roof is a pain in the arse, it lifts out and can be stowed behind the front seats but it booms like hell. You can tilt it but it is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
S2000. So much fun. Roof is brilliant, engine is a gem and changing gear is never a chore. Light but numb steering and quite loud with the roof up. The boot is a good size, the driving position and seats are comfortable but not as good as the 944's. Stereo is utter crap. I can drive it all day and get out as fresh as a daisy. It's a mechanically simple car and bomb proof. Put the keys to my Porsche or Honda infront of me for a road trip and I'd take the Honda without hesitation.
M3. Capable chassis, legendary engine, dreadful steering & gearchange. For straight line heroics this is your car, but ultimately is is just a hot version of a family saloon and feels just as boring in this company. Other than a straight line speed advantage, it does nothing that the 944 can't do better, and as you're considering S2000's and 350Z's I'm assuming you don't need 4 seats which is the M3's only trump card. M3s are great for parents who want an all rounder that offers some kind of excitement, but for a Euro-trip it wouldn't even make my shortlist.
I didn't notice this earlier - a useful posts. A lot of my friends have dismissed the S2000 as it is too similar to an MX-5, but then I like the MX5...Of the 944's, only the turbos have a/c and the chances of it working are slim and even if it does you won't notice. Their seats are fantastic, driving position is good, handling is fantastic as is the ride quality although not a patch on the jags mentioned so far. On the autoroutes it'll be quite relaxing and a joy in the mountains, if turbo lag doesn't get on your tits. If it does then an S2 would be better. Power steering is very heavy so may get tiresome threading your way through a town at the end of a long day and my wife hated ours for this reason. Waterpumps are weak spots so change that before your trip. They also like to consume oil. The sun roof is a pain in the arse, it lifts out and can be stowed behind the front seats but it booms like hell. You can tilt it but it is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
S2000. So much fun. Roof is brilliant, engine is a gem and changing gear is never a chore. Light but numb steering and quite loud with the roof up. The boot is a good size, the driving position and seats are comfortable but not as good as the 944's. Stereo is utter crap. I can drive it all day and get out as fresh as a daisy. It's a mechanically simple car and bomb proof. Put the keys to my Porsche or Honda infront of me for a road trip and I'd take the Honda without hesitation.
M3. Capable chassis, legendary engine, dreadful steering & gearchange. For straight line heroics this is your car, but ultimately is is just a hot version of a family saloon and feels just as boring in this company. Other than a straight line speed advantage, it does nothing that the 944 can't do better, and as you're considering S2000's and 350Z's I'm assuming you don't need 4 seats which is the M3's only trump card. M3s are great for parents who want an all rounder that offers some kind of excitement, but for a Euro-trip it wouldn't even make my shortlist.
_Neal_ said:
Absolutely agree with this, especially about that engine. The wife and I did a 2500 mile 11 day trip in an E36 M3 Evo Coupe, including alpine passes, Route Napoleon, Switzerland and then back via the Rhine valley, a few laps of the 'Ring and some high speed autobahn work, and it was pretty much perfect.
I didn't drive the passes like my hair was on fire, but didn't hang around, and had great fun. Car averaged something like 28mpg over the whole trip, didn't use a drop of any fluid, had great aircon (as said above, essential for a summer trip to the Alps) and loads of space for luggage. I can also report it sounds excellent in the tunnel at Monaco
In addition to the usual buyer's guide stuff, tips on M3 purchasing/ownership for this trip are:
1. Make sure the aircon works on the one you buy. If the seller says it just needs a regas, it may well need a new compressor instead - they're a known weak point. I had mine done before the trip.
2. A storm motorwerks weighted gearknob is well worth it in terms of improving shift quality.
Enjoy!
That sounds like a great trip, pretty much the trip we're planning. Thanks for the extra hints. I didn't drive the passes like my hair was on fire, but didn't hang around, and had great fun. Car averaged something like 28mpg over the whole trip, didn't use a drop of any fluid, had great aircon (as said above, essential for a summer trip to the Alps) and loads of space for luggage. I can also report it sounds excellent in the tunnel at Monaco
In addition to the usual buyer's guide stuff, tips on M3 purchasing/ownership for this trip are:
1. Make sure the aircon works on the one you buy. If the seller says it just needs a regas, it may well need a new compressor instead - they're a known weak point. I had mine done before the trip.
2. A storm motorwerks weighted gearknob is well worth it in terms of improving shift quality.
Enjoy!
GC8 said:
Id look for a £1,500 944 S2 and carefully spend £3,500 on it. Buying the right car wont be the easiest thing, but good core cars are available for this price and youll have enough money if you spend wisely to make everything good with the remaining budget.
Dont expect the air conditioning to work though!
Thanks. I think with an older car like a 944, is be spending less and doing some preventative maintenance before I go. Dont expect the air conditioning to work though!
I haven't check temperatures yet, but early May (Monaco Classic weekend) might not be that hot, so may get away without A/C.
edc said:
I'll be doing a similar trip in my Boxster. 2 boots, roof down, louder exhaust, uprated suspension, what's not to like
I think a Boxster is the best car for this sort of trip, but having experienced cheaper Boxsters I'm not sure I could get a good one in budget.I think I'll be going to Le Mans in a 987 Boxster next year.
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