What car would YOU spend ~£10k on in my shoes?
Discussion
Could be in a position to change cars and upgrade somewhat in a few weeks, if all goes to plan. I'm interested in a little bit of debate over my options.
Bit of background:
I'm a contractor, so although I generally know where I am going to be for the foreseeable future, that can change, with my mileage going up massively or down a little bit from where it is now. Having said that, I don't care too much about mpg so long as I can see a true 25mpg if I am driving something that feels special enough to warrant the outlay.
Now, I had a Hawkeye Impreza STi Spec-D a couple of years back. We did a 3000 mile Euro trip in it and truly loved the car. I sold because I earned half what I do now and ended up in a job that required me to drive over 20k a year miles. I think it's actually the only time I have ever sold a car that I wasn't bored of.
The E46 330d and E60 535D that followed never really grabbed me like the Scooby did. As a result, I sold the 535D and bought a cheap 2003 Impreza WRX Wagon as my daily and I feel very at home with the car. I'm so much happier with it than I was in the dervmobiles.
My problem is that there are many cars I like and want to experience. I don't keep cars for more than a year usually, but I am not against doing so if I click with one, like the Impreza. But if I were to spend £10k, I need to narrow down the possibilities.
Add in to the mix that I also have an MR2 Roadster that I have been building for the past couple of months for occasional use. That's getting a 190bhp Celica engine or a turbo conversion in the new year
So, the cars I have a bit of an inkling for that I think match my criteria:
Any ideas on the above folks?
Bit of background:
I'm a contractor, so although I generally know where I am going to be for the foreseeable future, that can change, with my mileage going up massively or down a little bit from where it is now. Having said that, I don't care too much about mpg so long as I can see a true 25mpg if I am driving something that feels special enough to warrant the outlay.
Now, I had a Hawkeye Impreza STi Spec-D a couple of years back. We did a 3000 mile Euro trip in it and truly loved the car. I sold because I earned half what I do now and ended up in a job that required me to drive over 20k a year miles. I think it's actually the only time I have ever sold a car that I wasn't bored of.
The E46 330d and E60 535D that followed never really grabbed me like the Scooby did. As a result, I sold the 535D and bought a cheap 2003 Impreza WRX Wagon as my daily and I feel very at home with the car. I'm so much happier with it than I was in the dervmobiles.
My problem is that there are many cars I like and want to experience. I don't keep cars for more than a year usually, but I am not against doing so if I click with one, like the Impreza. But if I were to spend £10k, I need to narrow down the possibilities.
Add in to the mix that I also have an MR2 Roadster that I have been building for the past couple of months for occasional use. That's getting a 190bhp Celica engine or a turbo conversion in the new year
So, the cars I have a bit of an inkling for that I think match my criteria:
- S-Type R - Bit leftfield and they are very heavy cars. Something really cool about these though.
- 1st Gen XKR - Always liked these but not sure they will see 25mpg in 4.2 flavour? Might feel a bit numb?
- Hawkeye Impreza STi - I know them, I love them, but I know that having another one will leave me hankering for....
- Hatchback WRX STI - Just coming into this range now, I have fancied one of these for quite a while.....
- E9X 335i - I like these too, but not sure how involved they feel to drive. Would prefer LCI DCT version but don't think that's on for the money. If I bought a pre-LCI it would just bother me constantly about not having the LCI....
- E9X 335D - Could be a great daily but also scarce at this price, will be pre-LCI so will suffer the above issue and the diesels I had before weren't very emotive to drive. On the other hand I do now have the MR2 so *might* be able to live with that. Not sure.
- 996 911 of some description - Always wanted a 911! Not sure if the affordable 996 C2 cars are much cop though?
- 2nd Gen Boxster - Too similar to the MR2 (baring the obvious quality gap and engine of course)??
- Z4/Z4C - Test drove a Z4 3.0, wasn't enamoured with the electric PAS, but was a decent car. Would prefer a Z4M hands down but not sure I can get one at £10k yet (ever!?)
- Z3M Breadvan - For £10k?! Also possibly too nuts for a daily?
Any ideas on the above folks?
J4CKO said:
Similar dilemma, bought a 350Z and really like it.
Nice, I forgot about those!soad said:
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo? Will be faster than Impreza...
Scared by the sheer amount of servicing a daily Evo would need!Tedders said:
I would go Z3M Breadvan.
You won't lose much money on one of these either
I'll definitely keep my eye out for one of these but I don't hold out much hope really. Would be an immense car, but as said likely to have a dodgy history or "issues" at this price. More of a fantasy than a genuine reality I think. You won't lose much money on one of these either
TIGA84 said:
NICE! Skyline is interesting and I am very much of the Gran Turismo generation, but I've got reservations about buying such an old car. A few comforts would be nice really, without going overboard.
I might as well also look at Supras if I'm going to look at Skylines. Would they really serve me better than a modern WRX STi?
I do 15k miles a year ish and also do contract work, it doesn't matter how much man maths you do up front about the trade off between a diesel and getting a cheaper/older/bigger petrol engined car and spending the difference on fuel after a few weeks of filling up said petrol car you will have forgotten the man maths and begrudge spending £150 a week on fuel to get to work, the process of handing over the cash every monday morning still hurts.
My advice get a 55mpg + car for the working week and something for the weekend.
My advice get a 55mpg + car for the working week and something for the weekend.
TroubledSoul said:
The E46 330d and E60 535D that followed never really grabbed me like the Scooby did. As a result, I sold the 535D and bought a cheap 2003 Impreza WRX Wagon as my daily and I feel very at home with the car. I'm so much happier with it than I was in the dervmobiles.
I've read this part now, it transpires that I made an excellent suggestion 
I can relate entirely, moving from the Impreza to a 535d is like parting with Jenna Jameson for Fern Cotton. You wouldn't be disappointed but your prospective isn't what is should be
I owned a 123d prior to the Evo, I could happily go back to a quick derv but I'd spend a lot of my time looking in the classifieds
StottyEvo said:
TroubledSoul said:
The E46 330d and E60 535D that followed never really grabbed me like the Scooby did. As a result, I sold the 535D and bought a cheap 2003 Impreza WRX Wagon as my daily and I feel very at home with the car. I'm so much happier with it than I was in the dervmobiles.
I've read this part now, it transpires that I made an excellent suggestion I can relate entirely, moving from the Impreza to a 535d is like parting with Jenna Jameson for Fern Cotton. You wouldn't be disappointed but your prospective isn't what is should be
I owned a 123d prior to the Evo, I could happily go back to a quick derv but I'd spend a lot of my time looking in the classifieds
Actually if I am honest a 335D or equivalent A4 probably IS exactly what I should be going for, as I will have the MR2 for weekend and evening kicks. I'll have to think about this very carefully as I don't want to make the wrong choice.
I just don't want to regret the decision either way to be honest. Most of the petrol stuff I like would be lucky to see 25mpg and that would become a huge problem if I ended up needing to commute from Leeds to Manchester every day at some point, which isn't out of the question.
On the other hand, diesel engines have no character and I love my Subarus so much that I can forgive the fuel to an extent. It's just if a major change in mileage occurred, it could realistically become a problem.
More serious thought required.... I also don't want the location of our future house purchase to be dictated by my daily driver's MPG! But if DON'T buy something fairly exciting, will I regret it?
43034 said:
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