Which of these would you enjoy driving more as a daily?

[anonymous-user]

[WinstonWolf]

300bhp/ton said:

St John Smythe said:

I suggest a 1970s AMC Pacer. Should handle all the above with ease.

So is that your way of saying you have no clue, so you have to come up with a stupid comment instead?

It's as on topic as many of your suggestions in other threads...

[TroubledSoul]

300bhp/ton said:

Some examples.

I want a car that can:

- be used for off road Land Rover trials
- something to take to classic car shows in the summer
- something comfy, family sized and can be used for holidaying/touring, ideally 4x4 as you see so much more and can green lane
- something fast
- something economical that I can afford for work/commuting

I think you'd struggle to get 3 cars to do that. Even more so when you consider that all said and done, even selling everything, my budget still wouldn't be overly large.

How about some sort of Audi Allroad to replace the Land Rover and do comfy touring duties, a MK1 MX5 for the classic stuff and to have a nice convertible and keep the Impreza or Camaro for the rest?

[rohrl]

TroubledSoul said:

How about some sort of Audi Allroad to replace the Land Rover

I don't presume to answer for 300 but an Audi Allroad really is a very different beast from a Land Rover and wouldn't be much use on an off-road trial.

[TroubledSoul]

rohrl said:

I don't presume to answer for 300 but an Audi Allroad really is a very different beast from a Land Rover and wouldn't be much use on an off-road trial.

Fair enough, I was under the impression you could raise the suspension to a decent level so it could do both.

[PGNCerbera]

300, you seem to have all the answers and at the same time, none of the answers.....

My suggestion........TVR Wedge. You seem to like them

[300bhp/ton]

TroubledSoul said:

rohrl said:

I don't presume to answer for 300 but an Audi Allroad really is a very different beast from a Land Rover and wouldn't be much use on an off-road trial.

Fair enough, I was under the impression you could raise the suspension to a decent level so it could do both.

rohl is correct.

I trial mostly with an ALRC affiliated club, regulated by the MSA. The ALRC is the Association of Land Rover Clubs, so it has to be a Land Rover to be part of it.

Both my father and uncle are founding members of our local club and I've been in and around Land Rover's and off roading for almost all my life. Certainly since the age of 7.

I'm also club scrutineer for our local club and I setup and run events (Clark of the Course) as well as compete.


This is the sort of off roading I do:








I don't compete in the Range Rover, but it gets used properly off road from time to time too

[luckystrike]

300bhp/ton said:

luckystrike said:

To counter the diesel repmobile argument - why would you waste a decent car stuck in traffic, getting more and more pissed off as 'quirks' turn into major drawbacks when you could have been in a warm comfy music booth that costs half as much to run?

Without wanting to sound argumentative. I simply don't follow this.

The Roadster is more than comfy enough, doesn't have any quirks that annoy me on the commute and averages 52-55mpg (upto 60mpg in the summer).

How would a diesel remobile improve on any of these things?

Can you honestly not follow the concept of people preferring comfort on boring, repetitive drives?

I'm not one for jumping on the 'bash 300' bandwagon, but you don't help your case by either deliberately or accidentally misconstruing what people say, regardless of whether they're agreeing with you or being constructive. My comment was in relation to your original premise of an MR2, a Mini or a 3 series, which are the vehicles you asked us to evaluate. Of those, the repmobile (i.e. the 3 series) was my choice, for the reasons I explained. You didn't ask us to compare it to your (already owned) smart roadster.

I'd also be inclined to suggest continuing to use the smart if it's currently fulfilling everything in your initial brief. Not buying anything would be the most cost effective, after all, but as this wasn't the question you asked it wasn't the one I answered.

300bhp/ton said:

As for the cars I'm considering. Like I said earlier, I've seen 323i's from £700. I think you'd be hard pushed to find a diesel at this price level.

Now lets say I'd consider a 320d. Chances are you'll buy less 320d than 325i for your money, i.e. it will be higher mileage, lower spec, probably less tidy. And from the drivers seat won't look any different or be more comfy.

In terms of cost, well the 320d should be better on fuel. I don't know what they return, but I'd wager 40-45mpg vs 33-35mpg for the petrol. That doesn't sound like half the running costs to me. And I know I'd enjoy the petrol more so.

Once again, you're missing the point. There is a massive difference between me saying 'there's a point where a boring fuel efficient barge can make a sensible purchase' and me saying 'you should buy a boring sensible fuel efficient barge'.

300bhp/ton said:

luckystrike said:

I'm commuting in an EP3 type R at the moment so it's not that I don't 'get' having something half-special for the daily slog, but it replaced a mk3 mondeo. I couldn't honestly say that the slip road VTEC moments are outweighing the comfort and refinement while sat in queues of traffic. Equivalent, possibly, but there's no way I'd say I've improved - it's just different.

Half my journey is good hooning roads. So a fun car gets used for fun every journey at some point.

Will you hoon the entire journey every time? Will that impact your efficiency requirements?

As I said in my first post there's enough enjoyment in the BMW for it to reward on entertaining roads without any of the lack of refinement or practicality compromises the other two cars suffer from. Without labouring the point or judging, you do own several other entertaining vehicles which could be used on the 1-3 sunny days a month you absolutely must cane it into work rather than trundling in normally.

I guess the point I'm making is if you're adding something into the fleet to perform a different task to the vehicles you already own, actually buy something different. Adding a small sports car to a fleet that includes a small sports car won't remove the problems of the original, but adding a tidy handling yet comfortable saloon might.

[300bhp/ton]

@luckystrike

I think we must have crossed wires or something. I'm certainly not disagreeing with you, just feel we are having two different conversations. But I'll take blame for it.


As for hooning, yes most journeys, but not the entire journey. Half of it isn't hooning roads.


There is no problem with my current car -- only that it needs some TLC and I'd like to take it off to road to do it. Which means I need something to use while I do this. And as the opportunity is presenting itself, I'd like to use it to drive a car I've not owned or driven before, as there are simply so many brilliant cars out there and I'd like to sample as many as I can within reason.

Also having used my current car for over 5 years and 75,000 miles I fancy a bit of a change, albeit a temporary one. I fully intend to go back to using it, after I'd done some bits to it.

[luckystrike]

300bhp/ton said:

@luckystrike

I think we must have crossed wires or something. I'm certainly not disagreeing with you, just feel we are having two different conversations. But I'll take blame for it.


As for hooning, yes most journeys, but not the entire journey. Half of it isn't hooning roads.


There is no problem with my current car -- only that it needs some TLC and I'd like to take it off to road to do it. Which means I need something to use while I do this. And as the opportunity is presenting itself, I'd like to use it to drive a car I've not owned or driven before, as there are simply so many brilliant cars out there and I'd like to sample as many as I can within reason.

Also having used my current car for over 5 years and 75,000 miles I fancy a bit of a change, albeit a temporary one. I fully intend to go back to using it, after I'd done some bits to it.

No worries. I'd like to hope my days of being angry on the internet are behind me.

Still a tough choice. If you're thinking of moving it on fairly soon anyway then probably the MR2, I'd guess. As mentioned previously the post-facelifts tend to dodge the oval bore problem, but you pay more for those so swings and roundabouts. Think you'd be unlucky to lose much money on an MR2, whereas e46 prices seem to be going down the toilet.

I loved my housemate's old cooper S and it was truly brilliant to drive, but if you're not traditionally a hatchback fan I'm not sure whether owning one would sway you. I've considered one a few times and they just seem too much of a liability and/or a ballache to actually live with for proper miles, and I quite like hatchbacks.

I know you've dismissed on looks already, but the k20 in civic type rs is stonking. I would suggest a re-evaluation purely on the drivetrain, and they're a practical car to boot.

If the smart's only going to be off the road temporarily, then I'd still suggest running something already in the fleet for a few months. Scoobies are fun over the winter.

[300bhp/ton]

CorvetteConvert said:

I agree. I run too many vehicles really, 5 at present, but i like to think they are all pretty good cars/bike.

So how much money have you spent buying these then:

Ford Mondeo Titanium 240

Chevrolet Z06 7011cc LS7

Ducati Panigale 1299

Mercedes SL55 AMG

Caterham R 500 Superlight


That looks like a fair chunk of money to me. It would seem you are letting your bank balance rule your arrogance here.

______________________________________

CorvetteConvert said:

300bhp, could you reply to my question

I have, and despite you prolifically posting in other topics all day, you seem to have avoided this one, since I answered you.

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

CorvetteConvert said:

I agree. I run too many vehicles really, 5 at present, but i like to think they are all pretty good cars/bike.

So how much money have you spent buying these then:

Ford Mondeo Titanium 240

Chevrolet Z06 7011cc LS7

Ducati Panigale 1299

Mercedes SL55 AMG

Caterham R 500 Superlight


That looks like a fair chunk of money to me. It would seem you are letting your bank balance rule your arrogance here.

______________________________________

CorvetteConvert said:

300bhp, could you reply to my question

I have, and despite you prolifically posting in other topics all day, you seem to have avoided this one, since I answered you.

Not being funny 300 but isn't he doing the exact same thing as you in running a fleet of cars (all be it on a bigger budget) ?

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

T-Bird is not worth flogging, I only paid £120 for it. It has no engine or gearbox in it. It's sitting out of the way, costs £0.00 to keep and isn't worth selling.

As I just posted above, the smart isn't really worth a huge amount to sell. And why on Earth would I want to waste my life sitting in a diesel rembile? You've got to be fking mental to spend hours of your life in a dull car, when you can drive something slightly more interesting.

Land Rover is not currently in a sellable state as it's being rebuilt, so that's not even a remote possibility.

Impreza I've just explained, the only way to really sell it is to loose out financially.


But taking your example.


T-Bird = £120
Roadster = £1k maybe
Impreza = £2k maybe


That's only £3k. Even if I completed the Land Rover and sold it for £2.5k that still wouldn't be enough to supercharge the Camaro, let alone buy a boring car too. And I'd then not be able to compete in Land Rover trials.

I can't really see the positives in this plan.

Having looked at this I can give you an easy to follow plan.

Current funds £2000

T-Bird - break/sell £120
Roadster - break/sell £1000
Impreza - sell £2000

Land Rover - keep

Current funds £5120

As for wasting your life, how is a knackered T-Bird enriching it, all it is doing is tempting you to spend money which, by your own admission, you do not have? The more you save on the commute, which is a large part of your outgoings, the more disposable income you will have?

£5K buys you something very reasonable, you have plenty of options and comment freely on others posts regarding 'what car' topics

..I'm out!

[300bhp/ton]

St John Smythe said:

Not being funny 300 but isn't he doing the exact same thing as you in running a fleet of cars (all be it on a bigger budget) ?

Which I have no problem with. I do have a problem with them calling my cars rubbish, simply because I working with a smaller budget. In other language you might call them a bit of a c*ck.

[TheJimi]

Probably better residuals on the MR2 turbo as well...

[300bhp/ton]

Gaz. said:

How come you haven't considered a MR2 Turbo? Same budget as a Mini Cooper S, just as thirsty/possibly a bit better and a hell of a lot of fun too.

No reason for excluding it, only that the n/a one is cheaper, more available and would be better on fuel. And in all honesty would be fast enough for the intended use.

I think with a turbo one, the risk is too high that I'd want to fiddle with it. A risk that's true of a Cooper S though.

Gaz. said:

Regarding the T-bird, just scrap it, £80 is £80 and your neighbours would be pleased (I say this as a neighbour of a serial car collector, not to be narky).

It may yet come to pass that this might happen. But it's not a problem at the moment, it's parked up out of the way in my uncles farm, so not bothering anyone.

[Kitchski]

Mr2.

[egor110]

As you already have the Subaru why not use that whilst the smarts having its work done?

The Subaru won't cost you anything as you already own it, fuel won't be too horrendous and you know the cars reliable, whereas a few grand on a mini or mr2 could buy a heap of trouble.

[300bhp/ton]

egor110 said:

As you already have the Subaru why not use that whilst the smarts having its work done?

The Subaru won't cost you anything as you already own it, fuel won't be too horrendous and you know the cars reliable, whereas a few grand on a mini or mr2 could buy a heap of trouble.

You are perfectly right of course. But I think it's an addiction....

[white_goodman]

Have you actually bought anything yet 300?

My thoughts. mk2 MR2 too old, so not for me for a daily (although a Mazda MX3 V6, 90s Honda Prelude or Nissan 200SX has some appeal).

I like the MCS but you really want to be going for the youngest (2006?), mintiest R53 you can find and that's going to cost a lot more than 2k. A 2k MCS is likely to be an expensive, unreliable ballache.

BMW then if rust free? Nice engines but are they really that economical and I think something lighter and FWD would be more fun, so I'm going to suggest:

Ford Puma 1.7 - don't like them much personally but I respect them and other people seem to really rate them. Cheap to run, economical and handle well and you can get one of the best i.e. 2001 and low mileage in budget and might even be able to sell it on for what you paid in a years time.

I would also consider an old-shape Fiesta ST. There are some decent-looking ones about with around 100k for 2 grand. Should be reliable, fairly economical and cheap to run and apparently handle well and ditto on resale (there's always a market for a "fast" Ford).

... or depending on how long the Smart is going to be off the road, lease something small and economical for c. 100 pounds per month (I know that's an extra monthly outgoing but you'll still have 2k in the bank to cover 18 months of payments), running costs, depreciation and RFL will be minimal and you can pretty much count on 100% reliability with no unexpected expenses.

Small, basic, low powered cars can be fun too. I'm thinking of something like a petrol Fiat 500/Panda, Suzuki Swift, Up/Citigo/Mii etc.

Edited by white_goodman on Thursday 22 October 18:19