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

[Baryonyx]

smithyithy said:

Buff Mchugelarge said:

BMW. Because sideways.

Expectations vs. reality

Yep, the usual bks. Sideways everywhere? A slither in second out of a wet junction, maybe.

Out of the three presented, I'd probably take the Mini, just because I wouldn't worry about it rusting away from day to day use, and that supercharger! However, if it were an MR2 Turbo I'd be swayed by that. The N/A MR2 though is still a top car, no doubt feels very special to use. I used to use my MR2 Turbo daily, and I loved it. The BMW wouldn't get a look in.

[300bhp/ton]

daemon said:

In my experience of them, i wouldnt assume that.

To me the 323i / 325i are in no mans land - economy of a 3 litre, performance not much better than a 2 litre four pot.

Whats your budget?

Edited by daemon on Tuesday 6th October 17:30

Cheep like the budgie.

I've seen a number of tidy looking 323i's from £700, although I'd spend a tad more. MR2's for £1200-1500 and Cooper S' for about £2k or just under.

[300bhp/ton]

TREMAiNE said:

PGNCerbera said:

300bhp/ton said:

So would I, if they weren't so rubbish on fuel. But as they are, they simply aren't even on the extended list.

Pah. Man up 300 and grow a pair.

YOLO

Indeed, grow a pair!

Being st on fuel is actually a good thing... Because they get the same MPG no matter how you drive them it just gives you an excuse to drive spiritedly!

Which is fine if you want to help me out with some petrol money.

I posted it earlier in the thread, this car will be used for circa 14,000-15,000 miles a year. I pay for all the fuel.

I also do 8000-10,000 miles a year in my other cars for social use. They tend to get 14-22mpg for the most part, so cost a reasonable chunk of cash to fund.


The commuter needs to be financially viable on fuel. All 3 I've listed should be low to mid 30's on my commute (maybe even a tad higher for the MINI).

An RX-8 is what, more like an 18-22mpg car. I simply cannot afford to run such a car for 14,000 miles+ at this mpg and also do my social mileage. And as much as I'd like an RX-8, if I could afford this level of mpg daily, I'd just run my Camaro instead.


Just to add some figures...

14,000 miles @ 20mpg = 700 gallons.

700 x £5 (price of a gallon) = £3500 per year, or £291 a month. If I did no other miles that would be fine, but the social mileage means I simply cannot afford to do this.


Something doing around 35mpg would be only £167 a month to fuel.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

tomjol said:

Ali_T said:

Buff Mchugelarge said:

BMW. Because sideways.

MR2. Because sideways, then backwards, then sideways, then forwards, then sideways, then backwards....

...sort of

Very true!

I had an E36 323i and its was more than capable of going very sideways on command.
Much easier to provoke and friendlier than my Mx5. Even with knackered bushes!

[anonymous-user]

I can't take this thread seriously. OP is always suggesting various ridiculous things for everyone else and when the subject of fuel is mentioned a spreadsheet usually followed by a script along the lines of 'means little in the greater scheme of ownership'. Way back when I mentioned that Smart cars don't wear huge mileage and, guess what, I was told that was incorrect. Perhaps sell some of the dead wood?

[rb5er]

Save the money and fuel a car you already own perhaps? You can coax 30mpg out of an impreza.

Or on another note howsabout a unimog or Gwagon amg?

[white_goodman]

300bhp/ton said:

This would seem a logical option I agree and I have no real rational rejection. Only that I'm not too keen on the look vs the classics, and it would seem silly to have two Impreza's.

That's fair but you could get rid of the classic and free up the space for something else!

I think the supercharged Cooper S would be great fun. The 3-Series have nice engines but are more soft, comfy cruisers and rust and the MR2s are old cars now and not really that quick and rust may be an issue too.

Mazda RX8?

Edited to add: sorry, I've just seen it has already been mentioned and your reasons for not buying at this level.

If not the MINI, then I would tend to lean towards Japanese at this price point. Mazda MX3 V6, Honda Prelude VTEC, Nissan 200SX or Suzuki Cappuccino maybe?

Another leftfield suggestion would be a Fiat Coupe Turbo but can't comment on reliability.

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th October 19:05

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th October 20:15

[Mr2Mike]

yonex said:

Way back when I mentioned that Smart cars don't wear huge mileage and, guess what, I was told that was incorrect. Perhaps sell some of the dead wood?

Smart Roadsters are generaly fine up to 100k at least, and there are plenty beyond that. it's the ForTwos that tend to expire early.

[SidewaysSi]

I would go BMW too. I recently picked up a mint E36 328 Coupe and it is good fun and far more interesting than any Mini. Not quite as much fun as my old DC2 which was brilliant but it is very sideways with worn rear tyres...;)

[TheJimi]

HustleRussell said:

doogz said:

Does the 46 compact have the old rear suspension?

Or was it just the 36 that did?

Yeah it was the E36 compact that got the old style suspension- the E46 compact got the same layout as the E46 saloon.

Does the compact suffer the same rear subframe foibles as the E46 saloon did?

[Foxbody]

Carfield said:

Surely a Fox body Mustang would be better than any of those?

Couldn't agree more...

[s m]

TheJimi said:

HustleRussell said:

doogz said:

Does the 46 compact have the old rear suspension?

Or was it just the 36 that did?

Yeah it was the E36 compact that got the old style suspension- the E46 compact got the same layout as the E46 saloon.

Does the compact suffer the same rear subframe foibles as the E46 saloon did?

No

[deltashad]

Triumph Man said:

325i saloon for me please!

I was thinking about the e46 coupe when I read the op. Don't know why. In this instance I would have gone for the mini. I quite like the coupe but for some reason it just wouldn't be on my list.

but, a well specified 325i, manual non sport in a nice colour I think would tick a big box for mini barge material with a lot of attitude.

The more i think about it the more i really would like one. Obviously non chav'd, preferably low ownership last owner in the post prime of life.

[HustleRussell]

The problem with old BMWs is that there is an awful lot of suspension and drivetrain bits that you're going to need to replace if you want it to drive the way it should.

[300bhp/ton]

yonex said:

I can't take this thread seriously. OP is always suggesting various ridiculous things for everyone else and when the subject of fuel is mentioned a spreadsheet usually followed by a script along the lines of 'means little in the greater scheme of ownership'. Way back when I mentioned that Smart cars don't wear huge mileage and, guess what, I was told that was incorrect. Perhaps sell some of the dead wood?

Well I often struggle to take you seriously. So we'll call it even shall we.

Now if you can come up with an alternative car for £1-2k that can offer around 35mpg and capable of being used and abused for what amounts to a 15k a year annual mileage. Then I'm all ears.

That said, I don't think any of the cars I've listed are exactly the most obvious of candidates. Not a diesel in sight or 5 door family hatch.

As for the Roadster, it's a great car and I'm still using it. But it now has over 125,000 miles on it. That's pretty reasonable for any 10 year old car, let alone a sports car that lives outside 24/7.

I'd rather take it off the road for a bit to refresh it. Replacing the clutch and suspension at this mileage is hardly unheard of on most other cars.... But you see there is a snag. I'll still need to get back and forth to work and do it without using excessively more money than I am now. This is called budgeting and money management.

Buying a stop gap car to use for 6 months or more that I won't hate and will be able to sell on again for similar money seems like a sensible thing to do. And gives me the opportunity to sample some other cars, as I've said I've been driving the Roadster for 5 years now as my main commuter. So trying something different for a bit just sounds like fun.

[300bhp/ton]

rb5er said:

Save the money and fuel a car you already own perhaps? You can coax 30mpg out of an impreza.

Or on another note howsabout a unimog or Gwagon amg?

Buying another car is easier then trying to leverage the money monthly for additional fuel.

I do use the Impreza occasionally. Since the engine rebuild its much better on fuel, got 31mpg touring in Wales. But it doesn't seem quite so economical on the commute. Think it's more like 26. And I only run it on super unleaded, so pence per mile is more like it doing 23mpg.

[thewildblue]

What about an old 924....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1982-PORSCHE-924-SILVER-...


Or an MX5....

The 924 will probably be better on fuel....they are supposed to be capable of up to 40mpg..

[anonymous-user]

yonex said:

I can't take this thread seriously. OP is always suggesting various ridiculous things for everyone else and when the subject of fuel is mentioned a spreadsheet usually followed by a script along the lines of 'means little in the greater scheme of ownership'. Way back when I mentioned that Smart cars don't wear huge mileage and, guess what, I was told that was incorrect. Perhaps sell some of the dead wood?

Plus in the past he's hasn't exactly been a fan of the E46. However, now he wants one it all changes?

[egor110]

300bhp/ton said:

yonex said:

I can't take this thread seriously. OP is always suggesting various ridiculous things for everyone else and when the subject of fuel is mentioned a spreadsheet usually followed by a script along the lines of 'means little in the greater scheme of ownership'. Way back when I mentioned that Smart cars don't wear huge mileage and, guess what, I was told that was incorrect. Perhaps sell some of the dead wood?

Well I often struggle to take you seriously. So we'll call it even shall we.

Now if you can come up with an alternative car for £1-2k that can offer around 35mpg and capable of being used and abused for what amounts to a 15k a year annual mileage. Then I'm all ears.

That said, I don't think any of the cars I've listed are exactly the most obvious of candidates. Not a diesel in sight or 5 door family hatch.

As for the Roadster, it's a great car and I'm still using it. But it now has over 125,000 miles on it. That's pretty reasonable for any 10 year old car, let alone a sports car that lives outside 24/7.

I'd rather take it off the road for a bit to refresh it. Replacing the clutch and suspension at this mileage is hardly unheard of on most other cars.... But you see there is a snag. I'll still need to get back and forth to work and do it without using excessively more money than I am now. This is called budgeting and money management.

Buying a stop gap car to use for 6 months or more that I won't hate and will be able to sell on again for similar money seems like a sensible thing to do. And gives me the opportunity to sample some other cars, as I've said I've been driving the Roadster for 5 years now as my main commuter. So trying something different for a bit just sounds like fun.

A Renault sport clio would give you the mpg you want, be a laugh to drive, it's lighter quicker 0-60 and higher top speed than a mini cooper s plus you should be able to get one for around £1500-£2000.

You'd be mad to at least not try one before dismissing it.

[anonymous-user]

Isn't a Clio a gamble at that money? If it has to be fun then Mx5, Mr2 (roadster) otherwise the sensible choice is something not fun and barge like...S60

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 23:27