Four-seat fun - suggestions?

[Salesy]

Another for the RX8, I have a PZ as my toy which doubles up as a family 4 seater when the golf is out of action.

The only downside is that the PZ is in the £500 VED bracket. Fuel consumption is around 18-20mpg and oil usage is minimal.

[Salesy]

Another for the RX8, I have a PZ as my toy which doubles up as a family 4 seater when the golf is out of action.

The only downside is that the PZ is in the £500 VED bracket. Fuel consumption is around 18-20mpg and oil usage is minimal.

[Chris71]

Thinking about this again recently (the requirement for rear seats - our first baby - arrived last week).

What about an Alfa GTV?

Sadly I think a decent Alfetta is out of budget these days, so I'm talking about the '90s FWD one. My thinking was that the 2.0 TS can be picked up very cheaply, although I am a sucker for a decent engine note, so the V6 appeals. Going against, I guess something like an RX8 would be more practical, better to drive quickly and probably not much more to run compared to the bafflingly thirsty Alfa. Had a read through threads on here and most GTV V6 owners seemed to get about the same mpg as I do from my 5-litre TVR.

This plan all hinges on the ability to get a baby seat in the back. We've got a Maxi Cosi with a separate base unit and it requires a surprising amount of rear leg room to get the supporting strut down. Anyone had experience with a similar setup in a 2+2 coupe? As mentioned, another thing that sprang to mind is that some cars have very deeply dished rear seats, which wouldn't provide a flat surface for the car seat.

Hmm.

[Warnie]

If your thinking maybe a V6 Alfa then you'd be better off with the 3.2gt. Lots more space in the rear, and the front seats are without the doubt the best I've ever sat in. It would also be a hell of a lot safer if something does go wrong.

[DeanoX]

Loving the excel - looks great. (and to be fair so does the TVR)

Benbay001 said:

[jayemm89]

Alfa GTV with the 3.0 V6 sounds fun, but the back seats are utterly useless and coming from a Tiv you will be mortified at the lack of boot space.

One of my favourite thing about Trevors is they seemed to remember people take things with them when they go driving and they all seem to have very reasonable boots

[Pesty]

Integra dc2

[Chris71]

Pesty said:

Integra dc2

Not a bad idea. I'm a sucker for an engine that sounds like it's putting some effort in.

On a Japanese theme, I guess an unmodified 200 SX (if such a thing exists would be fun too). Ditto a Celica GT4.

[SuperVM]

We had a Maxi Cosi seat with separate base for our youngest and found it worked well in my E36 M3 Evo coupe and also my Evo. I've had a lot of cars around the £5k mark and have varied between cars with a degree of practicality and those with none at all (which I found I just didn't get to use as a result of family life). I now have a B5 RS4, but have been considering another car around the £5k - £6k mark while keeping the RS4. Some considerations of mine have been an Evo 5/6, Supra TT auto or NA manual and later fitting a turbo when funds allow or a cheap E46 M3. I know from past experience I'd be likely to use the M3 more than the other two, as my wife doesn't object so violently to them.

[aka_kerrly]

90s Jap cars seem to be a good starting point:

- Supra has already been mentioned
- Nissan 300zx
- Nissan Skyline R33
- Lexus Soarer
- Toyota Celica GT4
- Suburu SVX

Yank coupes:
- Camaro
- Mustang - dubious styling of the 90s is hit an miss
- Trans-Am

German
- Mercedes E class or CE300 24v pillarless coupe
- BMW 8 series - a 840CI

Randon thoughts

Jaguar XK coupe?

Edited by aka_kerrly on Wednesday 28th January 12:39

[balls-out]

aka_kerrly said:

Randon thoughts

Jaguar XK coupe?

No. Random thoughts would be: Chicken, Frisbee, Moon crater, sausage.

Less Random - nice 4.0 XJS, that wouldn't lose a penny in depreciation (err running costs though....)

Edited by balls-out on Wednesday 28th January 15:19

[danp]

IME 4 doors are very handy if you are putting young children in and out...a slightly leggy BMW 130i?

[Chris71]

danp said:

IME 4 doors are very handy if you are putting young children in and out...a slightly leggy BMW 130i?

It's not something I plan to do regularly, but it legitimises us having two cars. Also, while I realise some of them are brilliant, I find it harder to get excited about sports saloons or saloon-derived coupes. That said, a 3-Series of some description is in the back of my mind. I fear an E36 M3 would be too pricey for me to run as a regular car, but a 328 coupe is an option - can't see a half decent one losing much money now.

ETA Car and Classic has a (RWD) Alfa GTV6 for sub-£5k. Didn't realise they could be had for that sort of money any more. Hmm.

Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 29th January 20:17