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

[300bhp/ton]

BMW e46 323/325i manual

EDIT: Typo, should have said e46, not 36!

Toyota MR2 MK2 GT 2.0 n/a


MINI Cooper S R53




They can all be had for a similar budget, the BMW the cheapest and the MINI the most expensive, but similar ball park price.


They all claim to do similar mpg and have similar'ish performance.


Overall, which do you think would be the most fun to drive daily, offer the most hassle free motoring and the lowest total running costs.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 6th October 12:53

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 6th October 14:04

[300bhp/ton]

HustleRussell said:

How about not being a sheep and buying something at least 25 years old with a gigantic thirsty underpowered engine?

Sounds great. But I need something that I can afford to do 15,000 miles commuting in a year, while also doing the best part of 10,000 miles a year social driving, usually in one of my three V8 powered cars or my turbocharged Impreza.

If you are willing to help out with a bit of petrol money, then most definitely!

[300bhp/ton]

rallycross said:

What about a smart roadster ( the sporty version that keeps TVR's behind)!

The TVR was infront, I simply stuck with it, and could have gone quicker in places (without being silly).

Based on your hobby and interest, you surely understand that getting a car from A to B quickly is largely the driver. And a poor driver in a fast car doesn't mean they will be fast.


That aside, yes the smart Roadster is IDEAL as I truly love mine. But I've been using it for 5 years now and 75,000 miles, so I feel like a bit of a change. Also the Roadster needs some TLC, such as a new clutch, complete suspension overhaul and maybe some engine work. While I do this, I'll need something else to use, as I won't be completing the work in a single weekend.

It has been suggested by friends to simply buy another one. But with so many interesting cars out there, it seems a shame not to try something else for a bit. Again, I'm sure this is something you can understand considering your own car history.

[300bhp/ton]

Leins said:

What about an E46 325ti? Check this thread out for reasons why: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Some people don't like the looks, and I can sort of understand why, but they've always appealed to me

Thanks, I've just corrected the op, it should have said e46, not e36. The compact sadly doesn't appeal, I actually don't mind how they look, but there is no weight saving over a full size e46, so I don't really see the point in the Ti, unless it's just for the looks.

Only 5kg difference:
http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...
http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...

[300bhp/ton]

PGNCerbera said:

I really think you should cast your net wider. What's wrong with American cars?

Perhaps an 80's Camaro or early nineties Mustang. Maybe a truck? Raptor perhaps?

Wow you are so original... you must be wetting yourself at your cleverness (tip: try reading some of the earlier posts )

[300bhp/ton]

TREMAiNE said:

I'd have an RX-8 at that price point.

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

[300bhp/ton]

s m said:

The Compact is just a lot more agile and 'pointier' than the E46 saloons I had - it also was quite a bit lighter

Thanks for the info and feedback. Appreciated.


As for the Ti. I wonder if it's just how it looks that makes you 'think' it feels different? Or do they run a different suspension setup (camber/toein)?


I say this, as the compact and full e46 have identical wheelbases, widths and tracks. All the things that would make a car feel different and more pointier.

And as per the links above, the Compact is only 5kg lighter, not enough to physically notice in a car of this weight. The only real difference is a bit of visual styling and a little bit longer boot, all behind the rear wheel.

[300bhp/ton]

s m said:

Best way- drive them all..........





Pick the one you like best

I agree that is the best way. Although not quite as practical an option for used cars. New cars and main dealers are always happy to let you have a good drive. But private sales it's a bit more of a piss take if you aren't actually planning on buying yet.

[300bhp/ton]

acer12 said:

but are you really going to buy any?

I think my current 'garage' shows I'm rather good at buying cars

[300bhp/ton]

daemon said:

Surely a 330i must be in budget too?

I think for the money I'd get a better 325i and marginally better mpg too. Not against a 330i, but I think I'd rather a tidy 325i over a ratty 330.

[300bhp/ton]

white_goodman said:

I thought that you hated FWD hatchbacks 300

Hate? Certainly not. Don't really hate any cars bar maybe stetch Limo's.

I don't always have much love for some, but never hate.

The MINI I genuinely like the look of, I like that it's supercharged and I've not thus far owned anything with a supercharger. I also like the fact they were assembled in Oxford, as I currently work in Oxford and live only 30 miles or so away.

white_goodman said:

How about an EP3 Civic Type-R though (possibly one of the last great 4-cylinder NA engines)

Honestly, I just don't like the look of them. I can respect them and I'm sure they go very well, but just not for me really. I do like the DC2 ITR, which if I'm honest would be what I'd want if going down this route, and driving an EP3 would only remind me of having not bought the car I wanted.

But DC2's are all high mileage, not a huge number for sale, all seem to be suffering rot in the rear arches and most have or have had gearboxes issues it seems. Not that any of this would be enough to put me off. But they are more money than the other cars I'm looking at and really beyond the scope of what I want to spend.

white_goodman said:

MG ZS180/ZT190. Not sure about reliability but dirt cheap and fun to drive.

My brother had a ZS180, it was brilliant and 100% reliable. But it's a bit been there, done that sort of thing. And he only seemed to get middi'sh 20's out of. I like them, just not a car I'd consider. Really the MINI is probably the only FWD I'd really consider and that's mostly down to looks plus the other positive attributes of the car.

white_goodman said:

Or a newer Impreza WRX? I used my "Blobeye" as a daily and it wasn't too bad on fuel (better than a classic) and very easy to live with. I'm not sure if anything else offers so much "bang for your buck".

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.

[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.

[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.

[300bhp/ton]

thewildblue said:

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..

924's look great and I'd really like one. But I think buying one as a daily would run the risk of it becoming too much of a project vehicle. Now if I didn't have any other cars, I think this would be a fair trade off. But I currently have plenty of other vehicles that fulfil that role. And I really don't need another project vehicle.

It's the same reason why I'm not considering a classic Mini, as I think one would suit very well for my intended use. But I know that such a vehicle will just want to soak up too much time and money for this use.

MX-5, just don't really like the look of them and I think they would struggle on the MPG front.

[300bhp/ton]

Sway said:

If the Smart Roadster has served you well, and you have a penchant for the unusual - how about a GTM Libra?

Not normally many for sale at any one point, but mine will be very soon...

Will you be selling it for £1-2K?

[300bhp/ton]

St John Smythe said:

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

And your point? Lets not forget I've previously owned an E30 and an E36.

[300bhp/ton]

ORD said:

You're just buying another car because you like buying cars.

So what exactly is wrong with that?

ORD said:

I'm also trying to work out whether the reference to a Smart Roadster as a 'sports car' was a joke.

Only someone who has never been in one would make a comment such as yours.

[300bhp/ton]

PGNCerbera said:

Riiigggghhhhtttttt. Man maths rules bro.

It's not just fuel you know. What about insurance, tax, mot, repairs, general maintenance. All adds up.

Why not sell some of your sheds and use the Impreza. At least you get to spend a lot of time in a good car.