Which 4 seat fun car to suit my length?

[eltax91]

Hi all

I've got a toy mx5 in the garage with a supercharger strapped onto it. It's been 3 years of epic fun, but with baby number 2 on the way I see a time in the future where arguments will ensue when my 4 year old boy wants to 'go fast and loud daddy' and his sister can't come along for the ride.

So, I feel it's time for the Mazda to make way for something else. I would love:-

Convertible if possible
Power - plenty of power
RWD
£10k or not much more
Ideally near or at the bottom of its depreciation curve

This is a pure weekend toy for high days and holidays to relieve the humdrum of the daily accord. There's a few choices out there like the e46 m3 or the 996 911 (a dream car for me), BUT there is one major hurdle, without modification, the max I can comfortably squeeze into my garage is 4250mm of car. I've measured and measured but I can't go any more than that. Both above choices are above that by a couple hundred MM.

So, anyone got any magic ideas that fit the bill for me? I'm totally stuck I think. Reckon I might have to stick with a 2 seater. Or heaven forbid no toy until we move house.

P.s. Please don't suggest moving the garage door, knocking a wall down or getting storage elsewhere, none of those are going to work for me, nor is leaving my P & J on the drive.

[eltax91]

Evanivitch said:

RX8 ticket a most boxes except the convertible. Brera, TT and 350Z all lose the rear seats.

308CC?

RX8 is over 4400 according to Wikipedia. I thought you had it there

Bloody hell, I think I need to start knocking walls down!!

[eltax91]

ZX10R NIN said:

Knock the walls down

I would but I'd be knocking through to the living room. Think the wife would murder me!

[eltax91]

ZX10R NIN said:

You might be right on that one couldn't you extend the garage forwards?

Sadly not, i spent a fortune on a roller shutter door and new driveway already!

[eltax91]

Mave said:

s m said:

Mave said:

And maybe a trailer for the wife ;-)

He never mentioned her in the MX5 days......

"excuse me sir, do you realise your wife fell out of your car 3 miles back?"
"thank F*ck for that. I thought I'd gone deaf..." ;-)

She's never been in the mx5! Not once, it's "too dirty and a rust bucket"

If I buy a "posh" car, she will want to go out in it!

[eltax91]

s m said:

nunpuncher said:

How about going modern classic? A 205 CTi, mk1 golf cab or e30 cab should fit. All are good for engine conversions if that's your bag and you'll possibility make money on any of them.

Think the E30 will be too long for the garage.
944 S2 cabrio just about fits though

I've been on the classifieds for 944's already, I think you might be right, it might "just" fit.

[eltax91]

danp said:

eltax91 said:

I've been on the classifieds for 944's already, I think you might be right, it might "just" fit.

How old are the children? Not 100% sure but pics only appear to show lap belts for the rear which might rule out car seats or may present safety concerns.

Ahhhhh. I didn't notice that. That's a bummer, they are 4 and t minus 2 and 1/2 months.

[eltax91]

nunpuncher said:

Can't believe the 944 is shorter than the e30.

Slightly irrelevant but your garage is about the same size as mine and I can fit a 205 GTi with a fair bit of space. My neighbour has a 944 in bits in his garage. Looks a bit snug width wise.

On a more encouraging note. When I looked into getting a Golf clipper a few years back the lap seatbelts in the back were an issue due to our kids being 1 and 3 at the time. Turns out you can buy a kit for the Mk1 golf cab and I'd be willing to bet it fits the 944. The fix points need welding but it's not a massive job.

Thanks for the tip. That could be a potential way around the problem. Width wise is not a problem, it's a double garage. Wife's qashqai fits in snugly but my accord tourer doesn't!