Ever changed cars to something completely different?
Ever changed cars to something completely different?
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Discussion

paddyhasneeds

Original Poster:

68,146 posts

240 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
I have a Boxster which I've owned since new so around three and and half years now. It does nothing badly or wrong, I think I just have "the itch".

Problem is I'm not prepared to pony up for a 911, even a second hand one, nor do I want a Cayman or another Boxster and there aren't too many "sports" cars out there than are as practical that aren't stupid money.

So that leaves me deliberating something much more sensible.

At present just about the only cars I like the looks of, however ridiculous it may sound, is the new Honda CR-Z or a Land Rover Defender.

The Honda may suck when it hits the showrooms, and it sure as hell isn't a Porsche, totally different in every regard. The Defender isn't even vaguely comparable to a car, which may not be a bad thing.

Whilst I think it's crazy to complain about MPG/running costs when you've taken the hit no a new car, I wont' deny that the zero road-fund and nearly doubly the MPG of the Boxster of the CR-Z has some appeal.

Anyway I suppose experiences vary, and I'm not specifically asking about the Honda/Defender, but I wondered if anyone as done anything similar and if so if you regretted it?

Twincam16

27,647 posts

288 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
I ended up getting a FWD saloon to replace a number of RWD sports cars, after I realised that actually, having things like back seats and a boot bigger than an overnight bag was quite useful.

But I wouldn't have had just any FWD saloon, it had to handle well and accelerate as fast as my previous car, otherwise I would have felt cheated. This was more important than reliability, build quality or mpg.

I can't imagine what it would be like to go from a Porsche to a Land-Rover. I think every time I reached a glorious-looking B-road, I'd get annoyed with myself.

So yes, by all means go for something radically different, but don't lose sight of what it was you liked about the car you had before.

paddyhasneeds

Original Poster:

68,146 posts

240 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
Twincam16 said:
I can't imagine what it would be like to go from a Porsche to a Land-Rover. I think every time I reached a glorious-looking B-road, I'd get annoyed with myself.
If I got a Defender I'd probably be dead in a ditch at the first corner biggrin I take your point entirely, hence my dilemma (nice position to be in I appreciate that, before anyone takes my up on my "dilemma").

Skodaku

1,805 posts

249 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
paddyhasneeds said:
I have a Boxster which I've owned since new so around three and and half years now. It does nothing badly or wrong, I think I just have "the itch".

Problem is I'm not prepared to pony up for a 911, even a second hand one, nor do I want a Cayman or another Boxster and there aren't too many "sports" cars out there than are as practical that aren't stupid money.

So that leaves me deliberating something much more sensible.

At present just about the only cars I like the looks of, however ridiculous it may sound, is the new Honda CR-Z or a Land Rover Defender.

The Honda may suck when it hits the showrooms, and it sure as hell isn't a Porsche, totally different in every regard. The Defender isn't even vaguely comparable to a car, which may not be a bad thing.

Whilst I think it's crazy to complain about MPG/running costs when you've taken the hit no a new car, I wont' deny that the zero road-fund and nearly doubly the MPG of the Boxster of the CR-Z has some appeal.

Anyway I suppose experiences vary, and I'm not specifically asking about the Honda/Defender, but I wondered if anyone as done anything similar and if so if you regretted it?
Understand your problem. Moved from a Fabia vRS to a Volvo S60 D5. Never actually regretted it but I still miss the little Fabia for it's sheer joy. Both very good cars - for what they are designed to do - but I'd like the vRS back, alongside the S60, for those "just for a laugh" days and the Volvo for serious touring. I've got an "itch" too; for an MX-5 and, like you, I find the CR-Z weirdly appealing. Think what I really want doesn't exist, (A Honda Jazz body on Civic Type-R engine/chassis etc would be very close), so it'll probably be another compromise.

I hope you get your "itch" scratched and are happy with the result.

Twincam16

27,647 posts

288 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
paddyhasneeds said:
Twincam16 said:
I can't imagine what it would be like to go from a Porsche to a Land-Rover. I think every time I reached a glorious-looking B-road, I'd get annoyed with myself.
If I got a Defender I'd probably be dead in a ditch at the first corner biggrin I take your point entirely, hence my dilemma (nice position to be in I appreciate that, before anyone takes my up on my "dilemma").
With that in mind, unless you fancy doing some serious mud-plugging, then perhaps the CR-Z would be best for you - a hybrid it may be, but I've heard nothing but praise for its handling, and apparently the performance has surprised everyone who's driven it. Hopefully it's one of those cars that feels faster than it actually is, replicating the Porsche experience whilst costing less and avoiding endangering your licence.

paddyhasneeds

Original Poster:

68,146 posts

240 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
Twincam16 said:
paddyhasneeds said:
Twincam16 said:
I can't imagine what it would be like to go from a Porsche to a Land-Rover. I think every time I reached a glorious-looking B-road, I'd get annoyed with myself.
If I got a Defender I'd probably be dead in a ditch at the first corner biggrin I take your point entirely, hence my dilemma (nice position to be in I appreciate that, before anyone takes my up on my "dilemma").
With that in mind, unless you fancy doing some serious mud-plugging, then perhaps the CR-Z would be best for you - a hybrid it may be, but I've heard nothing but praise for its handling, and apparently the performance has surprised everyone who's driven it. Hopefully it's one of those cars that feels faster than it actually is, replicating the Porsche experience whilst costing less and avoiding endangering your licence.
No mud-plugging I just think Defenders are bloody cool. Where have you read anything about the CR-Z as I've been searching and can't find anything on the actual production car, only the concept and the Honda website?

RossB_eg4

279 posts

222 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Skodaku said:
Think what I really want doesn't exist, (A Honda Jazz body on Civic Type-R engine/chassis etc would be very close), so it'll probably be another compromise.
It can though; believe you can buy the mount kit to put the K20a from the CTR into a jazz. Huge markets for 'fit' as they are known in Japan and the focus of a lot of tuning.



Could probably do the engine, brakes, suspension and make it look good with a jazz sport kit and some ITR or CTR wheels for a fair bit less than a new CTR or BMW somethingorother.

matt12023

485 posts

226 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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I went from tvr 500 chimaera to a defender 110 td5, handily coming from the tvr i think 25mpg is great

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

234 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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The problem is if you test drive a defender you will hate it until you get defenders which are not to be even vaguely treated like a car. Once you click into 60mph trundle they are wonderful

paddyhasneeds

Original Poster:

68,146 posts

240 months

belleair302

7,015 posts

237 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
I went from a Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 to a Subaru Legacy Turbo, which soon became a Grp N Legacy!!

Moved on to an Audi RS2, then a 993, now an M5....I also run a Lexus LS for barging around!!!


ILOVELAMP

1,970 posts

219 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Just sold a focus deisel, so thats FWD, 5 doors, diesel, roof, family car.

About to buy an mx-5, petrol, rwd, no roof, 2 doors, not a family car.


Conian

8,030 posts

231 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Mondeo 1.8 TD to Porsche 928S
fuel cost increase was...... noticable.

x type

1,024 posts

220 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
paddyhasneeds said:
Twincam16 said:
If I got a Defender I'd probably be dead in a ditch at the first corner biggrin I take your point entirely, hence my dilemma (nice position to be in I appreciate that, before anyone takes my up on my "dilemma").
no, you'd drive in , and out of the ditch biggrin

MondeoMan1981

2,458 posts

213 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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E46 to a 1.8 Mondeo....

......wasnt as bad as I thought.

Laguna to 206 hdi.....

....too small and too slow but love the economy of it.

crofty1984

17,064 posts

234 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
old polo-bmw e36 316-porsche 911-diesel mk3 golf-fisher fury fireblade-e39 530 sport-mk1 MX5
So I guess, yeah, I have. smile
Honestly, the mazda's the best of the lot. The Porsche was obviously a superior piece of machinery, but I couldn't just chuck it outside a mates house overnight (you've not seen where my mates live!)

Accelebrate

5,693 posts

245 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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I have a friend with the following car history...

Rover 400 > Impreza WRX STi > Mitsubishi L200 > Porsche Cayman S > Renault Laguna Estate

I think they all fulfilled a need at the time.

martin vr6

3,883 posts

231 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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E46 M3 to an A3 TDi, it was so painfully ste i leaped for joy when it broke down 12 days into ownership and i got a full refund

Gone from a 335d touring to a VW Transporter T5 and TBH i wouldnt have it any other way, love my van

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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265bhp VXT > Saab 9000 2.0 NA

They see me rollin'






They hating.

moribund

4,419 posts

244 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Why NOT go for something totally different? You can always change to another car in the future...

My history includes

Rover 416 -> Impreza Turbo

Impreza WRX -> Smart Roadster (THAT felt odd, lol)