15k ish, quick, 25mpg, reliable?

[paulmoonraker]

spud989 said:

No Impreza I've ever known has achieved 25mpg with a back wind down a hill

Yes they can, on a run dicking about on b roads then it is mid teens...

[spud989]

I'm only attracted to the Sagaris and the T350, both of which are out of my price range, really. And I think the prospect of running one as an only car, whilst being a certified mechanotard, is somewhere daunting.

[RobM77]

[redacted]

[aka_kerrly]

something a little more out of the ordinary,


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2821685.htm
£12k so money left for fuel

Edited by aka_kerrly on Thursday 13th October 17:48

[gashead1105]

I think you should go and test drive an Elise R (the 190hp toyota version), as your budget will get you a decent one.

I bought an Exige S a few months ago and it's absolutely lovely, the steering feel is unbelievable, the supercharger whine is fantastic and the engine. But they're well out of your budget (although there was a 70k mile one up for sale at 16.5k last week). You will get almost the same experience with the elise, the steering feel will be exactly the same and they just wonderful cars. Fair enough, you won't have the roof scoop and wing but otherwise you will have the same driving experience, with the added benefit of not having to faff around with screwdrivers if you want to take the roof off (assuming you have the soft top conversion in the first place). And it looks like a 5 minute job at most to deal with the roof.

[RobM77]

The short roof on an Elise S2 comes on and off in a matter of seconds.

[Tazio1]

How about an offer on one of these www.pistonheads.com/sales/3311091.htm

[SturdyJ]

Vulgar LS2 said:

+2 Monaro

+3 Monaro

That's a good budget for getting a very good example. If you want pops and bangs, you're in the right place (assuming it's not got a standard exhaust...)

[muthaducka]

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

or

A vette gets em wet... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3306081.htm

or

Boxster S (987 round head lights) - I reckon try before you dismiss. I reckon the chassis would be miles better than the Z4's and an equally good / better sound track.

or

Vauxhall VXR8 http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3275758.htm - not quite the MPG you want but a nice alternative to the Monaro (that red Monaro looks exceptional but I prefer the look of this and the interior).

or

BMW e60 M5 V10 - that's another with a winning sound track - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3311882.htm

Failing that, you could buy yourself a commuter barge and spend the rest on a weekend special. It's difficult trying to get a blend of both worlds. Even try a BMW 335D - that fits the one car rule well but couldn't give you the spine tingling thrills of some of the petrol equivalents.

[RobM77]

muthaducka said:

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

For £15k?!

[LuS1fer]

http://www.s197.co.uk/s197/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic....

Been mentioned but Mustang GT.

[The Stiglet]

BMW E39 M5 and bank the change?
Audi B6 S4 and bank the change?
Audi B7 S4 and not much change.
BMW 645i and bank the change?
BMW 650i....http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_popup.js...

[angusc43]

RobM77 said:

muthaducka said:

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

For £15k?!

All right then, CLK55 AMG

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[RobM77]

angusc43 said:

RobM77 said:

muthaducka said:

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

For £15k?!

All right then, CLK55 AMG

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Good call. They depreciate shockingly and are great value. I've often been tempted!!

The SLK55 AMG (mk2 SLK in any case), is a lovely car. I've driven one on a few occasions and adore them.

[spud989]

RobM77 said:

muthaducka said:

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

For £15k?!

Think I saw a high miler for that (ish) in the classifieds the other day.

[RobM77]

spud989 said:

RobM77 said:

muthaducka said:

SLK 55 AMG - that will give you a nice sound track! Good to use all year round and should be reliable.

For £15k?!

Think I saw a high miler for that (ish) in the classifieds the other day.

I stand partially corrected. I was on the lookout for one of these about a year ago and they were all north of £30k. I'm looking now on PH Classifieds and there are a gaggle of reasonable ones at £24k, and I did indeed find one 71k miler for £17k. I'm currently on the lookout for a Caterham for this sort of money and I must admit I'm partly tempted.... It may sound odd coming from a lover of tiny lightweight cars, but I really like the SLK55, I think it's a great car.

[truck71]

968/944 turbo pork? Different ownership proposition to the more modern recommendations but should hold most of it's value and reportedly a good steer.

[RobM77]

truck71 said:

968/944 turbo pork? Different ownership proposition to the more modern recommendations but should hold most of it's value and reportedly a good steer.

True, but may need major money spending to get it as good as the reputation, which is largely from press drives of what were new cars at the time... £10k wouldn't surprise me to get one into decent nick; I spent nearly £6k on a 328i Sport Coupé doing that a couple of years ago, which is madness (and I was a bit mad to even attempt it!)

[truck71]

Agree would need to tread carefully, pretty sure the pork forum would be able to advise if possible within the OP's budget.

[RobM77]

truck71 said:

Agree would need to tread carefully, pretty sure the pork forum would be able to advise if possible within the OP's budget.

The trouble is defining people's idea of "good condition"; for many it's a cosmetic issue. In the world of classic cars I've seen people go to the trouble of doing bare chassis rebuilds without changing 30 year old dampers! (their reason being that you can't replace everything due to cost limitations so you have to stop somewhere). I've driven many a cosmetically immaculate older car that's well past its prime in terms of the actual drive.