Fast and useable daily drivers

[Alfa159Ti]

Having run what I would call compromise cars for a few years now I want an exciting and rewarding drivers car in my life again.

Last car I had that ticked these boxes for me was a fettled MR2 turbo. Every time I got in it felt exciting before I had even turned the key. That car was a delight to own and drive with silly power on tap, but given that my career was developing I needed something newer and more presentable for business use.

Since then I have run a Golf V5, Alfa GT JTD, Alfa 159 Ti JTD and my current Alfa Spider JTD.

All the Alfa's have been remapped and have made great daily drivers, but none are what I would call proper drivers cars. Yes a remapped diesel gives you a decent slug of torque, but they don't exactly reward or encourage committed driving when the mood or opportunity presents itself.

I recently spent a week with an old 156 V6 which was an absolute hoot and it just completely made me realise just what I am missing by driving 'warm' diesels.

So, I am now considering switching the Spider at some point in the next 12 months for a proper drivers car again. Basically I need something that can work as a daily driver, will not upset clients and car return reasonable MPG (i.e 25 mpg mixed). Budget will be somewhere up to £18k.

Shortlist is currently:

- Porsche Cayman S (inevitably)
- Audi TTS (lovely quality and seriously quick even before a map)
- BMW Z4 Coupe (cut price Porsche alternative?)
- Renaultsport Megane (wild card, though not sure I could live with the image)

Does anyone have any experience with the above? Has anyone else been on the 'petrol to diesel and back again' journey? Is there anything else I should be considering in your views?

[tyranical]

Of your list, i'd pick the TTS as an allrounder, epic cars imo, shame you can't stretch to a TTRS though!

[Honestherbert]

The only view I would have is that you appear to be blessed with the presence of testicles, hence the first 3 vehicles on your list being obsolete.

In all seriousness though I would think the Audi TT would be the best all rounder and most professional looking for the job but could you live with the image of driving a hairdressers car? I would class the first 3 cars you have chosen as very feminine, I'm not meaning to offend but a friend had an Audi TT as his company car and was mocked by the majority of his male clients for being gay/hairdresser etc.

[EDLT]

Depending on what sort of clients do you have, a few of them will think they are being ripped off if you turn up in a Porsche. I don't think you'll get a Cayman or a TTS for £18k anyway.

[chrisispringles]

Your budget would get you an Audi S5 or Mercedes SLK55 AMG, both of which have claimed fuel consumptions similar to that of the Z4. Whether they could match it in real life I have no idea, but I reckon they'd be a riot. They don't appear overly flash either, compared to a Porsche, so they would be reasonable cars to take to meetings with clients.

[gjf764]

Z4M Coupe, I had one for a year and was an awesome car if you can live with the servicing costs. In no way is it a ' girly car'

I swapped it for an Elise S/C hitch I would say also fits your criteria but maybe I'm being a bit weird in tht respect

[corvus]

You've already answered your own question. Get a 156 and keep the rest of the cash for maintenance and fuel. You'll have fun driving and have money left in the bank. Sorted.

[Alfa159Ti]

tyranical said:

Of your list, i'd pick the TTS as an allrounder, epic cars imo, shame you can't stretch to a TTRS though!

Sadly the TTRS is beyond budget. I was really impressed with the TTS when I had a ride in one though. Cabin build quality is out of this world and the punch was stomach churningly quick in the low gears which is the kind of thing I am looing for.

[crazy about cars]

Of your list I think the TTS is the best all rounder. I had one and loved it Simple Stage 1 tweaks could push power to over 300bhp should you wish...

[Alfa159Ti]

Honestherbert said:

The only view I would have is that you appear to be blessed with the presence of testicles, hence the first 3 vehicles on your list being obsolete.

In all seriousness though I would think the Audi TT would be the best all rounder and most professional looking for the job but could you live with the image of driving a hairdressers car? I would class the first 3 cars you have chosen as very feminine, I'm not meaning to offend but a friend had an Audi TT as his company car and was mocked by the majority of his male clients for being gay/hairdresser etc.

I have never been one to pay attention to tired stereotypes (hence having had 3 Alfas - none of which incidentally have had dodgy electrics!) so have no concerns about that.

The sort of people who make those comments in my experience know nothing about cars other than what they hear Clarkson say on Top Gear and tend to drive bland and souless hatches or saloons.

Besides, wasn't the whole 'hairdressers car' cliche originally used to describe cars that were all show and no go?

[Alfa159Ti]

EDLT said:

Depending on what sort of clients do you have, a few of them will think they are being ripped off if you turn up in a Porsche. I don't think you'll get a Cayman or a TTS for £18k anyway.

Yeah I hear that and used to be concerned about that - it is definitely a valid point. However, these days I have an established client bank who know what I am about, that I always advise in their best interests and that I always try to compress my fees voluntarily whenever I can. They also know I am a car nut with no kids yet, so I figure why should I be restricted from enjoying my passion for the sake of keeping up appearances.

It does still concern me a little with regard to new clients as unfortunately Porsches do still have a bit of a 'flash tw@t' image, but that is a chance I am willing to take.

With regard to budget I have started to see both TTs and Caymans with sub 40k on the clock moving into this territory now...

[Tyre Tread]

A bit left field but: http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[Alfa159Ti]

Chris & GJF

Thanks for those ideas. All very nice cars but I think the running costs of those motors would be in a separate bracket unfortunately.

I need to try to balance performance and economy at least to a reasonable extent. If it wasn't a daily driver, the Z4M particularly would be high up my list.

On the matter of the Elise I have been in both an Elise and a VX220 and imagine they would be a nightmare on a long journey or in traffic. Have also looked at Lotus Europa's in the classifieds as another wild card, but they seem to be a bit beyond budget and still don't look to be a great car to spend a lot of time in from a comfort perspective, regardless of Lotus 'mini-GT' aspirations for them.

[Alfa159Ti]

corvus said:

You've already answered your own question. Get a 156 and keep the rest of the cash for maintenance and fuel. You'll have fun driving and have money left in the bank. Sorted.

Corvus - I really wish I could. The 156 in question is sweet, with low mileage and in lovely condition. I know that the guy who owns it would sell it to me for circa £1,000 too! It would be a great daily driver and if I didn't have to see clients I would buy it.

Problem is however, in my line of work turning up in an old banger is not really an option. I had also considered buying the 156 as a weekend toy, but it isn't really special enough to justify as a second car, whilst the running costs would sap my budget for my next daily driver.

[Alfa159Ti]

crazy about cars said:

Of your list I think the TTS is the best all rounder. I had one and loved it Simple Stage 1 tweaks could push power to over 300bhp should you wish...

He he - my thinking exactly sir! I know the RS is a better all round package, but it seems comparatively very expensive when a remapped TTS will put out that sort of power with just a remap.

[Alfa159Ti]

Tyre Tread said:

A bit left field but: http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Now that is an interesting choice - classy, nice place to be, great image, not going to upset anyone. Perhaps not as driver focussed as the others on my short list but still a very nice car.

However, I just think V8s are out of the question in terms of MPG. I reckon real world you would be looking at high teens on something like that as a long term average, which is just too thirsty I am afraid.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Mr2Mike]

Of the cars listed the Cayman is my favourite. Have you considered a 370Z, you could pick up a 2009/2010 example for your budget?

[Alfa159Ti]

Mr2Mike said:

Of the cars listed the Cayman is my favourite. Have you considered a 370Z, you could pick up a 2009/2010 example for your budget?

Hiya Mike,

Thanks for your input.

I have an innate love for Jap stuff but have never liked the styling of the 370Z - somehow it just doesn't work for me.

Also another IFA I met recently had one and he said the running costs were killing him. His long term average MPG was mid to high teens, which is definitely too thirsty for me.

[RWD cossie wil]

Stretch the budget a tad, 911 996 turbo?

[Alfa159Ti]

RWD cossie wil said:

Stretch the budget a tad, 911 996 turbo?

Very nice, but too much of a stretch I think, as a low mileage one is gonna hit me for £22k to £25k, so a significant hike.