What Car: £20k - Fastest I can get + Daily
Discussion
After having fast BMW for most of my life I then decided to get a compromise car, a 335d. After running this for around 4-5 months now I've figured out it just doesn't do it for me. Yes its quick, and the torque is great and it covers nearly every angle ... but it doesn't thrill at all. And the sound of a rattly diesel engine is just something I can't live with in what's supposed to be a sporty car.
So, coming from super bikes I've always tried to get as close to that as possible. Rented an Ariel Atom at Bedford last year which was fantastic and, though too hardcore for my needs, it got me addicted to speed again.
Now has come the time of considering what to chop the 335d in for. I've got a 20k budget (max) and need to get to work 5 days a week and take the family out on the weekends (Wife and 2 young children).
I'm thinking 2 cars would be best.
1) Crazy quick 2 seater - needs to get me to work once a week... so needs roof! Reason being - doubt I'll get to use it most weekends, so would want to get some mileage under my belt. Commute is around 30 miles in total.
2) Daily Commuter - would still like a quality brand, I do have to spend a long time in it so like the E90 320d, Audi A4 etc.
In general I've been looking around a 50/50 split to get a decent commuter, or for a super quick 15k car versus 5k commuter.
First thoughts were:
Honda Elise + runabout - but can't find a honda elise cheap enough
Exige NA + runabout - will the NA be enough?
GKD Legend 6 M3 Engined + runabout - GKD is around 17k! Leaving not enough to get a decent daily.
VX220 Turbo + 320d/Audi/Jag equivalent - can I live with the badge. Will it feel special enough?
Westfield V8 + runabout - I have 0 mechanical skills, will a V8 westie be needing constant fettling?
Bike engined Locust + nice commuter - no experience of bike engined cars. Are they quick enough at less than 160hp?
Tuned S2000 + nice commuter - not sure if I could get a S2000 into big enough numbers to thrill.
Or is there one car that will do the lot? Really hoping for some suggestions as I'm stuck!
So, coming from super bikes I've always tried to get as close to that as possible. Rented an Ariel Atom at Bedford last year which was fantastic and, though too hardcore for my needs, it got me addicted to speed again.
Now has come the time of considering what to chop the 335d in for. I've got a 20k budget (max) and need to get to work 5 days a week and take the family out on the weekends (Wife and 2 young children).
I'm thinking 2 cars would be best.
1) Crazy quick 2 seater - needs to get me to work once a week... so needs roof! Reason being - doubt I'll get to use it most weekends, so would want to get some mileage under my belt. Commute is around 30 miles in total.
2) Daily Commuter - would still like a quality brand, I do have to spend a long time in it so like the E90 320d, Audi A4 etc.
In general I've been looking around a 50/50 split to get a decent commuter, or for a super quick 15k car versus 5k commuter.
First thoughts were:
Honda Elise + runabout - but can't find a honda elise cheap enough
Exige NA + runabout - will the NA be enough?
GKD Legend 6 M3 Engined + runabout - GKD is around 17k! Leaving not enough to get a decent daily.
VX220 Turbo + 320d/Audi/Jag equivalent - can I live with the badge. Will it feel special enough?
Westfield V8 + runabout - I have 0 mechanical skills, will a V8 westie be needing constant fettling?
Bike engined Locust + nice commuter - no experience of bike engined cars. Are they quick enough at less than 160hp?
Tuned S2000 + nice commuter - not sure if I could get a S2000 into big enough numbers to thrill.
Or is there one car that will do the lot? Really hoping for some suggestions as I'm stuck!
I do like the idea of the turbo's, but its the 996 front end and interior that just makes it feel old to me. Would love to be able to get into a 997 though, another year and they'll be in my range I think.
Plus its a little too tame sure footed with its 4 wheel drive system, and can imagine the mpg will be terrible (would I want to use that as a daily commuter? Will it not lose its specialness if you use it everyday?).
Plus its a little too tame sure footed with its 4 wheel drive system, and can imagine the mpg will be terrible (would I want to use that as a daily commuter? Will it not lose its specialness if you use it everyday?).
You should get a Honda Elise for 20k, but they're quite rare so you'll have to bide your time. You could build one for 20, for that matter. There's two in the classifieds at the moment, one of which is cheap enough to also buy a good shopping car to go with it:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3972875.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3904558.htm
That S1 has over 300bhp/tonne, so will be fairly swift. Another 3k would see a supercharger fitted to it which would push it over 400bhp/tonne.
The VX220 feels just as special as the Elise - it's practically the same car. The turbo is quite good value, or you could buy a 2.2 and supercharge it.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3972875.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3904558.htm
That S1 has over 300bhp/tonne, so will be fairly swift. Another 3k would see a supercharger fitted to it which would push it over 400bhp/tonne.
The VX220 feels just as special as the Elise - it's practically the same car. The turbo is quite good value, or you could buy a 2.2 and supercharge it.
Edited by kambites on Monday 11th June 14:49
alfa pint said:
You have strange ideas about daily drivers! Think about those cold dank mornings in February in the sleet. I'd be looking at carrera 4s at that price range or possibly a cayman if you can live with the looks.
Eh? My idea for a daily driver would be something like a 3 series, 320d msport or some kind of Audi... something nice, quiet and comfy for the commute. But if I don't have the budget then something like a Focus, volvo, passat etckambites said:
You should get a Honda Elise for 20k, but they're quite rare so you'll have to bide your time. You could build one for 20, for that matter. There's two in the classifieds at the moment, one of which is cheap enough to also buy a good shopping car to go with it:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3972875.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3904558.htm
That S1 has over 300bhp/tonne, so will be fairly swift. Another 3k would see a supercharger fitted to it which would push it over 400bhp/tonne.
The VX220 feels just as special as the Elise - it's practically the same car. The turbo is quite good value, or you could buy a 2.2 and supercharge it.
That's a good shout. I've only really been looking at the S2s as i do much prefer the look of them, but guess I could go for an earlier S1 and supercharge it. Should give a decent output http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3972875.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3904558.htm
That S1 has over 300bhp/tonne, so will be fairly swift. Another 3k would see a supercharger fitted to it which would push it over 400bhp/tonne.
The VX220 feels just as special as the Elise - it's practically the same car. The turbo is quite good value, or you could buy a 2.2 and supercharge it.
Edited by kambites on Monday 11th June 14:49
Whitean3 said:
As you appear to be a BMW man, an M3 CSL first came to mind (and this from a Porsche fan!)- something a little rarer, rawer and slightly special, but should be practical enough for your family.
I had a CSL funnily enough a few years ago. I did like it and have been looking at a few, though it didn't do as much for me as it probably should have. It also wasn't quick enough, I'd want to supercharge it, but then would lose the investment (the main advantage of the CSL being its value - they are still the same price as they were when I sold mine!)Trixman said:
That's a good shout. I've only really been looking at the S2s as i do much prefer the look of them, but guess I could go for an earlier S1 and supercharge it. Should give a decent output
A supercharged K20 is good for about 350bhp and that will probably weigh under 750kg, so that would be somewhere between 450 and 500bhp/tonne. Even in N/A form, that'll be good for 0-100 in under ten seconds. helmutlaang said:
Locost bike engined car not quick enough?
Nearly any modern litre bike engine has 190bhp now..Will be plenty good enough.
Or turbo it and have 250 brake.Even better.
That's the thing, I don't know. Never even seen one in action. Nearly any modern litre bike engine has 190bhp now..Will be plenty good enough.
Or turbo it and have 250 brake.Even better.
I can't seem to get it out my head that even 190hp isn't going to be 'that' quick. The atom I drove was fairly quick, though wasn't the supercharged version (so 200hp I think) and i quickly got used to that power, needed that SC to really get it going.
Can't help but think it wouldn't be enough - are they quicker due to the lighter weight engines?
I think anything newer than an S2000 will be too refined for getting fun out of the road.
As long as you are under the speed limit you’re not pushing the car on Porsches and the like
An S2000 can just about stay on the right side of the law when pushing in 2nd or 3rd.
But can go nuts on a track in higher gears.
So, I’d suggest a caterham job, a VX or S2000, or something like that.
Don’t for Porshe, BMW-M, AMG etc – they will just be like the daily drive with bucket seats.
As long as you are under the speed limit you’re not pushing the car on Porsches and the like
An S2000 can just about stay on the right side of the law when pushing in 2nd or 3rd.
But can go nuts on a track in higher gears.
So, I’d suggest a caterham job, a VX or S2000, or something like that.
Don’t for Porshe, BMW-M, AMG etc – they will just be like the daily drive with bucket seats.
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