What car thinking out loud thread, I'm not sorry....
Discussion
I oft wonder why people apologise for starting what car threads, why? That's one of this sites main functions for godsake!!
Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud at the moment but my problem is thus:-
Currently have 2 cars, a Toyota Corolla Verso and a Toyota Celica 190 T sport.
The verso is staying, despite me hating the damn thing, 2x kids and another coming means it has its uses.
The Celica though, I'm not sure I want to keep it. I inherited it off my dad who bought it new in 2006 - it's one of the last 190s built I think and has low miles, epic service history and is essentially like a new car. Although the engine is a peach and the handling sublime I'm finding it a bit of a pain in the arse to live with day to day. Occasionally I'll go out in it with my 2 kids (4 yrs and nearly 2) - getting all strapped in is a bit of a fumble and because the 4yr olds legs aren't quite long enough to bend and point down she gets a bit squashed by the front seat. Another minor niggle is how low the car sits, nowt wrong with that but I'm 6'4" and often find it hard to get in and out, I'm not that old either but after a heavy gym session and with the odd ache and pain it hurts! I've also had a couple of trouser incidents*
1st world problems I know
So I was thinking that my Celica would probably retail at around 5k, maybe sell nearer 4.5ish and with that sort of budget what could I get that can easily take a couple of kids, be pretty damn quick as a preference and also handle as well/better than the Celica. Similar sort od cost to run would be nice too ie. not crippling!
So I was browsing the classifieds at Imprezas, I've always had a soft spot and never owned one but know nothing of the variations. A quick browse throws up something like this
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Whats the difference between WRX and STI and all that jazz?
Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud at the moment but my problem is thus:-
Currently have 2 cars, a Toyota Corolla Verso and a Toyota Celica 190 T sport.
The verso is staying, despite me hating the damn thing, 2x kids and another coming means it has its uses.
The Celica though, I'm not sure I want to keep it. I inherited it off my dad who bought it new in 2006 - it's one of the last 190s built I think and has low miles, epic service history and is essentially like a new car. Although the engine is a peach and the handling sublime I'm finding it a bit of a pain in the arse to live with day to day. Occasionally I'll go out in it with my 2 kids (4 yrs and nearly 2) - getting all strapped in is a bit of a fumble and because the 4yr olds legs aren't quite long enough to bend and point down she gets a bit squashed by the front seat. Another minor niggle is how low the car sits, nowt wrong with that but I'm 6'4" and often find it hard to get in and out, I'm not that old either but after a heavy gym session and with the odd ache and pain it hurts! I've also had a couple of trouser incidents*
1st world problems I know
So I was thinking that my Celica would probably retail at around 5k, maybe sell nearer 4.5ish and with that sort of budget what could I get that can easily take a couple of kids, be pretty damn quick as a preference and also handle as well/better than the Celica. Similar sort od cost to run would be nice too ie. not crippling!
So I was browsing the classifieds at Imprezas, I've always had a soft spot and never owned one but know nothing of the variations. A quick browse throws up something like this
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Whats the difference between WRX and STI and all that jazz?
Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
- the other week I went to get into the car and split my keks good and proper, thank god it was on the journey home from work.
dave_s13 said:
Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
On the basis of your previous threads about your old 540i, I think you'll find the Impreza (either in WRX or STI flavour) too thirsty.ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
How about a Mk5 Golf GTI? (or a Seat/Skoda version of the same car, if you prefer?)
If you like the 190bhp VVTI engine in your Celica, you could get a Corolla T-sport. Didn't get great reviews when new, but available as a five door and relatively cheap these days.
dave_s13 said:
split my keks good and proper
Sounds painful. Hopefully the cars suggested above will keep your keks intact in the future.dave_s13 said:
Whats the difference between WRX and STI and all that jazz?
Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
As a rule UK spec Impreza's have not been as good as JDM ones.Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
An STI is a higher spec model and I think uses different engine internals, brakes, turbo and maybe even gearbox. Although this may not be true of the 'new age' Impreza's. I'm more of a classic guy.
I think the UK STI's where also watered down vs JDM ones.
Overall though, an STI is a better performance platform and a better starting point over a WRX.
Re: mpg
Impreza's are not very good at this. Although the taller gearing and improved electronics of the new ages did make them better than the classics. My '99 Turbo 2000 does about 23mpg, but this is on superunleaded, which costs more to buy, so in reality my 95RON equivalent mpg is more like 20-21mpg.
WRX's should be fine on 95RON, but will run better on super. Not sure about STI's, although I personally would only run superunleaded in any of them.
If you are looking at Impreza's I would also consider an RX-8 and maybe even an Evo. All 4 door and all good steers and not BMWs.
AudiWurst said:
dave_s13 said:
Anyway, you get the picture. Whats fast, fun, 4 seats, 4 doors and doesn't cost the earth to run.
ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
On the basis of your previous threads about your old 540i, I think you'll find the Impreza (either in WRX or STI flavour) too thirsty.ps car will do about 8-10k per annum so although MPG in the teens would be a massive no no something around 25 is OK.
300bhp/ton said:
If you are looking at Impreza's I would also consider an RX-8 and maybe even an Evo. All 4 door and all good steers and not BMWs.
Even doing a run on an A-road or M-way I don't see any more than 20mpg out of the RX-8.I average 16mpg overall, but that is with stop-start driving in rush hour traffic around town.
The rear seats are spacious though, and the boot is pretty big.
TREMAiNE said:
Even doing a run on an A-road or M-way I don't see any more than 20mpg out of the RX-8.
I average 16mpg overall, but that is with stop-start driving in rush hour traffic around town.
The rear seats are spacious though, and the boot is pretty big.
Sounds about right I think. Although the reality is, if you are only getting low 20's from an Impreza on super unleaded. Then pence per mile wise it's not so different to something in the teens on 95 RON.I average 16mpg overall, but that is with stop-start driving in rush hour traffic around town.
The rear seats are spacious though, and the boot is pretty big.
Personally I love RX-8's, but their thirst is almost 1960's big block in nature and worse than most modern V8's making 100bhp+ more power.
I had a 2002 bugeye WRX wagon for a couple of years and 30k miles.
It averaged 28 mpg over that period and a pretty good mix of driving. Round town it would drop, on longer runs i'd see 30mpg or more.
I'm not a hooligan, but did like the noise of the Racebox exhaust and used to open it up every now and then. I'm a smooth driver too which helps with MPG.
My wife used it for a 300 mile round trip and averaged 34 mpg.
They're not as bad as some people make out.
It averaged 28 mpg over that period and a pretty good mix of driving. Round town it would drop, on longer runs i'd see 30mpg or more.
I'm not a hooligan, but did like the noise of the Racebox exhaust and used to open it up every now and then. I'm a smooth driver too which helps with MPG.
My wife used it for a 300 mile round trip and averaged 34 mpg.
They're not as bad as some people make out.
I forgot I posted this! thanks for the replies, all useful info.
Good to hear you can get nearly respectable MPG from a scoob.
I'd probably favour a wagon though, not that it matters, purely as I throw the mountain bike in the back of the celica a few times a month and the ability to do that is pretty invaluable.
Not sure I'll actually do this though, just ran it past the wife and apparently she won't be seen dead in a scoob, the tart. Doesn't mind driving a sodding Verso though. Woman logic....illogical; she is due to give birth in a couple of weeks though so she's allowed to be a bit irrational at the moment.
Anyway.
RX8 - I've driven a couple - utterly sublime and a perfect package but I just couldn't bring myself to own one given the absolute certainty of crippling MPG and all the other associated foibles they seem to attract with regard to engine wear, oil use and all that jazz.
Golf GTI - Not "special" enough over the Celica to warrant the messing about - my brother has one and I rate them highly though, good cars.
Corrolla T-Sport - I can appreciate the thought process but, just, no.
EVOs - I'm not sure ehy but I've got it in my head that they are a bit more high maintenance than the scoob and tend to return even worse MPG?? This may well be wrong....also read the wagon comment above - can you sling a mountain bike in the back?
Good to hear you can get nearly respectable MPG from a scoob.
I'd probably favour a wagon though, not that it matters, purely as I throw the mountain bike in the back of the celica a few times a month and the ability to do that is pretty invaluable.
Not sure I'll actually do this though, just ran it past the wife and apparently she won't be seen dead in a scoob, the tart. Doesn't mind driving a sodding Verso though. Woman logic....illogical; she is due to give birth in a couple of weeks though so she's allowed to be a bit irrational at the moment.
Anyway.
RX8 - I've driven a couple - utterly sublime and a perfect package but I just couldn't bring myself to own one given the absolute certainty of crippling MPG and all the other associated foibles they seem to attract with regard to engine wear, oil use and all that jazz.
Golf GTI - Not "special" enough over the Celica to warrant the messing about - my brother has one and I rate them highly though, good cars.
Corrolla T-Sport - I can appreciate the thought process but, just, no.
EVOs - I'm not sure ehy but I've got it in my head that they are a bit more high maintenance than the scoob and tend to return even worse MPG?? This may well be wrong....also read the wagon comment above - can you sling a mountain bike in the back?
Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 8th October 19:07
dave_s13 said:
I oft wonder why people apologise for starting what car threads, why? That's one of this sites main functions for godsake!!
I think the reasons are that people tend to get wild ideas and then post for confirmation, probably whilst drunk, only to forget about it when they sober up.Given that I look forward to your post on 8th October.....
Sheet, beat me to it whilst typing...
People on PH should know what car they want. This is not What Car ? forum.
Gandahar said:
I think the reasons are that people tend to get wild ideas and then post for confirmation, probably whilst drunk, only to forget about it when they sober up.
Given that I look forward to your post on 8th October.....
Sheet, beat me to it whilst typing...
People on PH should know what car they want. This is not What Car ? forum.
Nah, I know what car(s) I want - the cars I can afford...different matter.Given that I look forward to your post on 8th October.....
Sheet, beat me to it whilst typing...
People on PH should know what car they want. This is not What Car ? forum.
The experience of people who have either gone through the same process or have 1st hand experience of the cars discussed is priceless I reckon.
The only thing that should be compulsory about what car threads is that you update them with pictures of what you end up with. Or not if you don't end up growing a pair and actually doing the deed
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