Replacing my battered old commuter with something fun
Discussion
So I am now newly single, my 100 mile round trip commute is no more and so I'm going to be scrapping my 1998 focus diesel. Prior to that I owned a Clio 172 and before that a classic mini.
I'm after something fun and sporty, under 10k but also not completely impractical (I mountain bike a fair bit).
I'm quite keen on an Alfa and have been looking at the GT and Brera, however the Mazda 3/6 MPS are also a consideration as well as a bit of a left field RX7/8.
I'm not too keen on overly common cars so not too interested in a Focus ST, same really with the BMW but the 2 door 3 series does look quite nice I guess.
Basically I'm just after someone to point out similar cars that I have overlooked as well as general thoughts so I can narrow down the list to maybe 3 or so models and get test driving!
I'm after something fun and sporty, under 10k but also not completely impractical (I mountain bike a fair bit).
I'm quite keen on an Alfa and have been looking at the GT and Brera, however the Mazda 3/6 MPS are also a consideration as well as a bit of a left field RX7/8.
I'm not too keen on overly common cars so not too interested in a Focus ST, same really with the BMW but the 2 door 3 series does look quite nice I guess.
Basically I'm just after someone to point out similar cars that I have overlooked as well as general thoughts so I can narrow down the list to maybe 3 or so models and get test driving!
saosin said:
So I am now newly single, my 100 mile round trip commute is no more and so I'm going to be scrapping my 1998 focus diesel. Prior to that I owned a Clio 172 and before that a classic mini.
I'm after something fun and sporty, under 10k but also not completely impractical (I mountain bike a fair bit).
I'm quite keen on an Alfa and have been looking at the GT and Brera, however the Mazda 3/6 MPS are also a consideration as well as a bit of a left field RX7/8.
I'm not too keen on overly common cars so not too interested in a Focus ST, same really with the BMW but the 2 door 3 series does look quite nice I guess.
Basically I'm just after someone to point out similar cars that I have overlooked as well as general thoughts so I can narrow down the list to maybe 3 or so models and get test driving!
£10k, fun & sporty leaves quite a choice of vehicles. We are talking probably 1000's.....I'm after something fun and sporty, under 10k but also not completely impractical (I mountain bike a fair bit).
I'm quite keen on an Alfa and have been looking at the GT and Brera, however the Mazda 3/6 MPS are also a consideration as well as a bit of a left field RX7/8.
I'm not too keen on overly common cars so not too interested in a Focus ST, same really with the BMW but the 2 door 3 series does look quite nice I guess.
Basically I'm just after someone to point out similar cars that I have overlooked as well as general thoughts so I can narrow down the list to maybe 3 or so models and get test driving!
Maybe you could narrow it down a bit.
Is MPG likely to be an issue (if so, you'll want to look up the RX-8 mpg
).Is seating an issue, as in how many and how often.
Is image or percieved image a concern of yours?
Do you want something as fast as possible for your money, or is power less of a concern overall?
Any preferences on driving style and type of vehicle?
Is age of vehicle an issue for you?
Do you want something to modify or to keep standard?
How about residuals?
Do you like working on cars, or are you wanting something fairly hassle free?
The reason I ask all this, is at present your requirements cover a 320ci to a Corvette with a bike rack and pretty much everything in between.
Maybe narrow down what you are after by a lot
300BHP yes I have been a bit vague I'll give you that, I didnt want to waffle too much on what is essentially a 'what car' thread but here's a bit more info:
I'm after something that's at least as quick as my old 172, trackable once or twice a year, handling over speed, MPG I'd like to see 20mpg obviously more is better but I'm well aware how pants the RX7/8 are in that department. 2+2 seats minumum as I'd like the option to legally cram some friends in the back if needed. I'm quite hands on with my cars and am happy to lightly mod it (airbox, exhaust, remap etc but nothing mental). I'd also like something thats not too old say 03 on (there are some exceptions here, the RX7 being one of them). I'd like a nice looking car too, something a bit different.
I seem to change my mind on a weekly basis and I'm currently looking at the Brera but hear its not particularly quick even with the V6.
I'm after something that's at least as quick as my old 172, trackable once or twice a year, handling over speed, MPG I'd like to see 20mpg obviously more is better but I'm well aware how pants the RX7/8 are in that department. 2+2 seats minumum as I'd like the option to legally cram some friends in the back if needed. I'm quite hands on with my cars and am happy to lightly mod it (airbox, exhaust, remap etc but nothing mental). I'd also like something thats not too old say 03 on (there are some exceptions here, the RX7 being one of them). I'd like a nice looking car too, something a bit different.
I seem to change my mind on a weekly basis and I'm currently looking at the Brera but hear its not particularly quick even with the V6.
£10k should give you some rather interesting options to look at and consider.
Would you consider a bike rack for the MTB, or is it a must that it'll fit inside the car?
Personally I do like RX-8's, although I think their mpg vs performance is a little lacking. Your budget should either get you a very tidy R3 with cash to spare, or you could go for an early model (cheaper road tax) and maybe look at a supercharger conversion.
Would you consider a bike rack for the MTB, or is it a must that it'll fit inside the car?
Personally I do like RX-8's, although I think their mpg vs performance is a little lacking. Your budget should either get you a very tidy R3 with cash to spare, or you could go for an early model (cheaper road tax) and maybe look at a supercharger conversion.
Would probably prefer using a bike rack anyway as the steed generally gets pretty caked in mud. My only concern with supercharging an RX8 would be I could get a newly rebuilt RX7 for around 5k which would offer similar performance, better (imo) looks and a bit rarer to boot despite having a bit of a boy racer image.
The interior of the RX8 also isn't massively appealing when you compare it to the more modern alfa/bmw/etc.
It is tempting though as I do enjoy a good project!
The interior of the RX8 also isn't massively appealing when you compare it to the more modern alfa/bmw/etc.
It is tempting though as I do enjoy a good project!
Just a heads up. While there were some 2+2 RX-7's, quite a few are 2 seaters only with a shelf in the rear. The rear seats are tiny too, don't know if that has any bearing on it at all.
Interior wise, I'm less fussed and tbh can't see the appeal of the generally dreary and dull BMW interiors. The RX-8 actually has some nice little design touches such as the extruded aluminium and the rotatory motive carried throughout.
That said, there are many other cars you may want to consider. Such as a sorted minter of a classic Impreza Turbo, or indeed a newer new age one.
Evo's also fall into this price range quite easily.
BMW M3 e36's.
If you are daring you can even get an early 996 Porsche 911 in budget.
A completely sorted DC2 Integra Type R or a latter DC5.
Big Jags like an XK8 or XKR are in budget too, or even some Yank metal such as a sorted sn95 Mustang, maybe a Mach 1 or Cobra or a Camaro/Firebird.
If Jap cars appeal then there are 300ZX TT's, Supra MKIV TT's and Mitsu 3000GTO VR4's. Just to mention a few.
For example, one of these would take a little searching, but they do turn up now and again and should be within your £10k budget.
1999 Mustang SVT Cobra. It has an aluminium DOHC 4.6 litre 320hp V8. 6 speed manual gearbox and IRS.
2+2 seating and mpg as good or better than an RX-8. Ok it's a bit heavier, but they actually handle rather well and are certainly an enjoyable car to drive. Parts are cheap, as is maintenance and residuals are very stable on them.
£10k obviously can get you many of the recent hot hatches that have been available in recent'ish years.
Interior wise, I'm less fussed and tbh can't see the appeal of the generally dreary and dull BMW interiors. The RX-8 actually has some nice little design touches such as the extruded aluminium and the rotatory motive carried throughout.
That said, there are many other cars you may want to consider. Such as a sorted minter of a classic Impreza Turbo, or indeed a newer new age one.
Evo's also fall into this price range quite easily.
BMW M3 e36's.
If you are daring you can even get an early 996 Porsche 911 in budget.
A completely sorted DC2 Integra Type R or a latter DC5.
Big Jags like an XK8 or XKR are in budget too, or even some Yank metal such as a sorted sn95 Mustang, maybe a Mach 1 or Cobra or a Camaro/Firebird.
If Jap cars appeal then there are 300ZX TT's, Supra MKIV TT's and Mitsu 3000GTO VR4's. Just to mention a few.
For example, one of these would take a little searching, but they do turn up now and again and should be within your £10k budget.
1999 Mustang SVT Cobra. It has an aluminium DOHC 4.6 litre 320hp V8. 6 speed manual gearbox and IRS.
2+2 seating and mpg as good or better than an RX-8. Ok it's a bit heavier, but they actually handle rather well and are certainly an enjoyable car to drive. Parts are cheap, as is maintenance and residuals are very stable on them.
£10k obviously can get you many of the recent hot hatches that have been available in recent'ish years.
300bhp/ton said:
Interior wise, I'm less fussed and tbh can't see the appeal of the generally dreary and dull BMW interiors. The RX-8 actually has some nice little design touches such as the extruded aluminium and the rotatory motive carried throughout.
I very much preferred the RX-8 interior to the BMW offering in the 3-series which was dull and uninspired. Anyway having owned two on that list, the 6 MPS is fun but a bit lardy, the RX-8 felt more 'special' to drive, the 6 MPS feels like a fast saloon rather than a sports car even though it's got more power and is only a touch slower round a track. Our 6 MPS gets about 2 better mpg than the RX-8 but can get quite reasonable MPG on a run while the RX-8 just tended to be poor everywhere (partly because revving it to 9k was addictive). On the same kind of note however my Mondeo mostly gets ~16mpg round town with similar power to the RX-8 (but more weight) so that's hardly an improvement but it will get 35-40mpg on a run unlike the RX-8!
If you get an RX-8 get an 09+ R3, IMO the engine changes/improvements are worth the extra VED and should be more reliable than its predecessors.
Would have another RX-8 in a heartbeat if it was doing low enough miles for the MPG not to matter, didn't need an Estate (the Mondeo) and the children were a bit older (the imminent arrival of a second child being the reason we sold the last one).
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