What Car? 23 Y/O

[Aftershox]

HI all,

I don't normally post, but thought I would in this circumstance!

I am 23, live in London and commute to the City and back everyday by train, so in essence I'm not really looking for a 'commuter' car. I currently drive a 2007 MX5 2.0 (NC) and i love it, it's a great drive and with the convertible aspects in the summer it's brill, my only slight hesitation with it is that recently it's developed it's first fault in 4 years of ownership, something which has made me actually think about selling it as i really need a reliable car for my weekend journeys (motorway/B-road).

I'm looking to spend around £11,000 to £15,000 and insurance is not really a massive issues, but the cheaper the better really. Anything faster than the MX5 would be nice, and any more practicality would be a bonus as holidays to France are common.

So far I've thought of the following, but would appreciate your thoughts.
RS250 Megane Cup
Lotus Elise S2 (i would want an 08 or newer so maybe a stretch on the budget)

Look forward to your thoughts.

[Toaster Pilot]

What's wrong with it that's bad enough to warrant selling it for an unknown quantity?

Cars need maintenance / develop faults..... Unless it' s a man maths type excuse to get a new car in which case, as you were...

[Lozw86]

How about a BMW Z4M

[Aftershox]

Sorry, i am accustomed to general maintenance. It's more the fact that I think I'm using this as an opportunity to change car as I feel it's going to let me down. I've had it 4 years, so time to change it soon!

Thanks

[RizzoTheRat]

VX220 is probably more comfortable than an Elise if you're doing a reasonable weekend mileage.

[thatdude]

I'm wondering what the fault is too, just out of curiosity more than anything. For what it;s worth, I've owned my first motorbike for now going on 7.5 years, in which time I;ve had a few problems which all caused me to threaten it (sometimes basil fawlty style with a stick) with abandonment (examples: faulty starter solenoid, failed regulator/rectifer...things that left me stranded and in need of roadside assistance or recovery!). But then it turns out it's easily fixed and I dont bother to get something else!

Can you get something like an S2000? Might be a nice comparison to the MX5, but different enough. How about a 350Z, or a 370Z? I guess it depends on your budget!

[jamieduff1981]

Sorry, I cannot see a Renault or a Lotus being more reliable than a Mazda which has developed 1 fault in 4 years.

I politely call BS on reliability being a valid reason for changing the MX5, and instead suggest that you simply want a faster car.

[Aftershox]

thatdude said:

I'm wondering what the fault is too, just out of curiosity more than anything. For what it;s worth, I've owned my first motorbike for now going on 7.5 years, in which time I;ve had a few problems which all caused me to threaten it (sometimes basil fawlty style with a stick) with abandonment (examples: faulty starter solenoid, failed regulator/rectifer...things that left me stranded and in need of roadside assistance or recovery!). But then it turns out it's easily fixed and I dont bother to get something else!

Can you get something like an S2000? Might be a nice comparison to the MX5, but different enough. How about a 350Z, or a 370Z? I guess it depends on your budget!

I'll say, i'm no mechanic but i think i have a reasonable understanding of the mechanicals of the MX5. So essentially while in heavy traffic on the M20 after a crash in-front, i was in heavy stop start traffic and the clutch went very soggy, and would not let me engage any different gears. I subsequently kept it in 1st gear, and left it like that until the traffic started to move. Once i was moving for a while (in my head it was the air cooling perhaps the fluid down?) 30+seconds with the car moving at 25mph in 1st, it then went back to normal.

IN my head it was to do with air-flow cooling some part of the clutch/components down as it was a hot day. This problem has just made me worry with my impending trips this summer abroad and in the UK.

Thanks

[Aftershox]

jamieduff1981 said:

Sorry, I cannot see a Renault or a Lotus being more reliable than a Mazda which has developed 1 fault in 4 years.

I politely call BS on reliability being a valid reason for changing the MX5, and instead suggest that you simply want a faster car.

Please see my above post for reasoning.

Thanks.

[Aftershox]

RizzoTheRat said:

VX220 is probably more comfortable than an Elise if you're doing a reasonable weekend mileage.

I have considered a VX220, why would it be more comfortable though?

[andy-xr]

Meh, clutches wear, then they're replaced. Same with slave and master cylinders

I'd probably go for um....a 1 series? Actually, I'd keep what I already had, but you know - in the spirit of the thread and all that

[Benbay001]

Aftershox said:

I currently drive a 2007 MX5 2.0

...i really need a reliable car for my weekend journeys...

RS250 Megane Cup
Lotus Elise S2 (i would want an 08 or newer so maybe a stretch on the budget)

As said, you are mad. I have never heard bad report about any generation of MX5.
Really, you expect a Renault or a lotus to be more reliable?
If you want another car, ask, but dont dress it up as wanting something more reliable.
Madness.

[Aftershox]

Benbay001 said:

As said, you are mad. I have never heard bad report about any generation of MX5.
Really, you expect a Renault or a lotus to be more reliable?
If you want another car, ask, but dont dress it up as wanting something more reliable.
Madness.

Hi,

If you could link me to any reported reliability problems of the RS250CUP that would be superb.

Thanks in advance.

[framerateuk]

Aftershox said:

Hi,

If you could link me to any reported reliability problems of the RS250CUP that would be superb.

Thanks in advance.

The RS250/RS265 have had nothing but praise for their reliability so far - though only time will tell since the oldest are only just coming up to 5 years old.

Mine's 4 years old and apart from a screen on the dash failing it's been full proof - I'm also the only person I know of who's had that fault.

I'd recommend one to anyone. Great cars. Relaxing when you need them to be but an absolute animal once you put your foot down.

Early cars had a bit of a rattle coming from the engine which turned out to be something to do with the cambelt and tensioner. Renault fixed it eventually. Seems it was just a noise issue though. Camblet is due at 6years/72k anyway, so these early cars will be having this done in the next year or so.

[james_gt3rs]

Aftershox said:

RizzoTheRat said:

VX220 is probably more comfortable than an Elise if you're doing a reasonable weekend mileage.

I have considered a VX220, why would it be more comfortable though?

Only more comfortable than an S1. Early S2s are pretty much the same car as the VX. Later S2s are more refined than both.

[Aftershox]

framerateuk said:

The RS250/RS265 have had nothing but praise for their reliability so far - though only time will tell since the oldest are only just coming up to 5 years old.

Mine's 4 years old and apart from a screen on the dash failing it's been full proof - I'm also the only person I know of who's had that fault.

I'd recommend one to anyone. Great cars. Relaxing when you need them to be but an absolute animal once you put your foot down.

Early cars had a bit of a rattle coming from the engine which turned out to be something to do with the cambelt and tensioner. Renault fixed it eventually. Seems it was just a noise issue though. Camblet is due at 6years/72k anyway, so these early cars will be having this done in the next year or so.

Thanks for that, in terms of essential options i would probably opt for the Cup Pack and Xenons. What are the Recaro's like on long distances? What sort of MPG do you get on a long run?

Thanks

[lewisf182]

If that were me (and it was, last year) I'd go Z4M Roadster, possibly stretch to a coupe if extra room is needed.

Utterly reliable and anything that does break doesn't cost that much to fix, e.g. rear springs.

Plus you get that gorgeous noise.

Then again an S2 elise is something I've always wanted and will hold it's value very well. But I'd still choose the Z4m over the elise.

[framerateuk]

Aftershox said:

Thanks for that, in terms of essential options i would probably opt for the Cup Pack and Xenons. What are the Recaro's like on long distances? What sort of MPG do you get on a long run?

Thanks

The xenos are excellent. Try and get a Sport+Cup (i.e, full fat model with leather seats) and you'll get a few extra toys too.

The Recaros are excellent. Very comfortable if quite firm. They're noticeably harder than the couch like Recaros in my dad's Impreza. Still, after a trip from Cardiff to the ring in a single day I felt fine when we got there. It's a very easy car to drive long distances.

Realistically, I've seen 36mpg from Cardiff to Nottingham. I think 33-34 is achievable quite easily on most runs if you're easy on the right foot.

I recommend finding one with the R.S. Monitor since it allows you to control the sensitivity of the throttle in Sport mode. The standard "sport" setting can be a bit jumpy while the linear mode on the monitor is my choice.

I'd not owned a French car before this. I'm no brand follower and have never bought two cars from the same manufacturer. The interior of the Megane is well put together though, the materials are good and everything feels solid. People who say "It's French, it'll fall apart" haven't driven a modern one. Or happened upon a bad one! There's bad cars from every manufacturer. I've had far less problems with this than I did with my Fiesta ST.

[Aftershox]

framerateuk said:

The xenos are excellent. Try and get a Sport+Cup (i.e, full fat model with leather seats) and you'll get a few extra toys too.

The Recaros are excellent. Very comfortable if quite firm. They're noticeably harder than the couch like Recaros in my dad's Impreza. Still, after a trip from Cardiff to the ring in a single day I felt fine when we got there. It's a very easy car to drive long distances.

Realistically, I've seen 36mpg from Cardiff to Nottingham. I think 33-34 is achievable quite easily on most runs if you're easy on the right foot.

I recommend finding one with the R.S. Monitor since it allows you to control the sensitivity of the throttle in Sport mode. The standard "sport" setting can be a bit jumpy while the linear mode on the monitor is my choice.

I'd not owned a French car before this. I'm no brand follower and have never bought two cars from the same manufacturer. The interior of the Megane is well put together though, the materials are good and everything feels solid. People who say "It's French, it'll fall apart" haven't driven a modern one. Or happened upon a bad one! There's bad cars from every manufacturer. I've had far less problems with this than I did with my Fiesta ST.

Thanks, really sums up my thoughts. Interesting about the ring trip, it's something at the moment with my MX5... Let's say it isnt the most refined on the motorway sitting at 70-80.

Out of interest what other options did you consider before the RS?

[Aftershox]

lewisf182 said:

If that were me (and it was, last year) I'd go Z4M Roadster, possibly stretch to a coupe if extra room is needed.

Utterly reliable and anything that does break doesn't cost that much to fix, e.g. rear springs.

Plus you get that gorgeous noise.

Then again an S2 elise is something I've always wanted and will hold it's value very well. But I'd still choose the Z4m over the elise.

Exactly, the Elise does very much appeal to me because of it's specialness, and will hold it's money well. Think i'll pass on the Z4M, just not my cup of tea i don't think, not for any particular reason.