6-8k... what car?? (yawn)
Discussion
In the next couple of months I'm hoping to change the car, as it's s
t (EP3).
I'm moving 2 miles from work so it won't have to do the commute (other than in the rain) so running costs aren't really an issue, and now at 24, insurance is pretty bearable as well so MOST things in budget will be insurable. So it'll essentially be a weekend toy, and something for going taking the Mrs to Tesco in, and the occasional blast from Bristol to Dorset to visit the folks.
Oh yes... and it needs to lug a downhill bike around, whether that's on a roof rack, or a boot mount bike rack, I don't care... or even in the car itself (B6 S4?) I'd like something fun out of the box, short of a subtle exhaust to tingle the ears, possible remap and maybe some nice wheels it'll be staying standard.
Cars I've been looking into include things at both ends / conditions within budget:
350Z (although the bike situation is ruling this out at the moment)
Boxter S
Monaro
XKR
B6 S4 (Avant... lovely)
VX220 (bike may be an issue)
E46 M3
Evo 7
Impreza
Supra (childhood dream but slightly daunting)
Any input from o ye of much wisdom?
t (EP3).I'm moving 2 miles from work so it won't have to do the commute (other than in the rain) so running costs aren't really an issue, and now at 24, insurance is pretty bearable as well so MOST things in budget will be insurable. So it'll essentially be a weekend toy, and something for going taking the Mrs to Tesco in, and the occasional blast from Bristol to Dorset to visit the folks.
Oh yes... and it needs to lug a downhill bike around, whether that's on a roof rack, or a boot mount bike rack, I don't care... or even in the car itself (B6 S4?) I'd like something fun out of the box, short of a subtle exhaust to tingle the ears, possible remap and maybe some nice wheels it'll be staying standard.
Cars I've been looking into include things at both ends / conditions within budget:
350Z (although the bike situation is ruling this out at the moment)
Boxter S
Monaro
XKR
B6 S4 (Avant... lovely)
VX220 (bike may be an issue)
E46 M3
Evo 7
Impreza
Supra (childhood dream but slightly daunting)
Any input from o ye of much wisdom?
Edited by vtecyo on Tuesday 20th May 22:34
s2000 if you are considering a boxter and want to keep your user name.
M3 would be my choice if you can find a good one at that price range but might be too painful for insurance at 24. Most of your choices can throw you a few four figure bills for tyres, brakes or major services so buy wisely and have some funds put aside for running costs.
M3 would be my choice if you can find a good one at that price range but might be too painful for insurance at 24. Most of your choices can throw you a few four figure bills for tyres, brakes or major services so buy wisely and have some funds put aside for running costs.
How about a TVR chimaera? - i've heard stories of people getting the bike in the boot...
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/carrying-b...
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/carrying-b...
vtecyo said:
In the next couple of months I'm hoping to change the car, as it's st (EP3).
350Z - GT car - bit dull
Monaro - GT car - good noise but very dull
XKR - Auto only, OAP car
B6 S4 - 4WD dull car
VX220 - quick, dull car
E46 M3 - worth considering but more as an everyday car
Evo 7 - too capable to be fun on the road
Impreza - as above
Supra - 8k won't get a turbo manual and they are the only ones to get
Might I suggest:t (EP3).350Z - GT car - bit dull
Monaro - GT car - good noise but very dull
XKR - Auto only, OAP car
B6 S4 - 4WD dull car
VX220 - quick, dull car
E46 M3 - worth considering but more as an everyday car
Evo 7 - too capable to be fun on the road
Impreza - as above
Supra - 8k won't get a turbo manual and they are the only ones to get
MX5 2.0 Sport
Skyline R32 GTR
Crusoe said:
s2000 if you are considering a boxter and want to keep your user name.
M3 would be my choice if you can find a good one at that price range but might be too painful for insurance at 24. Most of your choices can throw you a few four figure bills for tyres, brakes or major services so buy wisely and have some funds put aside for running costs.
S2000 doesn't do it for me really.M3 would be my choice if you can find a good one at that price range but might be too painful for insurance at 24. Most of your choices can throw you a few four figure bills for tyres, brakes or major services so buy wisely and have some funds put aside for running costs.
Bills wide, I'm expecting to do sub 3k a year (Mrs is likely to get a company car soon so may even be less than that) so hopefully wouldn't be too ruinous on that front.
V8RX7 said:
Might I suggest:
MX5 2.0 Sport
Skyline R32 GTR
Good shouts. I've grown quite fond of the MK3 MX5 recently.MX5 2.0 Sport
Skyline R32 GTR
Edited by vtecyo on Wednesday 21st May 12:51
DH bike is a big beast. Do you carry it on a rack now? Boot mounted on its own shouldn't be an issue but wouldn't put one on the roof. Saw one break the roof mount going into the Innerleithen car park. As he hit a bump (too fast) it broken and ended up hanging off the car. Tow bar mounted for a DH would be my choice.
Also racks are not secure, you can't nip away to a few shops on your way there.
I'd suggest you'd resent a small car sooner or later whereas an estate (or large hatch) that you can throw it in with a whole load of kit would be a lot easier.
I started with with small hatches that needed racks and have ended up with a Transit that I mostly use at weekends!
Good cars I've had for fitting a bike - Mondeo ST tdci hatch, bike in full, no issues, on the roof if not heading anywhere else, no issues, engine - horrible, never felt a worse diesel that they couldn't find a fault with. Volvo estates, great! Saab 9-3 would take a smaller whole bike, front wheel off larger bikes.
Also racks are not secure, you can't nip away to a few shops on your way there.
I'd suggest you'd resent a small car sooner or later whereas an estate (or large hatch) that you can throw it in with a whole load of kit would be a lot easier.
I started with with small hatches that needed racks and have ended up with a Transit that I mostly use at weekends!
Good cars I've had for fitting a bike - Mondeo ST tdci hatch, bike in full, no issues, on the roof if not heading anywhere else, no issues, engine - horrible, never felt a worse diesel that they couldn't find a fault with. Volvo estates, great! Saab 9-3 would take a smaller whole bike, front wheel off larger bikes.
Steve_F said:
DH bike is a big beast. Do you carry it on a rack now? Boot mounted on its own shouldn't be an issue but wouldn't put one on the roof. Saw one break the roof mount going into the Innerleithen car park. As he hit a bump (too fast) it broken and ended up hanging off the car. Tow bar mounted for a DH would be my choice.
Also racks are not secure, you can't nip away to a few shops on your way there.
I'd suggest you'd resent a small car sooner or later whereas an estate (or large hatch) that you can throw it in with a whole load of kit would be a lot easier.
I started with with small hatches that needed racks and have ended up with a Transit that I mostly use at weekends!
Good cars I've had for fitting a bike - Mondeo ST tdci hatch, bike in full, no issues, on the roof if not heading anywhere else, no issues, engine - horrible, never felt a worse diesel that they couldn't find a fault with. Volvo estates, great! Saab 9-3 would take a smaller whole bike, front wheel off larger bikes.
Currently take the rear wheel off and jam it into the back of the EP3. It fits but only in a specific way and only just. I have heard about Roof racks being a bit flaky for DH bikes. Shirley it'd be alright on a decent rack mounted to some roof rails on an estate? Nothing wrong with chucking it in the boot but if it's got a nice interior I'd quite like to keep it that way. Also racks are not secure, you can't nip away to a few shops on your way there.
I'd suggest you'd resent a small car sooner or later whereas an estate (or large hatch) that you can throw it in with a whole load of kit would be a lot easier.
I started with with small hatches that needed racks and have ended up with a Transit that I mostly use at weekends!
Good cars I've had for fitting a bike - Mondeo ST tdci hatch, bike in full, no issues, on the roof if not heading anywhere else, no issues, engine - horrible, never felt a worse diesel that they couldn't find a fault with. Volvo estates, great! Saab 9-3 would take a smaller whole bike, front wheel off larger bikes.
Aren't most roof bar systems rated at 50kg+? I'd be more comfortable with the bike on the roof than on a rack on the back unless it was a proper tow bar mount. If you got a Cayman with roof bars it would be nice and low so easy to lift the bike on to. Should be more secure and less faff than strapping something to the back of a Boxster or MX5
Slightly highish miles but the engine / drivetrain is bombproof.
http://www.autoview.co.uk/bossmotors-used-car-sale...
http://www.autoview.co.uk/bossmotors-used-car-sale...
What part of the Ep3 do you find bad? Because then we could ensure the new car avoids this? I'm guessing it will the power coming in too high up the rev range, as that is the most common issue some drivers have with it? If so then surely going down the forced induction route is a must?
An Evo/S4/Impreza would all be world aparts from what the Civic is so may be more to your taste? To fit the bike in as well then an S4 Avant has surely got you written all over it?
An Evo/S4/Impreza would all be world aparts from what the Civic is so may be more to your taste? To fit the bike in as well then an S4 Avant has surely got you written all over it?
vtecyo said:
Currently take the rear wheel off and jam it into the back of the EP3. It fits but only in a specific way and only just. I have heard about Roof racks being a bit flaky for DH bikes. Shirley it'd be alright on a decent rack mounted to some roof rails on an estate? Nothing wrong with chucking it in the boot but if it's got a nice interior I'd quite like to keep it that way.
It should be but as someone else said 50kg is likely to be max for the roof - individual carrier may be rated lower than that still.Not sure what bike you've got (I don't do much DH, my old Session 10 lives in a cupboard and gets out once a year but it'd be high 30kgs if not early 40s!). No way I'd put that on a roof, not sure I could even lift it that high but there's not many as heavy as that one!!
You will probably be ok but just remember if you're going for something like a small two seater with an alternative type rack (ie an MX5 with the wee boot mounted thing) you'll probably go a lot slower on your way to the DH track in case it bounces off!
My choice would be an S4 or something from Subaru, with racks for most days but can fit in the boot if the track you're heading to is in the middle of Wales or in Scotland so you can enjoy the drive. Plus anything with 4x4 you'll be more likely to get out of the muddy field they make you park in if it's a big event! Or one of the rare and ugly Japanese turbo estates if you can track one down. I did have a look at a Stagea at one point but there wasn't a good one close.
My cousin had an M3 with two roof racks, he isn't into DH so it was always XC bikes and kit in the boot. No issues carrying them but boot wasn't massive for kit and he never went as fast with them on the roof as with nothing there. He's moved to a D5 Volvo V70 now and wouldn't swap back for a bike and distance car (for other days I'm sure he would!).
On my SAAB I had a tow bar mounted rack, put the foot down to make an overtake before the dual carriageway finished, pulled in and looked in the mirror to see the bike hanging off with one strap left - used a D-lock on it after that!!
Steve_F said:
Not sure what bike you've got (I don't do much DH, my old Session 10 lives in a cupboard and gets out once a year but it'd be high 30kgs if not early 40s!). No way I'd put that on a roof, not sure I could even lift it that high but there's not many as heavy as that one!!
You mean lbs not kgs surely!? The weight limit on a 911 roof rack is 75kgs which I would've thought covers any bike, or would they put much higher forces through the roof bars rocking about and in corners?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff