If not GT4, then what?
Discussion
Relocating from USA to Dublin in about 10 months. I'm thinking less and less of bringing my LHD, US-spec GT4 with me (high road tax in Ireland, long trips from there to the continent, no suitable road/speed limits in Ireland (?) and hassle of transporting the car.
If not a GT4, then what "fun on B road" car should I consider? A Fiesta ST? Some car that is not available in the USA?
If not a GT4, then what "fun on B road" car should I consider? A Fiesta ST? Some car that is not available in the USA?
Phokaioglaukos said:
Relocating from USA to Dublin in about 10 months. I'm thinking less and less of bringing my LHD, US-spec GT4 with me (high road tax in Ireland, long trips from there to the continent, no suitable road/speed limits in Ireland (?) and hassle of transporting the car.
If not a GT4, then what "fun on B road" car should I consider? A Fiesta ST? Some car that is not available in the USA?
Have you been to Ireland yet? If not you will be in for a shock. Outside of Dublin there are very few major roads and you need to re-calibrate how long it will take from A to B on a long journey as it will take much longer than you are used to. Will the car be for everyday use and occasional fun or purely a weekend toy? For the former I would be tempted by an MX-5, for the latter a Caterham. If not a GT4, then what "fun on B road" car should I consider? A Fiesta ST? Some car that is not available in the USA?
There are some fantastic driving roads in Ireland....only thing is if you're say driving on country roads I.e. Off main roads they generally tend to be in pretty poor condition so not ideal for something like a GT4. The bigger main roads around Dublin have shocking traffic on them and loads of speed cameras...it's not a driving paradise.
The best driving roads would be in the West or South....West Coast might not look that far but is a solid three hours. I haven't done that drive for maybe five years but I doubt it's much quicker as most of the road improvements had been done by then.
Personally I'd get something a little more road focused if I was using it in Ireland.
The best driving roads would be in the West or South....West Coast might not look that far but is a solid three hours. I haven't done that drive for maybe five years but I doubt it's much quicker as most of the road improvements had been done by then.
Personally I'd get something a little more road focused if I was using it in Ireland.
MDL111 said:
Not been to Ireland, but assume the roads are at least as tight/narrow as in the UK .... so something narrow probably. Maybe a Lotus - Exige, Elise or similar?
Fantastic place. But you failed to mention it rains there, quite a lot .... 
OP, get yourself an E30 M3, (not like this one or you'll be needing a service crew, a large budget and a decent selection of tyres) many of which will need to be wets ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN1Jp6d3QkA
Or an aircooled 911 is always a good choice :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SytPbTxo4B0
Just don't spin ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dw3C_RP3jE
Slippydiff said:
MDL111 said:
Not been to Ireland, but assume the roads are at least as tight/narrow as in the UK .... so something narrow probably. Maybe a Lotus - Exige, Elise or similar?
Fantastic place. But you failed to mention it rains there, quite a lot .... OP, get yourself an E30 M3, (not like this one or you'll be needing a service crew, a large budget and a decent selection of tyres) many of which will need to be wets ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN1Jp6d3QkA
Or an aircooled 911 is always a good choice :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SytPbTxo4B0
Just don't spin ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dw3C_RP3jE
I drive a lot in Ireland, North and South, having a house in both jurisdictions and relatives all round the island.
There are motorways between the major Southern cities and Belfast, so progress is not as slow as some above have suggested. Think 6 hours top to bottom (I have done it in 4 and a half on a quiet Sunday evening) and 4 hours side to side and you'll be fine, even with Dublin being a bottleneck. I don't know where in the US you're coming from, but for perspective you could fit the whole island into Texas 8 times over.
Going west or North west will be slower, but there are some great roads.
It rains a lot on the Atlantic coast, but there are some super scenic routes.
Hazards include tractors and cyclists, but farm animals only feature if you go onto a really minor road.
If you are renting in Dublin be aware that parking spaces will cost extra and make sure you rent close to where you'll work.
If driving is your thing, then think about renting in a satellite town and using public transport links for work, leaving you closer to the better driving roads.
There are a couple of race tracks which host track days.
I'd recommend a decent rwd sports car -GT86, MX5 which should be easy enough to re-sell on departure.
There are lots of Porsche owners in the North, where I live most of the time and quite a few in the South.
ETA - the roads in the rally vids are obviously the narrower twistier minor roads you would choose for a tarmac rally. There are lots of roads with plenty of challenge but a lot more room.
There are motorways between the major Southern cities and Belfast, so progress is not as slow as some above have suggested. Think 6 hours top to bottom (I have done it in 4 and a half on a quiet Sunday evening) and 4 hours side to side and you'll be fine, even with Dublin being a bottleneck. I don't know where in the US you're coming from, but for perspective you could fit the whole island into Texas 8 times over.
Going west or North west will be slower, but there are some great roads.
It rains a lot on the Atlantic coast, but there are some super scenic routes.
Hazards include tractors and cyclists, but farm animals only feature if you go onto a really minor road.
If you are renting in Dublin be aware that parking spaces will cost extra and make sure you rent close to where you'll work.
If driving is your thing, then think about renting in a satellite town and using public transport links for work, leaving you closer to the better driving roads.
There are a couple of race tracks which host track days.
I'd recommend a decent rwd sports car -GT86, MX5 which should be easy enough to re-sell on departure.
There are lots of Porsche owners in the North, where I live most of the time and quite a few in the South.
ETA - the roads in the rally vids are obviously the narrower twistier minor roads you would choose for a tarmac rally. There are lots of roads with plenty of challenge but a lot more room.
Edited by pete.g on Monday 12th June 22:38
An Elise 1.6 is €390 p.a and the 1.8 is €750 p.a for road tax. MX5 is €570 for the 160 ps.
Road tax in the RoI is high compared to UK.
I think the Lotus dealer in Dublin gave up the franchise in the financial crash, I used to drive past it on my way from Castleknock into the city - someone Dublin based might have better info.
If it has closed you would have to go to Belfast for official servicing, maintenance, etc.
OP should also check out insurance on a few choices, as rates for this are also verging on ludicrous and the usual inequalities will apply - accidents and convictions will count against you regardless of where they occurred, but a clean record won't be taken into account, as it's in a foreign country.
Road tax in the RoI is high compared to UK.
I think the Lotus dealer in Dublin gave up the franchise in the financial crash, I used to drive past it on my way from Castleknock into the city - someone Dublin based might have better info.
If it has closed you would have to go to Belfast for official servicing, maintenance, etc.
OP should also check out insurance on a few choices, as rates for this are also verging on ludicrous and the usual inequalities will apply - accidents and convictions will count against you regardless of where they occurred, but a clean record won't be taken into account, as it's in a foreign country.
Twinfan said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
A fair point, and one I usually agree with, however the mk3 Focus RS is a hoot - especially with a Mountune FPM375 kit. A real point and squirt road machine (I wouldn't track one). The handling is what has blown me away, it's one seriously nimble machine.Id get an Elise, Exige, VX220 around there, or even an S2000.
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