Where to go next?
Discussion
After a few years of expanding my collection of cars I seem to have hit a bit of a lull in inspiration as to what direction to go next. My current crop is:
Ford Focus Mk2 2007 1.6 118,000 miles: My first car and still the daily workhorse. I’ve done the majority of those miles including a trip to Prague. Use the car for just about everything from towing stuck farm machine, tip runs and occasional mobile hotel. It’s not worth much but I’m pained to move it on as it is so useful and I’ve grow stupidly attached to it. However the fuel economy on long runs isn’t great and it’s not particularly comfortable, stylish and doesn’t like to start when it’s warm. Still it’s honest, I can fix it and am happy to keep it around to keep doing it’s thing.
Renault Clio RS200 Silverstone. 2011 26,000 miles. An awesome car, I spent a while looking for the best one of these and think I found it. Awesome car for weekend drives, car meets and the like. I’d like to think it’s not depreciating too quickly and brings the biggest smile every time it’s driven. I have no intention to move it on but should really use it more. It’s not comfortable or economical really but long distances aren’t what it’s for.
Triumph GT6 Mk3 1973. ? Miles. Owned this since 2014. Not really done the miles it deserves but with free tax and incredibly cheap insurance it doesn’t really need to. This year I plan to give it a reasonable (£1000) refresh and go on that grand tour it deserves. Probably not depreciating and looking at prices and agreed valve is a slight investment, not that it’s a priority since I don’t plan to sell.
Citroen C1 2006. 78,000 miles. Still mid conversion to 24 hour race spec but will hopefully get finished by end of June after about a 2 year break. When finished will get insured and taxed for road use outside of racing to trundle about in/ short solo journeys if the focus is being borrowed by partner. Probably the car to go if a cull was required as I was building for a friend but got left holding the baby but when it’s finished I’m at pains to just move it on as I’ve got a fair few lads with proven race experience to make a team and enjoy it.
Mazda MX5 MK1 1992 Race Car. Not Road Legal. Built this myself and race it when I can. It’s been a labour of love for 5 years and I really enjoy keeping it going and racing it. No plans to move on as I won’t get back what I ve put in and then I won’t have anything left to race as the C1 is more a bit of fun than a full
Season sort of car.
A change in work means that I now find myself doing less driving but when I do it tends to be long distance and although I have a number of cars none that really eat up the miles and feel like an event. As much as I love the Clio it doesn’t eat up the M5 or the A303 and I tend to arrive wishing I’d just got the train. Although train tickets are crazy expensive. The Triumph is an event but not really the car for a quick 400 mile round trip to see mates in London in February.
So what I’m looking for is another car to add to the garage that is not likely to depreciate like it’s falling down a lift shaft, is a bit different or interesting and compliments the rest of the flock. I’ve got a reasonable budget of £10000 -£25000 depending on the car. Economy isn’t a great problem as I won’t be doing crazy mileage and am used to sub 32 mpg from everything else. I don’t need edge of the seat handling as I’ve got the Clio and a racer for those thrills. I can do a reasonable amount of work myself but am aware that stamps in a service book are worth their weight in gold.
So far I’ve considered a 435i Manual. Very nearly bought it but still got a fair amount of depreciating to go and didn’t feel really special but was very nice.
Alpina D3 (E90) or the bi-turbo. Nice and still thinking about these. Does anyone have any experience?
V8 Vantage. Probably dropping into my price range and I’m getting towards the age where I won’t look like I’m either a footballer or knicked my dad’s car. At the bottom end of the market could throw up an almighty bill and the tax will be a big hit every year. Really special though.
Some sort of 1980s/1990s modern classic? More usable than the Triumph but still interesting ?
Stuff I know I don’t like: Ridiculous 4x4s. If you’re a farmer great get a pick up or a Defender. If you just like sitting high up get one of the tennis umpire chairs. Old man saloons. Convertibles (MX5 race car not withstanding)
So I hand it over to the PH collective what do you recommend?
Ford Focus Mk2 2007 1.6 118,000 miles: My first car and still the daily workhorse. I’ve done the majority of those miles including a trip to Prague. Use the car for just about everything from towing stuck farm machine, tip runs and occasional mobile hotel. It’s not worth much but I’m pained to move it on as it is so useful and I’ve grow stupidly attached to it. However the fuel economy on long runs isn’t great and it’s not particularly comfortable, stylish and doesn’t like to start when it’s warm. Still it’s honest, I can fix it and am happy to keep it around to keep doing it’s thing.
Renault Clio RS200 Silverstone. 2011 26,000 miles. An awesome car, I spent a while looking for the best one of these and think I found it. Awesome car for weekend drives, car meets and the like. I’d like to think it’s not depreciating too quickly and brings the biggest smile every time it’s driven. I have no intention to move it on but should really use it more. It’s not comfortable or economical really but long distances aren’t what it’s for.
Triumph GT6 Mk3 1973. ? Miles. Owned this since 2014. Not really done the miles it deserves but with free tax and incredibly cheap insurance it doesn’t really need to. This year I plan to give it a reasonable (£1000) refresh and go on that grand tour it deserves. Probably not depreciating and looking at prices and agreed valve is a slight investment, not that it’s a priority since I don’t plan to sell.
Citroen C1 2006. 78,000 miles. Still mid conversion to 24 hour race spec but will hopefully get finished by end of June after about a 2 year break. When finished will get insured and taxed for road use outside of racing to trundle about in/ short solo journeys if the focus is being borrowed by partner. Probably the car to go if a cull was required as I was building for a friend but got left holding the baby but when it’s finished I’m at pains to just move it on as I’ve got a fair few lads with proven race experience to make a team and enjoy it.
Mazda MX5 MK1 1992 Race Car. Not Road Legal. Built this myself and race it when I can. It’s been a labour of love for 5 years and I really enjoy keeping it going and racing it. No plans to move on as I won’t get back what I ve put in and then I won’t have anything left to race as the C1 is more a bit of fun than a full
Season sort of car.
A change in work means that I now find myself doing less driving but when I do it tends to be long distance and although I have a number of cars none that really eat up the miles and feel like an event. As much as I love the Clio it doesn’t eat up the M5 or the A303 and I tend to arrive wishing I’d just got the train. Although train tickets are crazy expensive. The Triumph is an event but not really the car for a quick 400 mile round trip to see mates in London in February.
So what I’m looking for is another car to add to the garage that is not likely to depreciate like it’s falling down a lift shaft, is a bit different or interesting and compliments the rest of the flock. I’ve got a reasonable budget of £10000 -£25000 depending on the car. Economy isn’t a great problem as I won’t be doing crazy mileage and am used to sub 32 mpg from everything else. I don’t need edge of the seat handling as I’ve got the Clio and a racer for those thrills. I can do a reasonable amount of work myself but am aware that stamps in a service book are worth their weight in gold.
So far I’ve considered a 435i Manual. Very nearly bought it but still got a fair amount of depreciating to go and didn’t feel really special but was very nice.
Alpina D3 (E90) or the bi-turbo. Nice and still thinking about these. Does anyone have any experience?
V8 Vantage. Probably dropping into my price range and I’m getting towards the age where I won’t look like I’m either a footballer or knicked my dad’s car. At the bottom end of the market could throw up an almighty bill and the tax will be a big hit every year. Really special though.
Some sort of 1980s/1990s modern classic? More usable than the Triumph but still interesting ?
Stuff I know I don’t like: Ridiculous 4x4s. If you’re a farmer great get a pick up or a Defender. If you just like sitting high up get one of the tennis umpire chairs. Old man saloons. Convertibles (MX5 race car not withstanding)
So I hand it over to the PH collective what do you recommend?
I'd say try to find a Megane RS 175 at the lower end of your budget they're great for long distance whilst still being a good steer, but they are hard to find.
Next up would be the Alpina D3 even in 2.0d the Alpina is a a peach of a car & by far the best diesel to spend time in the ride is second to none (I may be bias as I have the later 3.0d BiTurbo version) this is where my money would go.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The BiTurbo is the one to go for:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or if you don't mind something bigger then you can land a very rare D5 for the top end of your budget but you do get the 3.0d BiTurbo.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Next up would be the Alpina D3 even in 2.0d the Alpina is a a peach of a car & by far the best diesel to spend time in the ride is second to none (I may be bias as I have the later 3.0d BiTurbo version) this is where my money would go.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The BiTurbo is the one to go for:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or if you don't mind something bigger then you can land a very rare D5 for the top end of your budget but you do get the 3.0d BiTurbo.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
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