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epson661

Original Poster

23 posts

90 months

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Sunday 2nd August 2020

Looking for a new daily to replace a fiesta. Daily driving consist of purely motorway with the odd back roads when visiting clients.

Requirements
- Sensible maintenance/reliability (Only 23)
-Decent performance (anything under 8 seconds 0-60 would be fun for me as my current car is a 13 second car
- decent mpg min 25mpg
- can be 2/4 door don't need practicality

So far can only think of a swift sport but from reviews it appears to rev really high when doing 70+ and may get annoying?

Not really too fussed for insurance costs as was playing around with various cars and even 3L BMWs were under £800 to insure. However does not seem sensible for my age (maintenance costs?)

Drezza

1,471 posts

83 months

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Sunday 2nd August 2020

Fiesta ST? Assuming you've currently got a bog standard one.

ZX10R NIN

30,514 posts

154 months

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Sunday 2nd August 2020

Mr Tidy

31,196 posts

156 months

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Monday 3rd August 2020

It probably depends how much of a car fanatic you are!

There was a facelift of the Swift Sport and later ones had a 6-speed gearbox that was supposed to be much better on a long motorway run, but I don't know if that takes them out of budget.

But when I was your age I always wanted the quickest car I could get and insure and I haven't changed much, although insurance is less of an issue now. laugh

I like the BMW Z4 suggestion (probably because I'm on my 3rd) but maybe an E92 330i Coupe would be slightly more practical because while it is still a 2 door car it does have 4 seats. My daily is an E90 330i (so a Saloon) and is claimed to do 0-62 in 6.3 seconds but has still averaged over 30mpg during the year I have had it. (And it cost about half your budget).

Whatever you decide to buy I hope you enjoy it. thumbup

ChrisH72

3,074 posts

81 months

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Monday 3rd August 2020

Loads of options for 7.5k so really you need to decide if it's a hatch, coupe or convertible you want.

I've just moved from an E92 325i. If you're after a motorway cruiser then I'd recommend it as that's what they're built for. They will do B roads but are big, heavy cars so not that much fun. Maintenance costs were more than I'd paid for other cars I had. I think it's luck of the draw with BMW as the big bills are eye watering. I only suffered one in 3 years but it was enough to put me off having another. Also I'm twice your age and even I felt too young to be driving it.

Now I have a fiesta ST. Much more fun to drive on the B roads but if I were doing mostly motorway miles I think something else would suit better. The ride is hard and it's a bit jiggly on the Mway.

I did try a 208gti as well. For what I wanted it didn't quite do the trick but I would say it's a nice balance. Smaller and more fun than the BMW but not as focused and raw as the fiesta. It'd probably match your criteria for mainly motorway with occasional B roads.

But if you don't need practicality then get a 2 seat convertible while you can.

epson661

Original Poster

23 posts

90 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 3rd August 2020

Thanks for the replies guys I really do appreciate it! I think I am a bit swayed to the coupe/convertible side now after seeing the suggestions. I am really scared of the costs associated with BMWs though, probably from Scotty Kilmer's YouTube channel. What would
Be the go to in that price bracket the SLK?

Jamescrs

6,332 posts

94 months

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Monday 3rd August 2020

epson661 said:

If you a scared of BMW costs then I would avoid Mercedes too and Audi for that matter because they are going to be very similar in terms of costs overall.

ChrisH72

3,074 posts

81 months

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Monday 3rd August 2020

If it's going to be a convertible then an mx5 NC fits all your criteria. You'd get a facelift (2009-) 2.0 sport tech with the foldy hardtop for your budget. I've not driven one but with 6 gears and the hard top I'd imagine motorway driving is fine.

ZX10R NIN

30,514 posts

154 months

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Monday 3rd August 2020

I'd go for the 350Z in coupe form it ticks all the boxes & is a nice place to while away the miles.

Mr Tidy

31,196 posts

156 months

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Tuesday 4th August 2020

epson661 said:

As has already been said I wouldn't buy a Mercedes expecting lower costs than a BMW!

I'm currently on BMW numbers 7 and 8 in the last 15 years and there is nothing else I would rather have - but then if you want RWD, a 6 cylinder N/A engine and a manual gearbox options are distinctly limited!

I had this Z4 Coupe for over 3 years and apart from regular servicing and a new battery it only needed a new A/C condensor so costs aren't necessarily scary.

gweaver

946 posts

187 months

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Tuesday 4th August 2020

Mr Tidy said:

There was a facelift of the Swift Sport and later ones had a 6-speed gearbox that was supposed to be much better on a long motorway run, but I don't know if that takes them out of budget.

It's not a facelift, it's quite different under the skin.

ZC31S Swift Sport (2005-2010 ish) has five speed box, ~4k rpm @ 70mph, drinks super unleaded
ZC32S Swift Sport (2012-2016 ish) has six speed box, 3100rpm @70mph, 40+ mpg is possible and is fine on 95 octane fuel

The earlier car is more raw, less refined, possibly a bit more of a hooligan (I've only driven a few sedate miles in one, but some owners prefer the older model). The later car is more refined, faster, more frugal, more precise and a touch bigger. Claimed 0-60 on the Suzuki's tends to be about a second slower than the reality, and various Youtube videos would seem to back that up. 7.9s won't set your world on fire, but it's probably plenty for the traffic here in the south east.

stedaley

669 posts

153 months

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[news]

Tuesday 4th August 2020

I have a swift zc32 and it's a cracking little car!

It's lacking power but it does everything else. Nippy, light, can do motorway trips, average 42mpg in my year I've had it!

Let me know if you have any questions!

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