Discussion
I'm considering a new car, although fully lost on what to get. I was going to buy an MX5 ND, nearly new but not sure it will actually work for me so upon thinking about what I currently need from a car, and what I want from a new one I've come up with the below list; What are people's suggestions?
Must have
Daily drivable, I'm a single guy who loves alone so don't need masses of practicality however I do need to it be reliable and fuel efficient. I've got a 13 mile each way, very hilly, commute and live 4 miles from the nearest train station. Work 5 days a week. Also, definitely not rich, so E92 M3 levels of fuel economy is not happening!
Openable. I adored my convertible, an Abarth 124 Spider, when the roof was down but it was pretty miserable when then roof was up, being 6'2". Would accept a coupe, but it would HAVE to have a sunroof
Roof rack/tow bar. I want to be able to get out more. A great weekend to me sounds like driving to the Lake District, spending the days cycling and walking round and driving back up. Would need to be able to carry the bike. Also would love to start kayaking, so need to be able to carry that in the future
Not hopeless in snow. I live in a village which is known locally to always be hit the hardest in the winter, in Scotland, and I live at the back of the estate around 0.5 miles (and hills) from the nearest gritted section of road.
NOT A HATCHBACK. I hate hatchbacks. Especially hot hatches, they say to me "I wanted a sports car but the wife wouldn't let me". I'm aware that will be a highly unpopular opinion and people will get insulted by it.
Edit; Sound good. One of the big things I loved about the Abarth was the the noise. I also loved the noise of my MGB when it worked. I want something which sounds good.
Ideals
Possibly 4 seats. I rarely have multiple people in the car, but would be nice to not have to borrow a car whenever I do need to carry someone
My dream would be a Porsche 911, but considering my max budget is £25000 I won't get something reliable enough. I'm also hopeless at anything practical, like repairing cars, so running costs would be ruinous.
I keep coming back to an Audi S5 Cabriolet. Bike rack on tow bar, but don't have anywhere for a kayak. Also don't have storage space for a trailer.
There is of course the option of keeping my current 2020 Seat Leon FR and adding a second car, however I think I would spend the majority of my driving in the boring hatchback and never get used out of the second car convertible.
Must have
Daily drivable, I'm a single guy who loves alone so don't need masses of practicality however I do need to it be reliable and fuel efficient. I've got a 13 mile each way, very hilly, commute and live 4 miles from the nearest train station. Work 5 days a week. Also, definitely not rich, so E92 M3 levels of fuel economy is not happening!
Openable. I adored my convertible, an Abarth 124 Spider, when the roof was down but it was pretty miserable when then roof was up, being 6'2". Would accept a coupe, but it would HAVE to have a sunroof
Roof rack/tow bar. I want to be able to get out more. A great weekend to me sounds like driving to the Lake District, spending the days cycling and walking round and driving back up. Would need to be able to carry the bike. Also would love to start kayaking, so need to be able to carry that in the future
Not hopeless in snow. I live in a village which is known locally to always be hit the hardest in the winter, in Scotland, and I live at the back of the estate around 0.5 miles (and hills) from the nearest gritted section of road.
NOT A HATCHBACK. I hate hatchbacks. Especially hot hatches, they say to me "I wanted a sports car but the wife wouldn't let me". I'm aware that will be a highly unpopular opinion and people will get insulted by it.
Edit; Sound good. One of the big things I loved about the Abarth was the the noise. I also loved the noise of my MGB when it worked. I want something which sounds good.
Ideals
Possibly 4 seats. I rarely have multiple people in the car, but would be nice to not have to borrow a car whenever I do need to carry someone
My dream would be a Porsche 911, but considering my max budget is £25000 I won't get something reliable enough. I'm also hopeless at anything practical, like repairing cars, so running costs would be ruinous.
I keep coming back to an Audi S5 Cabriolet. Bike rack on tow bar, but don't have anywhere for a kayak. Also don't have storage space for a trailer.
There is of course the option of keeping my current 2020 Seat Leon FR and adding a second car, however I think I would spend the majority of my driving in the boring hatchback and never get used out of the second car convertible.
Edited by Shermanator on Sunday 6th April 18:16
E53 AMG coupe, with all the windows dropping away & the roof opening it's like having a convertible but it also means the kayak can go on the roof.
It also have AWD.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412107...
Or the non hybrid E450 4matic:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408203...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...
It also have AWD.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412107...
Or the non hybrid E450 4matic:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408203...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...
ZX10R NIN said:
E53 AMG coupe, with all the windows dropping away & the roof opening it's like having a convertible but it also means the kayak can go on the roof.
It also have AWD.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412107...
Or the non hybrid E450 4matic:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408203...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...
Mhm, didn't realise they were in budget, I still perceive them to be a hell of a lot more money. Sadly however I feel that is definitely above my station in life, but more importantly it has all the ADAS systems. I should have specified that on the original, I don't want lane keep, lange change, speed limit recognition etc which I find incredibly distracting when driving.It also have AWD.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412107...
Or the non hybrid E450 4matic:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408203...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...
Your requirements just don't fit with what you actually want. IMO you really need two cars so I'd be splitting the £25k budget between them. You mentioned keeping the Leon and having a second car but there's no reason you can't replace the Leon with something for the road trips.
I'd go for an older Toyota rav4 or Subaru outback combined with maybe a Z4 3.0 si roadster.
I'd go for an older Toyota rav4 or Subaru outback combined with maybe a Z4 3.0 si roadster.
Shermanator said:
Mhm, didn't realise they were in budget, I still perceive them to be a hell of a lot more money. Sadly however I feel that is definitely above my station in life, but more importantly it has all the ADAS systems. I should have specified that on the original, I don't want lane keep, lange change, speed limit recognition etc which I find incredibly distracting when driving.
You can turn it off within seconds of starting the car, ask me how I know.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff