10k 'interesting' daily driver

[Integroo]

Tired said:

I've looked at them a few times, they're 4 seats, and not really that big or practical.

The interior is also horrifically naff, if that's the sort of thing that bothers you.

Makes a Subaru or Nissan look nice inside.

More practical than a 944 . Didn't realise they were four seats though.

[cookington]

I obviously didn't explain my desires fully in the original post, my issue with all of the 3-5 year old options is that they'd feel like too much of a step back in technology from my current S3.

I either need to get something else brand new with bells and whistles or go back to basics.

GT86, TT etc aren't really practical enough for a daily, both are options for the better half's replacement but she currently has an Mini Cooper S she won't let go of.

[Todd Bonzalez]

What do you want for practicality though? Your original list had a 944 on it?

[hairykrishna]

cookington said:

2 seaters are off the cards, working on the other half for that.

A 944 is a 2 seater for most practical purposes. You can't really squeeze someone in the back except for very short journeys.

[cookington]

Todd Bonzalez said:

What do you want for practicality though? Your original list had a 944 on it?

Contradicting myself I know, thinking out loud as I go here!

I think something the Porsche would have to be a second car to something boring further down the line, especially if I acquired a garage.

I also have a huge soft spot for beetles but realise it wouldn't work as a daily.

Other's that have caught my eye are the likes of corrado vr6 or older, lightly 'stanced' volvos but these seem to suffer from massive 'scene tax' so are priced unrealistically. (I'm aware this applies to the E30 too.)

[coldel]

cookington said:

I obviously didn't explain my desires fully in the original post, my issue with all of the 3-5 year old options is that they'd feel like too much of a step back in technology from my current S3.

I either need to get something else brand new with bells and whistles or go back to basics.

GT86, TT etc aren't really practical enough for a daily, both are options for the better half's replacement but she currently has an Mini Cooper S she won't let go of.

My Celica it is then

Maybe an older Evo? Generally have a less chavvy badge associated with it than a Subaru?
S15 Type R would be very rare on the roads, pretty quick, looks have aged well.

[designforlife]

Integra DC5.

Great blend of performance and practicality, fantastic to drive. Very good on fuel for the performance, cheap enough to insure, reliable....I could go on.

OK I will... holding value very well, more or less immune to depreciation these days, rear seats fold down to create a more or less flat cargo area.

Only down sides I could come up with after I owned one for 2 years - Honda OEM parts can cost a bit, and they like to rust so you need to be very selective and buy a clean one, wash it after driving in salt etc.

[cookington]

coldel said:

My Celica it is then

Maybe an older Evo? Generally have a less chavvy badge associated with it than a Subaru?
S15 Type R would be very rare on the roads, pretty quick, looks have aged well.

You may be on to something with the Celica, S15 and my choice of Forester.

I've never owned a Japanese car but have always admired them. Something freshly/recently imported would likely be in good condition and would tick the interesting box.

A friend of a friend owns a local reputable import company so I may have to ask for an introduction. There's normally several GTRs kicking around there though so I may end up overstepping my man maths ability.

[Todd Bonzalez]

If you test drive a S15 make sure it's stock. I don't think you'll like it...

I still can't think of better than DC5/E46 haha

[designforlife]

I would avoid evos for a daily, the running costs are fairly ruinous. Forester are good cars, but you will most likely need to budget for a new head gasket at some stage.

My colleague's £2k forester XT is being rebuilt as we speak, he's taken the opportunity to have some uprated stuff thrown in so it should be good for 280bhp.

Scoobs and Evos all very thirsty, can you live with sub 20mpg?

[coldel]

cookington said:

You may be on to something with the Celica, S15 and my choice of Forester.

I've never owned a Japanese car but have always admired them. Something freshly/recently imported would likely be in good condition and would tick the interesting box.

A friend of a friend owns a local reputable import company so I may have to ask for an introduction. There's normally several GTRs kicking around there though so I may end up overstepping my man maths ability.

As the £ continues to crash the import route gets tougher unfortunately, but definitely worth a look.

An R33 GTST is a good option well under 10k and a brutish car if a little unwieldy - you have to live with the view that its not a proper Skyline from some quarters (but of course it is a Skyline). A 300zx are around the 6k mark for a decent one, turbos are obviously a fair bit quicker than the NA version but working on the twin turbo is a PITA there is zero space in the engine bay to work with. Gen 6 GT-Four Celica is easily tunable to around 330bhp but needs a forge past that to be properly reliable, but they are quick cars in any case mine in stock format (aside from a bigger exhaust) scored 281bhp on the dyno. Gen 5 GT-Fours are starting to appreciate in value at the moment as well. S15s look lovely, they also seem to have been less abused in general compared to the S14s which are popular drift car options. An NA MK4 Supra would be in price range also - keep it for a bit then convert it to a single turbo later down the line for a monster car.

[coldel]

Todd Bonzalez said:

If you test drive a S15 make sure it's stock. I don't think you'll like it...

I still can't think of better than DC5/E46 haha

Yes the DC5 would be a good shout, I guess if its old enough though for the OP?

[cookington]

designforlife said:

I would avoid evos for a daily, the running costs are fairly ruinous. Forester are good cars, but you will most likely need to budget for a new head gasket at some stage.

My colleague's £2k forester XT is being rebuilt as we speak, he's taken the opportunity to have some uprated stuff thrown in so it should be good for 280bhp.

Scoobs and Evos all very thirsty, can you live with sub 20mpg?

I'd hope to get a Forester that had already had the head work done or I'd keep some money in the kitty as you say.

I'm averaging low to mid 20s with the S3 at present as it barely gets warm in my 5min each way to work then if I'm out and about evening/weekend it sees a good amount of sport mode. I only do about 200 miles a week so isn't too much of a concern.

[cookington]

coldel said:

Yes the DC5 would be a good shout, I guess if its old enough though for the OP?

As you say, I think its a little bit to modern.

My cousin had a mk2 civic type R (excuse my ignorance of EP/DC) I wasn't a huge fan of the interior.

Facelift Forester isn't much older but has more of an agricultural look/feel. Interior is basic but can easily have up to date ICE installed.

[V8RX7]

cookington said:

my issue with all of the 3-5 year old options is that they'd feel like too much of a step back in technology from my current S3.... or go back to basics.

GT86, TT etc aren't really practical enough for a daily

The Forester isn't very old

I'd say they were far more practical than an E30 / 944

What exactly do you need to do / carry ?

[designforlife]

A DC5 may be a 2002 car but they are much more 90s in feel.

Stripped back interior, stereo and AC is all you get really. It's more or less a lightweight track car out of the box...even the parcel shelf was a (now costly) optional extra.

Very much like an mx5 in that it is shaped around the driving experience. You can go older and for a DC2, but good ones cost about the same as a DC5 these days.

[cookington]

V8RX7 said:

The Forester isn't very old

I'd say they were far more practical than an E30 / 944

What exactly do you need to do / carry ?

Forester isn't that old but has the unique factor in that it is import only.

I don't need a car of that size at all, its more the novelty factor and it scratches the Subaru itch without the chav image. The sensible thing to do would be to buy a nice impreza at 1/2 - 2/3 the price.

[ZX10R NIN]

A 370Z fall right into your budget & is very good drivers car that also has character.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you want to go down the JDM route then there are some corkers:

ST205

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-celica-gt-four-S...f:1

Toyota Chaser

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Chaser-JZX100-Ma...f:1

R33 GTS

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-FACELIFT...f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-GTST-SIN...f:0

Silvia

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Nissan-Silvia-S15-...CsAAOSw5wFcKORf:rk:6f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-s15/312430004550...f:1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nissan-silvia-s14/15333...f:0

When looking for a practical JDM would be the Civic Type R FD2:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Honda-Civic-2-0-i-...f:1

Or you could go for a UK STI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Practical:

Infiniti G37

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[mikey P 500]

No one suggested a porsche 996 yet for 10k would be a better shout than a 944 in my opinion.

[Mr Tidy]

My weekend/fun car is a BMW Z4 Coupe, but if the OP wants back seats that wouldn't work!

Maybe a 335i Coupe would work?