Most fun car for narrow garage (4.6m x 1.8m)

[RoVoFob]

ZX10R NIN said:

Honda S2000

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

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

Really like the look of the first one. Have long toyed with the idea of an S2000 but have an irrational hatred for digital dashboards and would always choose a coupe over a cab (though having a hardtop partly addresses that).

Is it weird that I prefer the idea of a Honda CRX 1.6i 16 mk1 or 1.6i VT mk2 despite that being front-wheel drive?

[RoVoFob]

Ecosseven said:

Struggling to meet all your criteria but what about an original 200SX (s13)?

Are you sure about the width of your garage? 2.0m internally sounds really narrow. Does it have brick pillers on either side?

Two main issues: there are two brick pillars in the middle, and getting something through the door will be a challenge.

Agents measured it at 2.13m wide, but some of their figures are iffy and I’m sure it was just over 1.8m through the up-and-over door and between the brick pillars...

[RoVoFob]

egor110 said:

Give up the rwd requirements and spend half your budget on a clio 172 cup or spend more on a trophy.

Have wondered about these. Drive probably covers much of what I’m looking for in terms of feeling analogue but high driving position and design and cabin put me off a little compared with some of the alternatives. Tricky.

[Ecosseven]

To give you an idea on width, this is my MX-5. The car is 1720mm wide (without the mirrors) and the garage is very narrow at 2375mm. I would say that anything other than a convertible with the top down or a kei car and you might struggle getting out when in the garage if that 2.0m internal width is correct.

[DRE7]

A BMW e86 z4 coupe 3.0si should fit the bill and the measurements
Frameless doors
Great fun to drive
Awesome naturally aspirated straight six

[RoVoFob]

Ecosseven said:

To give you an idea on width, this is my MX-5. The car is 1720mm wide (without the mirrors) and the garage is very narrow at 2375mm. I would say that anything other than a convertible with the top down or a kei car and you might struggle getting out when in the garage if that 2.0m internal width is correct.

Hmm, that’s very helpful. Thanks.

I had been considering kei cars. Like the idea of a Suzuki Cappuccino. Three cylinders are halfway to six and it’s rear-wheel drive, too!

BMW 130i is 1748mm without mirrors, meanwhile CRX is 1625mm for mk1 and 1674mm for mk2. Hunting down Cappuccino dimensions now plus Porsche 924 and 944. The Porsches make a lot of sense on paper, but not sure whether they’d live up to the badge in reality...

[RoVoFob]

DRE7 said:

A BMW e86 z4 coupe 3.0si should fit the bill and the measurements
Frameless doors
Great fun to drive
Awesome naturally aspirated straight six

Have toed and froed between 130i and Z4 for years. Love Z4 exterior, interior not so much...

Frameless windows and engine are ace, but Z4 is 3cm wider than 130i. Fitting 130i in is probably very, very difficult, Z4 probably impossible. I could probably climb through 1 Series hatch to get out, too, if needed!

[Mr Tidy]

DRE7 said:

A BMW e86 z4 coupe 3.0si should fit the bill and the measurements
Frameless doors
Great fun to drive
Awesome naturally aspirated straight six

That would be a tight fit though - they are 1,781mm without the mirrors!

Still if the OP wants one I've got one for sale.

As classics go a MK1 or MK2 Escort would fit easily, but only a 4 pot and prices are a bit silly these days.

[JJ55]

172/182 would fit. My garage is narrow & the 182 went in. Not much else would fit through the door. They are tiny & ridiculous fun to drive. Values are also slowly on the up.

[ChevronB19]

Ginetta G15?

[JamesP110]

My garage is a similar width and most modern cars just aren't viable. The car will fit, but the design and side impact protection on the doors means very little gap to squeeze out! My advice is to try any modern car you can use to test it first.

[RoVoFob]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Some great big names and left field choices!

In the width stakes, the winner at the moment is the Suzuki Cappuccino:
Cappuccino: 1395mm
CRX mk1: 1625mm
Scimitar GTE: 1650-1700mm
CRX mk2: 1674mm
328i e36: 1698mm (saloon)

Those are the narrowest interesting cars so far. Interested to hear if anyone here has driven any of these...

[SarGara]

An R33 GTST?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
According to Google they are 1,675mm wide.

(edit)Ignore that I didnt spot it was an auto. I nominate this S13 instead:
https://www.driftworks.com/forum/threads/s13-type-...
1689mm wide.

Edited by SarGara on Monday 6th January 23:24

[emperorburger]

GT86.

On second thoughts, a tad too wide.

Edited by emperorburger on Monday 6th January 23:37

[ST565NP]

Porsche 986 Boxster S ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gECC6bMy40

[RoVoFob]

RoVoFob said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. Some great big names and left field choices!

In the width stakes, the winner at the moment is the Suzuki Cappuccino:
Cappuccino: 1395mm
CRX mk1: 1625mm
Scimitar GTE: 1650-1700mm
CRX mk2: 1674mm
328i e36: 1698mm (saloon)

Those are the narrowest interesting cars so far. Interested to hear if anyone here has driven any of these...

We have a few more contenders...
Smart Roadster Coupe: 1615mm (are there any manual conversions out there?)
924: 1656-1701mm
Corrado VR6: 1674mm
Impreza Turbo 2000: 1690mm

Of those, the Cappuccino, CRX, 328i e36, Corrado and Impreza stand out on my new patented width-vs-fun-ometer. Has anyone had the chance to drive any of these? They all appeal in different ways, but barring the Suzuki they’re only 58mm-123mm narrower than my old 130i. Would that make any difference?

Unlike the others, the BMW has standard reversing sensors, plus a hatchback I could climb out of, if needbe!

[samoht]

Can you park the car outside the garage with the handbrake off, then push it in? that would let you get closer to a car of the full available width.

[TheAlastair34]

VX220 as an elise is out of your budget

is 90% as fun as a Caterham & Westfield but you can use it far more, solid price wise so you wont loose even after using for a year or so

[egor110]

RoVoFob said:

egor110 said:

Give up the rwd requirements and spend half your budget on a clio 172 cup or spend more on a trophy.

Have wondered about these. Drive probably covers much of what I’m looking for in terms of feeling analogue but high driving position and design and cabin put me off a little compared with some of the alternatives. Tricky.

You can get lower seat bases

Clio cup what you give up in nice cabin and toys you more than gain in handling.

You really need to go out for a go in one.

The scimitar , corrado and 328 are going to feel like big wallowing boats in comparison.

Edited by egor110 on Tuesday 7th January 13:08

[Ecosseven]

BMW Z3 is 1692mm wide........

Have you moved in yet? If so get a tape measure and check the actual dimensions of the garage and door.

when car shopping one of the first things I look at is the width as I run two cars (currently a mk3.5 MX-5 and a mk3 Seat Leon) and one of them is almost always garaged to free up some space on the driveway. Don't let a small garage put you off getting something fun - there are plenty options out there is you look hard enough!