Most fun car for narrow garage (4.6m x 1.8m)
Discussion
kuro said:
Smart roadster is small but the doors need quite a wide area to actually enable getting in or out! Some had lambo door conversions which would make things easier. Good fun but maintenance can be a pain. If I had the choice again I would try a cappuccino or a Honda beat.
Shame. Looks great and nicely striking without being too showy. Not worth steep maintenance bills compared with the alternatives, though.Cappuccino sounds like a much better bet. Like the sound of Mazda AZ-1 even more, but they’re seriously pricey.
RoVoFob said:
loskie said:
Twingo Cup that must be a bit narrow?
With mirrors it’s 1927mm. That’s the same width as my Legacy, I think. Without mirrors that’s probably the same as the 130i, surprisingly. You need a Saab 900 turbo.
Famed for their narrow shells, these are quick, reliable, handle well and are available within budget.
OK, so they are fwd but with a longitudinal engine so no real torque steer. Also they have a well located rear axle so the handling is quite neutral. 3 door in black is favourite (and most expensive), 2 door is a touch lighter so slightly quicker or you can have a convertible like mine.
Prices are on the up so you shouldn't lose anything, but there aren't too many really good ones on the market because we're all keeping them (had mine 19 years!)
Famed for their narrow shells, these are quick, reliable, handle well and are available within budget.
OK, so they are fwd but with a longitudinal engine so no real torque steer. Also they have a well located rear axle so the handling is quite neutral. 3 door in black is favourite (and most expensive), 2 door is a touch lighter so slightly quicker or you can have a convertible like mine.
Prices are on the up so you shouldn't lose anything, but there aren't too many really good ones on the market because we're all keeping them (had mine 19 years!)
Turbobanana said:
You need a Saab 900 turbo.
Famed for their narrow shells, these are quick, reliable, handle well and are available within budget.
OK, so they are fwd but with a longitudinal engine so no real torque steer. Also they have a well located rear axle so the handling is quite neutral. 3 door in black is favourite (and most expensive), 2 door is a touch lighter so slightly quicker or you can have a convertible like mine.
Prices are on the up so you shouldn't lose anything, but there aren't too many really good ones on the market because we're all keeping them (had mine 19 years!)
Love the style of these, but why does it have to be FWD, four-cylinder and turbocharged. One or two of those factors, could be alright, but all three? I’m not sure...Famed for their narrow shells, these are quick, reliable, handle well and are available within budget.
OK, so they are fwd but with a longitudinal engine so no real torque steer. Also they have a well located rear axle so the handling is quite neutral. 3 door in black is favourite (and most expensive), 2 door is a touch lighter so slightly quicker or you can have a convertible like mine.
Prices are on the up so you shouldn't lose anything, but there aren't too many really good ones on the market because we're all keeping them (had mine 19 years!)
RoVoFob said:
I’ve seen what looks like a reasonable one for less than £3,000. Is that suspiciously cheap?
What kind of TLC does yours need - big money stuff or just wear and tear stuff that mounts up over time? Thanks.
It isn't necessarily worryingly cheap, but have a really good look at things like sills, floors, rear arches etc for rust. They rust like an MX5, if not worse. What kind of TLC does yours need - big money stuff or just wear and tear stuff that mounts up over time? Thanks.
Mine just needs sprucing up, I've gone and let it sit unused too long and as such it needs a full service and things like going over the underside to nip any impending crustiness in the bud, touch up a few odd spots etc.
Mechanically it's always been very reliable, but I've allowed it to get a little scruffy round the edges and I need to sort that once it starts getting warmer and I feel more like using it.
RoVoFob said:
Ah, yes. I forgot. I’ll forgive you for that!
Thanks. 
Just a thought but if the width is limited by a door frame rather than brickwork, might you be able to trim the frame a bit at the height that matches up to the widest point of a car - usually around door handle height I think.
Hope you can work something out anyway!
So, I’ve finally had the chance to properly measure the garage.
As is, the space inside is 455cm long and the width varies from:
194cm minimum (brick column in middle of garage)
205cm maximum (at very back)
197cm (brick pillar at very front)
182cm (through current up-and over door)
I’m reasonably slim and agile, so happy to clamber out of a hatchback to get out if needbe. Managed to get my Legacy into garage (width-wise at least) and that’s 1730mm wide (exc mirrors). Was easy enough, thanks to massive mirrors and windows, but very little room for manoeuvre and would have had to climb out of the boot.
That means fitting in a car that is 9cm narrower than garage entrance is doable. Rather than just focus on the cars that fit, I’ve shifted to thinking about the cars I want and could feasibly afford before too long. Here they are:
BMW 325ti: 1941mm (inc mirrors), 1739mm (exc mirrors, Saloon), 1757mm (exc mirrors, Coupe)
Nissan 350Z: 1815mm (exc mirrors)
BMW 130i: 1933mm (inc mirrors), 1748mm (exc mirrors)
VW Corrado VR6: 1690mm (exc mirrors)
So, how much extra width is a shutter-type door likely to free up?
And is there a chance in hell of getting a 350Z in there? Have owned a 325ti and two 130is, but 350Z really appeals for looks, value, sheer analogueness and ticking different boxes to Legacy. But will it ever fit and is it at all plausible to climb out the hatch with big sports seats and rear brace?!
Otherwise it’s BMW vs Corrado. Has any driven both/all three? The BMWs were great all-rounders, but I wonder whether the Corrado will feel any more analogue or exciting, or if it just means sacrificing safety and tech for a similar price to decent 130i and three times more than a decent 325ti.
Interested to hear what you all think. Thanks!
As is, the space inside is 455cm long and the width varies from:
194cm minimum (brick column in middle of garage)
205cm maximum (at very back)
197cm (brick pillar at very front)
182cm (through current up-and over door)
I’m reasonably slim and agile, so happy to clamber out of a hatchback to get out if needbe. Managed to get my Legacy into garage (width-wise at least) and that’s 1730mm wide (exc mirrors). Was easy enough, thanks to massive mirrors and windows, but very little room for manoeuvre and would have had to climb out of the boot.
That means fitting in a car that is 9cm narrower than garage entrance is doable. Rather than just focus on the cars that fit, I’ve shifted to thinking about the cars I want and could feasibly afford before too long. Here they are:
BMW 325ti: 1941mm (inc mirrors), 1739mm (exc mirrors, Saloon), 1757mm (exc mirrors, Coupe)
Nissan 350Z: 1815mm (exc mirrors)
BMW 130i: 1933mm (inc mirrors), 1748mm (exc mirrors)
VW Corrado VR6: 1690mm (exc mirrors)
So, how much extra width is a shutter-type door likely to free up?
And is there a chance in hell of getting a 350Z in there? Have owned a 325ti and two 130is, but 350Z really appeals for looks, value, sheer analogueness and ticking different boxes to Legacy. But will it ever fit and is it at all plausible to climb out the hatch with big sports seats and rear brace?!
Otherwise it’s BMW vs Corrado. Has any driven both/all three? The BMWs were great all-rounders, but I wonder whether the Corrado will feel any more analogue or exciting, or if it just means sacrificing safety and tech for a similar price to decent 130i and three times more than a decent 325ti.
Interested to hear what you all think. Thanks!
Actually getting out of the car once you are in the garage looks to be your biggest test from the photos to me. Unless I'm missing something.
I believe a shutter door will give you the extra width by removing your existing door frame. So whatever that measures will be extra to what you have now.
I believe a shutter door will give you the extra width by removing your existing door frame. So whatever that measures will be extra to what you have now.
cerb4.5lee said:
Actually getting out of the car once you are in the garage looks to be your biggest test from the photos to me. Unless I'm missing something.
I believe a shutter door will give you the extra width by removing your existing door frame. So whatever that measures will be extra to what you have now.
This is why I’d need something with a hatchback! No chance of getting out of anything bar a Cappuccino using the actual door. Sadly I’d imagine it’s less than easy to clamber out a 350Z hatchback. Anyone tried this?!I believe a shutter door will give you the extra width by removing your existing door frame. So whatever that measures will be extra to what you have now.
If the shutter doors have no frame, how are they secured - would there be an external frame for these that goes on the outside of the existing brick pillars?
If so, the narrowest part of the garage would be the 194cm middle pillar and the 350Z is 181.5cm wide. That’s 12.5cm spare, compared with the 9cm spare to get Legacy through current frame. Considering how much worse visibility is likely to be in the 350Z, I think that’s practically impossible. Damn.
Edited by RoVoFob on Monday 13th January 18:12
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