Petrolhead daily driver but still sensible?

Petrolhead daily driver but still sensible?

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GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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The day I had been dreading for long has finally come. Our RWD manual is 10 years old and has crossed the 200k mark. It is finally starting to show its age too. So the time has come to get something newer.

I say this with a heavy heart. Because I know RWD with a manual is a rare thing in newer cars. Let alone in a petrol family car. But we will need a newer car no matter what. If I decide to limit it to RWD manual, I fear it will put a huge limitation to the options and will push me to get something I shouldn't. So I have to at least be open to an auto. Possibly give up RWD for at least AWD too.

Also we had been in a situation where owning only one car was enough. But this is also about to change.

Given that, if I could have a RWD manual as my daily, I would be much more ok with having whatever fit as a family car/wife's car. She doesn't mind and probably much prefers an auto anyway.

But my RWD manual would need to be a sensible choice. Meaning not something expensive to run or unreliable. It will definitely need to be cheap to buy too, given I will already have to buy another family car too.

Moved to Europe a few years back and here cars are more expensive, unfortunately. So have to deal with that as well.

So the thread is for my daily RWD manual.


Here are the flexible: Age but the newer the better. But I would prefer no classics. But the reliable and cheap to run most likely take them out anyway. Number of doors. Number of seats. But some form of backseats would be good. Number of cylinders, Although cheap to run here also means not too many bhp or insurance is high.

Here are the musts: Reliable and cheap to run as possible. Cheap to buy. How cheap? Lets keep it under €5k. RWD, manual, petrol. No convertibles unless easily found with hardtop. This is a year round car. No BMWs. Too many bad experiences.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

EDIT: I have been giving this some more thought and have decided that I could up the budget a few folds. Let's say 15K Euros.

But then I would want back seats but only 2 doors. Still RWD, manual and no BMWs. Guess what? Still nothing. What a ridiculous state of affairs we find ourselves in the auto industry. A few years ago this would be no problem. Now ruined by SUVs buyers and automatic car drivers. frown



Edited by GTdrive on Tuesday 28th January 10:54

ChrisH72

2,128 posts

51 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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I was about to say....

BMW!

Then I read that last sentence.

the cueball

1,197 posts

54 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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MX5






rolleyeslaugh

torx_whisperer

113 posts

192 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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Will be interested to see what is suggested as by ruling out BMW you have probably ruled out about 95% of your options.

AshVX220

5,929 posts

189 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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Merc C-Class. I have a C320 CDI and love it, granted, most are auto, but you can get manuals, they're just harder to come by.

ChrisH72

2,128 posts

51 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
About the only newish car with that combination I can think of is a Renault Twingo and I’d guess that’s not what you have in mind?

Otherwise there is plenty of choice with BMW obviously and the lower powered versions shouldn’t be too painful to run. Of the rest, most will cost just as much or more to maintain and are few and far between.

Mercedes C class or CLC coupe, perhaps with the 180 compressor. There are a few manual cars around.

Lexus IS250. Not very efficient so expensive to run day to day but might be reliable.

Nissan 350z or Mazda rx8. I’d think both are ruled out on running costs though.

I think I would actually compromise on the RWD as that really does open up a lot more options. FWD cars can be fun.

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies.

I realize the options are slim. But I don't want to let go from RWD and manual. This is the whole point here.frown

I will probably already have to go with a FWD auto for the other car.

About the Mercedes, I'm not sure I would think of Mercedes as cheap to run? And aren't Mercedes of this vintage plagued by rust problems? Mercedes on the cheap makes me nervous. Am I overreacting? The CLC are also more hatchbacks than coupes right? They are not really my taste. But at least they are RWD and manual . Although I think only if you go for a diesel? I much prefer the looks of the early CLK. But that is old now and have very bad rust reputations.

350Z will not be cheap to buy here and definitely not cheap to run. 350Z are around the 9-10K for early cars with more mileage. The V6 is pretty thirsty too I hear?

RX8 you can find for even 2K because nobody wants them. It's a wankel after all. So it won't be cheap to run. The word on the street is they are a nightmare and highly unreliable and prone to engine problems. I see blown engine ones all the time for sale. They look ok, are RWD and manual and I hear they are fun. A bit practical to boot with the rear seats and doors. So when I see examples with a blown engine for sale, I often think, if there was a cheap engine swap kit to drop a reliable Japanese engine in a RX8, I might even take that chance. But with the wankel, no chance.

vtecyo

2,122 posts

128 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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3 choices imo:

1) Up your budget
2) Relax the RWD - lots of FWD cars will be siginificantly more fun and interesting than something like a CLK
3) Buy a BMW

ChrisH72

2,128 posts

51 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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Can you get a mk3 mx5 with the folding hard top on or close to budget? I think they started around 07 plate?

If it's not your main car then perhaps the age is less important if you find a nice condition low mileage car.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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There is such a thing as a PH FWD car. I like RWD as much as the next PHer but if you're ruling out BMW you have no 'sensible and fun' options at your price point

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
vtecyo said:
3 choices imo:

1) Up your budget
2) Relax the RWD - lots of FWD cars will be siginificantly more fun and interesting than something like a CLK
3) Buy a BMW
1 might be possible. But not by much.

2 and 3 will not happen.

Thanks.

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
ChrisH72 said:
Can you get a mk3 mx5 with the folding hard top on or close to budget? I think they started around 07 plate?

If it's not your main car then perhaps the age is less important if you find a nice condition low mileage car.
Yes absolutely. I'm fine with something a little older. I just would not like something like a Triumph Spitfire or that vintage of classic car. But even a late NA MX5 could be ok age wise. As long as it's not rusty, is in good condition.

Before a MK3 though I would probably go for a MK2 NB. I like the way they look better. If I could find one with a hardtop already. Do they leak? But I would prefer something slightly larger and with rear seats. But the MX5 is not a deal breaker. Let's just see if there are any other options. On that note of small 2 seaters the MG TF is also fun. But horrible reputation unfortunately. But like I said, 2 seaters are a last resort.

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
There is such a thing as a PH FWD car. I like RWD as much as the next PHer but if you're ruling out BMW you have no 'sensible and fun' options at your price point
I understand that and respect your opinion. But RWD manual is a must. I have RWD now and will already probably have to exchange that for a FWD for the other car. Don't need two FWD.


Edited by GTdrive on Tuesday 21st January 16:21

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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If you want a RWD manual saloon then look for an IS250 manual there sensible maintenance wise but you'll see a real world 28mpg.

FA57REN

1,013 posts

54 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
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Used GT86 / BRZ if you can stretch that budget

Otherwise forget RWD and go for used Fiesta ST. More of a hoot than most RWD barges.

Edited by FA57REN on Tuesday 21st January 17:34

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Transit Van

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
If you want a RWD manual saloon then look for an IS250 manual there sensible maintenance wise but you'll see a real world 28mpg.
It doesn't need to be a saloon really. Or even 4 doors. 2 doors with back seats is fine. Even 2 doors 2+2 is fine. Like I said, if no other options a 2 seater is also ok. Most important thing is that it be RWD and manual.

Lexus here are quite rare. When you find them they are normally owned by JDM car fans. So it will be high mileage or maybe even modified JDM style. And IS250 is almost double the budget and very hard to find a manual. Within budget and manual is the old IS200 and the diesel IS220D.

GTdrive

Original Poster:

165 posts

50 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
FA57REN said:
Used GT86 / BRZ if you can stretch that budget

Otherwise forget RWD and go for used Fiesta ST. More of a hoot than most RWD barges.

Edited by FA57REN on Tuesday 21st January 17:34
GT86 here is over 3 times the budget normally.


Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
If you want a RWD manual saloon then look for an IS250 manual there sensible maintenance wise but you'll see a real world 28mpg.
And if you lived in the UK it would be over £500 a year for road tax!

I had similar requirements and bought a manual E90 BMW 330i last year, but it's still a BMW! (Which I'm more than happy with). laugh

And the OBC is showing an average of 30.0 mpg, which will only get better given how I use it.

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Yea but he doesn't live in the UK & he doesn't want a BMW either wink