Petrolhead daily driver but still sensible?

[anonymous-user]

the number is meaningless without knowing which country as prices vary.

[vtecyo]

GTdrive said:

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.

GT86. Along with countless other options in that price bracket.

Calling troll.

Next.

[GTdrive]

vtecyo said:

GT86. Along with countless other options in that price bracket.

Calling troll.

Next.

Yes, I thought of the GT86. But last time I drove one I was bored. Didn't like the drive. No torque, feels cheap inside and so on. I was actually bored before even getting in too. Just looking at it. So plain and generic.Much prefer the MX5 RF. But that is 2 seats and out of budget.

The reason I had set the budget so low is so I didn't have to care if it looked that good, if it was that exciting, or just a little 4 cylinder boring under powered engine and such. It was dirty cheap. Didn't even care if it had rear seats, which was put there to allow the MX5. To me the MX5 was a good back up solution. Not spending a lot and till fun. But this was before the bad news about the NB being a rust bucket.

But if paying more I would like at least something which excites me a bit. GT86 looks boring and is boring.

Really not trolling though.

So what are the other numerous options?

350Z no rear seats.G35 very hard to find specially in manual. G37 easier to find the car. But just as hard to find a manual. Prices for ok ones seem to start at 16-17K too. Honda only makes FWD. Mazda same apart from the 2 seats MX5. Toyota or Lexus make nothing RWD with a manual. Or easy to find in manual I can think of. Anything German, which without BMW means Mercedes, will be probably a diesel for a manual and will break the cheap to run and reliable rule anyway.

So to me it seems there are only GT86, the even more boring and blend and heavy Genesis coupe or some older American muscle. Still sad if you ask me.

Which is the reason I started to really give some serious thought of taking my chances with a RX8. Since a swap is not financially viable, it would mean keeping the problematic rotary. But at least they are cheap to buy. Look infinitely better and more special than a GT86 or Genesis coupe too. Even have rear doors.

Situation is sad anyway you slice it. It should not be that difficult and it wasn't years ago.

Edited by GTdrive on Tuesday 28th January 12:33

[nickfrog]

GTdrive said:

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.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4n10h

[Xcore]

Might get a ropey Cerbera for that?!

[flatso]

I admire the stoicism of the OP, and he does make a point.
The main problem is the abandonment of the manual transmission....to this day I will never understand why a Jag xk or a C-class coupe were only automatic. Is this really what customers wanted?
How about doing a transmission swap on an XK?

[anonymous-user]

Gt86 with a supercharger? Will still look boring but might be a laugh to drive

[GTdrive]

Xcore said:

Might get a ropey Cerbera for that?!

In LHD will be difficult to find, let alone for cheap. Too special. Same happens to Lotus. Esprits in Europe are always more expensive than in the UK.

[GTdrive]

flatso said:

I admire the stoicism of the OP, and he does make a point.
The main problem is the abandonment of the manual transmission....to this day I will never understand why a Jag xk or a C-class coupe were only automatic. Is this really what customers wanted?
How about doing a transmission swap on an XK?

Yes, totally agree about the abandonment of the manual transmission. Unfortunately so many so called petrolheads prefer a less involved experience with autos or flappies than actually working the car.

If that was really what customers wanted back in the days of the XK is difficult to say. But when you think that pretty much every model which has a manual option sells for more than the auto models, gets you to think right? Manuals always sell for more in the used market.

[markymark34]

nickfrog said:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4n10h

100% correct. And hilarious!

[Mr Tidy]

GTdrive said:

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.

Well not really, mostly ruined by the few manufacturers offering RWD and manual gearboxes dropping them for FWD/AWD and/or autos.

Which is largely why I've only had BMWs for the last 15 years!

If you could get over your aversion to that brand you would have some options.

[andy-ski]

Boxster with hardtop

[GTdrive]

Mr Tidy said:

Well not really, mostly ruined by the few manufacturers offering RWD and manual gearboxes dropping them for FWD/AWD and/or autos.

Which is largely why I've only had BMWs for the last 15 years!

If you could get over your aversion to that brand you would have some options.

Well, the reason for manufacturers dropping them, specially manuals, is because people were not buying them. So yes, it is the buyer's fault. Look at the V6 F-type. Now dropped because of lack of sales.

Even if I could potentially forget my bad experiences with BMW, that would still not make any of their modern cars good looking. Excuse me? Have you seen the large grill aberration? If they want to be Audi, why not just sell the whole thing to VAG or at least put 4 rings on it already? BMW lost it long ago. I think if they would switch all to FWD and AWD their sales would drop considerably. Because that's probably their biggest sales pitch right now.

When I had my BMW cars I was already giving them a chance. They were already on life support for me. Not any longer. Thanks.

Edited by GTdrive on Thursday 30th January 09:48

[ChrisH72]

There is another possibility if you're upping your budget to 15k.

Not sure about where you are but you can actually get a Porsche 911 in the UK under £15k. That's got to tick the boxes?

Also if available cars are limited where you are could you buy one over here and take it back?

[flatso]

I really do not think that manual trannies were dropped because of lack of sales. They could’ve kept them as an option, the technology for them has been around for decades so no need for any extra development budgets.
I really do not understand why they completly abandoned them? Especially low volume sporty models could benefit from the hardcore petrolheads who insist on the manual, it would be an image thing.

What BMW options would there be anyway? 330ci?

So OP...where do you stand now? The G37 coupe seems a sensible choice, the engine is lovely, the looks are also refined.

Any other ideas?

[ChrisH72]

Other options.

Yes.

Porsche 911

[blearyeyedboy]

Monaro?
Maserati?
GT86/BRZ (and give yourself a taking to, they're good cars!)
Infiniti?
Jaguar?
If you're very lucky, a 911?
Japanese imports?
A Camaro?
A Mustang?

You have options.
You may not like them, but you have plenty of options.

[GTdrive]

ChrisH72 said:

There is another possibility if you're upping your budget to 15k.

Not sure about where you are but you can actually get a Porsche 911 in the UK under £15k. That's got to tick the boxes?

Also if available cars are limited where you are could you buy one over here and take it back?

There are no 911s here for 15K. If you find one somewhere it will be surely troubled. Importing will probably end up more expensive. And importing from the UK I don't want my daily driver to be RHD in LHD traffic.

[GTdrive]

blearyeyedboy said:

Monaro?
Maserati?
GT86/BRZ (and give yourself a taking to, they're good cars!)
Infiniti?
Jaguar?
If you're very lucky, a 911?
Japanese imports?
A Camaro?
A Mustang?

You have options.
You may not like them, but you have plenty of options.

Somebody didn't read the thread...

[GTdrive]

flatso said:

I really do not think that manual trannies were dropped because of lack of sales. They could’ve kept them as an option, the technology for them has been around for decades so no need for any extra development budgets.
I really do not understand why they completly abandoned them? Especially low volume sporty models could benefit from the hardcore petrolheads who insist on the manual, it would be an image thing.

Everything we have now is because of sales. We have SUVs over estates because that's what people buy. Jaguar gave us the F-type V6 manual, nobody bought it, they dropped it. Funny thing is, all the people who wanted one but didn't buy new because they wanted the used price discount will now pay more. Because since it was only built for coupe of years, and nobody bought them, there are not enough on the ground to make them cheap. They will still have to pay a premium for them in the second hand market also.

I also used to think it would be cheap enough to offer a manual. But apparently not. Designing a modern car to take 2 different power trains will cost more than one designed only for one power train. A manual has different needs. Read about the new Vantage AMR and the changes that need to be made for the manual. And that car was designed with a manual in mind.

flatso said:

What BMW options would there be anyway? 330ci?

Wait! So people are crucifying me for not taking a BMW, but there isn't even that many options there either? 330ci, that's it? I really haven't looked as I have zero interest in BMWs now.

flatso said:

So OP...where do you stand now? The G37 coupe seems a sensible choice, the engine is lovely, the looks are also refined.

Any other ideas?

Well, I have a couple of months to decide. Still have a company car now. But it is looking like I might take my chances with an RX8. At least they are dirty cheap. I can get a running one with a MOT for barely any more than the original 5K budget. So might be better to end up getting 3 of them if it indeed is so unreliable,than going with one of the boring options for 15K. Do you find the G35 or G37 appealing? I find them boringly styled. The 350Z still looks better at least.

So get a RX8. If it goes bang in a year, maybe buy another. It will still not be as much as a G37, will be more fun and even more practical with the rear doors. Main thing will be petrol price. But my commute is not that long and if being a fun car it will probably pay off. If the engine doesn't go I will be ok with the rest.

This might also be a temporary situation. Once the main car is sorted and paid, I will then throw more budget in and get something better. But even then, budget is not really the only problem. Even with 100K the options are still thin. RWD, manual, fun, good looking, not too many. I guess a Giulia Quadrifoglio with a manual. Besides that it would either be a BMW, a diesel or something small with only 2 seats like an Elise, Exige, Cayman etc. Ok maybe an older 911 with a manual. But I' not a 911 guy. I would prefer the Giulia Q. Besides that, something much more expensive like a Vantage with a manual when they become available this year out of the AMR special edition.

Any way you look at it, it's sad.