Petrolhead daily driver but still sensible?

[GTdrive]

Gareth1974 said:

Mercedes CLC ticks a lot of boxes (RWD, cheap, available in petrol with manual gearboxes), but not likely to be an exciting driving experience https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Not a single CLC within budget here at the moment. Mostly diesels. All auto.

And I agree with you. Despite RWD and possibly manual, a boring hatchback and not that good looking to boot. Wouldn't mind if within budget if found a petrol manual. Not willing to pay more for what it is.

[GTdrive]

blearyeyedboy said:

I think you've missed the point of some posters. We get why RWD is attractive. We really do.

But if you can't afford steak, sometimes you need to order a pasta dish instead. It can be a nice pasta dish, but it's not steak.

There are few choices you have:
1) The brand of steak you don't like. (BMW)
2) Look around for a very unusual steak (Toyota Altessa or similar, but you'll likely be disappointed when it's not available)
3) Have a different steak, maybe buffalo? (RX8, Lexus IS, MX5, Something American), but it won't be what you want and it'll leave a funny taste.
4) Have a really nice pasta dish (there are lots of good FWD cars out there, which won't be the same experience but is still nice).
5) Have a quite nice fish dish (AWD)
6) Don't eat
7) Find more money for the steak you want.

I really wish you well, but you need to face up to to the fact your money won't buy the steak you want to eat.

Everyone's different, but I'd prefer good pasta to poor steak.

Interesting analogy, specially considering I'm a vegetarian.

Look! If I wanted a FWD I would not need to come here. I could just go to any dealer lot, round up the 5k options, close my eyes and throw a stone. Would probably buy the cheapest and newest or lowest mileage. Something like a Kia Picanto or something.

But I'm not doing that. Zero chances!

[GTdrive]

Jamescrs said:

If your worried about rust being an issue you may as well forget the NB MX-5, believe me I own one. I don't think a rust free NB exists and they rust from the inside out so what may look negligible on the outside could be a big issue underneath. Don't get me wrong I love mine, its a great laugh but they all have rust to one degree or another

That bad uh? Really sorry to hear that, as with the lack of options, I was strongly gravitating towards a MX5. I would prefer rear seats. But between losing the rear seats or being forced to drive FWD or an auto, I prefer letting go from the rear seats.

And if going for a MX5, apart from the newest one, which is out of budget, my favorite is the NB. Never cared for the more flat NC and it's probably out of budget too. The NA is nice, but a bit old now and I don't care much for the pop ups. I like pop ups. But on the MX5 I think the NB looks nicer.

Maybe that's the reason the NBs are the cheapest. For all the reputation for reliability and build quality Japanese cars have, it is surprising to hear that about the NB. Really sorry. So no chance of a rust free one and they rust from inside out. Possibly the worse news when it comes to reliability.

[GTdrive]

AlexiusG55 said:

I assume a 924 is either out of budget where you are, too old, or both.

If lack of back seats isn't a dealbreaker, MR2 or Smart Roadster? Hardtops reasonably available for both.

Isn't the Smart roadster full of problems? I seem to remember reading about reliability problems and other issues.

Yes MR2 roadster can be had every day of the week within budget. Sometimes even only half the budget. I always wondered why they go so cheap. As I have heard they are solid on reliability and fun to drive. I know they are not fast. Not fantastic looking either. I much prefer the look of a MG TF. But they are not really ugly. All together they are one of the few cars here which seem under priced in my opinion. Always wondered why.

[GTdrive]

All together, not considering reliability or running costs, these are basically all the RWD manual models that can be bought here within budget and not older than 1990:

MX5 NA and NB
RX7 1st generation. But rare within this price. Maybe problem cars. But I have seen them recently with a fresh MOT selling within budget.
RX8
MG F and TF
MR2 roadster
Lexus IS200
S-type 3.0 V6 manual. I find it interesting Jaguar made a petrol V6 saloon with a manual, but couldn't be bothered to put a manual in the XK8. This shows everything which is wrong with Jaguar and why they were taken over by foreign companies. Why they are still in financial trouble and why they can't compete with the Germans. Total lack of sense.

Besides that, all sorts of Mercedes are also available within budget. But of my interest it would probably only be 190e and C124. The rest within budget are the round eyes ones from the 2000s, which rust to the ground.

Lexus IS250 are very rare, specially manual. But they exist and sell for just under double the budget with some luck. But they all seem to be very high mileage. It seems like Lexus owners like to drive their cars as much as possible. I guess Toyotas can take that without a problem.

Edited by GTdrive on Thursday 23 January 14:31

[GTdrive]

vtecyo said:

This is laughable. Why on earth would you want a manual S Type? Or an old RX7 as a daily driver? Also genuinely interested as to why you hate BMWs so much when it ticks literally every single one of your boxes. I'm predicting wither "because I do", or "because I said so" as the answer.

You know what is actually laughable? The part that I tell you to go back to my post and point where did I say I want an old RX7 or S-type as a daily driver and you can't. Because you obviously can't read!

[GTdrive]

vtecyo said:

OK boomer.

LOL. Age jokes. Playing the age card is just bellow hair jokes. I'm 36. Does that qualify as a boomer?

[GTdrive]

markymark34 said:

You have received loads of good advice here. Questions regarding rear wheel drive are valid. If it's a good drivers car there are many exceptional fwd cars available.
A Megane rs is a much more of a driver car than a small engine petrol BMW or Merc despite being fwd.

Anyway. Good luck with your search

I did indeed received loads of good advice. But those were not the people telling me I don't need RWD or trying to get me to give up on RWD. Even after I said several times I want RWD no matter what.

You think so highly of a Megane RS? Well, good for you. I wouldn't want one even for free. Unless I could sell it to put a down paying on an A110. Just not my thing. Respect that, or don't. Doesn't change anything.

This is exactly why I didn't answer why I don't like BMW. Like all the resentful FWD fans are now trying to tell me I'm an idiot for not liking FWD, BMW fans would get all worked up. It should be sufficient that I say I don't want a BMW. Just as it should be sufficient that I say I don't want FWD or an auto.

[GTdrive]

blearyeyedboy said:

GTDrive, sorry if anything lost in written form.
(And sorry if I offended your vegetarian preferences; it's only meant as an analogy.)

I don't mean that you shouldn't prefer RWD. But your budget will limit your options.

Something has to give on your wish list to make it realistic. If you don't want to give up RWD (which is fair enough), and not a BMW, then what what will you sacrifice instead?

If you're in Europe (so LHD not a problem, I hope?) does anything American help you?

I was not offended. It was actually a bit of sarcasm.

I understand RWD limits my choices. I said so myself in my opening post that I know RWD with a manual is a rare thing these days. So that just means I will just have to make a choice among the limited selection I have.

I already said I would sacrifice rear seats, which believe me, is a big sacrifice. I'm also already looking at older cars than I normally started out looking. But I still don't want anything ancient. Like 70s or even 80s.

Basically at this point the only things I'm holding on to is RWD, manual and no BMWs. And OK, it must be a car. Not a truck, van etc.

Nationality is not important. It is just that American cars around here are special and people trip on the price. Like I said, old 90s Firebirds are above budget. The 80s Firebirds even more.

[GTdrive]

Ecosseven said:

Jap imports might be worth a look although not sure if these are in budget. I used to own a manual 300zx and thought it was a great car. Other options may include a MR2 (turbo or NA). How about a kei car? MK3 supra?

Importing anything will never fall within budget.

Also I would think Japanese imports will be all RHD? Unless American cars.

[GTdrive]

Ecosseven said:

Other suggestions include an s15 Silvia or an older Nissan skyline GTS 2.5 single turbo but these are pretty old now.

Never saw a S15 here. S14 I saw one for sale once.

[GTdrive]

blearyeyedboy said:

Subaru SVX you mean?

I also think this is the car he had in mind. They are auto only though.

[GTdrive]

aka_kerrly said:

You mean when a Volvo 850 was called a 740

Again I find it amusing that we have gotten to the stage where people are suggesting 30 year old volvos.

Not that I would consider it. But if, before a 740 I would probably rather go for a 360. Still RWD but some 300-400kg lighter and it has a transaxle. So they are supposed to be well balanced. Though a bit under powered. But I knew somebody who put the V6 in one and it was supposedly fun. But like I said, way too old. Probably hard to find and rusty too.

[GTdrive]

MrLou said:

S2000 with hardtop.

Rare and about 3 to 4 times the budget. Twice the budget for very high mileages ones, if you can find them.

[GTdrive]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Your problem, as others have intimated, is that more and more cars are now sold with auto boxes, and there are very few manufacturers selling RWD cars. What is it, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, Lexus, and sports cars? Jags, Mercs, and Lexii are mostly autos, even BMW are more and more autos these days. My daily is an e46 330 manual which is rather leggy, but it's almost impossible to find a manual petrol equivalent is newer.

It's an impossibly small market. If you like your current car have you considered a lower mileage example? How about a Volvo 850R from before they went FWD? Is it modern BMWs you've had bad experiences with? Something older like an e36 - do some preventative maintenance and they are very reliable as this is from when they really built their cars.

Yes, as I said in my opening post, I know RWD and manual are rare these days.

Yeah, that's basically it for RWD. Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, maybe Toyota, plus Maserati and now also the newer Alfas. Besides that it will be ultra luxury like Bentley and Rolls Royce, or are they all only AWD now? Plus of course supercars. Quite sad.

I'm ready to move on from our current car. Get something newer, more economical and cheaper to run.

[GTdrive]

Pyrolysis said:

Once you find your unicorn please be sure to come back and let us know. Good luck

Well, it's not really an unicorn is it? There are options. I will just have to be happy with one of them.

Unless somebody comes out of the wood works with an idea which hasn't been suggested.

But it's not as if the options are zero.

[GTdrive]

nickfrog said:

Based on the parameters you have given I think the options are zero.

How so?

How would for example a MX5, MR2 roadster or even IS200 not fit the parameters I gave?

They are all petrol, RWD, available with a manual, easily found with a hardtop for the convertibles, none have a big thirsty engine, they have a good reputation for reliability, are not a BMW and are within budget. What am I overlooking then?

[GTdrive]

blearyeyedboy said:

If we're bringing in the 90s, Mk1 Lexus IS, or a Lexus soarer?

The IS400 is just too old.

I would not mind a Toyota Soarer. It seems they made them till 2000. So a late one would be ok. Being a Toyota it is probably reliable anyway.

I think the Lexus version is not a Soarer though. SC400 I believe and I'm not sure they were ever sold in Europe. The Toyota Soarer was. But finding a LHD and manual is just not doable and when you do, it will for sure be modified.

[GTdrive]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Ah, I thought the 850 was RWD and then the V70 was FWD, seems I was confused. 740 was the horrible yank styled one with the vertical rear screen wasn't it? I spose the 850R was 4wd wasn't it?

The truth of it is that the OP is really really scraping the barrel. I don't think there is anything that fits his criteria. He did say he'd consider reliable classics. But then if he's happy with that I don't know why he doesn't stick with what he's got as clearly nothing measures up.

Short of something seriously leftfield the OP has to relax his criteria. I get he doesn't want to, but...

The reason I don't stick with what we have now has been explained in my opening post. Since this is our main car, I want something newer. It will be either a new leasing or 2 years old or something. We want something with some warranty left.

Now for a second car it's fine if it's older. Because I want it to be a bit fun. It will be my personal daily driver, while the new car will be our family car.

About there not being anything which fits my criteria, a few posts above I showed that there is actually. Not a whole lot. But there is.

But after having put some thought into it, the car which would be perfect, or at least the type of car, would be a RX8.

If it had a conventional engine I would have gotten one now. RWD, manual, sporty, rear seats and even rear doors. Perfect really. Except it is not reliable, let alone for a daily driver.

I asked about engine swaps but it doesn't seem to be financially sensible. Pity. I thought a swapped RX8 could be what you refer to as a left field. But apparently not really doable financially to make sense.

[GTdrive]

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.