Thinking for long about a daily car. But options are few.

Thinking for long about a daily car. But options are few.

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J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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I want a daily driver which is practical but somewhat rewarding. Something with a back seat. I would love a large type of coupe. Something like a BMW 6 coupe, if I didn't hate the look so much. But 4-doors could do as well, since coupes are rare these days. But I need petrol, RWD and 3-pedals. So options are not numerous.

I'm not sure I have the courage to go with a Jaguar because of reliability. And a XE is quite a boring looking car. S-type has more personality but again I fear the reliability.

Most of the Mercedes are diesel only for manual, or dull to drive. Or too much money.

Most of the BMWs are not my type. Either ugly or playing too hard the alpha male card.

Mustang and Camaro are similar. Although good looking. But still have that over aggressive boarding chavvy attitude.

I'm more for an understated style. For example if the Peugeot 406 was RWD. Or even a Monaro, which back then was maybe a bit aggressive but compared to most cars today is understated. Except that I need LHD. I'm living in the continent.

After much thinking and not coming up with many ideas, I basically force selected 2 options. A Lexus IS250 and a RX8. Neither is exactly what I want. But both offer parts of it or have advantages over the other.

The RX8 is sporty, supposedly a great steer, has back seats and even rear doors. Maintenance and reliability is what scares me as well as rust. If it wasn't for all the pros it wouldn't be considered at all. But where is one to find a RWD, 3-pedal great handling and fun coupe with rear seats and even rear doors?

The IS250 is selected basically because it's probably the only RWD 3-pedal saloon which is not a BMW or Mercedes. The pros of it is it's well built, reliable, cheap to run and sounds better than the RX8. But I find the styling so boring and it has very little appeal to me. I have no doubt that apart from looking better, the RX8 is also the much better drive.

But from where I'm looking there doesn't seem to be more options.

I've been thinking over this for sometime now.

ZX10R NIN

27,490 posts

124 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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Does it have to be manual?

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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ZX10R NIN said:
Does it have to be manual?
It sounds like it has to be a manual from what he has asked for.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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To be honest if you rule out BMWs there isn't much left with RWD and manual gearboxes!

That might be why I'm on my 7th and 8th BMWs. laugh

Lexus IS250 makes about the same power as my E46 325ti did, but Band M road tax in the UK isn't great!

RX8 manages 231 bhp but post 23 March 2006 also costs £570 a year in road tax, and has the potential for a £3K engine rebuild from time to time.

Good luck finding a 200+bhp manual Mercedes. rolleyes

Edited by Mr Tidy on Thursday 22 October 04:38

Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Surely this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-marina-coupe-197...hehe

Manual, RWD, coupe. Not sure about well built and reliable.....


Scootersp

3,107 posts

187 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Infinity G 3.7L

I agree outside of BMW pickings are slim!


J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Does it have to be manual?
Yes it does. smile

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
To be honest if you rule out BMWs there isn't much left with RWD and manual gearboxes!

That might be why I'm on my 7th and 8th BMWs. laugh

Lexus IS250 makes about the same power as my E46 325ti did, but Band M road tax in the UK isn't great!

RX8 manages 231 bhp but post 23 March 2006 also costs £570 a year in road tax, and has the potential for a £3K engine rebuild from time to time.

Good luck finding a 200+bhp manual Mercedes. rolleyes

Edited by Mr Tidy on Thursday 22 October 04:38
Honestly I'm totally fine with 200 hp or less. I will daily it. 200 hp is plenty. wink

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Scootersp said:
Infinity G 3.7L

I agree outside of BMW pickings are slim!
I agree. This is naturally the reason I ended at IS250 or RX8 as a choice. If the RX8 had a conventional engine instead of the rotary it would be the obvious choice and quite perfect actually. Because it hasn't is the reason the IS250 is in the run.

The G35 and G37 fall in the same class as a Hyundai coupe or Toyota GT86. Not practical enough for daily, not sexy enough to overlook that or for a weekend car. The RX8 seems to beat them in every way, looks being subjective.

But the rotary though. frown

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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What about a Megane RS275, FWD but more fun than many RWD options.

ChrisH72

2,121 posts

51 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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Wait, the G37 falls into the same class as a Hyundai coupe or GT86. In what way?

The infinity is a big car, almost 4.7m long. It's got a big boot and space in the rear so seems pretty practical. Also a 320bhp V6 which is a little more poke than a Hyundai coupe.

What kind of budget are you looking at?

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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ChrisH72 said:
Wait, the G37 falls into the same class as a Hyundai coupe or GT86. In what way?
Isn't it a 2+2? So no practical enough for daily, not sexy enough to overlook that or for a weekend car. In this way.

At least in photos the rear seats don't seem to have any more space than the RX8. But the RX8 at least has rear doors. wink

ChrisH72 said:
The infinity is a big car, almost 4.7m long. It's got a big boot and space in the rear so seems pretty practical. Also a 320bhp V6 which is a little more poke than a Hyundai coupe.
Yes more poke. But power is at the bottom of the list. As I said 200 hp is more than fine. It will be a daily. But the G37 is neither as practical as the RX8 or IS250 or good looking enough to make me want it so bad I would overlooked that. smile

ChrisH72 said:
What kind of budget are you looking at?
I'm not sure budget would make much difference here? I think what cuts it down is RWD with 3-pedals. The more expensive we go, the more likely it will be an automatic I would say. Or be just 2 seats or a 2+2. What do you have in mind that is expensive, RWD, 3-pedals and practical apart from the Giulia Q4, which yes, is way over budget. But apart from that and BMWs I don't think there is anything regardless of budget?scratchchin

ChrisH72

2,121 posts

51 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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Well you did say you wanted a large coupe with back seats ideally. The Lexus isn't a coupe.

I ran an E92 325i for 3 years and it was a decent car. About as practical as coupes get, there was no problems with child seats in the rear and as the back seats could fold flat the load area was huge. Good to drive, RWD, manual and 218bhp.

Looks are subjective.

I'm sure the is250 is okay although reviews put it a long way behind BMW for driving enjoyment. RX8 is a completely different car altogether, fairly small and hideously unreliable. Cheap though.

And budget does matter if you're asking people for suggestions.

An Aston Martin Vanquish has back seats and is a coupe. Or a 911, or an Evora. Or at the other end you could get an old Toyota Celica for £500

Edited by ChrisH72 on Friday 23 October 21:46

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
ChrisH72 said:
Well you did say you wanted a large coupe with back seats ideally. The Lexus isn't a coupe.

I ran an E92 325i for 3 years and it was a decent car. About as practical as coupes get, there was no problems with child seats in the rear and as the back seats could fold flat the load area was huge. Good to drive, RWD, manual and 218bhp.

Looks are subjective.

I'm sure the is250 is okay although reviews put it a long way behind BMW for driving enjoyment. RX8 is a completely different car altogether, fairly small and hideously unreliable. Cheap though.

And budget does matter if you're asking people for suggestions.

An Aston Martin Vanquish has back seats and is a coupe. Or a 911, or an Evora. Or at the other end you could get an old Toyota Celica for £500
I didn't mean to be rude or anything. I didn't mean budget didn't matter in that way. I meant that I didn't think I would have more options regardless of budget. wink

Isn't the Vanquish auto only? 911 and Evora are highly impractical in my opinion. I think the G37 is very practical in comparison.

Yes, I would love a large coupe. I just didn't think the G37 was large. I thought it was about the size of a 350Z but with rear seats. I haven't seen one in a long time. Quite rare here.

But I meant large coupe like a
6 series or even new 8 series. Or the Maserati etc O S Class coupe. That type of thing.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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So what about the Megane? Yes its FWD, but it will be more fun than pretty much every other option.

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
So what about the Megane? Yes its FWD, but it will be more fun than pretty much every other option.
No FWD please. smile

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
J4x4K said:
DoubleD said:
So what about the Megane? Yes its FWD, but it will be more fun than pretty much every other option.
No FWD please. smile
Why?

ChrisH72

2,121 posts

51 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
The kind of car you describe is a BMW. And as you say, there's not really anything else that fits the criteria. So there has to be a compromise.

People do get really hung up on RWD which is fine if you like BMW. I enjoyed it for a while. But I now have a FWD hot hatch and in all honesty I can say it's more fun to drive than my old E92.

The Lexus is RWD but it's much more about comfort than handling and fun. If you're wanting a car that's great to drive I wouldn't buy an is250 just because it's RWD.

Practicality also depends on what you intend to use the car for. Do you need space for adults to sit in comfort in the rear? Or do you need good access which requires 4 doors? Or maybe you carry large items which need a big boot and folding seats?

Would AWD be an option, like Audi?

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
Why?
Isn't this like asking somebody why he likes brunettes?

J4x4K

Original Poster:

235 posts

106 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
quotequote all
ChrisH72 said:
The kind of car you describe is a BMW. And as you say, there's not really anything else that fits the criteria. So there has to be a compromise.

People do get really hung up on RWD which is fine if you like BMW. I enjoyed it for a while. But I now have a FWD hot hatch and in all honesty I can say it's more fun to drive than my old E92.

The Lexus is RWD but it's much more about comfort than handling and fun. If you're wanting a car that's great to drive I wouldn't buy an is250 just because it's RWD.

Practicality also depends on what you intend to use the car for. Do you need space for adults to sit in comfort in the rear? Or do you need good access which requires 4 doors? Or maybe you carry large items which need a big boot and folding seats?

Would AWD be an option, like Audi?
Space for 2 children in the rear seats.

Yes options are thin on the ground. Hence why I said from the beginning it would be between the IS250 and RX8. I had thought about it already and couldn't come up with better options. Between the 2, which would you go for, based on the needs I put forward?