Thinking for long about a daily car. But options are few.
Discussion
J4x4K said:
DoubleD said:
Great. What is it that you like about driving RWD?
I'm sorry. How is this relevant to the thread? How is discussing my personal preferences helpful in any way? I asked for RWD. Do you have any RWD suggestions which have not been discussed? Between an is250 and an rx8 I would buy the Lexus. But I'd want the Mazda!
I know that doesn't help much.
You already know the pros and cons of each.
Depends how old your kids are. As they get older they actually take up less space. The worst is infant with those huge travel systems and isofix bases with rear facing carriers. When they're a bit older (my boy is nearly 5) they can fit in almost anything, even with little leg room. But then when they are teenagers they might need headroom. If they're still very little maybe get the Lexus for now and look at 2dr in a couple of years?
I know that doesn't help much.
You already know the pros and cons of each.
Depends how old your kids are. As they get older they actually take up less space. The worst is infant with those huge travel systems and isofix bases with rear facing carriers. When they're a bit older (my boy is nearly 5) they can fit in almost anything, even with little leg room. But then when they are teenagers they might need headroom. If they're still very little maybe get the Lexus for now and look at 2dr in a couple of years?
ChrisH72 said:
Between an is250 and an rx8 I would buy the Lexus. But I'd want the Mazda!
This is basically how I feel. 
I want the RX8. But I know the IS250 is the sensible choice.
ChrisH72 said:
I know that doesn't help much.
You already know the pros and cons of each.
Depends how old your kids are. As they get older they actually take up less space. The worst is infant with those huge travel systems and isofix bases with rear facing carriers. When they're a bit older (my boy is nearly 5) they can fit in almost anything, even with little leg room. But then when they are teenagers they might need headroom. If they're still very little maybe get the Lexus for now and look at 2dr in a couple of years?
They are 3 and 6. No more rear facing carriers. Just the forward booster seats.You already know the pros and cons of each.
Depends how old your kids are. As they get older they actually take up less space. The worst is infant with those huge travel systems and isofix bases with rear facing carriers. When they're a bit older (my boy is nearly 5) they can fit in almost anything, even with little leg room. But then when they are teenagers they might need headroom. If they're still very little maybe get the Lexus for now and look at 2dr in a couple of years?
DoubleD said:
J4x4K said:
DoubleD said:
Great. What is it that you like about driving RWD?
I'm sorry. How is this relevant to the thread? How is discussing my personal preferences helpful in any way? I asked for RWD. Do you have any RWD suggestions which have not been discussed? 
how about
- balance
- adjustment of line by throttle
- uncorrupted steering feel
not all rwd have these and there are some really enjoyable fwd, but even the best fwd don't provide those 3 attributes in the same way as a good rwd.
ChrisH72 said:
Ah right, so you would be fine with 2dr.
E200 coupe maybe?
Nice and spacious. 184bhp so not particularly quick but nice to sit in and comfy enough.
Not many manuals about... Toyota Soarer? A friend in this position compromised to 4wd and ended up with a Legacy. As you didn't actually rule out BMW, how about a 4 series GC over a Lexus 250?E200 coupe maybe?
Nice and spacious. 184bhp so not particularly quick but nice to sit in and comfy enough.
J4x4K said:
DoubleD said:
Maybe. But the question still stands?
Because I like driving RWD. Which is why my last 3 dailies have been an E46 325ti Compact, an E91 325i and an E90 330i all in manual format because sadly alternatives are few and far between.
Good luck!
Is it just the look of BMW you don't like?
Thinking back to my E92, it was a very practical car and I had no problems with my son in the back from age 1-4. It was SE spec so the looks were more subtle and elegant and it drove extremely well.
The 3 series compares directly with the is250. Same size and plenty of them around in the same price bracket. In fact I'd say you'd have more choice of manuals than with the Lexus. Go for the older N52 6 pot engine and reliability is pretty good.
Thinking back to my E92, it was a very practical car and I had no problems with my son in the back from age 1-4. It was SE spec so the looks were more subtle and elegant and it drove extremely well.
The 3 series compares directly with the is250. Same size and plenty of them around in the same price bracket. In fact I'd say you'd have more choice of manuals than with the Lexus. Go for the older N52 6 pot engine and reliability is pretty good.
ChrisH72 said:
Is it just the look of BMW you don't like?
.
Looks and also the whole aura they have. They also don't have the best reputation for reliability and I'm fully aware how that may sound coming from somebody considering a RX8. But the RX8 is special. But I would guess although not as reliable as the Lexus, BMWs are ok I guess..
So mainly the looks and the aura. But this is for the newer cars. BMWs of old are nicer looking.Things from the e46 and older are nicer looking. I would actually love an e46 M3 CSL. Not in black though. But that blue-silver they had. But they are big money. Actually any e46 2 doors here are already too much money for what they are. Even 318s. 330s are silly money for a 15 years old car. I guess they are getting into that semi classic territory already. e36 I never cared for. The e39 neither. Mainly a fat e46.
Things like the Z3 coupe are also nice looking in my opinion.The e34 and so on. But the new cars, specially M cars are just too chavvy for me. Just ugly too. As are newer AMGs. The e46 M3 CSL compared to newer M cars is very classy and understated.
But too old cars as a daily is not a smart idea. So I would say late 2000s and newer is a good range. 2006-2007 at least.
Edited by J4x4K on Saturday 24th October 13:36
J4x4K said:
Looks and also the whole aura they have. They also don't have the best reputation for reliability and I'm fully aware how that may sound coming from somebody considering a RX8. But the RX8 is special. But I would guess although not as reliable as the Lexus, BMWs are ok I guess.
So mainly the looks and the aura. But this is for the newer cars. BMWs of old are nicer looking.Things from the e46 and older are nicer looking. I would actually love an e46 M3 CSL. Not in black though. But that blue-silver they had. But they are big money. Actually any e46 2 doors here are already too much money for what they are. Even 318s. 330s are silly money for a 15 years old car. I guess they are getting into that semi classic territory already. e36 I never cared for. The e39 neither. Mainly a fat e46.
Things like the Z3 coupe are also nice looking in my opinion.The e34 and so on. But the new cars, specially M cars are just too chavvy for me. Just ugly too. As are newer AMGs. The e46 M3 CSL compared to newer M cars is very classy and understated.
But too old cars as a daily is not a smart idea. So I would say late 2000s and newer is a good range. 2006-2007 at least.
That's interesting, as my quest for manual RWD cars has meant I've only had BMWs for the last 15 years and I haven't found them unreliable. Yes things have failed, but mostly due to wear and tear as my last 5 have been 10 years or so old which is inevitable on any car that is 10 years or more old! So mainly the looks and the aura. But this is for the newer cars. BMWs of old are nicer looking.Things from the e46 and older are nicer looking. I would actually love an e46 M3 CSL. Not in black though. But that blue-silver they had. But they are big money. Actually any e46 2 doors here are already too much money for what they are. Even 318s. 330s are silly money for a 15 years old car. I guess they are getting into that semi classic territory already. e36 I never cared for. The e39 neither. Mainly a fat e46.
Things like the Z3 coupe are also nice looking in my opinion.The e34 and so on. But the new cars, specially M cars are just too chavvy for me. Just ugly too. As are newer AMGs. The e46 M3 CSL compared to newer M cars is very classy and understated.
But too old cars as a daily is not a smart idea. So I would say late 2000s and newer is a good range. 2006-2007 at least.
Edited by J4x4K on Saturday 24th October 13:36
There is a reason why RX8s cost so little, which is because they will inevitably need an engine rebuild at some point long before they get to 100K miles and that will cost the wrong side of £3K.
I never understood why Lexus built the IS200 that was like a BMW E46 320i when BMW were building a 330i! Then an IS250 that seemed to target the E90 325i when you could have a 330i or 335i. And BMW offered Saloon, Touring, Coupe and Convertible options! Surely to compete you need to target the halo model?
Anyway in readiness for being flamed by certain peole on here (they know who they are) I currently have a Z4M Coupe and an E90 330i that has done 114K miles but still performs really well.
Although I wouldn't recommend the Z4M as a daily.
Neither of the BMWs above is my type of car.
The cars I would really like, would be a Granturismo or a late XKR, if either were ever sold with 3-pedals. So a 2 door BMW is really far removed from that. I actually think BMW doesn't make any cars like that. They are either small 2 seaters like the Z4 or 2 door cars like a 4 series or 2 series. Nothing with a nice sport coupe shape.And nothing that doesn't look chavvy at this point.
This is why the RX8 is appealing. Despite the engine reputation it checks all boxes. I'm not even paying attention to the rust issues as here any car can rust because of the salt on the road. So you either find one without rust and take care of it, or don't buy.
A 350Z had it rear seats would also be appealing. Unfortunately the Infiniti G coupes are more like the 2 door BMWs and Mercedes than like the XKR or Granturismo.
So the more I think about it, the more the RX8 seems the only choice. I can't think of any other semi recent car in that style, Granturismo, XKR, 350Z, AMG GT, Vanquish MKI and the like, which is RWD, 3-pedals and has rear seats. They are either 2 seats or normal 2 doors cars, instead of that sport coupe shape with the long bonnet and all. If I'm obligated to go with a normal saloon, then I want at least have 4 doors. So a 2 doors 2 series, 3 series, 4 series, C-class and so on doesn't make sense. I then get the IS250. If I can't have a coupe, then a 4 door saloon it is.
If you go really old, like 90's I guess there is the 90's Supra. But that is just silly money and impossible to find stock at this point.
The cars I would really like, would be a Granturismo or a late XKR, if either were ever sold with 3-pedals. So a 2 door BMW is really far removed from that. I actually think BMW doesn't make any cars like that. They are either small 2 seaters like the Z4 or 2 door cars like a 4 series or 2 series. Nothing with a nice sport coupe shape.And nothing that doesn't look chavvy at this point.
This is why the RX8 is appealing. Despite the engine reputation it checks all boxes. I'm not even paying attention to the rust issues as here any car can rust because of the salt on the road. So you either find one without rust and take care of it, or don't buy.
A 350Z had it rear seats would also be appealing. Unfortunately the Infiniti G coupes are more like the 2 door BMWs and Mercedes than like the XKR or Granturismo.
So the more I think about it, the more the RX8 seems the only choice. I can't think of any other semi recent car in that style, Granturismo, XKR, 350Z, AMG GT, Vanquish MKI and the like, which is RWD, 3-pedals and has rear seats. They are either 2 seats or normal 2 doors cars, instead of that sport coupe shape with the long bonnet and all. If I'm obligated to go with a normal saloon, then I want at least have 4 doors. So a 2 doors 2 series, 3 series, 4 series, C-class and so on doesn't make sense. I then get the IS250. If I can't have a coupe, then a 4 door saloon it is.
If you go really old, like 90's I guess there is the 90's Supra. But that is just silly money and impossible to find stock at this point.
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