V6 has to go :-(
Discussion
Due to a planned increase in commute (to 50-80 miles round-trip), I have to make plans for a replacement.
I don't want a diesel and don't really have any practicality requirements, except enough room for the odd camping trip for two.
I really want an Elise (S1 or S2), but the insurance is still a little on the high side at the moment.
I want something interesting and have considered all the usual suggestions you guys come up with - MX5, Clio 1x2, 3 series, but none really float my boat. I have looked at everything from 205 GTIs to Chims but keep coming back to the same car - MGF/TF.
I've always had a soft spot for them and except for the ghey image, I think they fit my brief perfectly.
The 160 would be quick enough and it would be a good introduction to RWD.
The budget is around £4k ideally, but could go more if I need to (up to £12k ish). However, the idea of a £1500 MGF really appeals as I think it would be liberating to be able to leave it somewhere without worrying about it constantly (like I do with the Alfa).
So PH, it's over to you.
I don't want a diesel and don't really have any practicality requirements, except enough room for the odd camping trip for two.
I really want an Elise (S1 or S2), but the insurance is still a little on the high side at the moment.
I want something interesting and have considered all the usual suggestions you guys come up with - MX5, Clio 1x2, 3 series, but none really float my boat. I have looked at everything from 205 GTIs to Chims but keep coming back to the same car - MGF/TF.
I've always had a soft spot for them and except for the ghey image, I think they fit my brief perfectly.
The 160 would be quick enough and it would be a good introduction to RWD.
The budget is around £4k ideally, but could go more if I need to (up to £12k ish). However, the idea of a £1500 MGF really appeals as I think it would be liberating to be able to leave it somewhere without worrying about it constantly (like I do with the Alfa).
So PH, it's over to you.
D177NUT said:
I want something interesting and have considered all the usual suggestions you guys come up with - MX5, Clio 1x2, 3 series, but none really float my boat. I have looked at everything from 205 GTIs to Chims but keep coming back to the same car - MGF/TF.
The 160 would be quick enough and it would be a good introduction to RWD.
The budget is around £4k ideally, but could go more if I need to (up to £12k ish). However, the idea of a £1500 MGF really appeals as I think it would be liberating to be able to leave it somewhere without worrying about it constantly (like I do with the Alfa).
Get the MX-5 with a supercharge/turbo conversion. £3k. Will be better, more reliable, faster etc than the MG TF The 160 would be quick enough and it would be a good introduction to RWD.
The budget is around £4k ideally, but could go more if I need to (up to £12k ish). However, the idea of a £1500 MGF really appeals as I think it would be liberating to be able to leave it somewhere without worrying about it constantly (like I do with the Alfa).
Think very carefully about what you will actually save doing this - the costs associated with changing a car: advertising, travelling to see cars, hpi checks, changes to insurance, going from something known to something unknown that may need work. What MPG do you get from the (lovely) GTV? My MX-5 gets about 25 and not even 30 on a run, so don't automatically assume less cylinders = cheaper to run.
Frankly I think the V6 GTV would make me forget about fuel costs...
Frankly I think the V6 GTV would make me forget about fuel costs...
Have you checked the insurance on an Elise with a specialist such as CCI, it'll be a mile away from the dross you'll find on price comparison sites.
When I first got mine Elephant wanted about £860 and CCI were just over £300. Obviously depends on your age and insurance history though...
When I first got mine Elephant wanted about £860 and CCI were just over £300. Obviously depends on your age and insurance history though...
Edited by willld on Friday 27th May 12:15
willld said:
Have you checked the insurance on an Elise with a specialist such as CCI, it'll be a mile away from the dross you'll find on price comparison sites.
Specialist insurance is the way forward. My Chimaera costs significantly less to insure than my 1.6 Focus!
If you can live with the luggage space and the slightly flawed roof in an Elise go for it.
With regards a 'first RWD car', however, bear in mind that mid-engined cars are an experience in themselves. In certain respects the stability under power and lift-off oversteer characteristics closer to an aggresively setup front wheel drive car like a 205 GTi than they are the classic front engined RWD setup. If you want the latter I'd seriously consider the MX5 suggestion above ... with a supercharger if you're worried about the performance. That will give you the classic RWD 'big skids' experience combined with a vaguely usable boot and Japanese reliability. Good deal.
If you're intent on a mid-engined car and you can't stretch to an Elise then I'd also second the MR2 suggestion. Given the budget, I think you'd regret going for any affordable mid-engined car that wasn't an Elise.
excel monkey said:
Barchetta?
Very nice, but I think they would feel underpowered after the Alfa.unpc said:
VX220
I would rather pay the extra for the Elise, as that is the one I really want.NiceCupOfTea said:
Think very carefully about what you will actually save doing this - the costs associated with changing a car: advertising, travelling to see cars, hpi checks, changes to insurance, going from something known to something unknown that may need work. What MPG do you get from the (lovely) GTV? My MX-5 gets about 25 and not even 30 on a run, so don't automatically assume less cylinders = cheaper to run.
Frankly I think the V6 GTV would make me forget about fuel costs...
I get very low 20's on a run, so if the MGF can deliver 35 ish, it will literally half my fuel bill.Frankly I think the V6 GTV would make me forget about fuel costs...
willld said:
Have you checked the insurance on an Elise with a specialist such as CCI, it'll be a mile away from the dross you'll find on price comparison sites.
When I first got mine Elephant wanted about £860 and CCI were just over £300. Obviously depends on your age and insurance history though...
No specialists yet, but at £2.2k for the Elise, it is quite a way from being reasonable...When I first got mine Elephant wanted about £860 and CCI were just over £300. Obviously depends on your age and insurance history though...
Edited by willld on Friday 27th May 12:15
Kong said:
How about the MK3 MR2 roadster? Very economical 1.8 in a sub ton car and great to drive. A future classic i reckon.
Just doesn't do it for me for some reason, but I can't put my finger on why.Sounds like you need a frugal comfortable diesel for weekdays and something interesting for the weekend. Swapping to a 35mpg petrol for that kind of mileage doesn't make financial sense - you'll still spend a fortune on fuel and end up very quickly with a worthless high mileage Elise or whatever.
Put yourself a spreadsheet together to get the different fuel costs at different economy levels and get some real numbers together.
ETA I've just spotted your mileage requirement - at 250 miles per week the diesel thing is probably borderline, at 400 it's probably a good investment. My experience is based on driving 675 miles per week for 10 months so diesel was a no-brainer.
Put yourself a spreadsheet together to get the different fuel costs at different economy levels and get some real numbers together.
ETA I've just spotted your mileage requirement - at 250 miles per week the diesel thing is probably borderline, at 400 it's probably a good investment. My experience is based on driving 675 miles per week for 10 months so diesel was a no-brainer.
Edited by oldcynic on Friday 27th May 12:44
oldcynic said:
Sounds like you need a frugal comfortable diesel for weekdays and something interesting for the weekend. Swapping to a 35mpg petrol for that kind of mileage doesn't make financial sense - you'll still spend a fortune on fuel and end up very quickly with a worthless high mileage Elise or whatever.
Put yourself a spreadsheet together to get the different fuel costs at different economy levels and get some real numbers together.
ETA I've just spotted your mileage requirement - at 250 miles per week the diesel thing is probably borderline, at 400 it's probably a good investment. My experience is based on driving 675 miles per week for 10 months so diesel was a no-brainer.
I don't have space for two cars unfortunately.Put yourself a spreadsheet together to get the different fuel costs at different economy levels and get some real numbers together.
ETA I've just spotted your mileage requirement - at 250 miles per week the diesel thing is probably borderline, at 400 it's probably a good investment. My experience is based on driving 675 miles per week for 10 months so diesel was a no-brainer.
Edited by oldcynic on Friday 27th May 12:44
And to be honest, a little part of me would die inside if I had to commute in a diesel; I just don't like the power delivery.
As daft as it sounds, I don't mind spending the money on fuel, as it is a hobby as well as a mode of transport. I love hooning around and tinkering on the weekends.
It's just that the fuel costs of the Alfa would negate the point of the job move, as it would take my commuting fuel costs from virtually zero, to £400 a month. £200-250 is more acceptable to me.
trickywoo said:
Kong said:
How about the MK3 MR2 roadster? A future classic I reckon.
Maybe in 30 or 40 years. Between that it will depreciate to under £1,000.But since they stopped making it there has been no mainstream cars to take its place. Cheap 950kg mid engined roadster, slammed to the ground, decent power, manual gearbox and about as reliable as they come. As close to an Elise as the mainstream will ever get IMO.
I've also been thinking about getting an MG TF160. Better performance than and MR2 or MX5. Fuel economy is also better than the MX5 and on par with that of the Toyota, and it's a lot cheaper than either to buy.
Evo even rate the handling; linky
Okay sure, the handling isn't quite as good as the MR2 at ten tenths, but the interior looks much nicer in the MG imo, and it actually has a boot.
Cambelts are expensive to replace though (about £500 on the 160), and there is the issue of HGF (though this is arguably no worse than the pre-cats lunching the engine on early MR2 Mk3s), but you can get the whole 2000 page MG workshop manual for a few quid and sort most things yourself. That is certainly what I would be planning on doing if I got one. Gonna wait 'till winter though to buy. Prices may come down some more then.
Evo even rate the handling; linky
Okay sure, the handling isn't quite as good as the MR2 at ten tenths, but the interior looks much nicer in the MG imo, and it actually has a boot.
Cambelts are expensive to replace though (about £500 on the 160), and there is the issue of HGF (though this is arguably no worse than the pre-cats lunching the engine on early MR2 Mk3s), but you can get the whole 2000 page MG workshop manual for a few quid and sort most things yourself. That is certainly what I would be planning on doing if I got one. Gonna wait 'till winter though to buy. Prices may come down some more then.
Baffled Spoon said:
I've also been thinking about getting an MG TF160. Better performance than and MR2 or MX5. Fuel economy is also better than the MX5 and on par with that of the Toyota, and it's a lot cheaper than either to buy.
Evo even rate the handling; linky
Okay sure, the handling isn't quite as good as the MR2 at ten tenths, but the interior looks much nicer in the MG imo, and it actually has a boot.
Cambelts are expensive to replace though (about £500 on the 160), and there is the issue of HGF (though this is arguably no worse than the pre-cats lunching the engine on early MR2 Mk3s), but you can get the whole 2000 page MG workshop manual for a few quid and sort most things yourself. That is certainly what I would be planning on doing if I got one. Gonna wait 'till winter though to buy. Prices may come down some more then.
Nice article, thanks.Evo even rate the handling; linky
Okay sure, the handling isn't quite as good as the MR2 at ten tenths, but the interior looks much nicer in the MG imo, and it actually has a boot.
Cambelts are expensive to replace though (about £500 on the 160), and there is the issue of HGF (though this is arguably no worse than the pre-cats lunching the engine on early MR2 Mk3s), but you can get the whole 2000 page MG workshop manual for a few quid and sort most things yourself. That is certainly what I would be planning on doing if I got one. Gonna wait 'till winter though to buy. Prices may come down some more then.
I would buy one with the uprated gasket already fitted, (which most have by now anyway).
And I'm used to expensive belt changes with the Alfa.
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