Argh - Motoring Dilemma.

[D4MJT]

Help PH'ers.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Over the past year, I've been fettling my P38 Range Rover, I always had a clear plan of what I wanted it to be like, and I've pretty much realised it now. That's sort of the problem though, I've always enjoyed building things more than playing with them I guess, so now there's less and less to tinker with, and I don't drive it everyday, I'm getting restless.

My commute is 90 miles a day, which means even if I could afford the 17mpg I get out of the Range Rover, I wouldn't want to be stacking 450 miles a week before leisure mileage on it anyway. I have a 106 1.5d for commuting, this is MOT'd until december, and I'll be scrapping it then. It needs a few jobs doing so it'd be cheaper to buy another anyway. But, now I find myself wondering if I should sell the Range Rover, and get something I could use everyday. I'd be wanting to spend no more than £5k, and it would need to be 'PH', which I guess would mean fun to drive as we can rule out V8's for being impractical fuel wise.

I'd considered the like of an E39 530d sort of affair, but I'm put off by not knowing much about diesel engines, and being stung by dealers rather than being able to spanner it myself.

So basically, working on a budget of £5k max, I need the impossible:

1. Fun to drive
2. Economical enough to do 450 miles a week
3. Something that a competent home mechanic can work on
4. A decent parts base is a bonus, as I'm bound to fiddle with it
5. Insurance isn't too much of a worry, I'm 25 and have NCB / Clean Licence / Live in a field.
6. Needs to have a "fairly" reliable reputation.

Although I'm loathed to admit it, a mk1 MX5 is looking like a decent candidate? I've never had a 2 seater so I guess that could be fun?

Thoughts please fellow PH'ers.

[Janesy B]

I wouldn't fancy ~20k a year in a MK1 MX-5.

[D4MJT]

Janesy B said:

I wouldn't fancy ~20k a year in a MK1 MX-5.

I'm doing 20k a year in a 106 1.5d at the minute ;-)

I know what you mean though, but I'm not sure what I could get that's comfy / fun that's still economical enough?

I could get a blinding 7 series / XJ for that money, but fuel would be a killer.

[Lets Torque]

Loads of choices for £5k.

I would be looking at E46 3 Series/Skoda Octavia VRS and that type of thing.

[Mazdarese]

Might struggle to tick the 'fun' box, but a remapped S60 D5 might do the job? Go for SE spec to get all the toys. I had one for a year and it's a really nice place to be for soaking up motorway miles.

[Lets Torque]

Mazda 6 MPS?

[D4MJT]

If it makes any sense, I think I'd rather trade comfy barge for silly fun, if I'm going to have one car not two, I'd rather put up with a bit of discomfort and noise etc, for something that's good for a hoon.

I've been looking at hot hatches as well, I guess I need about 30mpg?

[Mazdarese]

Lets Torque said:

Mazda 6 MPS?

Of course, that would usually be the perfect answer to every "What car?" query! But, "Economical enough to do 450 miles a week" would be a bit of a concern unless OP is happy to spunk £120 a week on fuel.

[D4MJT]

Mazdarese said:

Of course, that would usually be the perfect answer to every "What car?" query! But, "Economical enough to do 450 miles a week" would be a bit of a concern unless OP is happy to spunk £120 a week on fuel.

Although that would still be a vast improvement on the Range Rover, it's not really ideal

[Lets Torque]

Back to my suggestions..

2006 Skoda Octavia VRS

High Miles though.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

2005 Saab 9-3 Aero

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Lots of cars that fit that criteria. Depends what you want.

[D4MJT]

I actually quite like Saab's, that's not a bad sensible suggestion at all. Thanks for posting the links

[Lets Torque]

That's fine. I am bored.

I even thought about posting Vectra's / S2000 / Mondeo / Alfa but they are mostly too thirsty.

If I think of any more I will post them.

[D4MJT]

Lets Torque said:

That's fine. I am bored.

I even thought about posting Vectra's / S2000 / Mondeo / Alfa but they are mostly too thirsty.

If I think of any more I will post them.

S2000's you say?! Surely not for <5k

[D4MJT]

ARGH! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3144717.htm

[DanielJames]

320d imo!

[D4MJT]

DanielJames said:

320d imo!

It's a good car I've no doubt, I'm just bored of them before I've even looked?

[T16OLE]

D4MJT said:

Help PH'ers.

1. Economical enough to do 450 miles a week.

What does that mean?

[D4MJT]

T16OLE said:

What does that mean?

Fair point. I guess I'd be happy enough with ~30mpg

[tomsugden]

Why don't you convert the P38 to LPG instead? I run a 1998 P38 on a multipoint LPG system, and on a run I can achieve effectively ~34 mpg, when you consider the cost of LPG.

[D4MJT]

tomsugden said:

Why don't you convert the P38 to LPG instead? I run a 1998 P38 on a multipoint LPG system, and on a run I can achieve effectively ~34 mpg, when you consider the cost of LPG.

It is LPG'd, with a BRC multipoint system, but it doesn't return 34mpg. I've done 18K in it on gas and it's never achieved that. A tank of LPG is around £55, and I'll get 200-210 miles from that. I average around 17mpg on petrol on a run, and working it out from miles vs fill up, I get around 13 on gas, which is what I've been told is right, slightly lower fuel consumption on gas.

Also, I don't want to put that sort of mileage on it really.