I need help....what car related (I'm sorry!)

[Snowman23]

Morning all,

I've been resisting the urge to post this, but it's getting silly now. I seriously can't decide what car to get next

Current Car - I have a Mk 6 Golf GTI that will be going back in October

Mileage - Currently 18,000 a year - a mixture of 15 mile surburban commute (that I cycle as much as possible), 250 mile round trips to Brum, longer work drives, and the occasional fun trip (was out in Snowdonia at the weekend)

Budget - This is flexible, but as it will be payed by cc allownace, the more it costs the longer I will keep it, base it on £4k per year (so I will have a £12k car for 3 years)

Requirements - I love the jack of all trades ability of the GTI, it will happily do the mundane, cruise illegally all day, do 40mpg if you keep under 80mph, but also set your pants on fire when you want it to. Ultimately I don't want to lose too much of this. But accept that others may do some aspects better than others. And a genuine step forward in performance might be nice. 2 seaters are fine (mx5!!), but I park on the street so would have a nervousness around a fabric roof. I would like something north of 25mpg, and 'reasonable' servicing costs.

Car History - Started in a 1.25 fiesta, then had a few 1 series diesel company cars, then got the Golf (few other bits and pieces in between).

My current thoughts range from a Clio Trophy, a BMW 130i, E90 3 series coupe, Boxster/Cayman, Z4 coupe, 370z....and changes daily...I want to be like a kid at Christmas the night before going to collect the new car!

So, waffle over, please help, I am open to any suggestions, and particularly interested in what hot hatch drivers have moved onto

[300bhp/ton]

Not sure I really see a problem with a soft top and street parking tbh.

I'd have thought something like a Z4 (3.0) wouldn't be a bad compromise tbh. Fun, but with enough GT credentials to cover the miles.

A Boxster would be pretty cool too, although I don't know how one would fair doing 18,000 miles a year for 3 years.

If you are feeling brave and it would likely be slightly below your mpg target, but £9k will get you a 2009 RX-8 R3. Good looking and great handling option.

[300bhp/ton]

doogz said:

Only you would reccommend an RX-8 to someone doing 18k/year

I think many have been used for just this. It's mpg that'd be the killer. Fuelly lists most at 20-22mpg, so slightly below the ops 25mpg requirement.

[Snowman23]

I'm not a fan of the RX8, they are stonking value, but I think work may take my fuel card off me at 20mpg!!

On the spft top, maybe it's just me, but I think I would worry! I think the running costs on a Boxster would add up doing my mileage as well?

[lewisf182]

If it were me id get a 335i coupe, should return acceptable mpg on a run and will set your pants on fire when you want it to. 130i could be fun though! But for me itd be too cramped for longer journeys id prefer the 3

[300bhp/ton]

How about something like this.


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4010756.htm


Parkers list it at 32mpg and 5.5 sec to 60mph with a 150mph top speed.

[Snowman23]

Both an early 335i SE coupe and Z4 coupe have been in my thoughts

On the 335, I've seen a lot of forum talk on turbo failure, as well as Evo's long termer suffering the same fate....is there much truth in this?

On the Z4, has been a leading contender, I've read up a lot, and the general consensus was they are lacking 'character'. This normal means, does everything well though

[300bhp/ton]

Snowman23 said:

On the Z4, has been a leading contender, I've read up a lot, and the general consensus was they are lacking 'character'. This normal means, does everything well though

Trouble with the Z4 is it's a coupe, so I think sometimes people want to compare it to an Elise, TVR or Porsche of some kind. So maybe next to them it might lack character, however if you are comparing to a Golf GTI or even a 330ci 3 Series, then I don't think they are.


For a similar type of car I have to say I do like these. Probably not quite as sharp a steer as the BMW, but IMO even better looking, rarer and I suspect has more character.

Chrysler Crossfire V6 (2007)
36,940 miles £6,990



Very good value for money vs the age and mileage too.

[DeadMeat_UK]

996s are spectacular value at the moment, might push your purchase price, but I suspect most depreciation is over.

[Snowman23]

DeadMeat_UK said:

996s are spectacular value at the moment, might push your purchase price, but I suspect most depreciation is over.

I was going to list a 996, as they are in my thoughts. The C4S is one of my favourite Porsches, I would need to be reassured on the maths (maybe man maths are required....).

If we worked on a C4S being £16k (maybe optimistic), then I would need to keep it for 4 years, which would then mean c.75k going on the car. Even if depreication is managable (lets say it's worth £8k after 4 years), what is the yearly maintainance look like? Budget £2-3k?

[DeadMeat_UK]

Snowman23 said:

DeadMeat_UK said:

996s are spectacular value at the moment, might push your purchase price, but I suspect most depreciation is over.

I was going to list a 996, as they are in my thoughts. The C4S is one of my favourite Porsches, I would need to be reassured on the maths (maybe man maths are required....).

If we worked on a C4S being £16k (maybe optimistic), then I would need to keep it for 4 years, which would then mean c.75k going on the car. Even if depreication is managable (lets say it's worth £8k after 4 years), what is the yearly maintainance look like? Budget £2-3k?

2 or 3k sounds very generous to me, I would expect to be able to run it for less than that. But I'm only basing that on my 993 experience with a good Indy. It cost me no more than 500 quid a year in servicing at an Indy with maybe one 700 quid additional bill. And that was fixing any issue that ever came up with it. Excludes tyres.

Main dealer would be too expensive, but good indies are very reasonable and there are a lot about for Porsche.
However I couldn't say definitively for a 996 - according to PH/The Internet the RMS will fail 99 times and the engine will need replacing at least twice
Maybe have a sniff about in the Porsche forum.

[Snowman23]

DeadMeat_UK said:

2 or 3k sounds very generous to me, I would expect to be able to run it for less than that. But I'm only basing that on my 993 experience with a good Indy. It cost me no more than 500 quid a year in servicing at an Indy with maybe one 700 quid additional bill. And that was fixing any issue that ever came up with it. Excludes tyres.

Main dealer would be too expensive, but good indies are very reasonable and there are a lot about for Porsche.
However I couldn't say definitively for a 996 - according to PH/The Internet the RMS will fail 99 times and the engine will need replacing at least twice
Maybe have a sniff about in the Porsche forum.

I'm fully aware it will blow up every other journey....

I don't think our figures are that far apart, £500 for service + £700 for additional + £800 for tyres is £2k

I'm still not too sure I would be happy with it on the street

[DeadMeat_UK]

Snowman23 said:

DeadMeat_UK said:

2 or 3k sounds very generous to me, I would expect to be able to run it for less than that. But I'm only basing that on my 993 experience with a good Indy. It cost me no more than 500 quid a year in servicing at an Indy with maybe one 700 quid additional bill. And that was fixing any issue that ever came up with it. Excludes tyres.

Main dealer would be too expensive, but good indies are very reasonable and there are a lot about for Porsche.
However I couldn't say definitively for a 996 - according to PH/The Internet the RMS will fail 99 times and the engine will need replacing at least twice
Maybe have a sniff about in the Porsche forum.

I'm fully aware it will blow up every other journey....

I don't think our figures are that far apart, £500 for service + £700 for additional + £800 for tyres is £2k

I'm still not too sure I would be happy with it on the street

Sorry, I was a bit unclear. The £700 additional was a one-off during 4 years of ownership. Rest of the time it didn't top £500 a year.

Get a grey/blue one, don't wash it, it'll blend in just fine on the street

[boobles]

300bhp/ton said:

Trouble with the Z4 is it's a coupe, so I think sometimes people want to compare it to an Elise, TVR or Porsche of some kind. So maybe next to them it might lack character, however if you are comparing to a Golf GTI or even a 330ci 3 Series, then I don't think they are.


For a similar type of car I have to say I do like these. Probably not quite as sharp a steer as the BMW, but IMO even better looking, rarer and I suspect has more character.

Chrysler Crossfire V6 (2007)
36,940 miles £6,990



Very good value for money vs the age and mileage too.

I can vouch for these! surprisingly good fun & on motorways, smooth & quiet. I am getting approx 27mpg on short journeys & approx 30mpg on longer ones.

[Snowman23]

DeadMeat_UK said:

Snowman23 said:

DeadMeat_UK said:

2 or 3k sounds very generous to me, I would expect to be able to run it for less than that. But I'm only basing that on my 993 experience with a good Indy. It cost me no more than 500 quid a year in servicing at an Indy with maybe one 700 quid additional bill. And that was fixing any issue that ever came up with it. Excludes tyres.

Main dealer would be too expensive, but good indies are very reasonable and there are a lot about for Porsche.
However I couldn't say definitively for a 996 - according to PH/The Internet the RMS will fail 99 times and the engine will need replacing at least twice
Maybe have a sniff about in the Porsche forum.

I'm fully aware it will blow up every other journey....

I don't think our figures are that far apart, £500 for service + £700 for additional + £800 for tyres is £2k

I'm still not too sure I would be happy with it on the street

Sorry, I was a bit unclear. The £700 additional was a one-off during 4 years of ownership. Rest of the time it didn't top £500 a year.

Get a grey/blue one, don't wash it, it'll blend in just fine on the street

Ah, ok, that sounds alright. I think I would look at putting £100-£150 a month away for servicing/tyres and repairs.

It's funny you say that about leaving it unwashed, I feel like my Golf blends in a bit more when it's a bit dirty. Especially as the wheels are very shiny when clean.