Fast and frugal car required for swift high-mileage driving

[73vintage]

A Happy New Year to you all.

I have been reading this site for many years now, and since I am now considering my next car I thought I would take the opportunity to pick your brains.

What I want/need is a car that will be able to cover high miles in a frugal fashion. I like to drive swiftly (when safe to do so of course!) and as such would like a car that can do the whole cross-continent GT thing without costing a fortune to fuel.

Does anyone have experience of sustained 3-figure mph cruising (in Germany of course) whilst retaining relatively decent economy?

Budget is £25k. I have so far considered a nearly-new BMW 125d or perhaps an older 330d. Despite my mileage I really don't like autos which rules out the 335d/635d.

Any ideas will be gratefully appreciated, thanks.

[PaperCut]

What about an Alpina D3?

[anonymous-user]

Audi A5 Coupe 3.0 TDI is what I am looking at.

Apparently the auto gearbox is pretty good and it doesn't sound too diesely either. Lots of toys and very accomplished cruiser by all accounts.

[73vintage]

Ah yes, the D3 - I'd forgotten about those, thanks.

I do indeed like BMWs - I have had two (a 130i and Z4M Coupe) and enjoyed them both. However a lifestyle change means many more miles so it should probably be a diesel.

[Arthur Daley]

TVR Chimera for 10k... the remaining 15k for fuel...

Seriously though the bmw's would certainly tick your boxes.. It would probably be a financial disaster but what
about a very late Alfa 159?

[RizzoTheRat]

XJ?

[B17NNS]

A 1 series isn't really a GT car.

635d.

Edited by B17NNS on Monday 31st December 13:02

[73vintage]

B17NNS said:

A 1 series isn't really a GT car.

Is it not? My old previous shape 130i was fine on my (admittedly less frequent) longer journeys.

[Rushmore]

Audi R8 V10 run on a shoestring with minimal maintenance, maybe a Cat D car?

[CampDavid]

Rushmore said:

Audi R8 V10 run on a shoestring with minimal maintenance, maybe a Cat D car?

You may, just, get a wiped out cat B car in budget. £25,000 isn't buying any R8, let alone a V10, which isn't ocmpletely and utterly wiped out

[Rushmore]

Ferrari 456?

[73vintage]

CampDavid said:

Rushmore said:

Audi R8 V10 run on a shoestring with minimal maintenance, maybe a Cat D car?

You may, just, get a wiped out cat B car in budget. £25,000 isn't buying any R8, let alone a V10, which isn't ocmpletely and utterly wiped out

A nice thought chaps but I fear that the fuel costs would do for me.

[Rushmore]

Maybe a Jensen Intercepta? 25k should get you a, like, mint one!

[Rushmore]

"Re Re Wind - The Crowd Say Inta-Cep-Ta!"

There is even a, well, "song" that goes like this.

[CampDavid]

73vintage said:

CampDavid said:

Rushmore said:

Audi R8 V10 run on a shoestring with minimal maintenance, maybe a Cat D car?

You may, just, get a wiped out cat B car in budget. £25,000 isn't buying any R8, let alone a V10, which isn't ocmpletely and utterly wiped out

A nice thought chaps but I fear that the fuel costs would do for me.

Yes, it's the fuel cost that's the issue, rather than the fact it'd have £40,000 worth of damage to have any hope of coming in under budget.

He's now suggesting an Interceptor. I had one of those for a weekend earlier in the year. Did 250 miles. Spent £130 of fuel. I think this boy may be dangerous