Which 'sporty' commuter?

[Pulse]

Oh yes, it's that time again... It's a 'what car' thread!

I'm going to be commuting 70 miles a day very shortly, and I'm looking at my options... Bear with me, as I am very odd.

The main criteria is that it MUST be able to achieve 35mpg absolute minimum on a run.

The commute is down a single carriageway A-road (the A420 to Oxford), which is often held up by lorries and suchlike. The quality of the road isn't perfect, though isn't bad by today's standards.

Option 1
Buy something from the 'Bargain Basement' thread, £1000 or thereabouts, and see how long it lasts.


Option 2
Buy a Mk3 MX-5 Roadster Coupe, and run it into the ground.


Option 3
Buy a Z4 Coupe again, and really enjoy the commute.


Option 4
Buy a Z4M Coupe, and just say 'sod it' to the MPG requirement!

Option 5
Your wildcard...!

What other recommendations do you have?

[cirian75]

"Option 1
Buy something from the 'Bargain Basement' thread, £1000 or thereabouts, and see how long it lasts."

3 door Pug 306 D-Turbo 1.9, not the 2.0 HDI

XUD9 is unbreakable and the car is super simple

[GhostWKD]

Won't do 35mpg (well mine did coming back from Edinburgh but that's not a busy commute) but I had this exact same dilemma and ended up with my second S2000 and am loving it Biggest problem with it is how much I'll be able to justify bringing out the R32 GTR on a sunny day!

[Output Flange]

X308 Jag, and sod the couple of MPG you'll miss out by.

[Killer2005]

Option 2 or 3

[sbridgey]

RenaultSport Clio 172

[andy-xr]

Bargain Basement - cheap enough that you can buy twice if needs be

[Arklight]

Another vote for the 172 here, running a cup as my daily commute (Bromley to Bracknell) and its not missed a beat.

[Herbs]

I did option 4 but the roadster version

More than happy with it and suprisingly economical if you want to be - seen 38mpg on a commute!

Makes going to work much more fun.

[jones325i]

Pulse said:

Option 2
Buy a Mk3 MX-5 Roadster Coupe, and run it into the ground.

Why 'run it into the ground'?

[kiethton]

I would look at a 335i

Sould be good fun to drive and refined and sounds amazing with performance to get past the lorries (whilst not suffering the M Tax) ....mine even hit 35mpg on a run (with a very light foot)

Can be had for <£10k for an SE or about £12k for a good one/M-Sport

[DanielJames]

Can't add that much but I've been commuting in my Integra Type R for the last 10k and it's been great

but if I wasn't on so many twisty roads I might want something with a bit more ooomph. Perhaps a 330d or something