How did you choose your DD?
Discussion
I know I've had a post up before about a DD car, but this isnt asking for suggestions. This is asking how you decided on what to get.
Did you want something quick?
Did you want something interesting?
Did you want something low maintenance?
Did you just want something cheap?
I cannot make up my mind what to go for. I fancy something quick, but then part of me doesnt see the point, as I have another quick car anyway (albeit off the road now until next Spring).
The other issue with something quick is that it is likely to cost more to buy and maintain.
I know car choice is a personal choice.
So what made you choose your DD, people of PH? What criteria did you choose? Did you deviate from this? Did you have any set car in mind and then got something completely different?
Did you want something quick?
Did you want something interesting?
Did you want something low maintenance?
Did you just want something cheap?
I cannot make up my mind what to go for. I fancy something quick, but then part of me doesnt see the point, as I have another quick car anyway (albeit off the road now until next Spring).
The other issue with something quick is that it is likely to cost more to buy and maintain.
I know car choice is a personal choice.
So what made you choose your DD, people of PH? What criteria did you choose? Did you deviate from this? Did you have any set car in mind and then got something completely different?
My criteria were:
large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
.I see you both have these as your only cars? I have another car I can use for quick blasts so I dont know why I want something quick to drive as a DD.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
I've looked at Mk4 Golf 1.8T GTi's, but they're all leggy in my price range, and perhaps a little on the small side.
I cannot afford an Octavia vRS (which I guess is what I would really like) having had one before, and aside from a drop link, wheel bearing and brake light switch, didnt really cause me any hassle at all.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
I've looked at Mk4 Golf 1.8T GTi's, but they're all leggy in my price range, and perhaps a little on the small side.
I cannot afford an Octavia vRS (which I guess is what I would really like) having had one before, and aside from a drop link, wheel bearing and brake light switch, didnt really cause me any hassle at all.
I wanted soemthing with known reliability, good on fuel (above 40 mpg), cheap to look after (price of consumables), easy to work on, hatchback, manual, minimum 1.6 litre, comfortable
My brother has a civic 1.6 sport (EP2). It ticked all the boxes, so I got one for myself. I've owned it a year 2 months, covered over 17,000 miles and have enjoyed being behind the wheel. Powerful it is not, but that just means I can use all the performance ( ! ) without risking my lisence. I've acheived a genuine 49 mpg as well (calculated from filling up at the pump and crunching some numbers through an abacus) but usually I see about 45 mpg. And it's comfy. And it doesnt look too bad. And it's so easy to work on.
My brother has a civic 1.6 sport (EP2). It ticked all the boxes, so I got one for myself. I've owned it a year 2 months, covered over 17,000 miles and have enjoyed being behind the wheel. Powerful it is not, but that just means I can use all the performance ( ! ) without risking my lisence. I've acheived a genuine 49 mpg as well (calculated from filling up at the pump and crunching some numbers through an abacus) but usually I see about 45 mpg. And it's comfy. And it doesnt look too bad. And it's so easy to work on.
I think it also depends on the nature of the DD journeys. I used to have a 29 mile e/w commute with a mix of country A roads, some dual carriageway, some motorway and then dense urban traffic. Then I would find somewhere to street park. At times it was a pain. So did I want comfort, economy, reliability or a thrill a minute? I must have used a dozen cars do this journey and I came to the conclusion the prime criteria is that I want to look forward to the journey as much as I can. In recent times my choice was between a Mini, Peugeot 207, wife's A4 or my weekend Z3. The winner was the Mini. There was always some fun involved and the feeling I had when I got into the driver's seat each time was always positive. Can't say that about the others.
Triumph Man said:
My criteria were:
large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
Good choice. When those were my requirements I bought my E34 520i, which I still have because I liked it too much to get rid of when my requirements changed.large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
My requirements for the next one were:
Older diesel
5 door hatchback
Comfortable
Basic equipment
Sub £1000
And I ended up with a Saxo VTR, because it was free.
TheAngryDog said:
I see you both have these as your only cars? I have another car I can use for quick blasts so I dont know why I want something quick to drive as a DD.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
Why don't you get the 190 (2.5 V6)?I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
Triumph Man said:
TheAngryDog said:
I see you both have these as your only cars? I have another car I can use for quick blasts so I dont know why I want something quick to drive as a DD.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
Why don't you get the 190 (2.5 V6)?I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
TheAngryDog said:
Triumph Man said:
TheAngryDog said:
I see you both have these as your only cars? I have another car I can use for quick blasts so I dont know why I want something quick to drive as a DD.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
Why don't you get the 190 (2.5 V6)?I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
2 Wycked said:
Triumph Man said:
My criteria were:
large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
Good choice. When those were my requirements I bought my E34 520i, which I still have because I liked it too much to get rid of when my requirements changed.large saloon
6 cylinder
RWD
manual (preferably)
Slightly older
Not too concerned about speed. For me most of the experience is the noise a car makes.
For example, even though a modern 528i (i.e. the 245 bhp 4 cylinder one) is much better equipped, faster etc, I would much rather have my 1995 520i simply because I've got 6 cylinders up front, and it's a bit more characterful. I don't really care that it's slow. I can still hustle it reasonably well!
.
I only have a small commute to my local train-station, my requirements were:
Fun
manual
have decent heater
metal roof
rear seats for occasional use
small
Good cloth seats
2 doors
radio
under 5 years old
under £15k
not expensive to run
N/A petrol
Ended with a Clio 200 Cup, although the rear seats have never been sat in over the last two years, so I could of gone for a two seater with a hard top. bugger!
Fun
manual
have decent heater
metal roof
rear seats for occasional use
small
Good cloth seats
2 doors
radio
under 5 years old
under £15k
not expensive to run
N/A petrol
Ended with a Clio 200 Cup, although the rear seats have never been sat in over the last two years, so I could of gone for a two seater with a hard top. bugger!
Triumph Man said:
TheAngryDog said:
Triumph Man said:
TheAngryDog said:
I see you both have these as your only cars? I have another car I can use for quick blasts so I dont know why I want something quick to drive as a DD.
I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
Why don't you get the 190 (2.5 V6)?I had been looking at something like an MG ZT 1.8T, but I am worried about coolant leaks and head gaskets!
.
I had a Cayman S which was costing me well over £100 a week in fuel to do a dull motorway / dual carriageway commute in rush hour and I wasn't getting the time to use it for anything fun on the weekends either.
Just needed something comfy, well equipped, practical and wouldn't kill me at the pumps or for servicing.
Bought a year old 320d which had a service pack on it and absolutely no complaints 2.5 years on.
Ok it's not an exciting car but it does exactly what I want it to do
Just needed something comfy, well equipped, practical and wouldn't kill me at the pumps or for servicing.
Bought a year old 320d which had a service pack on it and absolutely no complaints 2.5 years on.
Ok it's not an exciting car but it does exactly what I want it to do
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