£5k Daily driver.

[Barkercup]

I need some suggestions please!

I am currently selling my focus econetic after four years of trouble free but slightly dull motoring. I have a budget of £5k maybe £500 extra for the right car.

My requirements are...

30+ MPG for my 50 mile round trip to work.

4 seats for the little for the family.

Good handling.

Decent performance.

Preferably rwd, but an excellent handling fwd or 4wd may be considered.

Cars I am considering are...

E36 M3

UK spec integra type r dc2

Impreza Rb5

Audi S3.

Any other suggestions would be great. Also any experiences of the above cars would be great.

Cheers

Richard

[Mr SFJ]

Probably go for the M3. MPG wise I'm not to sure about 30, but if you do, let me know (after one next)

[Barkercup]

I'm really tempted by the M3. Only thing that puts me off is trying to find a good one. Seems 95% of them have been molested over the years! There is also the rust problems.

[Hairy Bob]

For 5k you can find a very tidy low mileage bmw 330, you just need to search for a manual.

Not sure I would want a £5k m3 as a daily.

[lbc]

Mr SFJ said:

Probably go for the M3. MPG wise I'm not to sure about 30, but if you do, let me know (after one next)

25MPG at best for an M3 in the real world.

Commuting would get less than that.

[Barkercup]

I'll put the 330ci on my list. The only thing I don't like about them is the steering.

[TEKNOPUG]

None of those suggested are going to return 30+mpg unless you drive like Miss Daisy - which seems to defeat the point.

What annual maintenance budget do you imagine? 40-50k cars still have the same running costs, even if the purchase price is 10%

On the plus side, 5k is enough to by a vast selection of interesting cars. However, nothing with 300+bhp is going to return anything like the mpg you desire, if used properly.

[Barkercup]

I beg to differ. I used to get 30 mpg on my commute in my old 911, 944 and 328i. It's a steady run and I don't drive like a loon.

Maintenance isn't an issue.

[lbc]

I would keep the Focus for daily drive, and get an M3 or whatever as your fun car where you don't need to worry about MPG and other costs.

As others have said you will be disappointed with fuel economy and maintenance costs especially tyres.

Big engined cars are not supposed to be driven slowly to save fuel, and will not be at all fun.

[s m]

Barkercup said:

I'll put the 330ci on my list. The only thing I don't like about them is the steering.

Which version of the steering? - it can be quite different depending on the MY

[JakeT]

An A4 1.8T avant with the 190bhp ticks all these boxes... Plus an estate is pretty handy for a family. And 4WD for when the going gets tough...

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20140507400...

[Barkercup]

I also have a skoda fabia which I can use too.

Maintenance costs aren't an issue. I have had a fair bit of experience with maintenance heavy cars over the years.

I do most maintenance myself including rebuilding engines. I have a good garage with diagnostics I use.

In reality the car will only do 8k miles a year.

Thanks for the advice chaps.

[TEKNOPUG]

Barkercup said:

I beg to differ. I used to get 30 mpg on my commute in my old 911, 944 and 328i. It's a steady run and I don't drive like a loon.

Maintenance isn't an issue.

None of which had anything like 300bhp and don't meet the OP's criteria, with the possible exception of the 328i.


How about lowering your budget and going for a really nice condition Honda ATR and putting the spare £2k aside for anything that needs immediate attention and ongoing maintenance? Or a similar condition WRX?

[Leins]

Barkercup said:

I'm really tempted by the M3. Only thing that puts me off is trying to find a good one. Seems 95% of them have been molested over the years! There is also the rust problems.

There are good ones about, but your budget needs to be upped a bit I think. A nice B3 should be possible though

[/BANGINGTHEALPINADRUM]

[va1o]

Mk5 GTI is a nice all rounder that meets all those requirements. A cheeky remap will take it up from 200 to 250bhp if not quick enough.

[rb5er]

[Poopipe]

Megane 225 / cup / r26?

5k will get a very good one

Easy high 30s on a run- ive seen high 40s when im trying and mines running 40% more power than it started with.

Fast, fun, comfy and quite well equipped.

They can be a bit rattly and they do have electrical niggles but cos its french you call it character and live with it

You wont get 30mpg out of any turbo impreza - I could barely scrape 27-28 if I drafted trucks, I saw 15 on average if I was being gentle.

Edited by Poopipe on Thursday 29th May 20:08

[Vaud]

TEKNOPUG said:

None of which had anything like 300bhp and don't meet the OP's criteria, with the possible exception of the 328i.

He is the OP.

[dave_s13]

My Leon Cupra R has 265bhp, more grip than you ever need on the road and will do 37+mpg on a gentle run. Brakes are also immense.

They aren't perfect, ride a little harsh over uneven surfaces, interior rattles and creaks a bit but otherwise it's been great so far.

You'd get a late model mint mk1 for under your budget.

[moribund]

As above, the RB5 for certain won't average more than 25mpg, more probably less.

Forget about mpg and buy my ZT 260