What car: sub £15k daily driver

[Crusoe]

Occasionally these turn up cars I wouldn't have remembered or something left field so...

Criteria:
RWD or optional 4x4, used for business and personal but only 9000 miles or so a year mostly 20 mile a and b road journeys. Something that feels a bit special and something you are involved in driving so manual preferred. Used daily so reliability or good dealer backup necessary and kept outside so needs to be weather proof.

Minimum 2 seater with enough space for some luggage
Reasonable (£1000 a year or less maintenance) costs
Petrol down to 20mpg real life average allowable
Purchase price under £15k, 10K preferred.
Pre March 2006 would be good to keep the road tax down.
Rather have a dealer warranty and backup than private sale.

Previous history includes other cars that filled the same criteria: M3, M5, S2000, VX220, Z4, 130i which are all ruled out for next time round.

Considering so far: 550i or 650i if I could find a manual, audi TTS or v8 S4, Nissan 370z, Lotus Elise, VXR8 Vauxhall (though running costs probably too expensive), Alpina B10 if there were any good ones around, Subaru with the more reliable 2lr turbo.

Could also wait for the newer 135i, e90 m3 or brz/gt85 to come into budget. Put off older Porsche and 335i due to engine issues. Up in Scotland so not much chance of trying a c5 corvette though might be an interesting alternative for a private sale, TVR also ruled out on reliability but maybe unfair to older v8s.

Edited by Crusoe on Wednesday 3rd September 16:08

[Mr SFJ]

Audi S5?

What about something Japanese like a Nissan Silvia, or a Skyline GT-T? RWD, fun, reliable and £1000 should keep them on the road + massive upgrade potential, plus you don't them them about that often?

Can pick up a good GT-T for about 11-14 by the looks of it.

[Crusoe]

S5 slated by most reviews but not tried one, direct injection engine coking issues and probably over budget for running costs.

Import Japanese cars do interest me but unknown history, lack of rust proofing, insurance and time off the road waiting on spare parts would be concerns. Did look at a few R32 GTR on import sites but not sure about using one as a daily year round.

[Mr SFJ]

Crusoe said:

S5 slated by most reviews but not tried one, direct injection engine coking issues and probably over budget for running costs.

Import Japanese cars do interest me but unknown history, lack of rust proofing, insurance and time off the road waiting on spare parts would be concerns. Did look at a few R32 GTR on import sites but not sure about using one as a daily year round.

That's one side of it, depending on space, It might be worth importing another for parts? But with Ebay nowadays parts a pretty readily available. I know the SR20 engine used in the Silvia is used in a few other platforms, and a quick google shows a lot of places sell semi-consumables like clutches from within the UK. Rust proofing can be done from around £250. So although first year running costs may be higher with chassis rust proofing and such it may be a viable option.

[Herbs]

Z4M

[Crusoe]

No approved used z4m about just now in budget, would be interested if the right one came up but would want the bmw warranty. Wait till it gets a bit colder and there might be a few more traded in. Have had the same engine and same body already so it might not be enough of a difference, Alpina z4 with the 3.4 would be even better but again not many around.

[irocfan]

You've mentioned the C5, IMO that's a bloody good shout and one I suspect you'll not regret (relatively) good on juice too. A left field choice Crossfire SRT6 a large chunk left out of your budget and they are also quite rapid

[Crusoe]

if it wasn't 500 miles away I would take a look at this one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Not sure I would want to live with left hand drive or being "that guy" in the vilage lol. It does tick all the boxes though.

[irocfan]

Crusoe said:

if it wasn't 500 miles away I would take a look at this one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

Not sure I would want to live with left hand drive or being "that guy" in the vilage lol. It does tick all the boxes though.

think of the drive back though!!!

[Herbs]

Crusoe said:

No approved used z4m about just now in budget, would be interested if the right one came up but would want the bmw warranty. Wait till it gets a bit colder and there might be a few more traded in. Have had the same engine and same body already so it might not be enough of a difference, Alpina z4 with the 3.4 would be even better but again not many around.

These cars are pretty bullet proof and likewise, I had a Z4 and have had 2 Z4M's and they are completely different cars - much better than the Alpina I tester as that felt like a boulevard cruiser rather than sports car.

[Eski1991]

Clio V6, although the luggage space is questionable.

[Crusoe]

MK2 clio v6 might be a good call, not many about but some expensive running costs (£1700 for an engine out clutch and belt change) but low depreciation.

Edited by Crusoe on Thursday 4th September 12:58

[Crusoe]

Always nice to get a conclusion to these, been looking for a while and test driven a few different things but choice made and deposit down on a 2008 Z4M coupe at the weekend, 1000 mile road trip to go and pick it up on Saturday if it doesn't snow too much.

Edited by Crusoe on Monday 12th January 12:22

[NotAnotherTrader]

S4 v8 is a brilliant car, I have a bright red convertible currently for sale and I love driving it

[cerb4.5lee]

Nice one!

[billzeebub]

Cracking choice of car, very individual. Enjoy

[sinbad666]

Didn't think the V8 in the S5 had choking issues? Thought that was the RS engines?

Was in one of these last week and it felt quite GT ish, the engine definately dominates though, pulls hard from low down to the red line, sounds great from the outside but alittle numb on the inside.