Recommend an interesting Daily Driver for iro £5k?
Discussion
Hi
I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
iDrive said:
Hi
I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
Triumph Herald. They're Ace.I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
I've ran BMWs and Mercs for years, and like them both.
I had a MX5 for summer fun and really like them, but got rid of it due to rust.
I've recently had the use of a Z3 2.8 and compared to my S124 320 and the MX5 it is brilliant on fuel with 40mpg achievable.
I'm now looking for my own, and would recommend one, oh, and some of them come with a factory fit lsd.
I had a MX5 for summer fun and really like them, but got rid of it due to rust.
I've recently had the use of a Z3 2.8 and compared to my S124 320 and the MX5 it is brilliant on fuel with 40mpg achievable.
I'm now looking for my own, and would recommend one, oh, and some of them come with a factory fit lsd.
theres so much choice but have a drive of a late model Toyota MR2 mark 3 roadster, 6 speed model (05/06 reg with leather and a/c and hard top fits in your budget with low miles and fsh).
Great to drive, great on fuel, reliable, prices holding firm might even go up a bit if you find one with low enough miles on it. maybe not a classic yet but having owned a couple was very impressed by how good they are.
Great to drive, great on fuel, reliable, prices holding firm might even go up a bit if you find one with low enough miles on it. maybe not a classic yet but having owned a couple was very impressed by how good they are.
sim16v said:
I've ran BMWs and Mercs for years, and like them both.
I had a MX5 for summer fun and really like them, but got rid of it due to rust.
I've recently had the use of a Z3 2.8 and compared to my S124 320 and the MX5 it is brilliant on fuel with 40mpg achievable.
I'm now looking for my own, and would recommend one, oh, and some of them come with a factory fit lsd.
What mx5 mark is it? My 2.5 hated the short commute too and from work, if it wasn't allowed to stretch it's legs it would get around 20-25mpg, saying that when nice and warm 35 was about top-end avg.I had a MX5 for summer fun and really like them, but got rid of it due to rust.
I've recently had the use of a Z3 2.8 and compared to my S124 320 and the MX5 it is brilliant on fuel with 40mpg achievable.
I'm now looking for my own, and would recommend one, oh, and some of them come with a factory fit lsd.
Edit - first post best post btw, a triumph herald would be a wonderful little daily.
MrBrightSi said:
What mx5 mark is it? My 2.5 hated the short commute too and from work, if it wasn't allowed to stretch it's legs it would get around 20-25mpg, saying that when nice and warm 35 was about top-end avg.
I had a similar problem to yourself with my mk2.5, seemed to not like the cold & got awful MPG within the first 5 miles of my commute. Turns out the thermostat was buggered, £30 and ~45minutes of labour later and it ran great, coolant comes to temp within a mile of leaving home & never fails to run smoothly. Could be possible you had a similar fault that had gone undiagnosed? But yeah MX5 would be my recommendation for a daily too (being as that is what mine is), The mk1s are very much coming into classic terratory and clean examples are beginning to inflate in price, within a £5k budget you could easily pick up a ratty example (£1-1.5k) and fix it up to a very high spec, full sill replacement & a ~10 year underseal treatment would run about ~£2.5-3k at a proper restorer, save the rest of paint odds and ends and whatever small modifications you make. Engines are solid (unlike many classics) & cheap to run provided nobody has fettled with them (FI MX5s always seem to be dogs). Just remember to keep the roof drains clear, a ~5 minute job once a month or so running a pipe cleaner through the drainhole, mx5parts sells a perfect tool for the job.
£5k would buy a good Corrado.
Random example:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Corrado-2-9-H...
Plenty quick, comfortable and spacious enough for use in modern traffic/life. Parts availability is good and support excellent. At that level it's easily something you could add value to with some light titivation.
Random example:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Corrado-2-9-H...
Plenty quick, comfortable and spacious enough for use in modern traffic/life. Parts availability is good and support excellent. At that level it's easily something you could add value to with some light titivation.
MorganP104 said:
I'd be inclined to go for the most historied Boxster £5k will buy.
Full service history, enthusiast owned, all the major bork-bits already done (with bills to prove it).
If you're in no hurry, cars like that do exist within budget.
Certainly do: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Boxster-S-3-2-98...Full service history, enthusiast owned, all the major bork-bits already done (with bills to prove it).
If you're in no hurry, cars like that do exist within budget.
iDrive said:
I'm inclined to agree - 120miles needs something a bit modern-ish.
I've had 3 Mk1 MR2s and loved them, cant get on with the Mk2 and never tried a Mk3.
Sorely tempted by some of the SLs in the £5k-£8k bracket, but that Boxster S does look very, very nice!
SL's a great car, munches miles, great seats, comfy, but heavy, doesn't change direction quickly. I love mine but you wouldn't describe it as a drivers car.I've had 3 Mk1 MR2s and loved them, cant get on with the Mk2 and never tried a Mk3.
Sorely tempted by some of the SLs in the £5k-£8k bracket, but that Boxster S does look very, very nice!
iDrive said:
Hi
I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
Just to inject some realism here... I find myself with a small fleet of varyingly interesting cars, and a change in job that means I will typically travel 60 miles each way every day on country roads (actually great driving roads, that become a bit difficult in the winter...)
I'm looking for an interesting Daily Driver - I have a 90's 3.2 Merc, which is a little thirsty, though I'm not averse to using it when the will takes me.
Fuel consumption is a consideration, but not the be all and end all.
Only me to transport (so a 2 seater would be fine), soft top would be ok, but if there was a hard top option, that would be good.
I'm looking at Mk1 Golf GTi, Porsche Boxster etc, could increase budget if necessary to £8k, but I'd rather work with £5k.
Suggestions welcome!
Your be driving about 25-26k a year. 253 working days a year, minus 30 days holiday, minus illness, duvet days, and public holidays etc. About 216 days a year give or take a few.
About 60 miles each way. On country roads - your be in the car for at least an hour and half each way. So three hours a day sat in the same "chair".
You mention great driving roads - so these are not straight roads, but roads with twists, drops, cambers etc. so will require concentration to drive it.
I do not know what you do for work, if it is physical you will be tired, if it is mental your concentration will wander.
Seeing as winter lasts 9 months of the year here in the UK, and your driving country roads, and for "big" distances, on rubbish untreated wet, muddy, leaf ridden surfaces, which have twists and turns, in the dark, you will need something automatic, comfy, warm, stable, roomy, reliable, good visibility, and non-thirsty, which can sit at 40-60mph comfortably, but a bit torque'y lower down to make it fun.
You will need something with cheap consumables and parts also - your be chewing through tyres every 10-12k or so, not to mention pads, oil etc.
Soft-top will be cold during winter until it warms up inside - especially on older models/technology. Depending on where you live will depend if you can start the car and leave it running outside (noise, crime etc.).
You will need a decent boot to stick odds and ends into to make the commute less weary, during winter that means extra "clothes" and spare stuff if you breakdown.
You will want diesel, or petrol depending on how you feel about it - probably diesel in my mind.
You have 5-8k to spend, you are in the mindset that this is a car for commuting so just want something reliable to get to work - so you are sitting in the middle of something that is at the bottom of the depreciation curve.
With the mileage you will be chucking at it you will want something to be able to hit triple high figures leisurely. You will not want something that you need to swap out every year.
Saab, Volvo, mondeo, vectra, or Golf. Buy a motorcycle for the summer months.
Edited by BobSaunders on Tuesday 4th July 11:20
I think a Boxster will be great - although you will struggle to get a 3.2 in budget. The 2.5 is still a lovely car and will be fun on country roads when you want it to be, and an easy drive when you don't. Get one with working aircon though - will help with condensation in the winter.
Forget the Boxster - serious engine problems - google owners reviews. Plenty of 'CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES amongst plenty of other major problems 
My wife briefly considered one UNTIL we came across these major problems - it's sad that these are kept quiet, of course you may be one of the few 'Lucky ones' to avoid these prob's.
Has as been mentioned there's plenty of decent cars for your £5K budget - sadly a boxter ain't one of 'em.
Hope this helps
My wife briefly considered one UNTIL we came across these major problems - it's sad that these are kept quiet, of course you may be one of the few 'Lucky ones' to avoid these prob's.
Has as been mentioned there's plenty of decent cars for your £5K budget - sadly a boxter ain't one of 'em.
Hope this helps
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff