Can I run a 2 seater as a daily?
Discussion
Looking at buying something sporty as a daily and have narrowed it down to s2000, Elise, and vx220. Is there anything else similar for that kind of money? I'd consider a 718 boxster but spending 40k on a car isn't on the cards right now.
I think the s2000 would make the best daily out of those three due to comfort and practicality, but let's say I went with one of the others, would that be advisable?
I think the s2000 would make the best daily out of those three due to comfort and practicality, but let's say I went with one of the others, would that be advisable?
kind of like everything else in life...........they are really fun day to day and great to look at but now and again you will wish you had something sensible when they do something stupid
what's your daily mileage
do you carry much stuff - kids, bikes, golf clubs etc?
ps what is your budget?
We had an mx5 2006 and s2000 of the same era and I found the s2000 more of a tight fit that I think I expected (I'm 6ft 2)
what's your daily mileage
do you carry much stuff - kids, bikes, golf clubs etc?
ps what is your budget?
We had an mx5 2006 and s2000 of the same era and I found the s2000 more of a tight fit that I think I expected (I'm 6ft 2)
During the summer, then yeah. In winter or one of those years where it never stops raining, then I imagine you'd find most rag-tops too cold and leaky. Yeah, there's always the clip-on hard top but they're a ball-ache to store and fit without a second pair of hands. And they quite often leak as well.
I bought and used a Smart roadster for a 25 mile each way commute plus work use so it can be done, having cruise control even made 50 - 60 mile motorway runs reasonable. I considered an Elise or MR2 MK3, but I needed a bit more boot space than they offer, I used to put a folding bike in the hatch as I had to use out of town parking and on one occasion managed to fit a full set of 15" wheels with tyres in it.
C.A.R. said:
Fantastic as they are, an Elise is hard work to drive daily - you have to be very committed.
Hmm. That rather depends on the type and spec and what your daily use entails. Commuting in London with a track-slag S1 vs someone getting to work on lightly trafficked A and B roads in one of the later Toyota engined cars with touring pack, AC and standard quiet exhaust/intake arrangements. And also on how fit, short and flexible you are. hooblah said:
I'd consider a 718 boxster but spending 40k on a car isn't on the cards right now.
Why don't you consider a regular 986/987 instead? A decent 986 S gen 2 with the glass rear window can be yours for £10k and would make a perfectly robust and usable daily. A Boxster won't be cheap to run but you know that already. What's your budget? I ran an S2000 as a daily for just about 4 years without complaint.
There was always plenty of room for my needs, it was good for commuting but traffic was occasionally a pain in the arse. Plus the added bonus of commuting with the roof down was always fun, and a really good way to relieve stress on the way home.
There was always plenty of room for my needs, it was good for commuting but traffic was occasionally a pain in the arse. Plus the added bonus of commuting with the roof down was always fun, and a really good way to relieve stress on the way home.
Have you looked at the Abarth 124 Spider? Quite characterful and reasonable quick, and good value on leases http://www.mangoletsi.com/abarth/new-car-offers/12...
do you have the option of getting a train / bus if the weather is bad?
We never had any issues with the canvas roof on cars after someone on pistonheads recommended Renovo
http://www.renovointernational.com/
I used to do the clean then apply the waterproofing about once a year and the car was always dry!
We never had any issues with the canvas roof on cars after someone on pistonheads recommended Renovo
http://www.renovointernational.com/
I used to do the clean then apply the waterproofing about once a year and the car was always dry!
I dailied an MG TF160 for years, my OH was dailying an MX5 S-VT for those same years.
For a couple with no kids, either of those cars were fine for most tasks. Enough space for a weekly shop or a long weekend away, comfy enough to commute in every day, mostly normal running costs.
The only things we found an embuggerance / non-standard cost were that servicing the TF required a certain amount of disassembly, the MX5 had an LSD that started to fail and the engine oil filter couldn't be changed easily due to the inlet manifold (so we paid a garage). But all well within the normal range of cars not designed for easy servicing.
Moving big stuff required a bit more planning to borrow my FIL's Picasso.
For a couple with no kids, either of those cars were fine for most tasks. Enough space for a weekly shop or a long weekend away, comfy enough to commute in every day, mostly normal running costs.
The only things we found an embuggerance / non-standard cost were that servicing the TF required a certain amount of disassembly, the MX5 had an LSD that started to fail and the engine oil filter couldn't be changed easily due to the inlet manifold (so we paid a garage). But all well within the normal range of cars not designed for easy servicing.
Moving big stuff required a bit more planning to borrow my FIL's Picasso.
Gareth1974 said:
Have you looked at the Abarth 124 Spider? Quite characterful and reasonable quick, and good value on leases http://www.mangoletsi.com/abarth/new-car-offers/12...
Trying to persuade my wife that we should get one of these when my Leaf goes back in Jan.Trouble is we will have 2 kids at home then (eldest goes to Uni in September so doesn't count) and it would be nice to have family runs out in a convertible we can all get in.
But I think they are a bargain ATM.
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