Something “interesting” for 4.5k

[rallyeS2]

My Audi S3 goes back in June just ahead of the wife’s car going back. I’ve already started a thread for her but am looking for some ideas for my next car. Current top of the list for her is an 09 XC90.

We are stopping leasing as we want to put some cash into an extension on the house so initial outlay needs to be fairly minimal for my car...

Have about 4.5k max to spend, my commute is about a mile each way and I come home at lunch. Other than the commute, I shoot a few times a year so it may get used for that but not essential. I travel to Yorkshire clay shooting and will otherwise probably use it during the house renovation to put stuff in. Total yearly mileage is probably under 4K. Sadly no 2 seaters as we have 2 kids I’ll need to take places when the wife’s car is in use...

Fuel consumption isn’t really an issue but don’t want to pay £555 road tax per year. Other than that I’m open to suggestions!!

Edited by rallyeS2 on Saturday 9th February 20:45

[Croutons]

You commute a mile each way???????

Get an electric bike.

[Mr Tidy]

For so few miles it just has to be petrol.

Golf GTi, Skoda Octavia VRs, Leon FR/Cupra, Focus ST or BMW 130i if you like the idea of RWD!

[loskie]

spec b legacy

[Genuine Barn Find]

Pretty certain that all XC90’s of that generation will be well north of £500 in road tax.

[coldel]

Croutons said:

You commute a mile each way???????

Get an electric bike.

Even one of those old fashioned pedal ones...or on a nice day, take a 20 minute walk! One mile commute done in a car...can only assume they are unlit country roads or something else which makes walking or similar not suitable?

[rallyeS2]

Sorry, may not have made that clear, wife is getting an xc90, not me.

A bike? On PistonHeads?!! I’d rather not arrive at work soaking wet and cold in the winter plus the kids won’t fit on the back!! Lol! Was expecting some ridiculous V8’s to be recommended!!

Will take a look at the legacy, hatchbacks are an option and the 130i does look appealing for a change from the S3 which although blisteringly fast leaves you a bit cold...

[dhutch]

I had a 2.5mile commuter for three months around march time and cycled that, flat along the sea front so no hills but plenty of wind, bloody lovely to be honest. Set me up for the day and made a nice change from traffic and sitting on my arse.
Was in a shirt office shoes so took it easy but never more than 20minutes often more like 15, still used the car for weekends etc so drove about 3-4 times when the weather was particularly wet of a morning, and cycled back in the rain about twice.

It terms of a car choice, what do you want, sounds like almost anything would be fine. I have a E46 330ci, but for super low mileage you could get something even more thursty if you wanted. I presume you want reliability, which maybe rules out something older and 4wd like a mitsubishi legnum or mid age evo? Hit hatch options?

Daniel

[ZX10R NIN]

CLK 500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK350 Check the engine numbers for a potential balancer shaft issue:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


More Sensible:

Focus ST-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes E500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus GS430 Sport

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS430-se-with-spo...f:1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS430-4-3-auto-Sp...f:1

Leftfield:

Honda Legend

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sport Luxury this is a bit of a VFM option but it is a lot of car for your cash.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vectra VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Skyline 350GT

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-SKYLINE-350GT-PR...f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-03-NISSAN-SKYLINE-...0UAAOSwaaNcF6PW:rk:5f:1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-V35-350G...f:1

[rallyeS2]

dhutch - cycling / walking isn’t completely out of the question to be fair, I sometimes do when the weather is ok as it’s quite a pleasant route...

ZX10R NIN, some definitely interesting choices there!! I wasn’t even aware the skylines existed! E500 is an interesting option, hadn’t even thought about CLK’s either, seem to be a lot of engine / car for the money!

Off to scour autotrader with some new options!

[Strudul]

ZX10R NIN said:

CLK 500

With a 1 mile commute? Surely can't be good for it, as it'll never get up to temp.

[dhutch]

Fair enough. I've got about six miles to do now and I must say I've car's that so far, about 30mins with traffic.
The 330 just about gets up to temp for the last 5mins. Might have a god cycling one we get the light, mainly down hill going there, just relies on the trains to get under the Mersey!

Strudul said:

With a 1 mile commute? Surely can't be good for it, as it'll never get up to temp.

Would a 50cc pedal and pop get up to temp in a mile? Even at 20mph it's only 3minutes.


Half fancy Merc as my next car, having done a few BMs and warm french hatches before that. Struggle slightly with the visual image of the older from ends and the chrome window trim, but you do get a lot of car for your money on the large engine petrols of the world.

Daniel

[rallyeS2]

I know really I should get a small petrol engined car that will get to temp quicker, especially as the wife will have a decent sized family car. I just figured that as I’m on the edge of “shed” territory, I may as well get something interesting... it has been said that I get bored quite easily!!

I had a Smart car in the past as a frugal commuter (commute was about 30 mins each way) and a 1.6 petrol golf, I hated both of them and couldn’t wait to get rid!

[DaveTheRave87]

Renault Twizy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

In budget (with haggling), perfect for a short commute and you can't say it's not interesting!

[S100HP]

DaveTheRave87 said:

Renault Twizy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

In budget (with haggling), perfect for a short commute and you can't say it's not interesting!

It's also lacking in the ability to transport 2 children.

[300bhp/ton]

rallyeS2 said:

I shoot a few times a year so it may get used for that but not essential. I travel to Yorkshire clay shooting and will otherwise probably use it during the house renovation to put stuff in. Total yearly mileage is probably under 4K.

It sounds like some 4wd/awd and maybe utility will suit what you need.

i.e.

4x4
SUV
pickup
estate

Gives you quite a lot of choice tbh.

And for what it's worth, 4000 miles a year =

20mpg = £90/month on fuel
36mpg = £50/month on fuel

It would seem you have a fair amount of choice from something like a Subaru Forester/Legacy Outback, through things like a Freelander, Discovery, Cherokee right through to things like a Ranger or L200.

[Trevor555]

I delivered a BMW 330i clubsport to a customer last year for a dealer.

I'm sure that was £4,500 done about 100k.

I'td feel slow after your S3 but I really enjoyed driving it.

[Prohibiting]

Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000. £4k will get you a half decent one.

[nunpuncher]

I have a similar commute. I have 2 kids. I had a leased VAG 300bhp thingy.

I now have an r53 Cooper S and it's an addictive little thing to drive. You'd get a decent r53 JCW for your money and it'll never depreciate or might even go up in value.

[rallyeS2]

S100HP said:

DaveTheRave87 said:

Renault Twizy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

In budget (with haggling), perfect for a short commute and you can't say it's not interesting!

It's also lacking in the ability to transport 2 children.

It also seems to be lacking windows!! If the kids weren’t needing transporting I’d actually consider one of those!

300bhp/ton said:

It sounds like some 4wd/awd and maybe utility will suit what you need.

i.e.

4x4
SUV
pickup
estate

Gives you quite a lot of choice tbh.

And for what it's worth, 4000 miles a year =

20mpg = £90/month on fuel
36mpg = £50/month on fuel

It would seem you have a fair amount of choice from something like a Subaru Forester/Legacy Outback, through things like a Freelander, Discovery, Cherokee right through to things like a Ranger or L200.

I’m more than happy to accept the lower economy figure... I was driving the wife’s evoque yesterday and did quite like the elevated position, just concerned that it would be overkill having an xc90 and another off roader unless I went full blown disco with a lift and chunky tyres!

Trevor555 said:

I delivered a BMW 330i clubsport to a customer last year for a dealer.

I'm sure that was £4,500 done about 100k.

I'td feel slow after your S3 but I really enjoyed driving it.

I lusted after an estoril blue one of those when they came out, I’d ruled out e46 Gen due to rust issues though...

nunpuncher said:

I have a similar commute. I have 2 kids. I had a leased VAG 300bhp thingy.

I now have an r53 Cooper S and it's an addictive little thing to drive. You'd get a decent r53 JCW for your money and it'll never depreciate or might even go up in value.

Subaru is out I’m afraid, had the “boy racer image” jap cars in the past!

I used to have an R53 Cooper S and loved it, would love another especially JCW... They seem to be fetching strong money at the minute!

Maybe I needed a small “track-able” car and a big 4x4 to tow it...