Interesting "Train Station Car" Plus

[Technoholic]

Hello all,

I've recently traded in my M5 comp for an M8 comp. This is my "daily" so to speak, probably doesn't get the miles it deserves given that I work from home 99% of the time and take the wife's car for family use most of the time. But equally it serves a purpose when it's needed for family duties and is a lot of fun when I'm on my own (much more so than the M5). Anyway getting sidetracked...

Shortly after doing that deal, it became clear that going to the office would become more necessary in the near future. I live outside London, my office is in the City so it means getting the train most of the time. I don't want to park the M8 at the station regularly, it will be getting PPFd but I don't think I really want to leave it there if I can avoid it. So that's led me to look for a train station car, that potentially could have other uses.

Main criteria -

-Interesting
-Fun
-Potentially practical although this isn't a must. Being able to use it for the tip runs would be a benefit but it's not critical and I imagine anything good at doing that will negate the first 2 points.
-Petrol/Ulez compliant for when I choose/need to drive into London
-Newer the better but at least newer than 2002 (for the stupid reason that I have a private plate sitting on retention that I'd like to put on to reset the clock on it, and it needs to be newer than 2002 for that)
-Reliable, I don't mind spannering when needed but I need to not worry if it's going to start when I have to leave early for the office
-Potentially scope for good mods - it's been a while since I've gone all out modding something (engine and running gear, not cosmetics) so wouldn't mind having something I could use to scratch that itch.

I'd like something different to all the cars I've had recently, which over the last 5 years have been:

M8
M5
R8
M6
540i touring
TVR Tuscan & Chimaera
X5
Megane R26 as a track car
Merc CLS Shooting Brake

Now I understand that covers a lot of ground, and again, it doesn't have to be drastically different, but it would be nice.

The most important part, I'm not looking to spend anywhere near as much on this as those sorts of cars above. I would like to keep it to £5k but could push it a little higher if needed.

Sorry for the long post, any ideas would be appreciated to see if you throw up anything I might not have considered.

Thanks

Edited by Technoholic on Thursday 20th July 14:40

[Truckosaurus]

Something like a Suzuki Swift or MINI - cheap and simple. Will also be a different type of fun compared to an 8-series.

£5k sheds these days are properly sheddy, rather than amusingly sheddy like in the past.

[Technoholic]

Yeah I’m finding that for sure. I didn’t want to sway the jury but Mini Cooper s has been near the top of the list so far, not looked at the swift though.

[Zippee]

I own a Merc AMG GTC as my main car and like you have no desire to leave it tp pick up dings and dents at the station when I commute into London.
My station car is a 93 Eunos - it's got a few dents and scratches so I don't mind about more being added if it does happen. I know thats too old for you but if you still want something fun what about a newer version of the MX5?

Also worth noting that despite only being a 1.6 with 115bhp, it's more fun than the big Merc when on tight twisty roads

Edited by Zippee on Thursday 20th July 15:23

[biggbn]

Mini Cooper, Swift Sport?

[Technoholic]

Zippee said:

I own a Merc AMG GTC as my main car and like you have no desire to leave it tp pick up dings and dents at the station when I commute into London.
My station car is a 93 Eunos - it's got a few dents and scratches so I don't mind about more being added if it does happen. I know thats too old for you but if you still want something fun what about a newer version of the MX5?

Yeah, again something I've briefly looked at. It doesn't serve the purpose of practicality but like I said it's not a must, but it does give me the ability to do some mods and maybe the odd track day in it I guess. I've just never driven one, I'm a larger person, so not sure how big they actually are inside. But it's definitely on the list. Might go and look at them harder

[Technoholic]

biggbn said:

Mini Cooper, Swift Sport?

Yeah as I mentioned above, a mini is one of the top on the list so far, and the Suzuki I've kind of bypassed and not really looked at, so will take a look.

[Shabaza]

I suspect this may not tickle your fancy, but how about a Nissan Leaf?
Will take plenty of abuse and I wouldnt call it slow.

Small and very easy to drive, very little to go wrong mechanically

[benp1]

VW Golf GTI Mk7 or 8?

Would be invisible in a station car park. But could be tinkered with easily, very practical for day to day stuff and reliable.

[Technoholic]

Shabaza said:

I suspect this may not tickle your fancy, but how about a Nissan Leaf?
Will take plenty of abuse and I wouldnt call it slow.

Small and very easy to drive, very little to go wrong mechanically

You're talking about the early Leafs right? I never considered electric, both because of my requirements and because I just assumed even the oldest would be quite expensive but those early leafs (leaves?!) are cheap. Probably for a reason but I have no idea what it would be like in reality and also having to deal with charging

[Technoholic]

benp1 said:

VW Golf GTI Mk7 or 8?

Would be invisible in a station car park. But could be tinkered with easily, very practical for day to day stuff and reliable.

Would be good, but too much for me for the car, I'd rather spend that sort of money on a more fun 2 seater of some sort. But a mk5 is within the realms of possibility and I've looked at them

[Shabaza]

Technoholic said:

You're talking about the early Leafs right? I never considered electric, both because of my requirements and because I just assumed even the oldest would be quite expensive but those early leafs (leaves?!) are cheap. Probably for a reason but I have no idea what it would be like in reality and also having to deal with charging

Theyre cheap because their batteries have degraded and can probably only do circa 60 miles on a full charge. which plenty for most people
If you have the ability to charge at home, its pretty much plug and play, very easy to live with

[Technoholic]

Yeah I mean 60 miles is more than enough, for my day to day usage. I could even get a way with less. But I’m not sure I can’ see a reason to go for something like that as I think the cost per mile works out about as well as a decent petrol car. At least with petrol even if I pay slightly more, I might get something with a bit of a heart for the money. I’m not ruling out a leaf or similar but would have to consider it carefully.

[pb8g09]

Don't forget to budget in a decent pressure washer to clean your driveway of the oil an Mini Cooper S will leave in a nice puddle each day. Hard to find one that isn't riddled with oil leaks.

Fiesta ST MK7
Audi TT mk1 or mk2
Suzuki SS

Would be my shortlist at that budget.

[ChrisH72]

Unless you're looking for something other than a Beemer these get mentioned a lot at that budget.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023071597...

Might be nice to have an NA 6 pot and it has a good amount of practicality for the tip and things like that.

[ChrisH72]

Or how about a fast Ford with that lovely 5 pot.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023050268...

[LightningBlue]

How about FN2 Civic Type R GT? Shed money and practical

[CrippsCorner]

Megane GT Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306198...

Abarth Punto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307169...

A3 S Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...

DS3 Racing:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307099...

Ibiza FR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305318...

[Beethree]

Panda 100HP

[andburg]

Beethree said:

Panda 100HP

Or a Twingo Renaulsport