Another what car thread ….

[rigsey]

After many years of consideration, we as a family (including 2 children) are moving to Adelaide in November.

We have visited Adelaide many times to visit my wife’s family so very familiar with Adelaide.

During these visits, I have found some great driving roads in the Adelaide hills, etc but also noticed the relatively low speed limits compared to the UK.

Having buttoned down the most important emigration aspects: visas, jobs, location, schools, etc I have now been considering cars :-)

My wife needs an occasional 7 seater therefore looking at a Toyota Kluger or Mazda CX-9.

I will mainly be using my car for occasional commuting (will mostly be working from home or taking the train into the CBD), weekend fun and driving 1 child around (if I take 2 children I could swap cars with the wife).

I am quite keen to have a go at a few hill climbs in Aus.

I have mainly had hot hatches in the UK but did have a brief RWD convertible fling (MK5, MR2) over the years.

My budget is around <= $30k.

Based on the above I currently have the following short list:
• GT86/BRZ – Handling in spot on but will I get bored with the power even on SA roads?
• Golf GTI / R MK6 – the practical choice, reliable in Aus? DSG would be useful in traffic
• MX5 NC – 2 seats could be a pain, had an NB previously and enjoyed even with limited power
• Clio 200 – always liked these but concerned about reliability
• BMW 135i Coupe
• Holden v8 – slightly cliché, would like to experience a v8 ….

Thoughts would be appreciated?

[rigsey]

twosocks said:

Good luck with the move we have been here 4 years and love it. I had an MX5 and it was plenty fast enough for the twisty hill roads. Two children meant it had to go. I have an E46 M3 and leave most of the holdens on the corners, on the straights it's a different matter. I have driven V8 and they feel heavy but the V8 grunt is awesome. I took a golf GTI for a drive and it was superb and refined. A golf r would be my pick. Just be warned we had 0 points on our licences and we are up to 18 between us.... ironically only ever been flashed in the hills.

Thanks for your reply.

M3 is a good, call - do you have the manual or SMG?

Also like the E36 M3, this one caught my eye: https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/BMW-M3...

Golf R would tick a lot of boxes including family practicality when needed.

The points aspect is a concern.

[rigsey]

Bibbs said:

All in my opinion -

Toyota - Nice, but interiors are not great and too slow.
VW / Renault - Nope. Don't get on with hatchbacks.
Mazda - Good cars, roof down is a bonus - more of an 'event' at slower speeds.
BMW - Nope. Good cars, but I can't get over the badge.
Holden - A lot of car for the money, good power but being heavy blunts it.

Out of that list, I'd probably end up in a Series 2 VE with a supercharger, or an early VF ..

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden...

How about a 370z? Inbetween the 86 and Commodore in size/speed/cylinders?

The Toyota GT86 power concerns me (I think I would get bored quite quickly) however I wonder if the handling would keep my interest.

Had not considered a 370z but certainly makes sense.

Cheers

[rigsey]

Hasbeen said:

Stop mucking around, challenge yourself.

Get A Honda S2000,

&

a V8.

Those hills will never know what hit them.

Thanks for your reply.

How common are the S2000's in Aus? decent ones in the UK are becoming quite difficult to find.

Previously had a Civic Type R and certainly enjoyed the VTEC when in the mood

[rigsey]

romeodelta said:

The best bang for your buck has to be VE HSV Clubsport R8 or VF SS if you want newer.

:-)

I have this nagging doubt that I need to experience a V8

[rigsey]

PomBstard said:

Couple of thoughts on cars mentioned...

VF SS is a very good car - and would be a good family mobile if you thought you could live with just 5 seats.

Mrs PB has been running a 2011 Golf GTI since Nov last year and so farI'm impressed with it. Enough power to be fun often and plenty capable around town and the highway. Also spacious enough for all 5 of us to fit in easily. Comments made at the time of purchase included one that the R might be too capable for fun over here.

As for the CX9, I ran one for 12 months up to Jan this year. More impressive than I thought it would be but needs AWD. Reliable and comfy for loooooooong trips.

Lots of classics over here too if you might be that way inclined - not as much salt on the roads...

We really need the occasional 7 seater for visiting relatives.

I must a admit a Golf GTI or Mk6 R ticks many boxes.

Classics maybe worth considering Cheers

[rigsey]

axel1990chp said:

Sorry to Hi-jack Rigsey, have a few questions for you in private if you don't mind? wont permit a message. (Re: Aus)
Will have this same dilemma next year all being well.

Cheers

Hi

Feel free to email at [e-mail]

Cheers Neil

[rigsey]

Bibbs said:

Not very, but I found mine to be a little fragile and a little slow in standard form.

But I've now gone back to a 2 seater convertable. So it must have done something right.

Out of interest what 2 seater convertable have you gone back to?

[rigsey]

Ozerob said:

To be honest, anything from Europe is going to cost you a fortune when it goes wrong.
All European cars aren't built for the summer heat over here and will break.

Not the first time I've heard this and obviously a concern.

[rigsey]

Bibbs said:

Boxster S. Only a few weeks into my ownership experience though .. came from a HSV VE GTS (LS2).

Edited by Bibbs on Monday 22 May 08:51

Nice

[rigsey]

Bibbs said:

I had a couple of mk2 MR2s as well, and it's the best bits of those and the S2000.
Wrapped in better engineering and design.

Compared to the GTS, it doesn't have the grunt of 6 litres. I miss that.
But 1355kg vs 1845kg. I don't miss that.

The S2000 is all about the redline. But it needs a blower for torque. If you are near some country roads it'll be fun though, but I got bored pretty quick.

Edited by Bibbs on Tuesday 23 May 03:19

Out of interest, how old is the Boxster and how reliable are they in Aus? :-)

I used to own a MK3 MR2 - great car but the mid-engined RWD layout caught me out a few times in the wet (unexpected rear movements - the car and me) and wobbled my confidence.

[rigsey]

Ozerob said:

Where in Adelaide are you planning to move to.
I'm in Happy Valley which is just in the Adelaide Hills, and yes the roads are great for driving but heavily policed.

Seaford/Moana as we have family in Woodcroft and Aldinga beach.

I've not really noticed the policing during visits but as tourists you tend to drive alot slower than locals; I know my brother-in-law has collected a few points.

We will have to arrange a PH Adelaide get togethor/outing.

[rigsey]

Ozerob said:

That will be very close to me, shout out when you get over here and we can arrange a PH meet.

Sounds good, will be in touch once we are settled

[rigsey]

Lambchopski said:

Hello mate

I've got a feeling we spoke on another post before?! But I can't find it ... EDIT - It was email. I thought I knew too much haha.

Anyway I'm in Adelaide down in Hallett Cove. Always keen for a chat about cars.

Let us know when you arrive...

Chop

:-)

As I remember I was meant to get in touch when we visited in February but things were slightly manic (house visits, school visits, etc).

Will be in touch.

How is the Focus RS?

[rigsey]

Colonial said:

Not in my experience.
E36 BMW x2 which I took from 166k to 270k and 180 to 320k,
Audi s3 80k to 170k which cost me but that was performance chasing. Not the cars fault.
Vw Golf R new to 105k
Citroen DS3 8k to 70k
Skoda Octavia Rs 1k to 13k (current car)

All cheaper to run than my parents Subarus and Honda Civic.

Maybe I've been lucky but I do a lot of country and freeway driving including out to Cobar in summer with zero issues.

With your requirements I'd look at s 370z or a Megane 265. Australia is one of the largest renaultsport markets around so there's gpod support around.

Megane is a good shout cheers

[rigsey]

Hasbeen said:

Well t certainly is in my experience.

Perhaps we were lucky with the couple of Mazdas that got to 185,000 & 150,000 kilometres with out a spanner going near them, but we have not been lucky with European stuff.

Not only was the Fiesta a dreadful thing to drive, it was off the road for 5 weeks, waiting for a transmission.

That was good compared to this Peugeot 3008. This is the third time it has been off the road, waiting for warranty replacement parts to come from France, all in just 32000 kilometres. Now 9 weeks & counting.

So far 3 weeks for a broken valve spring, or so we are told, but one has to wonder. We should have it back in another couple of weeks, or perhaps 3 they say. How long does it take to stick a valve spring in an airmail post pack, & drop it in the mail for gods sake. Am I nasty to be smelling a rat shaped cover up of the real problem.

I can get bits for my TR7 in half the time it takes to get main stream bits out6 of Europe.

I'm pretty sure Peugeot's are not reliable anywhere :-)

Admittedly part supply is probably better in Europe

[rigsey]

PomBstard said:

First car I bought over here, back in 2004, was a 1994 405 SRI. Was so much more fun than the new BA Falcon I had at the same time as a company car, and better built. Spares and specialists were cheap and easy to come by, at least in Sydney, and there was an active on-line community too. Small sample, granted, but a better experience than my more recent Volvo woes... I still find myself having a look at various 90's Pugs - I reckon a tidy 306 GTI6 would be a cheap bit of fun that could be kept.

I owned a 106 Rallye S2 many years ago, epic car which I should have kept.

[rigsey]

Lambchopski said:

No worries mate, any time.

It's fantastic. I love it! Exhaust and a remap now make it go pretty well

Sounds like fun

I've just come back from the Nurburgring 24hr race where we found ourselves in a fast convey in Germany with an RS; it sounded epic a full chat.

[rigsey]

Been in Adelaide just over 1 week.

Found (and had an offer accepted on) a house in Seaford Rise + brought the wife a Mazda CX-5 which drives much better than I expected.

Started work at my company's Aus office on Monday.

So far so good.

A BRZ has caught my eye and I have arrange to view on Friday

[rigsey]

Hasbeen said:

Are you still walking?

:-)

No, wife has a new Mazda CX-5 and I have a Toyota Yaris (station car) + Mazda MX5 NB with a few tweaks as a weekend fun car / track car