10k 'interesting' daily driver

[cookington]

I'm currently 'one of those people' as I have an S3 on PCP. I got it because I was commuting 2-3 hours a day in stop start traffic so wanted something comfy and gadgety for the commute with a bit of pace to play with on evenings and weekends.

I now commute 10mins a day so am considering something more interesting for when my PCP ends.

At the minute I'm considering three very different choices:
BMW E30
Forester STI
Porsche 944

Can anyone share experience or even opinion of the pros and cons of any of these as a daily driver?

[cookington]

I agree with comments about the E30, I suspect they are too fragile for use as a daily especially as I don't have a garage. I would be looking for one that had already benefited from a full rebuild.

Monaro has never really tickled my pickle, nothing against them may be my inner badge snob despite being a Ford fan.

My former car was a modified Focus ST225, been there done that. Would need to be a new RS now to feel special.

I haven't done much reading on the Porsche yet, just think they're nice to look at and old enough to be cool rather than just a poor man's porsche. Is the rust side of things better with the 944 thn the E30?

Forester STI is the front runner at the moment as it ticks a lot of boxes, 4wd and 300hp which i'm now used to but in (hopefully) a more playful package.
As well as the boxer noise combined with practicality and less of the chav image that comes with the impreza.

Edit in response to others,

I'm not handy with the spanners so I'd be finding a good local indy specialist regardless.

I'd also intend to fit a good double din stereo unit to something like the forester to provide nav and hands free calls.

Likes of focus ST, BMW 135i etc. I'd just lease/pcp a new one I was thinking something more along the lines of 20 years plus old or an import for a bit of obscurity.

There's still a good chance I'll end up in a new fiesta ST or even the new Volvo S60 on PCP if I bottle it!

Edited by cookington on Thursday 17th January 12:59

[cookington]

2 seaters are off the cards, working on the other half for that.

E46 BMW aren't old enough, I love them but they're still in the chav bracket, lots of big bills reported on E46 M3s too.

The range rover is very tempting, especially after this weeks reader's car feature. I also fear big bills with these and because of the price they can be had for now ther are too many being driving by complete masturbators around my parts at the moment.

[cookington]

I obviously didn't explain my desires fully in the original post, my issue with all of the 3-5 year old options is that they'd feel like too much of a step back in technology from my current S3.

I either need to get something else brand new with bells and whistles or go back to basics.

GT86, TT etc aren't really practical enough for a daily, both are options for the better half's replacement but she currently has an Mini Cooper S she won't let go of.

[cookington]

Todd Bonzalez said:

What do you want for practicality though? Your original list had a 944 on it?

Contradicting myself I know, thinking out loud as I go here!

I think something the Porsche would have to be a second car to something boring further down the line, especially if I acquired a garage.

I also have a huge soft spot for beetles but realise it wouldn't work as a daily.

Other's that have caught my eye are the likes of corrado vr6 or older, lightly 'stanced' volvos but these seem to suffer from massive 'scene tax' so are priced unrealistically. (I'm aware this applies to the E30 too.)

[cookington]

coldel said:

My Celica it is then

Maybe an older Evo? Generally have a less chavvy badge associated with it than a Subaru?
S15 Type R would be very rare on the roads, pretty quick, looks have aged well.

You may be on to something with the Celica, S15 and my choice of Forester.

I've never owned a Japanese car but have always admired them. Something freshly/recently imported would likely be in good condition and would tick the interesting box.

A friend of a friend owns a local reputable import company so I may have to ask for an introduction. There's normally several GTRs kicking around there though so I may end up overstepping my man maths ability.

[cookington]

designforlife said:

I would avoid evos for a daily, the running costs are fairly ruinous. Forester are good cars, but you will most likely need to budget for a new head gasket at some stage.

My colleague's £2k forester XT is being rebuilt as we speak, he's taken the opportunity to have some uprated stuff thrown in so it should be good for 280bhp.

Scoobs and Evos all very thirsty, can you live with sub 20mpg?

I'd hope to get a Forester that had already had the head work done or I'd keep some money in the kitty as you say.

I'm averaging low to mid 20s with the S3 at present as it barely gets warm in my 5min each way to work then if I'm out and about evening/weekend it sees a good amount of sport mode. I only do about 200 miles a week so isn't too much of a concern.

[cookington]

coldel said:

Yes the DC5 would be a good shout, I guess if its old enough though for the OP?

As you say, I think its a little bit to modern.

My cousin had a mk2 civic type R (excuse my ignorance of EP/DC) I wasn't a huge fan of the interior.

Facelift Forester isn't much older but has more of an agricultural look/feel. Interior is basic but can easily have up to date ICE installed.

[cookington]

V8RX7 said:

The Forester isn't very old

I'd say they were far more practical than an E30 / 944

What exactly do you need to do / carry ?

Forester isn't that old but has the unique factor in that it is import only.

I don't need a car of that size at all, its more the novelty factor and it scratches the Subaru itch without the chav image. The sensible thing to do would be to buy a nice impreza at 1/2 - 2/3 the price.

[cookington]

ZX10R NIN said:

A 370Z fall right into your budget & is very good drivers car that also has character.

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

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

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

If you want to go down the JDM route then there are some corkers:

ST205

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-celica-gt-four-S...f:1

Toyota Chaser

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Chaser-JZX100-Ma...f:1

R33 GTS

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-FACELIFT...f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-GTST-SIN...f:0

Silvia

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Nissan-Silvia-S15-...CsAAOSw5wFcKORf:rk:6f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-s15/312430004550...f:1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nissan-silvia-s14/15333...f:0

When looking for a practical JDM would be the Civic Type R FD2:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Honda-Civic-2-0-i-...f:1

Or you could go for a UK STI:

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

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


Practical:

Infiniti G37

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

Appreciate the legwork but most are 2 door and aren't to my taste. All interesting though!

mikey P 500 said:

No one suggested a porsche 996 yet for 10k would be a better shout than a 944 in my opinion.

Never liked the headlights on the 996, a 911 should have round lights IMO.

coldel said:

Good shout but he is in an S3 at the moment and wants something a bit different I think a 335i would drop into the not old enough/interesting enough category.

What he said.

I intend to have a BMW at some point, I've always been a big fan of the E92 335i, I prefer it to the M3, but I hate the lack of kit you get as standard. Would have to be an E30 325i or an F30 M3 I think.

[cookington]

coldel said:

I think you really have a very small number of options available. You are in a fast modern car already in the S3. If you do not want two doors, nor something newish, nor something two seats, but still very quick and under 10k, not going to cost and arm and leg to run and maintain then the options are pretty limited. Not sure why two doors is an issue, I used to have an R33 Skyline and used it to ferry my newborn around in with the wife in the front!

It seems to me you had 80% decided on the Forester before you started the thread and was just sense checking before getting one?

The extra doors are more for adult passengers than little ones, we both have elderly relatives we occasionally transport. Even at 30+ its quite undignified rolling out of the back of a 3 door. The S3 is my first car out of 5 that has had more than 3 doors.

My heart is reasonably set on a Forester but I thought I'd throw it out for discussion to see if I'd overlooked anything. I know deep down that the E30 and 944 are out of the question I just needed talked out of them!

There's still a chance that my head will overrule my heart and I'll end up in a leased or PCP'd fiesta ST, golf R or Volvo S60.

[cookington]

BUG4LIFE said:

OP, I use my Forester STi as my daily drive [40ish miles a day].

It would certainly feel different to your S3 but it is an event every time you get behind the wheel. Knowing that most people haven't got a clue what it is [or how fast it is] and the people that do know really respect it, makes it a great car to own.

JDM is just cool.

The above is exactly why I'm considering one. More interesting and hopefully more playful than the S3 but with similar power and AWD traction.

When I upgraded from the Focus ST to the S3 it was a £200 a month increase. I offset this with man maths against the amount I was spending per month on maintenance and modifications on the Focus.

I would try to find a Forester that already had the 'essential' modifications done.

[cookington]

BUG4LIFE said:

You'd want one like mine then! The previous UK owners added all the mods you'd want. Here's a pic for ya...

I've only seen black, white, grey and blue, assuming they are the only colours they came in?

Not sure I could live with the upkeep of black, blue with gold wheels is the front runner atm for obvious reasons.

[cookington]

designforlife said:

This was parked outside my mate's place a couple days ago... STi swapped XT, running 340bhp.

All about them sleepers.

That's cool AF.

Assume it won't be the same dynamically as the STI unless all that's been swapped over too.