Petrolhead daily driver but still sensible?

[GTdrive]

The day I had been dreading for long has finally come. Our RWD manual is 10 years old and has crossed the 200k mark. It is finally starting to show its age too. So the time has come to get something newer.

I say this with a heavy heart. Because I know RWD with a manual is a rare thing in newer cars. Let alone in a petrol family car. But we will need a newer car no matter what. If I decide to limit it to RWD manual, I fear it will put a huge limitation to the options and will push me to get something I shouldn't. So I have to at least be open to an auto. Possibly give up RWD for at least AWD too.

Also we had been in a situation where owning only one car was enough. But this is also about to change.

Given that, if I could have a RWD manual as my daily, I would be much more ok with having whatever fit as a family car/wife's car. She doesn't mind and probably much prefers an auto anyway.

But my RWD manual would need to be a sensible choice. Meaning not something expensive to run or unreliable. It will definitely need to be cheap to buy too, given I will already have to buy another family car too.

Moved to Europe a few years back and here cars are more expensive, unfortunately. So have to deal with that as well.

So the thread is for my daily RWD manual.


Here are the flexible: Age but the newer the better. But I would prefer no classics. But the reliable and cheap to run most likely take them out anyway. Number of doors. Number of seats. But some form of backseats would be good. Number of cylinders, Although cheap to run here also means not too many bhp or insurance is high.

Here are the musts: Reliable and cheap to run as possible. Cheap to buy. How cheap? Lets keep it under €5k. RWD, manual, petrol. No convertibles unless easily found with hardtop. This is a year round car. No BMWs. Too many bad experiences.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

EDIT: I have been giving this some more thought and have decided that I could up the budget a few folds. Let's say 15K Euros.

But then I would want back seats but only 2 doors. Still RWD, manual and no BMWs. Guess what? Still nothing. What a ridiculous state of affairs we find ourselves in the auto industry. A few years ago this would be no problem. Now ruined by SUVs buyers and automatic car drivers.

Edited by GTdrive on Tuesday 28th January 10:54

[GTdrive]

Thanks for all the replies.

I realize the options are slim. But I don't want to let go from RWD and manual. This is the whole point here.

I will probably already have to go with a FWD auto for the other car.

About the Mercedes, I'm not sure I would think of Mercedes as cheap to run? And aren't Mercedes of this vintage plagued by rust problems? Mercedes on the cheap makes me nervous. Am I overreacting? The CLC are also more hatchbacks than coupes right? They are not really my taste. But at least they are RWD and manual . Although I think only if you go for a diesel? I much prefer the looks of the early CLK. But that is old now and have very bad rust reputations.

350Z will not be cheap to buy here and definitely not cheap to run. 350Z are around the 9-10K for early cars with more mileage. The V6 is pretty thirsty too I hear?

RX8 you can find for even 2K because nobody wants them. It's a wankel after all. So it won't be cheap to run. The word on the street is they are a nightmare and highly unreliable and prone to engine problems. I see blown engine ones all the time for sale. They look ok, are RWD and manual and I hear they are fun. A bit practical to boot with the rear seats and doors. So when I see examples with a blown engine for sale, I often think, if there was a cheap engine swap kit to drop a reliable Japanese engine in a RX8, I might even take that chance. But with the wankel, no chance.

[GTdrive]

vtecyo said:

3 choices imo:

1) Up your budget
2) Relax the RWD - lots of FWD cars will be siginificantly more fun and interesting than something like a CLK
3) Buy a BMW

1 might be possible. But not by much.

2 and 3 will not happen.

Thanks.

[GTdrive]

ChrisH72 said:

Can you get a mk3 mx5 with the folding hard top on or close to budget? I think they started around 07 plate?

If it's not your main car then perhaps the age is less important if you find a nice condition low mileage car.

Yes absolutely. I'm fine with something a little older. I just would not like something like a Triumph Spitfire or that vintage of classic car. But even a late NA MX5 could be ok age wise. As long as it's not rusty, is in good condition.

Before a MK3 though I would probably go for a MK2 NB. I like the way they look better. If I could find one with a hardtop already. Do they leak? But I would prefer something slightly larger and with rear seats. But the MX5 is not a deal breaker. Let's just see if there are any other options. On that note of small 2 seaters the MG TF is also fun. But horrible reputation unfortunately. But like I said, 2 seaters are a last resort.

[GTdrive]

HustleRussell said:

There is such a thing as a PH FWD car. I like RWD as much as the next PHer but if you're ruling out BMW you have no 'sensible and fun' options at your price point

I understand that and respect your opinion. But RWD manual is a must. I have RWD now and will already probably have to exchange that for a FWD for the other car. Don't need two FWD.

Edited by GTdrive on Tuesday 21st January 16:21

[GTdrive]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want a RWD manual saloon then look for an IS250 manual there sensible maintenance wise but you'll see a real world 28mpg.

It doesn't need to be a saloon really. Or even 4 doors. 2 doors with back seats is fine. Even 2 doors 2+2 is fine. Like I said, if no other options a 2 seater is also ok. Most important thing is that it be RWD and manual.

Lexus here are quite rare. When you find them they are normally owned by JDM car fans. So it will be high mileage or maybe even modified JDM style. And IS250 is almost double the budget and very hard to find a manual. Within budget and manual is the old IS200 and the diesel IS220D.

[GTdrive]

FA57REN said:

Used GT86 / BRZ if you can stretch that budget

Otherwise forget RWD and go for used Fiesta ST. More of a hoot than most RWD barges.

Edited by FA57REN on Tuesday 21st January 17:34

GT86 here is over 3 times the budget normally.

[GTdrive]

ZX10R NIN said:

Yea but he doesn't live in the UK & he doesn't want a BMW either

You pay more for dirtier engines and more bhp here, so.

[GTdrive]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

Without meaning to be rude op, getting over your problem with BMWs is probably the best thing you can do. They are by and large good cars and you will get a lot more options.

Been there done that. I'm basing on my own experience instead of others.So I can't agree with your last sentence.

[GTdrive]

Looking at the RX8, it would be everything I would need really, apart from the rotary. I

'm also guessing the rotary is what makes it expensive to run.

Mazda really missed an opportunity to offer it with a V6. When they had to stop selling the car in Europe because of the rotary, which eventually killed the car elsewhere too, they should have been smarter and put a V6 in it and continue to sell it. Could even call it something different. Wouldn't be the first time they used basically the same body with different engines and called it different models. The car would have had a much better life and be a bigger hit with a V6 I think.

Pity. As it's a practical, fun to drive RWD manual that would fit my needs very well.

[GTdrive]

Just not worth it running a RX8 as a daily. Your concept of considering the engine a consumable could work for a weekend car. But not a daily. Because it's not just the engine. It's the fuel consumption. The oil consumption and the bother of keep feeding it. The high maintenance in general. Way too expensive to run and way too demanding for a daily.

On your search for RX8 swaps, did you find any kits available though? What sensible engines? A V8 is definitely not it. Way too much, specially for a daily.

[GTdrive]

What AWD do you have in mind?

[GTdrive]

By the way, the talk about budget, it's not really only a budget talk. Even with a bigger budget, what I would want is a manual, more reliable Maserati Granturismo for example. Which of course doesn't exist. But I would like something fun, RWD, manual but also somewhat grown up. Regardless of budget not many options anyhow.

[GTdrive]

ChrisH72 said:

Going AWD opens it up quite a bit.

Japanese:
Subaru Impreza or legacy
Mazda6 mps

German:
Audi TT, S3
Golf R32

Italian:
Alfa brera, 159 with the 3.2v6 engine.

I don't suppose any of those are particularly cheap to run though.

Nope, I wouldn't think so either.

Also many of them are not cheap to buy either.

And the Subarus are just too ugly.

And the Golf is probably the last car I would ever buy.

This is the thing about RWD as well. By specifying RWD, it's more certain that it won't be just some boring hatchback or common car. Somehow RWD seems to only go into somewhat special cars. At least in the modern age. I'm trying to have some petrolhead fun during my commute here.

[GTdrive]

vtecyo said:

I'll bite.

Why?

Because that's what I want.

To me this is reason enough, and won't upset people who can't tell the difference.

As they say, if one must ask....you don't need it.

[GTdrive]

GregK2 said:

What's the current daily?

We own a Mercedes S212. But my actual daily is a company car. Peugeot. But that will change as I'm changing jobs.

[GTdrive]

irocfan said:

you might sneak an SLK350 with some luck failing that you could go VERY marmite and try a Crossfire (even in great condition they're cheap enough to make up for slightly poorer economy)

Crossfires here are double the budget for high mileage ones and triple for anything under 100K. And manuals are rare.

[GTdrive]

irocfan said:

In the UK at that price level you're looking at a pre-2000 SN95, maybe a V8 but more likely a V6

Yep. Same here. Because it's rare, people think they have a premium car or something and ask too much. For nearly double the budget you can sometimes find very high mileage V6s 2005-2006 ones. But a rare thing.

Even 90's V6 Firebirds, which used to be dirty cheap are now starting from 5 grand. Crazy.

[GTdrive]

Davie_GLA said:

Can i ask: What experiences have you had that have made you discount the ENTIRE BMW brand?

Chosen correctly and properly maintained they are by far the best choice for your requirements.

This is one of those trick questions with no correct answer... isn't it?

[GTdrive]

Mr Tidy said:

True, but I think I acknowledged that in my post!

Regardless of the tax situation I'd still rather have a BMW 330i than an IS250, but if the OP rules out BMWs he's left with the Lexus option - good luck with that, it might work so long as he isn't in a hurry!

Curious to know why you would prefer the less reliable car?