If you've been in Cars For Sale then you'll have seen my Civic is up for sale as I now need to commute to work and thats really not the kind of job the EK9 was built for... so if/when that car goes, I'll have a bit of cash to replace it with one, or two cars. I've been looking at loads of different things on Pistonheads and Autotrader and still don't know which option to take.

Point of this thread is, what would you do in my position?

1. Buy something special use only, like a Cossie, Type R Scoob and then a cheap runner (circa Ł1,000 value) for the weekly hack to work?? Ok, I've got a decent car sitting there as/when the mood takes me to have a blast (not as much these days), but I've gotta put up with a pretty shite car to hack to work and back in for the majority of the time I'm driving. Plus the running costs of two cars, which I'm not majorly keen on, specially if one of those is a Cossie....... going by the stuff I read on here, they aren't cheap to keep!!

2. Buy something brilliant for the weekly run to work, like an E39 530d Sport which is comfy and nice to drive, plus it still looks decent too.. downside is that this type of car isn't going to be THAT special you'd want to jump into it on a nice day and go for a drive I dont think?!

3. Buy a halfway house between the two along the lines of a Leon Cupra R, Audi S3 etc which will do 30 mpg on a run... but wont be the most comfortable place to sit while punting up the motorway and in traffic through the week. But it will put a smile on my face and do a reasonable job when taken for a wee blast in the countryside.


Cheers,
Grant

 

id do number 2 but find some extra money and buy something better than a 530 sport...

 

E46 M3?

 

always been a advocate of having a reliable old shitter as a everyday machine as its just not possible to own anything nice these days without some turd messing with it
Besides Ł1000 can buy you a cracking car and something perfectly good for everyday use. and at that money you don't have to worry about depreciation or the odd dent

so that leaves some money for something fancy in the garage and thats always gonna be fun

 

was thinking exactly the same...

Some extra cash and an M3... job Done!

 

Ł1k would get you something half decent for a daily hack, Ł2k and you've got a huge choice really nowadays.

Then buy something fun for the days off

 

1 is the answer.........

 

Hmmm, extra cash might be a problem.. I'm saving for a deposit on a house at the moment and dont really want to tie up much more in a car than I've got tied up in the Civic to be honest, I will have around Ł8,000 to split between one or two cars depending on the option I go for.

Any ideas what other cars would fit the bill for Option 2 and Option 3? ....must have reasonable MPG, decent build and not be french or italian.


Cheers,
Grant

 

What about an E60 530d M sport? Brilliant to drive and quick after a remap!

Edited to say sorry didn't realise you had an Ł8K budget. Lol

 

Spend Ł8K on a nice usable motor!

 

Option 1. Thats what I do.

Bought a Focus RS for daily use once and using it everyday I generally started not giving a shit about it after time ie keeping it clean etc

 

what about a mini cooper s?
ive just got one and was surprised to see the trip computer showing over 40mpg average!cracking drive too........didnt realise you could spec them up so much too-mine has satnav,panoramic sunroof(x2),heated leather,tyre pressure monitor,jcw bodykit...

 

lol i liked my cooper s but felt like weveryone was looking at me

and if im honest I felt a bit Gay.

It was Grey by the way not pink lol

 

Would love one of them for my first new car(or maybe 6 months old). Hopefully soon when finances allow!

 

Dont Do It. No VVT my friend....

 

Obviously a cooper s would have no chance against Ford's VVT power, but I still think it's quite a nice car. It's not all about speed.

 

LMAO... i do like this passionford banter.

 

Banter...?

 

Yea thats something I'd not even considered... good point though, if you get into the groove of using something for the boring drive to work and back then I suppose it gets harder to see it as anything more than a nice runaround, which will probably lead to thinking why not go for something derv and ultra comfy to drive in the first place?!


Any suggestions Karl??


I always thought the Mini Cooper S were a bit juicy, my girlfriend has a 2002 Mini One and its an absolute weapon on the back roads but I find it pretty thirsty on the fuel.. so just assumed the S'charged version would be that bit worse on the jungle juice. Although I know the New-New Mini Cooper S (Turbo'd Version) quotes some mental MPG figures so could quite believe the 40mpg on one of those.

What colour is yours Jay? Must look a tidy wee thing with that spec and the JCW kit on it??


Cheers,
Grant

 

e39 m5 job done

 

i dunno what to do also....either keep the focus st2 or change it for a merc c250cdi sport.....or got back to my old focus runaround and use the track car more...

 

option 1

 

Get a cossie.

 

Focus RS is a good choice

 

+ 1

 

Keeping in mind that you will be spending most of your time in the daily driver, then personally i would go for something comfortable with toys but that when you hit the gas it is fun to drive.

Best of both world, plus it may be a little more juicy on the daily trips than a smaller hacker but then cheaper than running two cars.

The added bonus is on a cold winter morning you have a nice comfortable/reliable car to hop into making the journey less of a grinde, and when the road opens up you can play and not think 'wish I was in the weekend motor'

 

option 1 and get a evo 5-6 you wont be disapointed

 

option 4

you say your buying a house, if i was you id buy a cheap hack and keep the money back till after your in the house and then decide what to do with it. if its anything like our house it may have problems that a survey wouldnt pick up and you need a lump sum to get things fixed!

 

Grant if your looking for a comfy car for work and tidy i have mk4 a golf gti turbo for sale will give you it for a good price or if you want to get to work fast still have the vr6 turbo mk1 golf in the garage

 

Grant you should have bought the tommi maccer i used to drive thats sold now sold it for 9kit was a minter too

 

-2

I am a big fan of these cars, they're defo on my list of cars I want to own one day... but, for 8k I dont think I could get a Facelift Model that I'd be happy with (I wouldnt buy a Pre-Facelift) and also the average MPG being around 20ish isn't going to be the best idea to punt one backwards and forwards to work in unfortunately.


Unless I get a Choptastic deal on one then I'll be looking at higher mileage examples which are a little rough and more than likely give me a bit of hassle surely??


Yea thats exactly why I was thinking along those lines.. however PT made a good point that whatever car I use in the week runs the risk of becoming a means of transport rather than something to take care of and look after for weekend fun or general upkeep. If I could be sure that I wouldn't fall into the trap of neglecting it then it might be the best option.


Hmmm, I have been lurking around the MLR recently and there are some decent examples up for sale at reasonable money. I have always been an Impreza boy though and dunno if I could get into the whole EVO thing to be honest.. also, it would have to be something pretty special to tempt me into running two cars again.


LOL @ Option 4.... I've had that option offered to me by my better half, but its not really a valid option for me at the moment. This may/will probably change once we get into our own place and need to free up some cash.


LOL, yea the MK1 VR6 Turbo would definitely be one of the quickest ways to get to work and back mate... but not sure how comfy it would be!!


Cheers,
Grant

 

In that case - buy a 2nd car that will sell quick

I know from experience when mobing into your (first bought) own place, it eats every last penny you have for the first 2 years

 

Get a Focus ST ( the 2.5 turbo One ) Job done

 

204bhp 330d sport.