The Old "what Car?" Game

[axnutty 10]

Yawn. Booooring German motorway barges.

[eddie bullit 37]

^^ I agree...not keen

[willis 18 1 Cars]

Maybe I was unlucky, but the car has more sensors on it than a spaceship! I remember the alternator went, which is fine on our lovely pugs as most of us could do it within a couple of hours, but on the E39 not as it's water cooled. I forget how much it cost to fix but it was around £600. One or two of the vanos heads (bmw variable valve timing) failed which cost getting on for a grand.

 

As I say they are lovely cars but I think the main problem is that they are mile munchers and many of them have passed the 100-120k mark which seems to be where things need replacing on them. If you could find a low mileage one then that could be different.

Edited July 4, 2014 by willis

[gruffa 7]

How about a Honda S2000

[calvinhorse 870]

S2000 are terrible quote 'deadly' in standard form, after a proper suspension setup they are bloody monsters tho!

[Bogsye 22]

I'll not comment on S2000 handling, after my driving fail, however, you can't disable the pasenger airbag for carrying a little person.

 

It was a great car though - very reliable. My car's weak spot was the roof, which wore through a couple times.

[welshpug 1,680]

M-roadster? (Aka clownshoe) not sure if that would be in budget.

 

Impreza type 25 might be in budget.

[jackherer 543]

I remember the alternator went, which is fine on our lovely pugs as most of us could do it within a couple of hours, but on the E39 not as it's water cooled. I forget how much it cost to fix but it was around £600.

 

Yes, the water cooled alternator failed on mine, I got a recon for about £300 and fitted it myself with the aid of a couple of vehicle specific tools.

[d7ve_b 44 1 Cars]

Ph1 Clio v6 - but you won't get much change from £10k.

 

Madly impractical but huge fun and more robust than you might expect (barring ignition coils).

[mowflow 67]

Z3M Coupe would actually be my car of choice but they are well out of budget now. Prices have risen by about 50% in the last 3 or 4 years.

 

Used to have a thing for the S2000 but it just a bit too much like a more dangerous Mx5. Given my limited driving talents it's probably better I don't. Last years ring crash highlight video had an alarmingly high proportion of S2000s in it.

[Jon_Bmw 13]

Touch wood prices of Z3M coupes are only going one way. Get one before they go further. I think an early s50 with circa 120k on it might be found in budget with a bit of searching.

 

You will not be able to park it without having a cheeky second glance at it as you walk away.

 

By the way an s50 without traction control can, and will, bite hard if it is not respected.

[tartanbloke 35 1 Cars]

If you are only doing 10 miles a week, cycle to work and get a fun car for the evenings/weekends and the money you will have saved in petrol from 400 miles a week to nothing, you can put aside to get any issue fixed.

 

Therefore, I recommend a classic from the 80's or 90's such as an Audi UR Turbo, an Escort Cosworth, a Tommi Makinen EVO 6, a VX220 Turbo (great fun), whcih also leaves some money for a small family car or if you can stretch your budget by at least another 6K, a Lotus Carlton.

 

Have something really different, fun and quick.

[feb 47]

Some interesting suggetions.

DC5s are nice cars to drive but finding one with low-ish mileage and looked after might be tricky.

Watch out for rust in the rear arches.

I test drove a couple of R26s the other day and one of them drove well but I wasn't impressed with the LSD. The Quaife I had in the 205s was more effective.

I wouldn't bother with the Type-25 and get a 2.0 JDM twin scroll blob/hawkeye instead.

I echo the 130M and would like to test drive one myself. Even my wife's 120d is fun with the DTC off.

Edited July 4, 2014 by feb

[mowflow 67]

If you are only doing 10 miles a week, cycle to work and get a fun car for the evenings/weekends and the money you will have saved in petrol from 400 miles a week to nothing, you can put aside to get any issue fixed.

 

Therefore, I recommend a classic from the 80's or 90's such as an Audi UR Turbo, an Escort Cosworth, a Tommi Makinen EVO 6, a VX220 Turbo (great fun), whcih also leaves some money for a small family car or if you can stretch your budget by at least another 6K, a Lotus Carlton.

 

Have something really different, fun and quick.

 

Despite being a bit of a part time cyclist that just doesn't work for me. I live in an extremely hilly area on the west coast of scotland, you know, the part that gets like 20% more rain than any other part of the UK. I'll take the bike on dry days but the other 360 days I'd rather do the 1 hour train journey to work with dry boxer shorts on.

 

I'm good for a family car. We are replacing my wives Xsara Picasso probably with a C4 Picasso and will be keeping the former for the time being anyway.

 

 

Touch wood prices of Z3M coupes are only going one way. Get one before they go further. I think an early s50 with circa 120k on it might be found in budget with a bit of searching.

 

You will not be able to park it without having a cheeky second glance at it as you walk away.

 

By the way an s50 without traction control can, and will, bite hard if it is not respected.

 

E46 M3 is looking like the most likely purchase. I passed up buying one 2 years ago and often regret it. The equivalent car as i nearly bought 2 years ago would probably cost me a bit more now so I expect prices to rise or at the very least stay frozen on good ones of these. Just to find a good one now.

[Jon_Bmw 13]

I reckon e46 m3s will bottom at 4k for a s*itter. Now is probably not a bad time to grab one. I am annoyed at myself for not getting a good e36 m3 a couple of years back for 5k.

[speno 239 2 Cars]

Im selling my z4 coupe 38k for 10 grand

[mowflow 67]

That's a good price for that mileage Spencer. I've already done the z4, nice cars. Should sell it easy.

[speno 239 2 Cars]

That's a good price for that mileage Spencer. I've already done the z4, nice cars. Should sell it easy.

Thanks I would keep it , but I never use it much. its that or the pug ^^

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

I've also been looking at E46 M3s to compliment the Pug family outside my house (306HDi & 205Mi16). The only thing with 'M' stuff is the parts cost if it all goes wrong, scared the be-jesus out of me when I found out how much discs & pads all round fitted cost! But, there is a BMW without the M tax out ther, with serious pace in the guise of an E92 335i. Not reliable if the internet is to be believed (pretty much recommended that a warranty is extended/taken out) but power by the bucket-load with a remap.

 

At the moment, I've settled on an E46 330 but not sure whether it's special enough to be a 'toy'.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

E91 335d is the q-car.

 

Front pads on my e91 were £110!

Rears £90 odd plus you need to buy the wear sensors.

[mowflow 67]

I had an e90 about 4 years ago and didn't like a lot about that car (interior design, ride quality). Been on the e90 forum for years and know enough to not want a 335i (waste gate issues, injector issues, TC units failing etc). The 335d has less issues but it's fuel consumption is around the same as an e46 m3 unless you are doing the length of the country at a relaxed 70mph most of the time.

 

I don't think I'd ever buy a diesel unless I really had to. For the last 8 years I've had to have them for my mileage. I've had some good fast ones but it's just not the same.

[gruffa 7]

What about a Skyline R32 Gt-r?

[feb 47]

Has anyone driven or owned an Alfa GT 1.9 Jtdm Cloverleaf Q2?

It has very good specs on paper (170bhp, Torsen LSD), you can carry 4 and although it is classed as a coupe it has a hatch 3rd door and it looks really beautiful IMHO.

Edited July 13, 2014 by feb

[mowflow 67]

I actually had a look at a Lexus SC430 earlier. It's not a very pretty car but the engine sounds immense and it fair shifts. Motoring press reviews are pretty damning but owner reviews are incredible. £100 to service a v8.

[Rich_p 23]

I need to play the same game myself, I've still not fallen for my 130i.

 

Tough one though as I want a quick 5 door hatchback that isnt an S3,St ,MPS or R32 which limits my choices somewhat!

Edited July 14, 2014 by Rich_p