The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I need a daily driver. Tons of interesting stuff out there for under £10k. Ideally it should be interesting, reliable, have room for 4, reasonable running costs and capable of putting a few miles on without depreciating too badly. A few have caught my eye: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 Tommi Makkinnen Subaru Legacy 3.0R (flat 6!) Honda Civic Type R Honda Accord Type R Renault Clio Trophy Astra VXR Mk1 Ford Focus RS VW Golf R32 Jaguar XF Monaro VXR (to hell with the running costs, it's got a supercharged 6.0 V8!) Mercedes CL 600 (twin-turbo V12!!!) Suggestions and advice welcome (and probably needed!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,121 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 No? 2 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
lrg_machine 6 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I had the same dilemma a few months ago and ended up with a SAAB 93 Aero Very nice car, quick enough, never had a SAAB before and I wish I'd had had one sooner Quote Jez Mean Green S4s I think therefore I am - Descartes I'm pink therefore I'm spam - Eric Idle Link to post Share on other sites
LotusLeftLotusRight 1,227 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Impreza STi? You could get a Type UK Hawkeye model, which should be reliable and fast. From your list, the Mitsubishi and the Focus RS have probably bottomed out depreciation-wise. Service intervals are short though for a daily driver. I can't see the big Merc dropping any more either, but has obvious dire financial implications if something goes wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Bibs, that never happened. Yes quite partial to the idea of trying a Saab. Also an Alfa 159 V6. Both should have been on the list really! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LotusLeftLotusRight 1,227 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 My brother had a manual 159 Q4 Sportwagon (3.2 V6): it was not particularly quick. The ex-GM V6 fitted is not the same as the venerable and charismatic Busso unit, which he had in his 164 and 166. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 one of the more expensive ones... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201410027891652/sort/default/fuel-type/petrol/postcode/so415rg/radius/1500/usedcars/image-id/1e24051bac8407ca11d415aee08c59f8/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/6/make/mercedes-benz/model/cl?logcode=p surely a remap and sports exhaust would be nearly as funny as the bills! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
superdavelotus 124 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I would go for an Audi A5 3.0TDi Quattro. There are some just under your £10K budget. I've had one for nearly 4 years now and its the best all round car I've ever owned. 240BHP as standard 0-60 5.9 seconds 44MPG, 4x4, seated 4 comfortable, modern, stylish and doesn't sound like a taxi (V6)!. I've had mine chipped to 280BHP and would say it's more like 5.5 to 60! I like mine so much that when I traded it in for my Evora in May, I regretted it the next day and bought it back from the dealer. Oh, BTW we swapped it for our Astra VXR which is on your list. Nice car, fast but torque steering and balding front tyres always springs to mind. All that power at the front wheels. It flies when the car is going over 20MPH. Also economy isn't that good, claims 36 but we could only get 27 and that wasn't going fast neither. The Audi easily gets 40 all day long and I've seen 50 on some runs! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Thanks David, wise words no doubt. I was going to 'just say no' to diesels but a recent long haul in a BMW 320d returned incredibly impressive mpg. I did feel suicidal after being confined in that black plastic padded cell though. Audis are definitely nicer to sit in £ for £ than Beemers! I love the Monaro but they are looking very pricey next to a big Merc... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201409137364034/sort/default/fuel-type/petrol/make/vauxhall/usedcars/model/monaro/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/1/postcode/so415rg?logcode=p Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,121 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 South West Lotus have a few Mercs in for sale at the moment... Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 http://www.lotusforsale.com/ads/aston-martin-db9-coupe-two-owners-and-just-13300-miles/ Do you think Guy would do me a deal on this? Fits the bill perfectly apart from price! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
molemot 521 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 For one fifth of your budget, I have been driving about for the past 4 years in a Volvo V40 diesel estate. A magnificent beast, will sit at the autoroute 130kph limit all day in airconditioned, leather upholstered comfort with an excellent standard sound system and does around 60mpg. My ideal daily driver, as it has turned out...carries pretty much anything I need to (other stuff goes on the car trailer!)...dog friendly for when that's needed...and I have the Lotus for when the mood takes me! Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Link to post Share on other sites
LazyDonkey 65 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) I've just sold my 60 plate CTR. Fantastic wee car. Mine was one of the last ones so had a standard fit LSD, traction was incredible. Did 15k at 30.7mpg and will really miss it. High of 34.5 and low of 27.5mpg Paint is quite thin, interior plastics are easily scratched and the standard stereo isn't great but i'd highly recommend them. We're only selling ours as the evora is proving to be much more usable (and addicitive) than planned and the CTR is now my wifes and is only doing 5 miles a day across Glasgow. As such it will be replaced by a 500 twin air....which isn't nearly as exciting. EDIT : Should say my commute is a fast 80 mile A and B road blast, not sure i'd pick it if it was a solely motorway car. I used to drive the CTR most days and then have the VX220 for sunny days. Sold mine for £9.5k which i think it pretty incredible value for a 60 plate with 36k on the clock. Edited October 6, 2014 by LazyDonkey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
superdavelotus 124 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I know you've had a long drive in a 320D but that's still a 4 pot and sounds and feels like a taxi. Have a test drive of a 3.0TDi V6 and you'll be impressed. Lots of people were surprised that mine is a diesel and thought it was a petrol albeit a loud petrol engine! Oh forgot to mention the torque, 370ft/lbs standard and 420ft/lbs once chipped. Now that's pulling power! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bazza 907 1,063 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What's a CTR? I'm in the same boat and probably looking for a Merc - possibly a CLK (??). Had a look at the South West Lotus website but couldn't see any for sale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LazyDonkey 65 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What's a CTR? I'm in the same boat and probably looking for a Merc - possibly a CLK (??). Had a look at the South West Lotus website but couldn't see any for sale. Sorry Civic type R. If you're a real civic geek mine was an FN2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vanya 564 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 My father-in-law has a CL-600 and it's a fantastic car. I can't fault it. Get rid of the silencers though. Why no Jag XKR/XK8? Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I had the XF in there and I'm a big fan of the ally XKR but they haven't depreciated enough for my liking. Not crazy about the steel, cigar shaped XK8, I think I'd look at a nice XJS or XJ12 instead. Clearly mpg isn't high on my list of priorities! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM johnpwalsh 1,326 Posted October 6, 2014 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Go for the SAAB, cant fault them, I have had 5 over the last 7/8 years. Comfort A+. Handling A+. Economy A. Rliabitlity A+ and fairly cheap to buy now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vanya 564 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Actually John has a point. Some of the best cars are cheap as chips. 1995 Volvo 850 rides fantastically and refuses to die, much like Saab 93:s through the 2000's. Yes they're boring and stuff but...cheap as chips. And those pennies can be used to gold-leaf Esprit bits instead Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to post Share on other sites
Advantage 910 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 CL600, you say? PH Clicky Its 590 lbs/ft of torque makes Dave's Audi look like a vegetarian. Stretch the budget a smidge and swallow a brave pill. Buy some red braces and Relax! Or perhaps a newer version of the same thing? Embrace your inner Arthur. Waftastic. Perhaps a little something for the lady? Or maybe a big boy's version of the above car? I will now take massive umbrage if you don't buy an example of one of these suggestions, or failing that, supply a page long reason why you won't for each car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Pits 4,408 Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 CL's doing it for me from that list. The game is to maximise reliable horsepower (NB that's reliable horsepower!) for as little under £10k as possible so going over is not an option. There's really no need, so sorry Cerbera. I've had TVRs before so know the score there. That Shaguar's looking nice, quite partial to metallic green as you know. But surely there's an XJR out there for that money? My Dad has an ally XJR and it's very good, very quick too. Sorry, my uncle put me off Beemers for life. He was the character they based Swiss Tony on. Citroen C6? Anyone driven one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mysterae 243 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I had my old 2005 320cd for 7 years and 155,000 miles, the only thing I replaced on it in that time (besides servicing) was a seized brake calliper. +40mpg and a "sporty-ish" ride. However the mileage was starting to take it toll, it had to go! No preference of number of doors, body style, fuel type, insurance etc? Quote Signature not working... Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,794 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 VW Phaeton http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volkswagen/phaeton/volkswagen-phaeton-3-0-v6-tdi-diesel-4motion-4wd-saloon--high-spec--sat-nav--full-heated-leather-seats--stunning-car/2900689 Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
pete 1,794 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 or a 5.2 V10 450 bhp quattro Audi s6 Quote hindsight: the science that is never wrong Link to post Share on other sites
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