Motors £15,000... what to get?

Sorry, dont take me seriously as Im only learning to drive, but-

I saw a RX8 at the motorshow, and I instantly fell in love. In black with gunmetal alloys it looked sick.

Also the Honda S2000, looks good, convertible, reliable.

Apart from that, the impreza is ugly, evo (IMO) ugly but the skyline- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKYLINE-R34-G...3QQihZ001QQcategoryZ18238QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
looks great!

 

I guess the best thing you can do is test drive them

The new Ford Focus ST 2.5 comes in second hand at just under £17k starting price, which would be a good choice if you can stretch to it. I learnt to drive in a Ford Focus and it had a great engine, sweet handling and a gem of a gearbox. Now considering that was a base model and the previous version a new Focus ST must be a fairly electrifying prospect

How about an old shape Honda NSX as an oddball choice? Its a Honda so it will be bomb proof despite its age and the handling was tuned by Ayrton Senna so you can pretty guarantee that will be spot on.

Another oddball choice could be the Lotus Carlton, not exactly a pretty car, but extremely rare and really rather fast

Moving back into this century, but staying with the oddball choices how about the SAAB 9-3 Aero? 210bhp and solid underpinnings should make it a bit of a blast to drive

The S2000 or the Skyline sound like very solid choices to

 

For me it would be the VX220 or Elise.

Sod the comfort

 

The S2000 or RX8/RX7 both are really nice cars.

The new PZ ones from Pro Drive look nice but are limited edition and expensive.

Also elises have leaky roofs and that and the vauxhalll arent good enough for the excuse of not having the mod cons. Your better off waiting untill you can afford a Exige if your going for something like that imo.

 

The Elise hard roofs don't leak AFAIK. Not sure if they did a hardtop for the S1 but I expect they did.

 

oh wow, you really know what you are talking about. please share more wisdom with us.

 

If you can't stretch to the new Focus ST (which I can't atm unfortunately) then maybe get a Fiesta ST?

I currently have a 54plate fiesta ST I bought from new.
2ltr engine with 150bhp isn't too bad in a car this size.

Seems to tick all your boxes, mod-cons, confy, pretty roomy, very easy to drive around town yet if you want to get your blood pumping you can throw it around lik nobody's business.
Straight line speed isn't gonna blow you away, 0-60 in about 8 secs.
However, throw in some corners etc and you'll beat lots of cars.
My mate (who is one of these types who's constantly reading up about car v car online and reading stats etc) said that my car is actually faster than his mini cooper S Works round a track.
Considering his car has over 200bhp that's no mean feat!

Also, when we're mucking about racing around, my car holds its own no problem against the mini and my other mate's BMW 330d (which he's had remapped) in anything but a straight line drag.

Only downside I've noticed to my current car is it eats tyres (a set of pirelli P-Zeros in 8500 miles!).
That can probbably be explained by the way I drive it though...
Which is also a testament to its reliability in a way.

I think its pretty good compromise between speed & excitement and comfort & space & reliability.

I'd suggest you give it a test drive tbh, see what you think?

 

I thought the roof on the Exige was only the equivalent of a hard top on an Elise, it definatley comes off and can be driven as a convertible - just make sure it's not going to rain! As for hard tops on S1s - yes, I have one in my living room at the moment.

 

If only the RX8 had the twin turbo 20G cosmo engine

 

To bad you cant get a nice car like that in a straight 6

 

How about a Mini Cooper S?

Seen one 54 plate, all mode cons (climate control, alloys, sat nav, leather etc) and only 20,000 odd miles for £13,000.
Saves me some money and I get a new-ish car with interior luxuries and a decent handling car?

But whilst I was perusing the Mini aisle, I stumbled upon the BMW section of the forecourt and saw a 53-reg 330Ci with 30,000 on the clock for only £15,000.

I sat in it and took a look around, whatever I said previously about BMWs and their 'middle-manager' status I kinda take it back. Although I do still have issues about their oh-so-common image, I must admit that it is a great car.

All mod-cons (minus sat nav, but that's a über luxury anyway), relatively low milage and however the image is portrayed, nobody can deny that the 330Ci isn't a pretty decent looking motor with performance to back it up.

So, i'm actually tempted by this 330Ci now (beside what i've said about it's image)... the S2000 has been struck off the books mainly because although the ride and performance will be stellar, I can't seem to find a decent milage and spec model for £15,000. (I will only buy from main dealers).

The shortlist now are the 330Ci, RX-8 and Mini Cooper S.

I do like my comfort and mod-cons!

 

The cooper S and Fiesta ST are actually very similar.
The Fiesta is much more spacious inside and in the boot though.
Performance wise, the Cooper S is faster in a straight line but the fiesta beats a Cooper S Works round a track...

Plus, I think the fact the fiesta is naturally aspirated will be better for reliability in the long run.

 

What's the 330Ci like on fuel? I know it's not a primary concern but the RX-8 and Cooper S are both meant to return pretty terrible MPG compared to similar cars.

 

About 31mpg combined iirc. About 25 urban and 40 extra urban.

I have the brochures downstairs but I cba to grab them and check right now

 

shivers. orange coloured chav mobile. other colours are nice thou.

 

How much can you get a second-hand Ariel Atom for these days?

 

Remember to factor in the cost of all-weather clothing for those winter daily commutes

 

Well the first point was getting the blood racing... Point conceded though

 

But not at the expense of everyday, commuting comfort.

I'd say a 330Ci, RX-8 or Cooper S would be good choices in that respect; as something like an IS200 would be all comfort no adrenaline and a Elise would be all adrenaline and no comfort.

When I start earning enough to afford an all out racer along side an everyday car i'd consider the choices again, but since i'll have to live with the car for at least 2 years and commute anywhere up to 100 miles everyday, i'd have to value comfort as an important factor.

To people still in uni or work close to home who may not understand, but i've been in a job where I regularly commute across the country (eg. Birmingham to Leeds to Manchester and back to Brum in one day) and my new job is still a client-side business (although not the same high miles) so I need comfort as well as the fun-factor.

 

I'd say the fiesta was more comfortable than the mini.
That's my opinion anyway.
I think my mate would agree, he doesn't like driving long distances in his tbh.

However, for a long distance cruiser that has some pull when needed, how about a BMW 330d?
3ltr turbo-diesel with plenty of power.
Also, can be remapped pretty cheaply and goes like **** then.
Just don't expect to be accelerating hard unless you're in a dead straight line!
Same could be said for the 330Ci I'm sure, traction control really ruins the fun factor though the petrol would have way less torque and may be able to put down the power a bit better.

RX-8s are nice.
I was actually lucky enough to drive the racing-spec one on a mazda promotional day and if the road-going one had that kinda performance, I'd have bought one that day!
Unfortunately, it doesn't.
It is comfy though and I think it would suit your needs well.

tbh, I've driven and raced against my mate's BMW330d (remapped), Mini Cooper S Works and overall, I wouldn't swap my Fiesta ST for any of them.
Its just exactly what I wanted (and what you say you need) a spacious (for a small car), comfy town/commute car, with all the toys, and a bit of poke that can bring a smile to your face every time you drive it.