Thoughts on modern classic as daily driver?

[Ecosseven]

I’m thinking about changing my daily driver for a modern classic. Criteria below.

1. Must be comfortable and reliable.
2. Manual gearbox.
3. Minimum of 25mpg.
4. Not diesel.
5. minimum seating requirement is 2+2
6. Not a rust bucket.
7. Age not really critical, condition is more important.
8. Budget is up to 12K although the less the better!.
9. Prefer something small and light. I love the feeling of lots of torque in a light shell.
10. Performance needs to be adequate – say 0 to 60 in around 9 seconds as a minimum.
11. Handling must be good to excellent.

Current thoughts include

1. 944 turbo
2. 928 manual.
3. Mk2 Golf GTi
4. 200SX
5. 964 carrera 2 or 4

Any other thoughts?

[pacoryan]

Starion widebody
XJS 3.6 manual
BMW 325i sport
Corrado
Mitsubishi GTO

Reckon you could get the lot for £12k!!

E30 M3 would make sense
You might get a Quattro but probably not a perfect one

Ok I'm done for now!

Edited by pacoryan on Thursday 3rd June 10:17

[crusty]

968

[Evangelion]

I'd go for the 944 Turbo or E36 M3.

[BMWChris]

I think 944 turbo best idea - power, handling, reliable and well built, not too expensive to run (though parts can be expensive).

[Ecosseven]

944 / 968 is probably the best compromise although finding a good one could be a challenge. 325i is a good shout although I would prefer a coupe or hatchback to a saloon. Lightweight early 90’s hot hatch is also a possibility although clearly I wouldn’t be spending 12K on one.

Other options include a supra (a bit big, heavy and complex perhaps).

Thought about a Morgan but they are expensive for what they are. Great residuals though.

[silverMX]

Ecosseven said:

5. minimum seating requirement is 2+2

I was going to blast in with a cocky "MX5, HTH".

I'm glad I re-read the OP, otherwise I'd have looked a bit if a tit.

Carry on.

[Yelly]

E36 M3 as a modern classic? I had one when they were still "current". E36s seem to be going through a "chav" phase at the moment. Eventually, that will pass and then they will become modern classics. but not just yet!

[AndrewW-G]

Even though I've had 5 people in my 964, it really would be a push to describe it as anything more than a very ocassional 2+2 . . . . . . OK for small kids, almost no use for sober adults! . . . . . . . .although out of the choices so far, probably neck and neck with the 944T in the potential to increase in value stakes

[NiceCupOfTea]

You could get a mint Saab 900 T16S for a third of your budget and I think it ticks all of your criteria.

[MarkwG]

Yelly said:

E36 M3 as a modern classic? I had one when they were still "current". E36s seem to be going through a "chav" phase at the moment. Eventually, that will pass and then they will become modern classics. but not just yet!

- depends how you measure it - an Evo saloon has already featured in one of the classic monthly mags, with a pretty glowing write up. Time to buy is probably around now...once they're on the up, too late...

[MrBrightSi]

Has to be a corrado. 16v to vr6 will do all the things you want. For 3-5k you will get a completely mint corrado.

They handle better than anything i've driven too.

[mattman]

BMW 6 series?
Mercedes W123 Coupe?

[Truffles]

I use my 928GT as a daily driver. Comments below:

1. Must be comfortable and reliable. YES

2. Manual gearbox. YES (but many 928s are autos)

3. Minimum of 25mpg. NO (20mpg more like)

4. Not diesel. YES

5. minimum seating requirement is 2+2 YES

6. Not a rust bucket. YES (aluminium body)

7. Age not really critical, condition is more important. YES

8. Budget is up to 12K although the less the better!. YES

9. Prefer something small and light. I love the feeling of lots of torque in a light shell. SORT-OF (not small nor light, but lots of torque)

10. Performance needs to be adequate – say 0 to 60 in around 9 seconds as a minimum. YES (5.2 secs for a GT)

11. Handling must be good to excellent. OH YES

More info at www.928.org.uk. Join the mailing list as that is where most of the action is.

[mywifeshusband]

Saab 900 turbo?

google Paradise Saabs for the best available.

[s2art]

I have an old 1984 928 S2 manual, it gets close to 30MPG on a motorway run. Not so good in city driving though. Strongly recommended, fast, comfortable good handling etc. If you can get the 1986 S2, last of the 4.7L but with S4 brakes.

[briSk]

Don't get me wrong i know this isn't 'classic' in the sense of being old but...:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1726478.htm

and i they have some 'handling issues' but i thought it was worth a post as an alternative!

[briSk]

or of course (in a similar vein):
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1645986.htm

[briSk]

sorry if this is completely off piste (but it's way cheaper and matches pretty much all of your crieria): http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1708182.htm

WANT A 968CS but don;t wish to spend the money running it..well it's not a bad proxy and you mention mk2 gti so clearly fwd is okay. and the dc2 is obvioucly one the best fwd. not torquay but light and powerful.

i'll bugger off now and await reactions!

__

in terms of true classic i'd go for a 2002tii

[White LotusExcel]

Ecosseven said:

I’m thinking about changing my daily driver for a modern classic. Criteria below.

1. Must be comfortable and reliable.
2. Manual gearbox.
3. Minimum of 25mpg.
4. Not diesel.
5. minimum seating requirement is 2+2
6. Not a rust bucket.
7. Age not really critical, condition is more important.
8. Budget is up to 12K although the less the better!.
9. Prefer something small and light. I love the feeling of lots of torque in a light shell.
10. Performance needs to be adequate – say 0 to 60 in around 9 seconds as a minimum.
11. Handling must be good to excellent.

Current thoughts include

1. 944 turbo
2. 928 manual.
3. Mk2 Golf GTi
4. 200SX
5. 964 carrera 2 or 4

Any other thoughts?

A Lotus Excel SE , Mine did 25mph as a daily driver, if you contact lotusbits he can get a Fuel Injection conversion fitted, to get more MPH, and trust me if you check the prices out for service and repair its cheap to run, PLUS no RUST !!!! check out www.lotusexcel.co.uk. for full spec and to buy a Good one for nuffing at present, then compare the price of running a 944 ect