Ocassional Use Weeked Car
Discussion
I am in the early stages of potentially looking for an occasional weekend car. The plan would be to leave it on my parents drive in the week and drive it once a fortnight when I visit. The car would not be used in the week and would live outside. It would probably only then do about 20 miles or so, with the occasional longer trip.
This might seem like a waste of time! But this plan would mean that my wife and dogs has use of the main car when I am playing golf for several hours on a Saturday. She has the flexibility to get out and about herself, if required.
I accept that this is an extravagance! I like cars, what can I say, and am looking to justify another toy.
I don't really want to spend masses, circa £2500, so I appreciate that I would be looking at a high ish mileage car. Nevertheless, I am looking for a reliable car that I can just get in and drive, and cart golf clubs and trolley in the back of. I don't want to spend short weekends fettling or repairing or waiting for the RAC!
Options appear to be:
Mini R53
Audi TT Mk1
Focus ST 170
Fiesta ST150
Am I mad? Is what I am looking for possible on my budget? What to look for? Any Indy specialists in the Kings Lynn area for servicing, or would most competent garages be ok.
I would want the car to be reasonably fun to drive and not lose too much in depreciation, although I am likely to keep it a while.
As this is the MINI forum I expect the R53 to be the popular recommendation but anyone got objective views; anyone owned any of the above options?
Any thoughts? Cheers.
This might seem like a waste of time! But this plan would mean that my wife and dogs has use of the main car when I am playing golf for several hours on a Saturday. She has the flexibility to get out and about herself, if required.
I accept that this is an extravagance! I like cars, what can I say, and am looking to justify another toy.
I don't really want to spend masses, circa £2500, so I appreciate that I would be looking at a high ish mileage car. Nevertheless, I am looking for a reliable car that I can just get in and drive, and cart golf clubs and trolley in the back of. I don't want to spend short weekends fettling or repairing or waiting for the RAC!
Options appear to be:
Mini R53
Audi TT Mk1
Focus ST 170
Fiesta ST150
Am I mad? Is what I am looking for possible on my budget? What to look for? Any Indy specialists in the Kings Lynn area for servicing, or would most competent garages be ok.
I would want the car to be reasonably fun to drive and not lose too much in depreciation, although I am likely to keep it a while.
As this is the MINI forum I expect the R53 to be the popular recommendation but anyone got objective views; anyone owned any of the above options?
Any thoughts? Cheers.
E-bmw said:
Taxi will cost much less over the year & if you get stuck at the 19th no problem.
Thanks for your help. Getting a taxi in that part of Norfolk would be virtually impossible. And a car would he used on other occasions, too, inc fun drives out along the coast or back roads.Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 29th January 15:51
I did the same,
Bought a R53 mini 2006 CHeckmate with 58k on the clock.
Fantastic car, so much fun.
I store it in my workshop and take it out in the dry at weekends.
I had a G4 link ECU fitted, so I can now club my laptop into the ECU and tune it for over run, traction control, etc. ITs a great hobby car
Bought a R53 mini 2006 CHeckmate with 58k on the clock.
Fantastic car, so much fun.
I store it in my workshop and take it out in the dry at weekends.
I had a G4 link ECU fitted, so I can now club my laptop into the ECU and tune it for over run, traction control, etc. ITs a great hobby car
and31 said:
And if you can get a decent R53 within your budget ,that will be even better fun
What defines a “decent R53”?This place has 3 for sale in my price range and not far from me:
http://www.jsperformancecars.co.uk/used-cars/mini
Anyone know them? They also have an Audi TT mk1 for comparison.
Can't seem to find an address for them or post code to search AT where you are but, if it were my money, none of them.
If your budget allows you want an 05/06 Chili pack car with the LSD/168bhp/multifunction wheel.
But that is just my 2p & that is what I bought.
Having said that, are they not a bit over-complex for an occasional user?
If it were me I would find it hard to argue against an ST150 Fiesta.
Not a lot in the performance between them but much simpler car and with better economy & tax.
If your budget allows you want an 05/06 Chili pack car with the LSD/168bhp/multifunction wheel.
But that is just my 2p & that is what I bought.
Having said that, are they not a bit over-complex for an occasional user?
If it were me I would find it hard to argue against an ST150 Fiesta.
Not a lot in the performance between them but much simpler car and with better economy & tax.
They did a facelift after 2004 with option on LSD, some had LSD as standard on the Facelift. some people say it was a free option but you had to tick the box ?
The Checkmate edition was LSD as standard though. So aim for a 2005 or 2006 R53 and enjoy the whine of that Supercharger - once you drive one you will be addicted !
The Checkmate edition was LSD as standard though. So aim for a 2005 or 2006 R53 and enjoy the whine of that Supercharger - once you drive one you will be addicted !
If you want to put things in it, I wouldn't bother with a Mini. I once put a shopping bag in mine and it was almost completely full lol. Seriously though, it's the smallest boot you can find... one of the worst things about the car. To be honest, a TT isn't much bigger.
Focus is a good shout but obviously older than the Fiesta. Can you get facelifts for your price range? I think they look a lot better.
Have you considered a Clio 182? Better car out the box imo (if you're not interested in modifying) and bigger than a Mini!
Focus is a good shout but obviously older than the Fiesta. Can you get facelifts for your price range? I think they look a lot better.
Have you considered a Clio 182? Better car out the box imo (if you're not interested in modifying) and bigger than a Mini!
All good points, thanks, particularly the point about complexity and space.
With the TT and the mini, as long as i can fold thecrear seats flat (they wont ever be used) then I can get all my golf stuff in.
I am not a fan of the Clio. Not rational, but there you go.
Fiesta or Focus are good recomends. Thanks for the objective views.
With the TT and the mini, as long as i can fold thecrear seats flat (they wont ever be used) then I can get all my golf stuff in.
I am not a fan of the Clio. Not rational, but there you go.
Fiesta or Focus are good recomends. Thanks for the objective views.
andy97 said:
I am in the early stages of potentially looking for an occasional weekend car. The plan would be to leave it on my parents drive in the week and drive it once a fortnight when I visit. The car would not be used in the week and would live outside. It would probably only then do about 20 miles or so, with the occasional longer trip.
This might seem like a waste of time! But this plan would mean that my wife and dogs has use of the main car when I am playing golf for several hours on a Saturday. She has the flexibility to get out and about herself, if required.
I accept that this is an extravagance! I like cars, what can I say, and am looking to justify another toy.
I don't really want to spend masses, circa £2500, so I appreciate that I would be looking at a high ish mileage car. Nevertheless, I am looking for a reliable car that I can just get in and drive, and cart golf clubs and trolley in the back of. I don't want to spend short weekends fettling or repairing or waiting for the RAC!
Options appear to be:
Mini R53
Audi TT Mk1
Focus ST 170
Fiesta ST150
Am I mad? Is what I am looking for possible on my budget? What to look for? Any Indy specialists in the Kings Lynn area for servicing, or would most competent garages be ok.
I would want the car to be reasonably fun to drive and not lose too much in depreciation, although I am likely to keep it a while.
As this is the MINI forum I expect the R53 to be the popular recommendation but anyone got objective views; anyone owned any of the above options?
Any thoughts? Cheers.
I'm not sure any car maker sets out to make an unreliable car. And at this price point it's all a bit of a lottery, as any car can have issues.This might seem like a waste of time! But this plan would mean that my wife and dogs has use of the main car when I am playing golf for several hours on a Saturday. She has the flexibility to get out and about herself, if required.
I accept that this is an extravagance! I like cars, what can I say, and am looking to justify another toy.
I don't really want to spend masses, circa £2500, so I appreciate that I would be looking at a high ish mileage car. Nevertheless, I am looking for a reliable car that I can just get in and drive, and cart golf clubs and trolley in the back of. I don't want to spend short weekends fettling or repairing or waiting for the RAC!
Options appear to be:
Mini R53
Audi TT Mk1
Focus ST 170
Fiesta ST150
Am I mad? Is what I am looking for possible on my budget? What to look for? Any Indy specialists in the Kings Lynn area for servicing, or would most competent garages be ok.
I would want the car to be reasonably fun to drive and not lose too much in depreciation, although I am likely to keep it a while.
As this is the MINI forum I expect the R53 to be the popular recommendation but anyone got objective views; anyone owned any of the above options?
Any thoughts? Cheers.
Something being left for 2 weeks at a time, you'll want a good battery or a way of charging the battery while not in use maybe.
And at an estimated 480 miles a year, one may question if it's a worthwhile investment. Maybe just look for a £100-500 banger. When you factor in tax, MoT and insurance. The cost per mile for 480 miles a year is probably horrific.
300bhp/ton said:
And at an estimated 480 miles a year, one may question if it's a worthwhile investment. Maybe just look for a £100-500 banger. When you factor in tax, MoT and insurance. The cost per mile for 480 miles a year is probably horrific.
I am sure that it would be used for more than 480 miles a year, and you also have to pay for convenience/ capabilities that we dont currently have, and which restricts us.Yes, its a (small) luxury, but i can afford the purchase price and annual costs. Is not exotica, after all. I am not saying it is sensible but who cares about sensible?!
A £1k Focus 1800 might be an even less expensive luxury but will it deliver same enjoyment?
Edited by andy97 on Thursday 31st January 17:12
For your budget i think you would be buying a money pit if you spent £2500 on a Mini or TT, we have an R55 and F57 Mini, bith Cooper S's, we also have a Mk1 TT Roadster. If i was going to run from Wells up to Hunstanton I would take the F57 and have the roof down if it was a nice sunny day, if it was damp and i wanted to drive rather than pose it would be the R55 (they steer so much better than the F series) The R53's steer even better and are more like proper Mini's, however i think i would still take an R56, but not at your budget.
The TTs, they are not fun at all.
The Fiesta ST, great little cars, the driving position is a little high but they handle well and go well enough, the Focus, i owned a Mk1.5 TDCi and really liked it, the ST170 might suffer from corrosion issues and good ones hard to find, i've only been passenger in one and it felt good from the passenger seat.
The other option if you wanted to spend less and have fun would a Ford puma. We owned one before the Puma and they are seriously good fun.
The TTs, they are not fun at all.
The Fiesta ST, great little cars, the driving position is a little high but they handle well and go well enough, the Focus, i owned a Mk1.5 TDCi and really liked it, the ST170 might suffer from corrosion issues and good ones hard to find, i've only been passenger in one and it felt good from the passenger seat.
The other option if you wanted to spend less and have fun would a Ford puma. We owned one before the Puma and they are seriously good fun.
CrippsCorner said:
If you want to put things in it, I wouldn't bother with a Mini. I once put a shopping bag in mine and it was almost completely full lol. Seriously though, it's the smallest boot you can find... one of the worst things about the car.
Eeerm, really? Bit more than a shopping bad in there old son. 
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