"Interesting" Daily Driver
Discussion
Hi all. So I've always owned what I would consider "interesting" daily drivers. From classic Mustang to Triumph GT6 to 2018 Mustang to late model Rover Mini Cooper Sport. The mini is great and the kids love doing the school run in this but after nearly 2 years I'm starting to get that petrolhead "itch" for something else. My requirements are:
Needs to be ideally under around 10K
Fairly reliable (I do use it for everything including shopping, gym, work, school run)
Not too tricky to fix and OKish to get parts for
Something with a bit of a "wow" factor on sight
Bonus if:
something large enough to take 2/3 kids (3rd on the way and 3 might be an ask to be fair as most modern 5 seaters can't do this)
relatively cheap to tax/insure
What I liked about the Mini (apart from the awesome driving experience) was people love them and it looks like a classic but of course was only made 24 years ago. Performance isn't really an issue as I just love driving something "different"
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Needs to be ideally under around 10K
Fairly reliable (I do use it for everything including shopping, gym, work, school run)
Not too tricky to fix and OKish to get parts for
Something with a bit of a "wow" factor on sight
Bonus if:
something large enough to take 2/3 kids (3rd on the way and 3 might be an ask to be fair as most modern 5 seaters can't do this)
relatively cheap to tax/insure
What I liked about the Mini (apart from the awesome driving experience) was people love them and it looks like a classic but of course was only made 24 years ago. Performance isn't really an issue as I just love driving something "different"
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
£10k gives you so many options!
I can't really give a recommendation but my daily car which my other half uses is a Saab 9-3 convertible and my kids absolutely love it with the roof down. I know not everyone likes a Saab but I have to say, driving with the roof down definitely adds something extra on the nice days.
I can't really give a recommendation but my daily car which my other half uses is a Saab 9-3 convertible and my kids absolutely love it with the roof down. I know not everyone likes a Saab but I have to say, driving with the roof down definitely adds something extra on the nice days.
Rotary Potato said:
...Toyota GT86...
This was my first thought. Not sure how well 3 kids would fit in the back, but if you've been using a classic Mini they you might be fine.Otherwise, a well specced new MINI or Abarth 500/595/695/etc. would be the modern equivalent of an older Mini.
Left field suggestion, as I had one and it always got complements from randoms - Nismo Juke RS.
Cheers for the suggestions so far, probably gunna come across as a right picky PITA but thoughts are below:
Saab 9-3 convertible- my kids would love a convertible but I just can't see myself in one in this country as a daily, not enough of a chance to use it in it's roof down form.
Mazda RX8- never had much affection for these not sure why. I also used to work in Halfords as a kid and remember back then people coming in for lots of oil all the time , I know it was designed to burn some to a degree but it just went against it for me.
Porsche Boxster S 986- not a huge fan sadly, admire them as performance cars, only Porsche i would have is the Cayman or a 356 if the lottery numbers came up
Toyota GT86- doesn't feel "different" enough to me (sorry to any owners, just my opinion)
a well specced new MINI or Abarth 500/595/695/etc- sadly again, doesn't feel "different" or rare enough. I know there are some great examples from a few meets I've been to but I'm after "different" over performance
Nismo Juke RS- sadly not a fan
R55 Mini Clubman JCW- although great cars sadly doesn't feel "different" enough, plus a bit over my budget.
Like i say not really bothered about performance or speed, something a bit left field and head turning is my bag really. I was thinking S197 Bullit Mustang but these come up so rarely as not many in the country and are often more like 15-20k. An older Jag might do but not sure.
thanks again
Saab 9-3 convertible- my kids would love a convertible but I just can't see myself in one in this country as a daily, not enough of a chance to use it in it's roof down form.
Mazda RX8- never had much affection for these not sure why. I also used to work in Halfords as a kid and remember back then people coming in for lots of oil all the time , I know it was designed to burn some to a degree but it just went against it for me.
Porsche Boxster S 986- not a huge fan sadly, admire them as performance cars, only Porsche i would have is the Cayman or a 356 if the lottery numbers came up
Toyota GT86- doesn't feel "different" enough to me (sorry to any owners, just my opinion)
a well specced new MINI or Abarth 500/595/695/etc- sadly again, doesn't feel "different" or rare enough. I know there are some great examples from a few meets I've been to but I'm after "different" over performance
Nismo Juke RS- sadly not a fan
R55 Mini Clubman JCW- although great cars sadly doesn't feel "different" enough, plus a bit over my budget.
Like i say not really bothered about performance or speed, something a bit left field and head turning is my bag really. I was thinking S197 Bullit Mustang but these come up so rarely as not many in the country and are often more like 15-20k. An older Jag might do but not sure.
thanks again
Edited by John2502 on Thursday 6th June 13:38
Haha, I actually quite like that, there's amodern "Herbie" beetle down our road although it's pretty rough round the edges and need a bit of TLC as well as a pristine black one that they occasionally drive. But you're right you rarely see them around. Had a quick look and cheapest Dune one i could find quickly was 15K.
I'd have a classic one, or maybe one of the newer Mexican imported ones, although I've heard some report the overall driving experience being..... far from enjoyable in those. haha.
I'd have a classic one, or maybe one of the newer Mexican imported ones, although I've heard some report the overall driving experience being..... far from enjoyable in those. haha.
How about a big barge? I've got three kids, and I find they make great family cars and my kids absolutely love them.
Current family smoker is a Jaguar X351 XJ Supersport, previously had a soot chucker version, and before that it was a Mercedes S600 twin turbo V12 that even had a proper fridge in the back for extra family friendliness.
The XJ is particularly good because it drives so well for a big car, even as a diesel. Plenty of Portfolio spec cars available for your budget or less.
Here is the current one on family misery duties last year.
And the S600 with a roofbox I rescued from a skip
Current family smoker is a Jaguar X351 XJ Supersport, previously had a soot chucker version, and before that it was a Mercedes S600 twin turbo V12 that even had a proper fridge in the back for extra family friendliness.
The XJ is particularly good because it drives so well for a big car, even as a diesel. Plenty of Portfolio spec cars available for your budget or less.
Here is the current one on family misery duties last year.
And the S600 with a roofbox I rescued from a skip
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Thursday 6th June 14:54
Truckosaurus said:
GeniusOfLove said:
How about a big barge?
Mercedes CLS seem to be good value, although I think some (all?) are only 4-seaters.It's fine, feels just like a twenty year old E Class to drive because that's what it is, it's just a slightly more inconvenient E Class so I can't see any reason you'd get even slightly excited about or interested in one as anything other than a cheap smoker.
There is a chasm of difference between these mid market executive cars and a full sized and properly spec'd out big barge.
Sycamore said:
Jeep Wrangler 
Your kids would love a convertible, and just because you have the option doesn't mean you MUST have the roof down.
Yeah I'd love a wrangler but they just seem to hold their value so well that finding one within budget that looked half decent is tricky. There's a nice Jurassic park themed one on autotrader currently! Again, kids would love that.Your kids would love a convertible, and just because you have the option doesn't mean you MUST have the roof down.
True about the convertible, just feels a waste and (again sorry if this upsets anyone) i can't think of many cars that look decent with the roof up. (sorry!)
The Alfa Gulia looks good and is rare enough to be interesting, as well as being a good RWD drivers car.
In diesel or even 200 bhp petrol form they are a short haggle away from your budget.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405230...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405270...
The Maserati Ghibli is also an interesting choice with diesels nearing £10k.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405270...
The Jaguar XF sportbrake with a V6 diesel engine is a welcome change from standard German fare.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...
The Volvo V60 Polestar is not as good looking but AWD and 330 bhp petrol.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406020...
In diesel or even 200 bhp petrol form they are a short haggle away from your budget.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405230...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405270...
The Maserati Ghibli is also an interesting choice with diesels nearing £10k.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405270...
The Jaguar XF sportbrake with a V6 diesel engine is a welcome change from standard German fare.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404038...
The Volvo V60 Polestar is not as good looking but AWD and 330 bhp petrol.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406020...
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