£10k daily driver (but not boring)

£10k daily driver (but not boring)

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Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
I seem to do this every year without fail but here we are.

My last few cars have been the PH 'Spotted' Mk1 Octavia estate with TT running gear, a(nother) Clio 182 Cup, my third... A Peugeot 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport and currently a Porsche Cayman 2.9.

I'm bored, again.

I just have no idea what to buy, I've been looking for a while and nothing has piqued my interest. I think the problem is I've got no real criteria, I've got a project on the go which will replace the Cayman as the fun car, so I need something which I can comfortably use every day if I need to, but doesn't just suck the soul out of me every time I drive it.

There are only two definite must haves - Aircon, and I'd like something which will do at least 35mpg on a run. I suppose there's actually 3, I don't want something which is likely to break down every 5 minutes.

Other than that I have no clue.

I've considered S3s, TTs, Golfs, Sciroccos, Leon Cupras, a VW Phaeton, various Jags, Clio and Megane Sports, a Skoda Superb, BMW 1s, 3s, 5s, even a 7 (for some reason, BMW insurance is absolutely insane right now, so they're probably off the list) Volvo XC70, plus loads more I've probably forgotten about.

Time is running out though, I've got maybe 5 weeks to find something and make sure it's in tip top shape before my holiday.

So once again, I'd appreciate any suggestions at all.

[Edit - £10k is the maximum by the way, I have no issue spending less!]

Edited by Robmarriott on Monday 10th June 20:31

InformationSuperHighway

6,482 posts

191 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
Luxo-barge to compliment the track / weekend toy?

S Class / 7 / A8 / Lexus?


Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
InformationSuperHighway said:
Luxo-barge to compliment the track / weekend toy?

S Class / 7 / A8 / Lexus?
Yeah, that's sort of what I was thinking. My plan is to buy something now to replace the Cayman, which I'll then sell, which will free up some money to pay for the engine build in my Mk2 Golf, which can then replace the Cayman as something fun to use. Proper Man Maths.

I've considered a 730d, a 3.0 TDI Phaeton and an A8 with the same engine, two flavours of Jag XJ but hadn't looked at the Lexus.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
My mate suggested a late XJ like those. I don’t know if I like the way they look or not. The front is good but the rear I’m not convinced.

That shape A8 is also something I’ve considered. Not sure about the front on those though.

What I will say is that I’m not 100% dead set on a barge. Most of my mileage is alone and so having all that extra space is a bit redundant.

That said, I’ve had several estate cars while being in the same situation so I’m happy either way I suppose.

A mk3 TT is high on the list, mainly because the interior is cool, especially the virtual cockpit with the nav where the dials are.

I’d also consider a mk1 S3 if I could find one in the right colour. That’s the wildcard.

Shappers24

852 posts

93 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Mk3 TT seems like a fair bit of car for the money at the moment, especially if you’re happy with the fwd manual models. Quattro prices still holding firm

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
I’ve mostly seen FWD TDI models in my price range but that’d be fine. Same engine as my old 2015 Octavia VRS and that was decent enough to live with.

Brett748

951 posts

173 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Megane 250 at that price will suffer minimal depreciation, they’re fundamentally reliable and an amazing drivers car.

ZX10R NIN

28,351 posts

132 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Also consider the Astra GTC VXR, they're a cracking drivers car but you can also slacken off the suspension so they'll daily with ease:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

E500 coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405310...

village24

76 posts

66 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
635D

Comfortable and with that budget you should find one with great spec.

286bhp standard and easily able to achieve 350+ with a few tweaks. Build quality is brilliant and surprisingly mine which is standard is returning 45 on a motorway run and averaging 40 overall

Silvanus

6,011 posts

30 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Abarth 500

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Also consider the Astra GTC VXR, they're a cracking drivers car but you can also slacken off the suspension so they'll daily with ease:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

E500 coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405310...
Big fan of the way the GTC looks but £1000 for a pair of front discs and the horror stories about those M32 gearboxes means a definite no from me (same as the brakes on the Insignia too)

I’m not keen on the Merc. A facelifted Saloon maybe but not keen on the early cars.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Brett748 said:
Megane 250 at that price will suffer minimal depreciation, they’re fundamentally reliable and an amazing drivers car.
High ish on the list but I’m fussy, I only like the facelifted cars and that limits my options. There’s one which looks great on eBay, has leather recaros etc… but the engine light is on.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
village24 said:
635D

Comfortable and with that budget you should find one with great spec.

286bhp standard and easily able to achieve 350+ with a few tweaks. Build quality is brilliant and surprisingly mine which is standard is returning 45 on a motorway run and averaging 40 overall
Not sure if they’re a theft magnet but any BMW with a bigger engine is twice as much to insure than my Cayman, for some reason.

I really wanted a 640d but just can’t bring myself to pay the money to insure one. 5s are no better either.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Silvanus said:
Abarth 500
I’ve considered it and I need to try one again. Not sure about the long trip in one though.

Silvanus

6,011 posts

30 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Robmarriott said:
Silvanus said:
Abarth 500
I’ve considered it and I need to try one again. Not sure about the long trip in one though.
I did some really big trips in mine, I actually really enjoyed it. Obviously not as comfy as doing it in a big barge, but not as boring either

Belle427

9,728 posts

240 months

Wednesday 12th June
quotequote all
Golf R32 maybe but a TT probably makes more sense.

ColdoRS

1,845 posts

134 months

Wednesday 12th June
quotequote all
I was in the same position recently, needed something cheap for the missus to run around in as we were running into logistical issues only having one car between us.

I wanted something ‘interesting’ but also practical and cheap, ended up with a BMW i3S.

This involved budget creep(£15k) but there were some available cheaper.

May not be your thing but thats where the wheel landed for me.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Wednesday 12th June
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Golf R32 maybe but a TT probably makes more sense.
R32 probably too thirsty to be honest. TT is on the list, possibly a TDI mk3 but I don’t dislike the mk2 either and a TTS would fit the bill quite nicely I think (likewise a Golf GTI)

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

165 months

Wednesday 12th June
quotequote all
ColdoRS said:
I was in the same position recently, needed something cheap for the missus to run around in as we were running into logistical issues only having one car between us.

I wanted something ‘interesting’ but also practical and cheap, ended up with a BMW i3S.

This involved budget creep(£15k) but there were some available cheaper.

May not be your thing but thats where the wheel landed for me.
Love the i3 but I live in a flat and there’s no possible way to charge it at home, or work.