£20k Fun Daily, Any Suggestions?
Discussion
Hello all!
I'm lucky enough that by the summer I'll be 24 and I'll have around £20k (Ireland, so €23k).
I'm lucking for a fun daily, I commute on B roads, I could go the motorway, it's a little longer and I prefer nipping about.
I'm currently driving a Mk7 Golf 2.0 TDI, it's a good car, but it's a little on the boring side..
I came from a NB Mx-5 so that might explain it, the added power is nice, not gunna lie but I'd like something more sporty/engaging to drive.
Practicality isn't really a factor, the Golf came in handy a couple of times (transporting alloys and furniture) but I could have taken a parents car for that.
9/10 it's just myself and a backpack in the car.
Maybe 1 passenger, that's it.
I don't care much for features, sat nav, touch screen, heads up display, eh.
It just has to be engaging to drive, something built for B roads.
My ideal car is a Lotus Elise, but I can't afford one.. I can get insured on a later S2 (07 and up) but again, out of budget.
I want something that's fun to drive, FWD, AWD, RWD I don't really care.
I'd like to take it to cars and coffee, possible track days but mainly just driving it back and forth to work.
Mx-5 ND - Nice car, I'd have to go with an early ND and they can have problems.
I'm not set on a soft top, nice but it's not make or break for me.
BRZ/GT86 - €750 a year to tax per year over here which isn't ideal, nice car though, again early car which would need to have recall work done.
Mk7 Golf GTI - I like Golfs, I like my MK7 but it's not 'fun', and I don't know if the GTI will be.
I think it's a little too refined, if that's even a thing.
Mk7 Golf R - A little out of budget, 300bhp would make anyone giddy but again not sure on the fun factor.
Audi S5 3.0t - €1250 to tax, again not sure on fun factor.
Fiesta ST - I was originally going to buy one and I didn't.. Still not dead set on one but I'm seriously considering it.
Any suggestions?
Honestly, I'm wondering if I should just get my bike licence and keep my car.
I'm not sure what would kill me first the bike or my parents!
I'm lucky enough that by the summer I'll be 24 and I'll have around £20k (Ireland, so €23k).
I'm lucking for a fun daily, I commute on B roads, I could go the motorway, it's a little longer and I prefer nipping about.
I'm currently driving a Mk7 Golf 2.0 TDI, it's a good car, but it's a little on the boring side..
I came from a NB Mx-5 so that might explain it, the added power is nice, not gunna lie but I'd like something more sporty/engaging to drive.
Practicality isn't really a factor, the Golf came in handy a couple of times (transporting alloys and furniture) but I could have taken a parents car for that.
9/10 it's just myself and a backpack in the car.
Maybe 1 passenger, that's it.
I don't care much for features, sat nav, touch screen, heads up display, eh.
It just has to be engaging to drive, something built for B roads.
My ideal car is a Lotus Elise, but I can't afford one.. I can get insured on a later S2 (07 and up) but again, out of budget.
I want something that's fun to drive, FWD, AWD, RWD I don't really care.
I'd like to take it to cars and coffee, possible track days but mainly just driving it back and forth to work.
Mx-5 ND - Nice car, I'd have to go with an early ND and they can have problems.
I'm not set on a soft top, nice but it's not make or break for me.
BRZ/GT86 - €750 a year to tax per year over here which isn't ideal, nice car though, again early car which would need to have recall work done.
Mk7 Golf GTI - I like Golfs, I like my MK7 but it's not 'fun', and I don't know if the GTI will be.
I think it's a little too refined, if that's even a thing.
Mk7 Golf R - A little out of budget, 300bhp would make anyone giddy but again not sure on the fun factor.
Audi S5 3.0t - €1250 to tax, again not sure on fun factor.
Fiesta ST - I was originally going to buy one and I didn't.. Still not dead set on one but I'm seriously considering it.
Any suggestions?
Honestly, I'm wondering if I should just get my bike licence and keep my car.
I'm not sure what would kill me first the bike or my parents!
Boxster 987 2.9, PDK if it’s a daily.
I had Boxsters and used them every day. They are comfortable and surprisingly practical but importantly great fun when you want them to be. The 2.9 seems to be the sweet spot of the range. It was great to have an electric top you can use on the move (you have the roof off at every chance, which you wouldn’t so much in an Elise).
I had Boxsters and used them every day. They are comfortable and surprisingly practical but importantly great fun when you want them to be. The 2.9 seems to be the sweet spot of the range. It was great to have an electric top you can use on the move (you have the roof off at every chance, which you wouldn’t so much in an Elise).
pb8g09 said:
At 24 I'm guessing insurance may also play a part for a year or so?
Do you have any concerns on running costs or maintenance? - Otherwise your scope is absolutely massive from M3s and RS4s to Suzuki Swifts...
I'm expecting higher running costs and maintenance, so long as it's not a bottomless pit I'll be okay, I know that's quite broad but I'll have to look at the suggestions and narrow it down from there.Do you have any concerns on running costs or maintenance? - Otherwise your scope is absolutely massive from M3s and RS4s to Suzuki Swifts...
I can get insured on a lot of weirdly powerful cars, M240i, yep, M2 no.
New Supra 3L, Lotus Elise, Golf GTI/R all fine.
RS, M - Nope.
Anything older than 2004 is probably not going to happen, which rules out most S2000s (I can't find a newer one for the life of me).
Anything over a 3L is probably not going to happen, but I'll still consider it.
S5 3.0t is €1200 to tax, but so is a Megane RS250 Cup.. It's hard to justify anything over that, unless it was an R8 or something equally as mad.
So -
High running cost/maintenance are to be expected, no Ferrari/Porsche level repair costs, unless the car is cheaper than the budget.
Nothing over a 3L, probably.
Nothing older than 2004.
I'm just looking for suggestions I'll have to narrow them down from there anyway.
ollyh1988 said:
Boxster 987 2.9, PDK if it’s a daily.
I had Boxsters and used them every day. They are comfortable and surprisingly practical but importantly great fun when you want them to be. The 2.9 seems to be the sweet spot of the range. It was great to have an electric top you can use on the move (you have the roof off at every chance, which you wouldn’t so much in an Elise).
I would jump at the chance to own a Porsche but insurance won't allow it.I had Boxsters and used them every day. They are comfortable and surprisingly practical but importantly great fun when you want them to be. The 2.9 seems to be the sweet spot of the range. It was great to have an electric top you can use on the move (you have the roof off at every chance, which you wouldn’t so much in an Elise).
Even in my mothers name with me as a named driver I cannot get a quote.
Lincsls1 said:
Never driven a Boxster, but I reckon they might be a good shout.
I'd first do a bit of homework on them, then look to buy one around £15/16k leave a little in the bank for any unforeseen issues.
I spent a long time trying to get myself a porsche but insurance just won't alloy itI'd first do a bit of homework on them, then look to buy one around £15/16k leave a little in the bank for any unforeseen issues.
seanlaurent said:
You could be onto something!
If I can get a later one it might be feasible, that'll partly depend on the cost of importing because they're like hens teeth over here.
Are you on vx220.org or the facebook group?If I can get a later one it might be feasible, that'll partly depend on the cost of importing because they're like hens teeth over here.
e. Why a 'later' one? They were all made at around the same time.
FWIW said:
Are you on vx220.org or the facebook group?
e. Why a 'later' one? They were all made at around the same time.
Nope I'm not but I'll check them out.e. Why a 'later' one? They were all made at around the same time.
Simply down to insurance, the newer the car the cheaper for insurance over here, so an 06 Turbo vx220 is less than a little old 01 one.
I may have missed it but why the 2004 cut-off? You can get an earlier S2 Elise for within your budget though you have to be quite committed to use them as a daily. Well-looked after K-series cars are solid and the purists rate them over the Toyota-engined ones. They're also not expensive to run.
Other thoughts would be something from Renaultsport like a Megane Cup or BMW 1 series - a flavour of M sport if insurance precludes you from an M135/M140.
Other thoughts would be something from Renaultsport like a Megane Cup or BMW 1 series - a flavour of M sport if insurance precludes you from an M135/M140.
seanlaurent said:
Nope I'm not but I'll check them out.
Simply down to insurance, the newer the car the cheaper for insurance over here, so an 06 Turbo vx220 is less than a little old 01 one.
If you're worried about insurance why go for a turbo? there are only about 3 '06 turbos anyway (if that). Simply down to insurance, the newer the car the cheaper for insurance over here, so an 06 Turbo vx220 is less than a little old 01 one.
Have you had quotes from specialist/classic insurers?
seanlaurent said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Blimey...that is a lot in tax! 
It's a kick in the teeth.I'd have a RS250 Cup right now only for the €1250 a year.
I didn't realise cars were so expensive to tax where you are. It certainly limits what you can have for certain.
blueovercream said:
I may have missed it but why the 2004 cut-off? You can get an earlier S2 Elise for within your budget though you have to be quite committed to use them as a daily. Well-looked after K-series cars are solid and the purists rate them over the Toyota-engined ones. They're also not expensive to run.
Other thoughts would be something from Renaultsport like a Megane Cup or BMW 1 series - a flavour of M sport if insurance precludes you from an M135/M140.
It's just down to insurance, there are a handful of cars I can get insured on that are early 2000s but they're few and far between.Other thoughts would be something from Renaultsport like a Megane Cup or BMW 1 series - a flavour of M sport if insurance precludes you from an M135/M140.
After 04 seems to be when it's more likely I'll get insured on one.
I tried a lot of early S2 Elise and no good, found a 07 one that showed the reg and that was fine, 111s.
I came very close to buying a RS250 Cup but the €1250 tax put me off, plus the sub 30mpg wasn't ideal (with the big tax bill).
Some BMWs are reasonable, so a M240i is inexpensive to get insured on, but a 320d M sport is prohibitively expensive and not really what i"m after.
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