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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 12:47:11 GMT
So, by some miracle I seem to be about to secure another job that would give me a prarrie canoeload more money and better opportunities   The downside? A 50 mile / 1 hour commute each way along booooring motorway-style roads.  Obviously I would like to use the 5 because: - it's awesome and roof-down motoring makes me happy - I haven't got any money to buy / tax / insure another car to gain perhaps another 10-20mpg but... - my head touches the roof so it will cripple me on rainy journeys, unless I spend £450+ on buying and modifying-to-fit the only comfy seat I've found (Racetech T1000) that would drop me low enough and support my fragile spine - I need to get my shocks/springs replaced (and have some mk2s in the kitchen, ready to go on), but if I'm doing that I want to do all the bushes and wishbones etc at the same time - so likely to spend a grand doing so. - is it really wise to be putting 20000+ high-speed, 5k rpm miles a year on a quarter-of-a-century old, 140k miles engine?? So... do I use the 5 and just get the suspension and a good service done for now? Or do I do banger-nomics and buy something cheap, wafty and diesel to run at fast motorway speeds each way while still giving good mpg? If the latter, suggestions please, gentleman!! |
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Post by josho on Oct 12, 2016 12:52:02 GMT
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Post by josho on Oct 12, 2016 12:56:09 GMT
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Post by Rickster on Oct 12, 2016 13:58:19 GMT
There are so many cheap good cars about seems a shame to turn the 5 into a GT which is what it never was,
Unless you were a midget and had a hard top
Just search for the nearest cheapest decent deal near you with MOT and thrash it down the motorway!!
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Post by qwackingduck on Oct 12, 2016 14:43:25 GMT
I done the same, used mine for a 100 mile round trip motorway and city stuff. After 6 months i hated it and sold it for a big bm.. I then regretted that and bought another 5 as a second car.
So i know have 2 cars, boring commuter car and the 5.
Buy a second car......
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Post by sandys on Oct 12, 2016 16:19:14 GMT
I did 100 miles daily in my mk3 for a while, No bother at all, quiet and comfy, not too fuel efficient, 34mpg tops, you are a bit small on the motorway amongst all the SUVs etc probably the biggest downside outside of comfort, so when being tailgated in the dark you're lit up by their headlights and you can not see much ahead as you are so low down.
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Post by Horney on Oct 12, 2016 16:23:10 GMT
Yeah I was hoping I could eek out 40mpg from my MK3 on a long run but it seems to hit a ceiling of mid 30's. I've got a 500mile round trip next monday with an early start. I shall see what sticking to the speed limit does (and keeping the roof up). I was hardly thrashing it before though. It's a tad disappointing really. I had a 2007 Civic Type R for a while and that would do 40mpg on a run and that thing pushed out 40 more bhp from the same displacement and weighed more. Just shows how amazing those typeR lumps were.
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 16:24:58 GMT
Hmmm... you may well all be right... Question is - is stuff like the Pug 406s actually fixable quickly and easily at home if something breaks? I can just about get my head round working on the 5 because we have all the picture and written guides, but I'm scared enough doing work with all that help, nevermind something with no manual, no Haynes manual, and little info online! I've even considered seeing if I can get a Fiat 500 on some £99 a month hire thingy - would be a slow as canoe version but alright once up to speed, easy to zip through traffic, and easy to fit into small parking spaces (which I think I'll need to do because I'll be being naughty and parking in residential streets). I was thinking at the weekend, actually - the missus has been banging on about getting another car (for no good reason  ), because apparently an early 90s Toyota that she puts no oil in, no water in, doesn't wash or clean, and never opens the bonnet, is 'expensive' to service for £200 once a year at MOT time (WTF??? ) and she wants something else. Because, you know, a mid-range, mid-2000s audi or something will be soooo much cheaper and soooo much more reliable ... Anyway, if she did want to get something, I could use her current car and be done with - reliable, decently quick (will sit at a ton with no issues), must do 35-40mpg I reckon... Lots of options, not so much decisiveness from me  lol |
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Post by Horney on Oct 12, 2016 16:29:12 GMT
Don't buy a mid 2000's Audi/VW expecting it to be reliable. It will be a money pit.
My money would be on a mid 2000s petrol Civic if you 're looking for a 2nd car. Like cockroaches those things, impossible to kill.
My MK1 was my daily for at least a year and was very reliable and pretty comfortable. The only issue is that one winter as a daily killed the body as I didn't get it undersealed.
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 16:59:40 GMT
Don't buy a mid 2000's Audi/VW expecting it to be reliable. It will be a money pit. Exactly my point to her!! Sadly lost on her - seemingly cars should run on thin air, never need servicing and never need cleaning... Anyway, the underseal aspect is one of my concerns running the 5 over winter - I don't have ready access to a hose to wash the underside off at the end of each trip and I'd rather not leave salt eating away for a week between washes. Japanese would definitely seem to be the way to go, though, I agree. Looking at this and am thinking it could be a good bet - shame it's not the 2.0 but might be a bit more economical. www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/toyota/celica/toyota-celica-mk4-st--------------------1997/6224154 |
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 17:25:44 GMT
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Post by Horney on Oct 12, 2016 18:40:40 GMT
Puma's a good shout but that one won't pass the next MOT. Looks frillier than a mk2 Mx5 that's been stored at the bottom of the Atlantic.
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 20:13:07 GMT
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 20:22:28 GMT
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Post by wannabe on Oct 12, 2016 20:25:24 GMT
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), because apparently an early 90s Toyota that she puts no oil in, no water in, doesn't wash or clean, and never opens the bonnet, is 'expensive' to service for £200 once a year at MOT time (WTF??? 
lol
