[F31-340i]

The mini has gone but replacing it with a good clk55 is proving trickier than I first thought, so looking at alternatives

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1292649.htm

this 3.0 caught my eye - less bother than a 3.2 or still a load of trouble?

Other options include e46 m3 (10k ish), or a 911 g50 (but not sure I'm thAt brave re rust & engine issues

thoughts? E36 avoid? I have a feeling it would be good cheap fun for occasional use, or are my specs too rose tinted?

[dxb335d]

Id avoid like the plauge. Winter coming and they dont have T/C. They break subframes if you drive hard and they are not very safe. 1.5 stars on Euro N-cap. brake pedal comes back 13 inches in an offset front collision = broken hip, leg, pelves etc etc.

I would stretch your budget and get the better E46 M3. Although for 10k not sure how good a car in that price range will be.

[trixman]

E30 M3, non-evo?

[Em135eye]

With £10k I'd be looking at something much more modest and reliable like a decent hot hatch.

A £10k M3/CLK55/whatever is going to be a sky high miler with £40k car running costs...

[creepy coupe]

Lot of car for the money, needs a thorough check, might be worth a punt

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Lot of car for the money, needs a thorough check, might be worth a punt

Yes, it did catch my eye - and looked quite tidy and original, though hard to tell from photos. So many E36s have been violated with eyebrows and stuff. It probably is a bad idea, but just seemed a tempting and interesting prospect for around £4k.

The M3s at £10k are at the bottom end, usually 02-03 with highish miles. Not convinced an E46 will be any more reliable than an E36 - though it is obviously a better car (used to have one).

The CLK55s are more dosh, typically £13-14k for post 03 coupes - +£2-3k for a cab, though the miles are usually quite modest (when you can find one!).

I'm really after more than 4 cylinders with lots of poke, which rules out many hot hatches. I am starting to wonder whether I shouldn't have kept the Cooper S though!

[peterg1965]

I have come full circle (almost) in my quest for another car.... from the CLK55 I have looked and researched successively; E60 M5 (too expensive to run on a modest budget), Porsche Boxster and 996 911 (again, expensive to maintain and a bit of a risk on a budget), Jaguar (X100) XKR Cab (affordable, f****g good looking but running costs again make me nervous) and now I have toned down my ambitions completely. I have started to look at Hot hatches, my budget has been cut back as I have to replace the GL320 'truck' in 4 months time. The replacement for that is almost certainly going to be a Volvo V70 2.4D R-Design Geartronic.

I am now looking at Golf GTIs, Civic Type R/S (new shape) for a car for me.

[F31-340i]

Further shortlist:

Looking at Pre-Mar06 cars - on basis that stuff with big / pokey engines after then is more likely to get whacked for tax as being >225g (no gtee that pre-Mar06 cars are totally safe of course)

Audi TT Mk1 - 05 - including Quattro Sport models with 240ps - looks quite dated but might be quite special to drive?

Audi TT Mk2 - V6s look interesting, but all 56 plate or later? Bit steep at £18+k

BMW Z4M coupe - still £20K, too new - all post Mar 06.

BMW e30 M3 - interesting, bit too old (yeah, I know, so is the E36 really)

350Z, mmm, maybe.

R32 - should like, but don't really, prefer the GTi, but only 4 pots..
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1274336.htm

Are these any good - not sure I could cope with interior.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1195242.htm

[peterg1965]

Have you sat in the Civic Type R? It is futuristic, bit whacky to some, but it works and it looks classy and a bit tasty. My neighbour has one. The Type R seats are Recaro jobs too. It is much better value than the Golf... maybe a bit 'laddish' though. I would be sorely tempted.

[F31-340i]

These are getting cheap - make similar CLK55s look expensive with cheap interiors

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1256615.htm

Know what you mean about laddish - I probably would have been dead keen on a civic 15 years ago!

[prt71]

My Gti Mk5 is my favourite car I have ever owned, a £375 remap (e-maps) has given it pretty huge performance, the interior is classy, and it's as fine on a motorway as it is when you feel like having fun. DSG is brilliant if you like autos. If you definitely want more than 4 cyl then not for you, but it's a nice sounding 4 pot, I get 33ish mpg as well.

I had a R32 for 3 months and while that engine sounded beautiful they are not much quicker and much heavier on fuel.

[F31-340i]

For gods sake stop me............

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1300325.htm

...I can actually see rust in one photo but I still want it.

[RockIt]

A classic...but likely to be a pain in the ass! If Porsche was still posting regularly she'd be doing the hard sell and have you signing on the dotted! DON'T DO IT!!!!

[gerbil_b]

If i had the money i know what id be getting............another Mk2 Escort (not RS2000) or a completely standard and original Escort Cossie.

[peterg1965]

Go on, you know it makes sense......