Need a change, something impractical...

quarryman

I'm bored with my Focus and want something a little more selfish. I've been eyeing up MR2s and coupes but have some restricting criteria.

I'm 25.
Do up to 300 miles a week (Limerick to Dublin on weekends)
Cost: Want to stay below 8000

As i said I really like the MR2 level of selfishness, but the MPG on them is barely 30 from what I've read.

Any other suggestions for a more exciting motor that won't dip below the already less than impressive 30MPG I get on the Focus?

thanks,
Q

Kersh

Nope, lost cause, performance cars use lots of petrol, thats why they are performance cars - I get 12-18 mpg from a 300zx - thats life, ya gotta pay if you want speed.
Plus, add a turbo to any coupe like an mr2, 300zx and the petrol costs skyrocket.

ando

yea i love the cupra but Im lucky to get 20mpg around the city

SouperComputer

Kersh wrote:

Nope, lost cause, performance cars use lots of petrol, thats why they are performance cars - I get 12-18 mpg from a 300zx - thats life, ya gotta pay if you want speed.
Plus, add a turbo to any coupe like an mr2, 300zx and the petrol costs skyrocket.

Aye, but grab a Catherham/lotus 7/Robinhood/Westfield with a 1.6/2.0 engine and you have a very quick car thats not so bad on juice! Most of them do 0-60 in less than 6sec easily, in fact most are probably a bit quicker than that.

1.6L, totally impractical, 100% FUN!

another example of inexpensive performance

rover V8 Engine!

Kersh

He would be doing well to get one for under 8k, and then insurance, in this country, an open top rocketship:) .... bend over son......

Mayshine

Deleted - didn't notice the 8k limit

SouperComputer

Kersh wrote:

He would be doing well to get one for under 8k, and then insurance, in this country, an open top rocketship:) .... bend over son......

The robinhoods are quite resonable. You could probably get a good one for around €6K landed. Insurance as you say, is another matter. There is a kit car club here that can help though.

quarryman

SouperComputer wrote:

1.6L, totally impractical, 100% FUN!

another example of inexpensive performance

rover V8 Engine!

maybe not that impractical

Deleted - didn't notice the 8k limit

I'd consider paying more if the car was right and i could sell it on eventually.

SouperComputer

hmm, probably looking at MX5 type territory then.

Kersh

Are you a hairdresser by any chance

phoenix_nights

I would have thought a MR2 wits light body would have good MPG.

Anyhow I would not look at MPG per se but COF. ? Cost of ownership. You might great mileage from a new Prius but depreciation and service costs will eat any advantages gained.

kluivert

Get a diesel lad and tune it.

quarryman

kluivert wrote:

Get a diesel lad and tune it.

I'm thinking that....

hmm, probably looking at MX5 type territory then.

i was thinking about them, defo need a job cutting hair with it though

Kersh

Mr2 arent that light, mate just got Tutbo 1994 one, 1300 odd kgs.....

Ernie Ball

The Mk I and Mk III MR2s are both very light. However, you won't be able to get the latter for under 8000 and you won't be able to find the former.;)

cantdecide

*rx7 Rx7 Rx7*

Kersh

Itll be off the road more than on it, horribly unreliable. Mate has one and in past 18 months its got new engine, new box, new loom, another new loom, and its gone again, the turbo went twice, and its really killing him. I did warn him though...

cantdecide

Kersh wrote:

Itll be off the road more than on it, horribly unreliable. Mate has one and in past 18 months its got new engine, new box, new loom, another new loom, and its gone again, the turbo went twice, and its really killing him. I did warn him though...

that's frightfully impracticle. how old is it., i know the late eighties one was notoriously unreliable

bazz26

You wouldn't get anywhere near 30mpg in your wildest dreams from the rotary engine anyway even if you drove like Mrs Daisy.

colm_mcm

miss daisy had a chauffer I think!

Kersh

Its a 92 fd3s, with a single turbo conversion, with Aem Ignition system and an Apexi power FC Commander. Boosts to 22 psi - an absolute rocketship - some of the time, for the rest its a piece of Veilside kitted art in the driveway

Mailman

Is that impractical enough for you?
saw a '99 2.0 prelude with tiny milage on carzone.ie for 8,000. earlier today.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=440362

And no I didn't go looking specially for you - I just got to thinking that with all the plate year snobbery out there it is possible to get modern design, low milage cared-for cars if you go back a bit in years.

Zascar

toyota supra

pburns

Fiat Barchetta (LHD though...)
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=444452

Mazda MX-3?
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=375636

You could go for an old model Hyundai Coupe if you're really desperate

ninty9er

Astra Bertone 1.8
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=260962

Ford Probe - Definately not practical (cousin's husband had one)
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=447562&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Ford%20Probe%2C%20Car%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=2247520&CFTOKEN=28864994

Ford Puma
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=413214

OK so they're not necessarily performance cars, but they're on the way there...

Audi Coupe 2.6 petrol guzzler
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=382777

Cougar
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=167464

theres loadsa Celica's in your price range on there too