a bit of what car and a bit of find me a car please

[Dominic]

I'm really enjoying my Sport 135. It has pleasantly surprised me with it's pace (although it's not entirely standard). It may cost a bit more than something newer to run, (although I have recently heard of a few newer S2 owners having big repair bills),.. but it will not cost anything in depreciation. You are welcome to have a run in mine to get a feel of what they are like in comparison to what you are use to.

Golf would make a good complimentary car to the elise. I thought my GTi (Mk V) was a great car; but was not the cheapest to run for me. If you do much mileage, or like me have a slightly heavy right foot, a nicely specced diesel GT would be hard to beat, esp a 4x4.

[Edin430]

If you want comfortable convertible that would still give you oodles of fun it would have to be a Honda 2000 for me - always had a soft spot for them!

[campbell]

If you can afford it, get a toy and a barge. Trying to have one car that does it all will only end in tears, and expensive track day consumables bills!

We ran a Mk4 Golf with 3 doors while Eilidh was wee, and also for couple of years after James came along too. Worked out great, long doors and clever seat-folding meant swinging baby seat in and out was actually easier and you could clamber right in to face them if they needed a good talking to, sorry, bit of comforting

It was a GTi TDi 150 so the (low) fuel bill made up for the hovercraft handling

Alongside this was obviously our trusty (sic) S1 Elise, now 12 years young and remaining a total pleasure to drive. As is well documented on here, I've had to throw a few £££ at some key areas in the last 5 years and rely on the extreme benevolence of a number of SE'ers to help me or keep me right, but I would not change a thing. I'm not talented enough to need / appreciate any more power, so the horses she currently has are just plenty for my needs.

I've looked seriously at changing to a "modern" Elise S, 1.8 or 1.6, but not yet been tempted enough to take the plunge. As others have said, an S1 will not really depreciate any more...but it's a trade off on that vs maintenance costs of course.

And of course as has also been well documented, our family barge is now an Octavia estate in vRS spec with 170 TDI common rail motor, and it's a total peach. However it doesn't carry the cachet sought by the Audi brigade so very much a personal choice. But we are paying peanuts in finance for a very well built car which actually has a chassis worth pushing from time to time. It's had 1 service, 1 pair of tyres and 1 small bottle of oil in 30k miles. On depreciation, it's also worth more or less what we paid for it 2 years ago but that is another story.

If I had carte blanche choice I'd have an Alpina D3 Touring in the drive instead, or perhaps a Skoda Yeti, but these are things to aspire to when the new kitchen's paid for!

Enjoy the search, it's almost as much fun as the car(s).

Campbell

[Dicey]

Flip - looking to sell on my S1 (going back to one car to do it all... ), details are:

2000 S1, 17,000 miles, S2 suspension, Nautilus blue, tan leather. In the process of polishing and getting the original plate back on. PM me if you'd like further details, photos etc. Car based in Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

Mike.

[cstrachan]

Andy, you are welcome to have a shot of my VX, I am just along the road from your old place.

[Shug]

And of course as has also been well documented, our family barge is now an Octavia estate in vRS spec with 170 TDI common rail motor, and it's a total peach. However it doesn't carry the cachet sought by the Audi brigade so very much a personal choice. But we are paying peanuts in finance for a very well built car which actually has a chassis worth pushing from time to time. It's had 1 service, 1 pair of tyres and 1 small bottle of oil in 30k miles. On depreciation, it's also worth more or less what we paid for it 2 years ago but that is another story.

Sorry, remembered this old Sniff ad. Seemed apt (sorry)

[campbell]

LOL, that's classic, Shug, thanks for sharing!

Can't tick many of those boxes, although for a short while on our last holiday the interior did smell a bit like sick. And the seats are occasionally sticky but you can't beat Dettol Anti-bac spray for that

Interestingly several of those criteria could be applied to many an Elise in our number I guess...

Here is what I was thinking about earlier...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows ... ncept.html

And right back atcha...



Anyway sorry for thread drift Flip Flop!!

[j2 lot]

Thats looks really tasty Campbell - if it hits the showrooms like that it will sell like the proverbial hot cakes, hope it doesn't loose those looks by the time it gets to production.
( & further apologies to Flip Flop for thread drift continuation. )