What would you do?

[termietermite]

After a meeting today with the insurance company, I finally have a rough idea of the level of compensation I'm going to get.

This being France and there being laid down amounts for everything, it honestly isn't much.  However, I've long promised myself that I'll get a new set of wheels when the cheque comes through.

We currently run an ancient Fabia (11) whose clutch is on the brink of throwing in the towel for good and all and a Note which I bought with the cheque I received from the wreck of my Micra.  I now reckon I have a maximum of 25k€ to spend on car(s).  It's obvious I can't afford the Porsche I'd have loved but am tempted by a go-faster Renault.  A quick trawl around the net suggests that I could get a brand spanking new Clio RS for around 24k once I've paid all the new-car stuff (registration docets for a new one are about 1.7k plus another 1.3k as a tax disincentive to buying high performance cars here in France).  I've also found a Megane RS with 9k on the clock for 25k which of course involves none of the new car costs.

We could dump the old Skoda (rhd) and buy one of the above Renaults, or replace its clutch and get a new Megane RS and trade in the Note. 

What would you do?

Or maybe you've got a better idea for a bit of go-faster fun?  Bear in mind I have to have enough space to fit luggage plus a chair and/or mobility scooter into one vehicle or the other for long trips/holidays etc.

[Barry]

Bit off the wall, but if you need something big to take a mobility scooter, what about a used 2.5 S-Max, big car but it's got 225 hp under the bonnet, and handles amazingly well for it's size.
Fold down the rear seats, and it will take 2000L of luggage, or bails of straw.

[Brad Zarse]

Got to agree with Barry there actually - I drove a friends S-Max and was amazed at how well it handled for a car that has quite a high COG - excellent flexibility too - the seats do all sorts of configs dependant on what you're carrying.   

Personally, I'd find the cheapest garage possible, get the clutch plate replaced on the Fabia (don't worry about the rest) and keep it as a hacker - sell the note, buy an S-Max and keep the change for a lots of holiday fun. 

Or, I'd sell the Fabia and the note, buy the S-Max, and buy a small camper/RV to make the whole motor racing experience accessible and easy again.

[termietermite]

Great driving experience or not the idea of an SMax leaves me cold in this instance although maybe a little way down the line it would appeal.  I'd like a couple of years of something with a bit of image and a lot of poke.  I've yet to read a poor review of the Meganne (in RS form, I mean) and the Top Gear (written) review said it was also really tractable for everyday so it is tempting - especially as even with less than 10k on the clock the price drops into my range.

I'm still thinking about the future (the cheque won't be with me for a month or two anyway) but I think the Skoda will get its clutch as it's worth more to us alive (Mr T still loves to drive it) as dead it's worth nothing at all here since it's an rhd.

[Kristof]

If you're into a Megane RS, don't hesitate and buy one.  Since owning a performance car in Belgian means comitting a crime and paying unreasonably high taxes (thanks to the new government), a few friends of me bought an RS and they're all very happy with it.

Very nice as a daily driver, and useable on a trackday.  I've driven one a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised with it, and I'm a rwd addict.  Another car in that pricerange might be a Focus RS, which also is a great drivers car, but a thirsty one.   Bear in mind though that they won't have much space in the booth.  However, over here you can buy these cars without the back-seats (guess it should be able to get them like this in France also), which leaves you with a bigger boot but no more seats in the back.

Prices in Germany could be interesting too, most of the time lower than France.

[Lazy B'stard]

I will never buy a Renault again. The reliability is pants and the electrics are really bad (and this is coming from a serial Alfa owner!). We now keep a 10mm spanner in the door pocket of our Megane so we can disconect the battery every time the electric handbrake decides to stay on (which is at least once a week). Our local dealer couldn't solve the problem either.

With £25k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd throw a few quid at the Fabia to get it back in shape and use it as a daily hack and then go out and buy myself a nice depreciation free classic car for use when the weather is fine (which you will get over there more than we do over here). Buy well, look after it and you should make a few euro when you sell on in the future rather than loose all your money on a bland eurobox in ten years time.

£25k will buy you a lovely classic which will be the envy of all your CA friends. A good, well cared for mid 80's 911SC can be found inside your budget. I look after several up here and they are really bombproof and require little more than routine servicing.

You have had a shitty couple of years Termie. You want a Porsche, then go get one girl. You deserve it!

Si

[termietermite]

 
We're talking euros here, btw (thus £20k is more like it at today's rates, not 25.)

Given that we have rather less to play with than we envisaged, my main problem with an older classic (as much as my heart strings are being tugged) is what happens in the even of a problem.  Even second hand most of the high performance modern stuff here has at least a year's guarantee built in. 

Plenty of time for mulling.  Nice to dream.  I get alerts from the net on lhd Porkers in the UK so I haven't written the idea off altogether yet!

Thanks, Dottore, I will look at Germany.  Certainly they have a better selection of Porkers.  I didn't consider Renaults from there though as there are so many RSs on the website in France.  I'll give it a go.

[Grand_Fromage]

I had a series of three Renaut Espaces one after the other as company car during my days as a wage slave. They seemed pretty reliable, but of course (at that time) they were made by Matra and not Renault.

I will never buy a Renault again. The reliability is pants and the electrics are really bad...

[Kristof]

Thanks, Dottore, I will look at Germany.  Certainly they have a better selection of Porkers.  I didn't consider Renaults from there though as there are so many RSs on the website in France.  I'll give it a go.

Try mobile.de, also available in English.

[termietermite]

also available in English.

tfft

Cheers.  Will give it a go.

[Barry]

bmw z3m coupe?

[Grand_Fromage]

bmw z3m coupe?

But only if you are a dentist or a hairdresser :-)

[Barry]

bmw z3m coupe?

But only if you are a dentist or a hairdresser :-)

Although I would agree the ordinary z3 is a hairdressers car, I wouldn't include the M Coupe in that category.

[termietermite]

bmw z3m coupe?

But only if you are a dentist or a hairdresser :-)

I am neither.

Ms are another matter though, as Barry says.

[Grand_Fromage]

Not an entirely serious comment.. just trolling beemer weenies <grin>

Seriously though, if you fancy a porker you shouldn't rule out a tidy verging-on-classic 951 or 944S2. Again a bit of a teezy-weezy machine but a sound investment.

bmw z3m coupe?

But only if you are a dentist or a hairdresser :-)

I am neither.

Ms are another matter though, as Barry says.