I won a new car!!! And am 'Young Driver of the year'

[pentoman]

Hi guys,

Having recently posted a 500E vs 16v topic, and thinking 'yeah right, like I'll be able to afford one even in 5 years' I came into some money.

Autocar magazine (a big & well respected car enthusiast magazine in England & europe - some US members may know it) hold an annual competition for 'Young Driver of the Year'. Well, I entered and (long story short) spent last weekend driving around in many SEAT Ibizas (thats a car) against 31 other finalists, and won a new car!!

I spent a few days beforehand Mercedes-less using a Volkswagen Polo 16v - a hot hatch similar to but a little smaller than a Golf GTi:


as it is similar size and identical engine to the SEAT I would compete in.
I pick up the car I won in a few days - an Ibiza 1.4 16v Sport, FTR it looks like this:





It's quite funky, and SEAT cars are in fact owned, engineered and built by Volkswagen but aimed at a more 'young, stylish, sporty' marketplace using VW technology, and in some cases create far better cars than the VWs they are based upon.


So, here I am, with a big grin on my face, and lots of questions..

I'll probably sell the car and have up to £10,000 to spend.
I liked using the Polo recently, nice handling and much more fun to drive quickly about than my 190E, nice 16v engine, but without the refinement or quality I enjoy in the MB. So looking to match both, I have a shortlist:
I like the Porsche 968:





I don't know if this has too little refinement or luxury for me, i don't want a hard ride and this may be a problem.
I'm not interested in any other Porsche (924 & 944 cheap & old, 911 expensive to run, 928 totally inappropriate)


A 190E-16v has always been on my mind, and this money would get me a mint condition late '92 2.5-16v.

But, the killer is, I've seen 2 500E's with specialist dealers for £9,995, but dont know if one might prove too expensive to run, and also wether it will have the fun of the 16v or Porsche.


so.. any ideas? Any other cars to throw in?

thanks!


Russ

[suginami]

I like the idea of a 190E-16 Valve. Terrific power, wonderful reputation for handling, durability, longevity, etc. They've probably depreciated as much as they will, and have a good shot at maybe gaining in value some day.

I also like what was badged in the U.S. as a 190E 2.6 Sportline.

With gasoline as expensive as it is in the U.K., I wouldn't want to keep filling up the tank on a 500E.

You might consider a C280 Sportline, but I'm not sure if they've come down enough in price, yet.

[Bear]

Russ,congratulations on winning the competition.Personally I'd steer clear of the 190 over here 'cos the boy racer's tend to get them and mess about with them.If you know what I mean?One Brit to another.How about a 300 or 500se or how about an sec.Bear

[kerry]

How about a nice (James Cook?) Mercedes conversion van to rival your dad's motorhome/horse carrier?

Congrats!!

I drove a SEAT around Spain a few years back. Didn't know they were really VW's. Great fun car!!

How about an E34 BMW, either 535i or M5?

Yeah, fuel consumption will be a little high with British fuel prices, but cool cars, nonetheless.

-Sam

[Lebenz]

Russ,

Way to go!!!!

Ever thought about a Lotus Europa?

[pentoman]

Thanks for the congrats guys,

Originally posted by mbz380se
How about an E34 BMW, either 535i or M5?

Yeah, fuel consumption will be a little high with British fuel prices, but cool cars, nonetheless.

-Sam

The fuel consumption isn't a big problem (I am considering a 500E!)
I've driven this 5-series, but found it very dated and low-rent inside, and it's not particularly elegant IMO. I'd live with that in an M5, but BMW M parts are very expensive, and an old M5 is fairly high risk compared to the nearly bullet-proof 500E/E500.
I can stretch to the previous generation (E36) M3 (probably 280hp 3.0, not Evo 3.2), but it is very hard riding, yet doesn't compare to a 968 to drive.

I can also stretch to C36 AMG prices, which is tempting besides the costs and W202 comparatively poor build quality.

Originally posted by Lebenz
Russ,
Way to go!!!!
Ever thought about a Lotus Europa?

Tracy, I have thought about many Lotus' before, though I prefer the original Elan (see THIS THREAD but they are terribly unreliable, and possibly too compromised, and I'm in need of a daily driver. Very nice suggestion as a second car though..

Has anyone on the board owned a four-cylinder Porsche? Are they expensive to run?

I wish Mercedes' newer cars felt as nice inside as a 190E/300E, a C280 would be a very obvious choice if they were.

thanks!

[Limited Edition]

All the info on the 968 is HERE

Regards,

Don

[pentoman]

Thanks for that.. thats a very helpful site!

[jjrodger]

There was just the article for you in Mercedes Enthusiast a couple of months back: "What to buy for £10k".

The 500E didn't make it, although you will probably be able to get one for 10k. MCP Motorsport have one at 13k and Rowan Atkinson's former 500E is for sale privately for 10k (again, see Merc Enthusiast).

From memory the recommended cars were 500/560SEC, 350SEL 6.3, 190E 2.5-16, some even older coupes (was it the W111?), and 450SLC 5.0.

500E would be top of my list! If you want I can dig the article out and post/fax you a copy.