I need some sensible suggestions for a daily driver. I don't have a daily commute as such, but I can do a lot of running about which racks up miles.

Just now I'm running an E46 328 coupe, it's everything I want and need in a daily driver apart from it won't give me more than 22MPG unless I take it on a long run. Since I'm just away to put a fresh MOT and tax on it it will be going very soon.

So what do I buy next? The way I see it my options are as follows

Keep the money and run my GT as a daily, but due to the weather here doing that will shorten the life of the bodywork etc and I'd rather keep it as purely a summer weekend driver.

Buy a cheap small runabout, like a 1.0 6n for example. But could I go from having 200bhp at my right foot to just 50?

Buy a 'warm hatch' kinda thing, like a 6n 16v AFH. I've had 4 in the past and I know what they can do, but I'm 26 now, should I really be screaming about in a low, loud Polo as a daily being constantly hassled by little boys in corsas wanting to prove a point?

Buy another E46 but just like a 318, same comfort, looks etc just less power, less fun, less sideways and more MPG. they say less is more??

Final option, screw budget, economy etc and just buy a BMW E39 540 V8

Open to other options or car suggestions. I am very biased towards BMW and VW but I am open to suggestions......but I don't want to spend more than £1500 on a car....

use the gt with the g40 lump in it a save up for something you really want

Mk4 golf gttdi, or anything across the vag range with the 1.9 tdi.

Reliable, comfy, decent mpg's and rack up the miles with ease.

To be fair, the bodywork will probably go downhill faster on a 6n than the GT.

Use the GT, keep it hosed off under the arches and enjoy it.

I can't really save for a car as I'm saving for a house, reason 1 for the £1500 budget.

Reason 2 for the £1500 budget is I really want a totally standard G40 as a daily, but if I get one then I'll possibly never have spare money to save for a house.

If I was to use the GT as a daily I'd put the 3F lump back in, as I want to rebuild the charger and experiment with turbo options too. So I ideally want the PY back in the G40 shell for that.

Another issue I have with using the GT as a daily is maintainance, if I need parts then the cheapest and quickest option is to nick what I need from the G40, which will push that project back. The last time any of the scrappies near my had a mk3 in was about 3 years ago! Yet they have shed loads of 6Ns in all the time.

A Mk4 GTTDI is an idea, I hate diesels with a passion but a mate of mine has a 2006 Fabia VRS which actually isn't all that bad to drive.....

Reading this sounds like a 6N is ideal. I can get 350 miles in a full tank costing me £57 in my 1.4 6N 8V. Parts are cheap and generally you can find a good little runner with low mileage for £1000 or less.

Polo 6n2 tdi, I've Had a g as a daily and it was painful.

I had a 6n2 tdi and it was great just not brilliant for long distances plus it didn't really Help me save money as I was always buying stuff for it m, I also had a GT and that was shocking for long distance (I loved that car the most tho).

I now have a golf 110 tdi, and don't get me wrong it's big, not that quick, a bit shit and not really my type of car, but that's a good thing as I don't have the urge to mod it and being in a similar situation to you that's a good as it saves me money.

And I would avoid the pd130 as it's a fantastic engine and you will start chasing power with maps, FMIC and so on.

So basically get something a bit shit and accept it for what it is lol.

Id go 6n 8v or 16v all the way I've just bought one of these for my daily commuter and its perfect enough miles to the gallon and enough power to overtake also all of the parts are cheap as chips to find and replace as theres tons at the local scrappys. 6n Gets my vote! :)

I'm in the same boat.

Daily is currently a E46 325 saloon and it does 25mpg.

I had a mk4 Golf TDi PD previously and as much as the BMW is a better car, the Golf economy was useful.

I'm tempted by a diesel E46 but can't help but think it'll take away some of the fun compared to a 6 pot petrol...

My opinion:-

For the same money as a decent 6n you could get something much, much better... Off the top of my head a B6 A4 TDi, a B5 Passat, Bora, mk3 Golf Hatch/Estate. The E46 318 is slow, dreadfully slow. The E39 540 is a good car, but doesn't really 'open up' until motorway speeds and being a big car is a bit pointless for 'running about'.

Edited 27 January, 201412 yr by ska_wars

I've been tempted by E46 diesels too, but they are so expensive to buy compared to the petrol alternatives.

I keep looking at Audis and thinking 'yes that would do me' but then I think back to my A3 1.8 turbo and A4 TDI Quattro and remember I never really liked them. They were good cars, but they were just cars, they weren't fun and inspiring, nor terrible and boring. They were cars that just got you there with no drama.

I need a bit of drama, whether it be something fun and exciting or something so bad its scary...but scary fun.

I've been tempted by E46 diesels too, but they are so expensive to buy compared to the petrol alternatives.

I keep looking at Audis and thinking 'yes that would do me' but then I think back to my A3 1.8 turbo and A4 TDI Quattro and remember I never really liked them. They were good cars, but they were just cars, they weren't fun and inspiring, nor terrible and boring. They were cars that just got you there with no drama.

I need a bit of drama, whether it be something fun and exciting or something so bad its scary...but scary fun.

I use my GT daily, doesn't bother me too much as if it rots I'll just sort it out.

Edited 28 January, 201412 yr by derskine

Decked on a set it banded steels that Lada would look awesome! Haha.

Agree, would quite like one to modify a bit, they are quite rare now though and demand a high price for what they are/were perceived as.

Edited 28 January, 201412 yr by derskine

I need a bit of drama, whether it be something fun and exciting or something so bad its scary...but scary fun.

I was going to suggest a Lada too, but for drama and daily use you want a Porsche...

hence this: http://www.oldrussiancars.com/category/cars/vaz-2103-porsche/

Oh wait that became the Lada 2106

Edited 28 January, 201412 yr by dvderlm

They were good cars, but they were just cars, they weren't fun and inspiring, nor terrible and boring. They were cars that just got you there with no drama.

But you've just defined a daily? I don't see the point in owning two cars that deliver the same thing... Small fun rattly hatch for fun, big comfortable quiet cruiser for daily.

Also,

I'll just leave that there...

Edited 28 January, 201412 yr by ska_wars

I've started a ladafest here, and it's making me want to purchase one...

I own 4 cars and the newest is my polo, old cars are just fine day to day.

Edited 28 January, 201412 yr by derskine

I'm tempted to find a Lada too just for a laugh haha. But I've to concentrate on my Polos as projects haha.

I really don't know what I'm going to do for a daily.

BMW will have a fresh ticket on it by the weekend so it will be up for sale after that. Anyone want an E46 328 Ci? Haha.

I think once its sold I'll run the GT for a bit and just take my time finding a daily. Unless I can live with running the GT.

Edited 29 January, 201412 yr by kwijibo_coupe

Only issue I've encountered driving the GT daily is when it's windy/rainy the car gets blown about quite a bit.

Otherwise great, fuel economy is good, and it's good to have a blast up the road on the way to/from work.