Couple of questions on ownership if I may..

[PJD]

Hi, I am considering ownership, - was hoping some helpful people might answer a couple of things for me?

I'll be using it daily and I do lots of short journeys (average 18 x 2-6 mile journeys per week). Is this a bit of a silly idea for a car of this type?

What MPG can I expect average (long and short journeys) ?

S50s, - how solid a car should I expect? Seeing as it's getting on a little, - should I expect the odd rattle etc etc?

Thanks for any help.

[c_w]

A standard car should be rattle-free and smooth. Once you start lowering it though, and in particular if you added fatter anti roll bars you might get some extra little noises but on the whole not that much.

Economoy on short journies isn't great low 20s probably and I wouldn't like to use the car for such short journies if I could avoid it. Average driving results mid 20s for me but it is possible to get mid 30s if driven sedately. Goes down to 10mpg on track though!

[PJD]

Thanks for your reply.

Why wouldn't you want to use the car on such short journeys? Do you think it'll ruin the car mechanically, - even driven with sympathy?

[exdos]

See this thread on warming the oil : http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5361

Buy yourself an old hatchback for all the short journeys for about £500 and get a MC for proper driving.

[c_w]

Thanks for your reply.

Why wouldn't you want to use the car on such short journeys? Do you think it'll ruin the car mechanically, - even driven with sympathy?

I just think it's not the best car for short journies, it's not really good for the car (or any car I suppose!) in the long run, like Exdos thread regarding oil etc, which won't get up to temperature in a very short journey as well as the low mpg.

[wfarrell]

Definately agree the MC is best suited to longer journies, rather than pottering around town -- oil takes an age to warm up, and everyday use makes the car feel a lot less special (e.g. you start to take it for granted and get annoyed by some of it's more 'characterful' traits)

[ever88]

I think mr farrel got this one spot on.

I use mine a fair bit and whilst a lot of people will comment on how different it is you will find it becomes very familiar too soon and you get annoyed by some of it's more well known faults.

I would like more power but the costs against return for bhp are not good IMO. not that this is a slow car by any means