Up to 9k "special" second car
Discussion
Hi all,
If you were looking for a car to act as a second car, but something with a specialness about it, exciting to drive up to around 9k where would you be putting your money? needs to tick the following
4 seats - needs to be able to take a baby seat ISOFIX
decent seats - nice recaros etc
Nice set of calipers -brembo etc
manual
handles well
tax up to about 180
not stupidly old or high mileage
The top of the list is a Abarth 595 Competizione , with the Sabelt seats and Brembo brakes. But I'm really not sure how practical this is going to be getting a two year old in and out of the rear seat, combined with the really bucketed seats, I'm sure the missus will hate it. I've looked at the models without the Sabelt seats and they just dont hit the same.
Alfa Giuletta Quadrifoglio & Quadrifolgio launch edition - really like these, insurance group same as the Abarth but all seem to be automatic. Tax is also in the 225 band I think
Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio - Similar engine to the Abarth, similar tax and insurance less, seats a bit meh, missing toys such as auto climate
Clio RS - Looked at a few 197/200 Cup with the Recaro seats but they are getting on in age and either heavily modified or high mileage.
I'm not really into Mini's, Fiesta's, Having owned a car in the £615 tax band (SAAB V6) want to avoid that again aswell.
I'm looking for something that you can take to Silverstone etc and people will look at it, something that from factory looks good and maybe just a remap to liven it up a bit more after a few months of ownership. In the past I have spend silly money on modifying hot hatches want to avoid doing that again.
If you were looking for a car to act as a second car, but something with a specialness about it, exciting to drive up to around 9k where would you be putting your money? needs to tick the following
4 seats - needs to be able to take a baby seat ISOFIX
decent seats - nice recaros etc
Nice set of calipers -brembo etc
manual
handles well
tax up to about 180
not stupidly old or high mileage
The top of the list is a Abarth 595 Competizione , with the Sabelt seats and Brembo brakes. But I'm really not sure how practical this is going to be getting a two year old in and out of the rear seat, combined with the really bucketed seats, I'm sure the missus will hate it. I've looked at the models without the Sabelt seats and they just dont hit the same.
Alfa Giuletta Quadrifoglio & Quadrifolgio launch edition - really like these, insurance group same as the Abarth but all seem to be automatic. Tax is also in the 225 band I think
Alfa Mito Quadrifoglio - Similar engine to the Abarth, similar tax and insurance less, seats a bit meh, missing toys such as auto climate
Clio RS - Looked at a few 197/200 Cup with the Recaro seats but they are getting on in age and either heavily modified or high mileage.
I'm not really into Mini's, Fiesta's, Having owned a car in the £615 tax band (SAAB V6) want to avoid that again aswell.
I'm looking for something that you can take to Silverstone etc and people will look at it, something that from factory looks good and maybe just a remap to liven it up a bit more after a few months of ownership. In the past I have spend silly money on modifying hot hatches want to avoid doing that again.
Derek182 said:
I would be looking at a Megane RS250 Cup, they are a pretty special car, some have Recaros and would fit all your criteria except being cheap to tax, think they are currently £365.
I know you say you don't like Fiestas but a Mk8 ST would fit all your criteria including being £180 a year to tax.
I've owned both and much prefer the modernity of the Fiesta and for your budget you would be getting a much newer, less expensive to run car.
I've actually got a 21 plate 5 door ST-Line on my drive at the moment a hire car I've had today, out of the box it looks a really nice car, it handled well today and drove nicely apart from the 95ps engine, returned 53mpg on Motorway run, though for an ST-line was disappointed with no auto aircon.I know you say you don't like Fiestas but a Mk8 ST would fit all your criteria including being £180 a year to tax.
I've owned both and much prefer the modernity of the Fiesta and for your budget you would be getting a much newer, less expensive to run car.
What BHP are the MK8 ST?
Edited by the-norseman on Thursday 25th April 23:35
bennno said:
Too many compromises in op’s requirements, cheap + low tax + not old + low mileage + head turning + Brembo+ daily + infant / wife practical + isofix ???
Obvious answer is a classic v6 Alfa or BMW coupe, compromise is something between a up gti and a panda 4x4.
595/500’s just nasty, ride is so bouncy and so difficult to get a tot in and out round sabelts - up gti better in that context.
I'd love a Busso to be honest, 147 GTA.Obvious answer is a classic v6 Alfa or BMW coupe, compromise is something between a up gti and a panda 4x4.
595/500’s just nasty, ride is so bouncy and so difficult to get a tot in and out round sabelts - up gti better in that context.
On the way back from Silverstone the other day I did spot an Up GTI for sale, little bit out of my price range though and it was missing the auto climate control and even auto lights. Interior doesn't seem up to much either.
Think I'll keep the UP on my potential list for now. But it removes things like Bremo brakes and decent looking seat's.
Edited by the-norseman on Friday 26th April 07:26
justin220 said:
How about a MK4 golf R32? Or a high miles mk5?
Scirocco R might just about be in budget
I'd go for the Megane
Always fancied a MK4/5 R32 but like you say most are very high mileage now and think the tax is stupid on them.Scirocco R might just about be in budget
I'd go for the Megane
Having had a daily V6 with insane tax dont really want to go down that avenue again.
Belle427 said:
A nice Gti Edition 30 Remaps to 300 Bhp easily for £300 but I wouldn't call it exciting.
I had that engine twice in a MK2 Leon Cupra and MK2 Leon Cupra R.. Problem with them cars is, you never stop buying stuff for them, I was running Stage 2+ with upgraded intercoolers etc.Looking for something I'm not gonna spend thousands on.
ChrisH72 said:
Raising the budget a little but these fulfill most of your requirements.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042490...
Possibly not 'special' but I think they're an interesting car and not many of them about. Seems decent value these days.
Always said I'd never buy French even though I know Clio RS is on my list, but yeh do keep glancing at the newer GTI's by them.http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042490...
Possibly not 'special' but I think they're an interesting car and not many of them about. Seems decent value these days.
jfdi said:
Just been car shopping with a very similar list of requirements.
Picking up my Guiletta 1.4 Twinair Sportiva next week. 170bhp, bang on the £180 tax bracket (autos are actually £35 tax) Nice seats and enough tech.
Somebody might know but are they similar/same engine to the 595? Might have to look at the lower than Quadrifoglio models. Picking up my Guiletta 1.4 Twinair Sportiva next week. 170bhp, bang on the £180 tax bracket (autos are actually £35 tax) Nice seats and enough tech.
jfdi said:
Yep, same engine as far as I'm aware. Veloce, Sportiva and QV line are the highly spec'd versions without going to the Cloverleaf or Quadrifoglio which I believe are only on the 1750 engine.
Some of the later cars are only 150bhp but a bit cheaper tax. There are also 1.4 none Twinair engines that are only 120bhp.
There's a lot of rough dross out there, the cheaper ones are cheap for a reason.
Mmm, think we might of found a winner. Found one locally straight away looks decent, not red (I like Italian cars in red) but still looks very high spec and well looked after. Some of the later cars are only 150bhp but a bit cheaper tax. There are also 1.4 none Twinair engines that are only 120bhp.
There's a lot of rough dross out there, the cheaper ones are cheap for a reason.
jfdi said:
If it's white then check for mis-matched paint, they appear to have been made in numerous shades of white which no-one appears to be able to match up. I think I've seen all the available shades available across just the 2 white cars I viewed. Mines a red one 
Also check the rear carpets for damp, found a few with leaking rear door seals.
Grey, seems to have quite a few extras on it. Also check the rear carpets for damp, found a few with leaking rear door seals.
I've ruled out the Quadrifoglio simply because they are all TCT and I want manual, I was hoping to go see a QV-Line yesterday that basically had the Quadrifoglio kit on it but the 1.4 170 engine instead but it had sold within minutes of going up for sale.
I'm hopefully off to see a Speciale today which is the 1.4 150 engine, its in red, manual and has some of the Quadrifolgio kit on it including the all important bucket seats, turns out the 150 and 170 engines are the same apart from standard mapping so a quick trip to Autolusso and it will have 185 italian horses without fitting any additional hardware.
Tax is low, insurance is low and it looks the part.
The fiesta ST-Line hire car went back yesterday, this was our baby seat fitted behind the driver seat
Going to buy a second seat for the second car, the other second seat we have which we havent used for ages, is now too small, see if I can find a Recaro one thats takes up a lot less space.
I'm hopefully off to see a Speciale today which is the 1.4 150 engine, its in red, manual and has some of the Quadrifolgio kit on it including the all important bucket seats, turns out the 150 and 170 engines are the same apart from standard mapping so a quick trip to Autolusso and it will have 185 italian horses without fitting any additional hardware.
Tax is low, insurance is low and it looks the part.
The fiesta ST-Line hire car went back yesterday, this was our baby seat fitted behind the driver seat
Going to buy a second seat for the second car, the other second seat we have which we havent used for ages, is now too small, see if I can find a Recaro one thats takes up a lot less space.
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