Fun, good handling small cars?
Discussion
ejenner said:
The_Burg said:
ejenner said:
The_Burg said:
MGF, early ones are in the classic insurance range and far better than you would imagine. Failing that the forum default of MX5, slower, rusty and dire on fuel but still fun.
For slower speed fun an MGB. Look after it and it will work.
If you need a roof / 4 seats. MG ZR even the 105 is a laugh.
That must be the worst list of recommendations I've ever seen. For slower speed fun an MGB. Look after it and it will work.
If you need a roof / 4 seats. MG ZR even the 105 is a laugh.
MGF must be the best fun you can have for the least money, as little as £500 for a mid engined sports car with sub 7 sec to 60 and smidge under 140mph top end, though i woudn't recommend trying to vmax one.
The ZR160 has no near rival either for the money.
Only near is the Volvo T5 quite a bit faster but likes petrol and though stupid quick for the cash no where near the fun.
Name a rival for the money.
The issue with modern MGs is that the word 'cheap' does not even begin to cover it in terms of build quality. That's why you can buy them so cheap second-hand. It's not so much that big things will certainly go wrong with them. More a case that every single electrical contact and wire will start to corrode, the metal parts which aren't outer shell (because manufactures have stopped making rusty bodies) go all flakey, all the bushes are made from pencil erasers, all the common components like alternators are the lowest possible quality. In the case of the MGs - they are cheap for a reason.
Rollcage said:
Mini Cooper S at 19 will be horrific, insurance wise. A Puma handles better in any case!
As you may guess, I'd go for a Puma myself, owning one n'all!
Untrue. I've driven the 1.7 Puma a lot and the MINI Cooper S a lot more. MINIs are hard to beat handling wise. Even them perky Ford's have trouble matching the MINI for handling. As you may guess, I'd go for a Puma myself, owning one n'all!
The_Burg said:
ejenner said:
The_Burg said:
ejenner said:
The_Burg said:
MGF, early ones are in the classic insurance range and far better than you would imagine. Failing that the forum default of MX5, slower, rusty and dire on fuel but still fun.
For slower speed fun an MGB. Look after it and it will work.
If you need a roof / 4 seats. MG ZR even the 105 is a laugh.
That must be the worst list of recommendations I've ever seen. For slower speed fun an MGB. Look after it and it will work.
If you need a roof / 4 seats. MG ZR even the 105 is a laugh.
MGF must be the best fun you can have for the least money, as little as £500 for a mid engined sports car with sub 7 sec to 60 and smidge under 140mph top end, though i woudn't recommend trying to vmax one.
The ZR160 has no near rival either for the money.
Only near is the Volvo T5 quite a bit faster but likes petrol and though stupid quick for the cash no where near the fun.
Name a rival for the money.
The issue with modern MGs is that the word 'cheap' does not even begin to cover it in terms of build quality. That's why you can buy them so cheap second-hand. It's not so much that big things will certainly go wrong with them. More a case that every single electrical contact and wire will start to corrode, the metal parts which aren't outer shell (because manufactures have stopped making rusty bodies) go all flakey, all the bushes are made from pencil erasers, all the common components like alternators are the lowest possible quality. In the case of the MGs - they are cheap for a reason.
I'm also 19, and had an MX-5 until recently.
Got my Puma 1.7 yesterday. Only had it a day and it's far, far more fun. Granted my MX-5 was a bit of a dog, but even so the Puma is so much easier to push and have fun with.
I'd avoid MGFs if I were you, I test drove a few and didn't like them at all. The steering was too light and the pedals too heavy for me. They're cheap, but they're cheap for a reason IMHO.
My advice is to go for either a GOOD MX-5, which could be difficult to find, or a Puma.
Got my Puma 1.7 yesterday. Only had it a day and it's far, far more fun. Granted my MX-5 was a bit of a dog, but even so the Puma is so much easier to push and have fun with.
I'd avoid MGFs if I were you, I test drove a few and didn't like them at all. The steering was too light and the pedals too heavy for me. They're cheap, but they're cheap for a reason IMHO.
My advice is to go for either a GOOD MX-5, which could be difficult to find, or a Puma.
I'm 19 and drive an Accord Type-R and an EK Civic 1.4.
EG or EK Civic would be a good start, even my 1.4 single cam on coilovers and Yokos is a right laugh. A 1.6 VTi would be fun.
Accord is awesome too - fast, comfy and great handling. Costs the same as a 1.6 VTi EG Civic for me to insure.
EG or EK Civic would be a good start, even my 1.4 single cam on coilovers and Yokos is a right laugh. A 1.6 VTi would be fun.
Accord is awesome too - fast, comfy and great handling. Costs the same as a 1.6 VTi EG Civic for me to insure.
How come no one mentioned the Mk3 MR2 yet?
Dirt cheap these days 4K will get you a really nice one.
Best handling car of the lot mentioned so far IMO.
Good on fuel and running costs.
Insurance at 19 - others have done it on MR2ROC without silly premiums.
Its a sports car at 19 - can't be bad for impressing the ladies?
Before anyone says it - He's 19 he doesn't need a boot.
Disclaimer - OP mentioned handling not driving fast with limited talent. If its the latter avoid the MR2 and stick with something FWD or the no claims is going bye bye.
Dirt cheap these days 4K will get you a really nice one.
Best handling car of the lot mentioned so far IMO.
Good on fuel and running costs.
Insurance at 19 - others have done it on MR2ROC without silly premiums.
Its a sports car at 19 - can't be bad for impressing the ladies?
Before anyone says it - He's 19 he doesn't need a boot.
Disclaimer - OP mentioned handling not driving fast with limited talent. If its the latter avoid the MR2 and stick with something FWD or the no claims is going bye bye.
StescoG66 said:
Surprised no one has mentioned a Primera GT. Dirt cheap, bombproof, nicely understated, small compared to todays behemoths - and handles brilliantly.
.....rusty, looks crap, old man image, painful to behold interior, styled by a prison work experience team. Those are a few of the reasons that spring to mind 
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