What car - practical and fun under £5k

[TEKNOPUG]

Impreza Wagon or 330 Touring.

[Craikeybaby]

I'm revisiting this now. The weather has been nice, so I've been using the MR2 lots.

My wife has ruled out an Impreza, and insurance is quite high, so I'm reluctantly removing it from my list.

I'm swaying more towards a BMW, as my Dad has just replaced his E class with a Volvo and loves it, except for the FWD handling. I'll try to test a Golf GTI or a Leon FR, but it is looking more like a 120i will be my next car. So on that note any comments on the '04 to '07 1 series? Things to look out for? SE vs Sport spec etc.

[FD3Si]

Craikeybaby said:

I'm revisiting this now. The weather has been nice, so I've been using the MR2 lots.

My wife has ruled out an Impreza, and insurance is quite high, so I'm reluctantly removing it from my list.

I'm swaying more towards a BMW, as my Dad has just replaced his E class with a Volvo and loves it, except for the FWD handling. I'll try to test a Golf GTI or a Leon FR, but it is looking more like a 120i will be my next car. So on that note any comments on the '04 to '07 1 series? Things to look out for? SE vs Sport spec etc.

My only experience of them is with snapping springs. Our neighbour's 55 plate 120D has broken 3 front suspension springs over their ownership(when parked!) and at least once has gone to pull away and it's ripped through the tyre and caused a fair bit of collateral damage. Seems to be a relatively common issue. Cheapish to fix though, especially DIY (although took a fair bit of fiddling to get it out and back in again!)
About a month ago there was a proper Blitz Spirit moment as half the street appeared to try and bump it backwards a few metres to let the tractor that refused to reverse go past down our narrow street!

Edited by FD3Si on Monday 12th October 12:29

[ManOpener]

FN2 Civic Type R. IMO just as much fun as the EP3, better looking and a much more pleasant place to be.

[Craikeybaby]

FD3Si said:

Craikeybaby said:

I'm revisiting this now. The weather has been nice, so I've been using the MR2 lots.

My wife has ruled out an Impreza, and insurance is quite high, so I'm reluctantly removing it from my list.

I'm swaying more towards a BMW, as my Dad has just replaced his E class with a Volvo and loves it, except for the FWD handling. I'll try to test a Golf GTI or a Leon FR, but it is looking more like a 120i will be my next car. So on that note any comments on the '04 to '07 1 series? Things to look out for? SE vs Sport spec etc.

My only experience of them is with snapping springs. Our neighbour's 55 plate 120D has broken 3 front suspension springs over their ownership(when parked!) and at least once has gone to pull away and it's ripped through the tyre and caused a fair bit of collateral damage. Seems to be a relatively common issue. Cheapish to fix though, especially DIY (although took a fair bit of fiddling to get it out and back in again!)
About a month ago there was a proper Blitz Spirit moment as half the street appeared to try and bump it backwards a few metres to let the tractor that refused to reverse go past down our narrow street!

Edited by FD3Si on Monday 12th October 12:29

Do you know if it was the Sport version? My understanding is that they have different (cut?) springs.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 12th October 13:46

[Craikeybaby]

ManOpener said:

FN2 Civic Type R. IMO just as much fun as the EP3, better looking and a much more pleasant place to be.

Do they do a 5 door?

[ManOpener]

Craikeybaby said:

ManOpener said:

FN2 Civic Type R. IMO just as much fun as the EP3, better looking and a much more pleasant place to be.

Do they do a 5 door?

No- sorry, missed that requirement.

If she doesn't want an Impreza, how about a Forester XT PPP?

[Craikeybaby]

Forrester is too big.

[ZX10R NIN]

A bit over but some haggling should see you get within £500 of your budget.

3.2 A3 Sportback
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

I'd choose the ST the engine is a cracker they are a bit juicy but a great car.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[Craikeybaby]

ZX10R NIN said:

A bit over but some haggling should see you get within £500 of your budget.

3.2 A3 Sportback
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

I'd choose the ST the engine is a cracker they are a bit juicy but a great car.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

That ST looks decent, they were a bit above budget when I was looking before. Not convinced by the A3 though, as per the first post I'm more into handling & feedback from the car than straight line speed. Or is that one model that Audi managed to get right?

[ZX10R NIN]

the 3.2 was no better than most of the VAG stuff but he engine is a sweet one, from personal experience I preferred the ST one thing I recommend are a K&N & a cat back system the car just runs better.

[Craikeybaby]

To tie up the thread, I have bought a BMW 120i, there are a few niggles to sort out on it, but it is an 11 year old car. I'm enjoying driving it.


BMW 120i by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[KarlMac]

JDM import Subaru Impreza STI wagon. £5k will get you a good v6/v7 or a bug eye.

If not fussed about the STI extras or tuning then you'll be spoilt for choice of WRX wagons.