Ginetta G20: PH Carpool
Affordable, first-rung-on-the-ladder sports car ownership, carried off with some style!
Car: Ginetta G20 (road going)
Owned since: February 2016
Previously owned: A push bike...
Why I bought it:
"I was looking to get a new car this year to replace my Fiesta although being 19 and only having just under two years driving experience meant most cars I was interested in were eye watering on insurance. I'm not talking about hugely fast or expensive cars either.
So I was set on an early supercharged Cooper S, I looked at a few but was struggling to find one that ticked all the boxes. I then thought about the fact I would have to park it in carparks next to people who don't care about their car or yours, I've seen people knowingly hit another car and drive off before!
"This made me want something fun for the weekends as well as something a little unusual, I knew I couldn't afford a nice Caterham but maybe one day! This is when I found the Ginetta. I was looking through online classifieds when I saw the car priced nearly £4,000 cheaper than the only other one for sale at the time. I instantly wanted to see the car in person so I made contact with the dealer to arrange a viewing and went down the following weekend. It's always hard to judge condition from photos but I wasn't disappointed when I saw it in the showroom, the salesman was very welcoming and wasn't pushy which also made my first purchase from a dealer a good experience. After spending some time looking at the car and huge history folder, I made the decision that I wanted it so a deposit was put on the Ginetta.
What I wish I'd known:
"Nothing really, it's not got much to be surprised by. There's a lot of Ford parts so maintenance should be cheap and most things are easy to access. I was surprised by how few are on British roads, there seems to be quite a few in the US though."
Where I've been:
"My first long distance event I went to was the PH Sunday service at Silverstone, that is the coldest drive I've ever experienced so far. Also had a nice run down to Gurston Down, a drive up to Stoneleigh kitcar show and a trip over to Virginia water at Easter. So the car is definitely getting used well. I bought the car on just over 5,000 miles and it's now on 6,500 miles."
What I love:
"The driving experience is fantastic, the car feels rigid yet surprisingly forgiving to the great quality of British roads. The engine isn't a powerhouse but in a car that weighs around 660kg it's enough to make the performance respectable and coming from a 1.1 Fiesta the performance is obviously on a different level. The looks, although I'm sure everyone says it about their own car. Ease of working on the car, I replaced the cambelt with a friend and there is lots of space with the front removed."
What I hate:
"The fact I can't use it everyday! But seriously there is honestly nothing I hate. If you had wide feet the pedals would be tricky though as they are very close together and some may not like the indicators on a toggle switch oh and the lack of a roof or windscreen..."
What's next?
"Refurbishing the G20 championship wheels I purchased over the weekend. Getting the bonnet repainted. Eventually I would like some performance cams and throttle bodies but that's a lot of money so I'll have to see how things go as this is a long term car for me."
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