£4K to Spend on Modern Classic
Author
Discussion

Dave80s

Original Poster:

351 posts

237 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Hi, I need a bit of help.

I have £4k to spend on a modern classic from around 1995-2005. My requirements are:

Well specced, ideally with sat nav, Xenon headlights and aircon, not fussed about leather.
4 seats.
No barges, as it must fit in my garage and I already own a big car.
Convertibles OK
Bona fide classic (or on the cusp).

My shortlist is currently a 2000-02 shape (6N2) Polo Gti and Smart ForFour Brabus.

Anything else that should be on my list?

Looking at the rivals, there's two that stand out -

Mini Cooper S, already had one so want to try something else.
Clio 172/182 possibly, interior is a bit grim compared to the Polo/Smart. Drives better though I'm sure.

The net could be cast wider as I have looked at cars from 1993 - Renault Clio 16v (MK1), E36 328i, 205 CTi and Polo G40.

Would be good to hear of anyone experiences with these models, thanks

Coleman262

30 posts

97 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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My boss has Got a 9n2 polo gti (think it’s for sale too) which has the 1.8turbo engine and it’s pretty rapid, handles well, much nicer interior and could easily have satnav if you swap out the double DIN headunit.

NNH

1,548 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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6L Ibiza Cupra? It was a car that put Seat on the map, and they look great in yellow.

Dave80s

Original Poster:

351 posts

237 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
That 406 Coupe is in Abingdon which is about 5 miles away from me...worth a look! Might be too big for my garage, will have to get the tape measure out.

Blib

48,009 posts

226 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Keep it stiff said:
A few ideas for you:

Lovely stuff........
  • Note to self: in future do not click on these type of threads...

Jag_NE

3,339 posts

129 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Is there a reason that you are limiting the age range to what you have specified? I’d go older personally.

Also, keep it garaged and for sunny days. An old 4K car will already be well used and will quickly perish if used as a daily.

Chris V6 255

58 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Mk5 Golf GTI the end!

dundarach

6,210 posts

257 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
I know it's a barge and I'm always going on about them...

However Rover 75 (MG ZT)son, £10 per year for the club, plenty of support and help, cheap to run, and £2000 would buy you the best..

1.8 turbo, 2.0D, 2.5V6 (4.5V8 but they're £8k+) leather, cruise, heated power seats, loads of toys, loads of support...

Mines done 145k and is great..





4rephill

5,165 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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How times have changed!

Back "in my day", a 15~17 year old domestic, everyday car was called an "old banger", today they're called: "modern classics"

I can only assume that today's "old bangers" are 3 years old that require their first ever MOT!

hehe

SAS Tom

3,754 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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There’s quite a few suggestions that won’t be modern classics, they’ll just get old.

Olivera

8,739 posts

268 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Alfa GTV
Ford Puma (good example)
Clio Williams/172/182
Leon Cupra R Mk1
VW Corrado
Toyota MR2
Peugeot 306 GTI6

There's absolutely no way I'd be considering a Polo GTI, ForFour or Rover 75.

Edmundo2

1,439 posts

239 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Yep. Most of those will continue to depreciate and unlikely to be a classic. IMHO,

Clio 172/182 cup
Megane RS
Fiat Coupe
Mini Cooper S
VW Corrado
Golf Gti

Hub

7,122 posts

227 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
If you're looking at hot hatches of that era, I reckon the EP3 Civic Type R has the best chance of classic status. Only downside is that not many have Aircon.

InitialDave

15,072 posts

148 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Bit odd on the age range restriction.

Do you need 4 "proper" seats, or are smaller "kids" sized ones OK?

GPS might be best served with an aftermarket head unit, so I'd not consider that to be a major one to get hung up on, especially as 15-20 year old kit is... less than wonderful nowadays.

For something smaller, I think a small but slightly unusual hot(ish) hatch is likely the direction to go.

A performance kei car like a Daihatsu Cuore Avanzato or Suzuki Alto Works etc might work.

Suzuki Ignis Sport, a good one probably worth hanging onto.

Rover 'Tomcat' coupe or 200 BRM are in that "good ones hard to find" territory now.

Decent 3 series or similar isn't a terrible idea, though they're not especially different/interesting really.

I think it depends what interests you, really.

shalmaneser

6,419 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Peugeot 306 Rallye
Clio 182
BMW 328i Coupe
Honda Civic Type R
Audi TT 225

Not a bloody Smart four four.

EDIT: Porsche Boxster a good call also

Edited by shalmaneser on Wednesday 22 May 21:48

Ambleton

7,253 posts

221 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Odd that you say you want GPS. My 2012 Volvo S80 has GPS and even that is clunky to use, out of date and not intuitive like my smartphone is. Just use a screen mount and be done with it.

If I were you I'd be looking for an early 90s SAAB 900 cab, like this one.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1102980

Still modern enough to be usable, four proper seats and properly retro cool.

coetzeeh

2,889 posts

265 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Manxwilliams

57 posts

115 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
come a bit newer

RenaultSport Twingo RS 133 Cup

cool