I Want Something <£1k That's Fun And Cheap To Insure
Discussion
Like a Cinquecento Sporting? Theres one not too far away for £450, £100k on the clock, years mot, plenty tax and described as 'very good condition'. Good idea? Have heard they are an absolute hoot to drive...
I'm 20 and fancy a car to learn to 'drive' in. I want cheap with a bit of character. Learn heal-toe, handbrake turns and to drive on the limit without that being stupidly fast if you get me?
I get to use dads Octavia vRS when I want but I fear I may break it and whilst its a fantastic car I want something as a daily hack for summer that puts a grin on my face.
What you all recon? Ideas please and comments
I'm 20 and fancy a car to learn to 'drive' in. I want cheap with a bit of character. Learn heal-toe, handbrake turns and to drive on the limit without that being stupidly fast if you get me?
I get to use dads Octavia vRS when I want but I fear I may break it and whilst its a fantastic car I want something as a daily hack for summer that puts a grin on my face.
What you all recon? Ideas please and comments
If you want to learn to drive properly, then the Cinquecento is out on the grounds that it's FWD.
You could make an offer on this Alfetta GTV and look for classic insurance, or take your pick of the E30 (and a fair number of E36) 3 series, which shouldn't be too expensive to ensure given age, value etc, I would've thought?
Alternatively, if you can put up with your mates thinking you're mad, and can get up to Scotland, how about a Hillman Imp for £850? No road tax, unbelievably easy to work on yourself, RWD, great fun to drive (usually sideways) and pretty easy to tune up.
You could make an offer on this Alfetta GTV and look for classic insurance, or take your pick of the E30 (and a fair number of E36) 3 series, which shouldn't be too expensive to ensure given age, value etc, I would've thought?
Alternatively, if you can put up with your mates thinking you're mad, and can get up to Scotland, how about a Hillman Imp for £850? No road tax, unbelievably easy to work on yourself, RWD, great fun to drive (usually sideways) and pretty easy to tune up.
A classic of some kind. You may want to pay a little more than 1k to buy it but the running costs will be so much lower that you'll soon recoup it. Plus they're generally far easier to drive near the limits because the limits are so much lower and you have no stupid driver aids (like power steering and servo assisted brakes) getting in the way.
Just don't expect to survive if you flip anything built before 1970.
Just don't expect to survive if you flip anything built before 1970.
A friend had a cinquecento recently (until it bent some valves!) and I was surprised how nicely that drove, felt rather like a mini.
As for RWD, I'd go for an e30 3 series as suggested above. A non-sport 325 saloon should be quite cheap to insure (bizzarely when I looked into ti they were cheaper than the 4 cylinders!) and they'r said to be quite fun. I had a 320 saloon briefly and that had nice body control, good steering and a pleasant sound track. Sadly the head gasket expired before I found out much about the handling!!
As for RWD, I'd go for an e30 3 series as suggested above. A non-sport 325 saloon should be quite cheap to insure (bizzarely when I looked into ti they were cheaper than the 4 cylinders!) and they'r said to be quite fun. I had a 320 saloon briefly and that had nice body control, good steering and a pleasant sound track. Sadly the head gasket expired before I found out much about the handling!!
Pug 205 1.6 GTi.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/159002.htm
or similar would be ideal.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/159002.htm
or similar would be ideal.
Edited by Goochie on Wednesday 13th June 13:00
Goochie said:
Pug 205 1.6 GTi.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/159002.htm
or similar would be ideal.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/159002.htm
or similar would be ideal.
Edited by Goochie on Wednesday 13th June 13:00
Maybe if you can get decent classic insurance at 20?Try Lancaster if you're interested and also take a look into a 924.Won't keep up with the pug (atleast not a 1.9) put you'd have fun trying with RWD. Dunno how much early RX7s go for - not sure they'd have any rotor tips left at £1000 asking price though
So yeah.... e30
I own a Punto engined Cinquecento sporting (search readers cars) and it’s an amazing little machine. Have owned it 3 years now and it’s never let me down. It’s amazing how much feel you get when driving it due to being ultra low weight and its great fun to drive. Even at legal speeds on country roads you can have fun pushing it close to the limit in standard form.
A few more hp from an easy engine swap and critically, stiffer suspension really transforms it and I can chuck it about with purpose. Is deffo a classic mini cooper 90’s alternative that has the added bonus that it won’t rust (fully galvanised).
Insurance is a pittance for what you get, Group 3 and you still get colour coded everything, electric windows, central locking, ECU immobiliser, sunroof, alloys, and excellent bolstered, huggy seats.
Oh and I’ve driven other cars as comparison so don’t say I’m overly biased due to it being my only car. Have sampled a Fiesta Mk4, Ford Focus & Modeo TDi and a Vectra 1.7td and they all feel boring and give an isolated driving experience. Is also a little more individual to other more common superminis.
Running costs are also zilch and because people always overlook them, they are all bargains with a top condition one being able to be bought for <£700. I've seen working sx's go for 50!. Oh and it's of that era where it is a piece of p*** to fix just before they started chucking in too much electronics & engine cover gumpf. Just get one thats more manley than yellow ;-)
A few more hp from an easy engine swap and critically, stiffer suspension really transforms it and I can chuck it about with purpose. Is deffo a classic mini cooper 90’s alternative that has the added bonus that it won’t rust (fully galvanised).
Insurance is a pittance for what you get, Group 3 and you still get colour coded everything, electric windows, central locking, ECU immobiliser, sunroof, alloys, and excellent bolstered, huggy seats.
Oh and I’ve driven other cars as comparison so don’t say I’m overly biased due to it being my only car. Have sampled a Fiesta Mk4, Ford Focus & Modeo TDi and a Vectra 1.7td and they all feel boring and give an isolated driving experience. Is also a little more individual to other more common superminis.
Running costs are also zilch and because people always overlook them, they are all bargains with a top condition one being able to be bought for <£700. I've seen working sx's go for 50!. Oh and it's of that era where it is a piece of p*** to fix just before they started chucking in too much electronics & engine cover gumpf. Just get one thats more manley than yellow ;-)
Edited by CaneyJ on Wednesday 13th June 13:17
Edited by CaneyJ on Wednesday 13th June 13:20
Edited by CaneyJ on Wednesday 13th June 13:20
Edited by CaneyJ on Wednesday 13th June 13:24
I got my missus a cinq sporting. Paid £900 a year ago and it's an r plate. To be honest I probably paid a little too much.
Our has a few Abarth goodies on it and someone's bought some decent suspension, uprated brakes, a K&N and a stainless exhaust(subtle) and it's lovely. I really enjoy nicking it for a trip to the shops.
So far it's proved to be more reliable than my corrado.
Our has a few Abarth goodies on it and someone's bought some decent suspension, uprated brakes, a K&N and a stainless exhaust(subtle) and it's lovely. I really enjoy nicking it for a trip to the shops.
So far it's proved to be more reliable than my corrado.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Whoops, sorry about my machine gun editing, every time I post something I often have something else to think of adding a minute later he he.Oh and insurance really is cheap on a cento as the boy racers tend to avoid them unlike the equivilant base model?? saxo's, corsas, fiestas and clios.
Not to say they are slow, they are respectable for 1.1 performance but I guess that’s thanks to the weight and being small makes you think your going faster than you really are, ala mini.
Slap a Punto 75 engine in one, some Punto GT brakes and stiff suspension and you got an easy cooper contender on a budget.
Just don't crash in one, they have the protection if a wet paper bag/2CV but that just makes you a good driver with the constant reminder of your own mortality when sandwiched between a Lorry and a Landy.
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