What car for 5k?
Discussion
An interesting alternative to the cars mentioned would be an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.
3.2 V6 which sounds utterly magical, classic looks, plenty room and pretty rare too. Look after it and you should almost get your money back. Blasting across the moors on a Sunday morning, windows down with that V6 screamin' - bliss. Q2 diff is a must and make sure the belts have been done.
You might struggle to get one for £5k, but I've seen a few miley ones for less than £6k.
3.2 V6 which sounds utterly magical, classic looks, plenty room and pretty rare too. Look after it and you should almost get your money back. Blasting across the moors on a Sunday morning, windows down with that V6 screamin' - bliss. Q2 diff is a must and make sure the belts have been done.
You might struggle to get one for £5k, but I've seen a few miley ones for less than £6k.
Buggles said:
I'm not gona lie, this is what I am swinging towards, how is the real world fuel economy? I occasionally do some long, long runs on motorways and I would get bored lining the governments pockets.
TBH I was never very economy concious but I would have thought you should easily get 30 on a motorway run. Fairly spirited driving - I would guess 20-25. It is way better than the RX8 we had, not that that's saying much!IMO with a car of that age you should be thinking as much about reliability as mpg - anything going wrong will cost a lot more than a few extra mpg. Imprezas are pretty bomb proof.
How about a Legacy B4RSK, quicker than a WRX and cheaper;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1679898.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1679898.htm
Buggles said:
Right, after some alternative suggestions please chaps.
I am after a fastish, fun car for about 5k. I'd like to get a decent example, with a view to getting rid in a couple of years and getting something seriously rapid once I have saved some more money up.
I need the 4/5 seats as I have two young children, and need a boot big enough to fit a couple of largish holdalls/suitcases and a pushchair in.
I have been looking at;
Impreza WRX - 2001
Leon Cupra - 2003
Focus ST170 - 2003
Honda Civic Type R - 2002
I like the Impreza, but am worried about the fuel bills. I don't know anything about the Seat Leon. Focus may be a bit bland? Civic, bit chav?
To give you an idea, insurance was a grand on the Impreza. I don't do huge miles, and I live on the North Yorkshire Moors.
Anything I have forgotten, any other left field suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
I think the Focus is out classed here, totally different performance league IMO. Probably not a bad steer though.I am after a fastish, fun car for about 5k. I'd like to get a decent example, with a view to getting rid in a couple of years and getting something seriously rapid once I have saved some more money up.
I need the 4/5 seats as I have two young children, and need a boot big enough to fit a couple of largish holdalls/suitcases and a pushchair in.
I have been looking at;
Impreza WRX - 2001
Leon Cupra - 2003
Focus ST170 - 2003
Honda Civic Type R - 2002
I like the Impreza, but am worried about the fuel bills. I don't know anything about the Seat Leon. Focus may be a bit bland? Civic, bit chav?
To give you an idea, insurance was a grand on the Impreza. I don't do huge miles, and I live on the North Yorkshire Moors.
Anything I have forgotten, any other left field suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
WRX is a good performer in comparison to your list and not a bad drive, 2001 is the first year of the "new age" look, which is a bit marmite. I don't mind it, but has to be the right colour. This new age Impreza is heavier than the older one and also has taller gearing, so mpg is up (would guess 25-28mpg possible instead of 22-25mpg). But how and were you drive it might seriously affect this.
Not a bad steer, although more understeery and less exciting than you might think. Generally reliable, but if they do brake they can be costly.
Leon's have a following. Personally never been into them myself. Fairly sure it can be made to go and grip quite well, but I'm lead to believe like most VAG stuff its not really the greatest entertainment or enjoyment from behind the steering wheel. So to conclude I'd rather have less power and slower if it offered more fun.
CTR is a benchmark, very capable engine, although due to how it works gives night and day difference in on and off power. In short it's torquey for a n/a 2.0 litre, but if you don't use the revs much it'll feel flat compared to the mid range punch of the Impreza's turbo unit. For me the only things against the CTR are the looks and the fact I'd always be wanting a DC2 ITR!
If you want to look at some others and maybe on a lesser budget, why not consider ones of these:
Evo mag give them a great write up. In short they weigh around 1200kg with a lovely 2.5 V6 motor making 180hp (easy to get up to around 200hp though). Will do 135mph+ and sprint to 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Not quite CTR pace, but close. The key difference is the V6 sounds truly fab and is quite grunty as well as liking to rev. Driving wise I feel the ZS180 is closer to an Integra Type R than a CTR is. More focused and more fun.
Still practical with 4 doors and a good boot, available as a hatch or a saloon too. Parts are cheap and easy to get which is a bonus. Should be reliable too, my brother had one for a year or so and never had any issues with it.
If you want bigger then it might be worth a look at a ZT190, same engine with 10hp more but a bit heavier. More space and more upmarket cabin though.
And if you do fancy something more luxurious it might be worth a punt looking at a 3.0 litre Jaguar X-Type. Bit like a WRX but more civilised and up market. Stick to pre 2003 though as they changed the centre diff and latter cars don't handle as well so I believe.
The Crack Fox said:
The Impreza makes perfect sense, the Hunchback version is practical and a bit of a sleeper[
yeah because nobody ever expects an Imprza turbo with a great big bug catcher scoop on the bonnet to be quick 
The Crack Fox said:
(plus, is less likely to have been ragged by the owners)
really! 
Me thinks not.
300bhp/ton said:
If you want to look at some others and maybe on a lesser budget, why not consider ones of these:
Evo mag give them a great write up. In short they weigh around 1200kg with a lovely 2.5 V6 motor making 180hp (easy to get up to around 200hp though). Will do 135mph+ and sprint to 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Not quite CTR pace, but close. The key difference is the V6 sounds truly fab and is quite grunty as well as liking to rev. Driving wise I feel the ZS180 is closer to an Integra Type R than a CTR is. More focused and more fun.
Still practical with 4 doors and a good boot, available as a hatch or a saloon too. Parts are cheap and easy to get which is a bonus. Should be reliable too, my brother had one for a year or so and never had any issues with it.
Always makes me smile that when those were launched, they got slated, hard, for having 'fake' vents on the wings.Evo mag give them a great write up. In short they weigh around 1200kg with a lovely 2.5 V6 motor making 180hp (easy to get up to around 200hp though). Will do 135mph+ and sprint to 60mph in 7.3 seconds. Not quite CTR pace, but close. The key difference is the V6 sounds truly fab and is quite grunty as well as liking to rev. Driving wise I feel the ZS180 is closer to an Integra Type R than a CTR is. More focused and more fun.
Still practical with 4 doors and a good boot, available as a hatch or a saloon too. Parts are cheap and easy to get which is a bonus. Should be reliable too, my brother had one for a year or so and never had any issues with it.
The same people that slated that design touch, now defend it to the hilt on the new Focus RS, saying it's in keeping with the feel and style of the car.
Funny old world.
Oh, and you're right about the noise and the handling. I was a doubter until I drove one
Buggles said:
0-100-0 Thanks for that, not quite as bad as I thought. You are right about reliability, that's exactly why I'm considering the Impreza because since I have got the MX5, I have developed the taste for bullet proof motoring!
No probs! If you decide to go down the Impreza route and you are interested in mine, just pm me or ring the number in the ad!Buggles said:
boomboompow, what is the car in the picture? My work internet is pants and all I can see is a red x!
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero; 86k, fully loaded with sat nav and stage 1 Hirsch chip to 230bhp, all for the nice sum of £5100 I got lucky finding my one, but there should be some decent examples out there if you take a look.Buggles said:
300bhp/ton I was really hoping you would reply as you always put a lot of effort into these threads.
I hadn't even considered the MG up until now, as I had perhaps wrongly assumed that they would be fraught with reliability issues?
The jag is not my come of tea to be honest, I think I am far too young to get away with that.
I think you are right about the Focus, being a tad outclassed by the others and also I would agree with you about the Leon perhaps not being the most exciting, I would like something that does still have the ability to excite when I want it too.
It would be a bug eye WRX I would be looking at getting, although the looks are subjective, the performance is very good.
But, you mention a DC2 ITR and to be honest, I am intrigued. A quick check reveals that they are available for my budget....
boomboompow, what is the car in the picture? My work internet is pants and all I can see is a red x!
I hadn't even considered the MG up until now, as I had perhaps wrongly assumed that they would be fraught with reliability issues?
The jag is not my come of tea to be honest, I think I am far too young to get away with that.
I think you are right about the Focus, being a tad outclassed by the others and also I would agree with you about the Leon perhaps not being the most exciting, I would like something that does still have the ability to excite when I want it too.
It would be a bug eye WRX I would be looking at getting, although the looks are subjective, the performance is very good.
But, you mention a DC2 ITR and to be honest, I am intrigued. A quick check reveals that they are available for my budget....
boomboompow, what is the car in the picture? My work internet is pants and all I can see is a red x!
any time, just glad to offer some useful info.Pic is a facelift MGZS180.
In regards to the DC2, I'm a huge, huge fan of these and want to own one at some point. Main difference is they are more coupe than hatch, so less head room and space for rear passengers, but they are still a 4 seater. Boot is big though and long, even more so with seats fold down, so it'll fit something like a mountain bike in better than a Focus will. But it doesn't have the same height under the hatches glass if you want to lug tall stuff you can't laydown.
Main difference in driving is they are much more raw and fun and exciting than a CTR. The front LSD really focuses the handling and allows you to make use of the power much better. But the are a lot more noisy and raw, personally this enhances the car for me, but I can see why some might be put off.
Only downers is they are getting older, 1998-2000, although nearly all of them seem to be 98/99. Generally very good, but a few issues are starting to appear, such as rust on the rear arches, scruffy looking front seats and potential gearbox issues. However all are fixable and they are pretty bullet proof.
On the plus side, apart from the performance they will be a good investment. While I can see a WRX or CTR continuing to lose money, I suspect and my hunch is the ITR will retain it's value much better, it truly is an icon and I think will become collectible and a modern classic, where as I don't think the others ever will.
In terms of size, weight and ability I personally think the DC2 ITR and MGZS180 are very evenly pitched. ITR is slightly faster and more focused, but the MG is slightly more comfy and newer and probably slightly cheaper to maintain. You'll also be able to buy newer for your money.
For example:
Here's a pre facelift MGZS180 2003 reg for under £2k. 1 owner and low miles: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1609900.htm
MG ZS 180 2.5 V6 (2003)
67,589 miles £1,995
MG ZS 180 2.5 V6 67,589 genuine miles, 1 Owner and a full service history. The car is currently MOT'd and Tax'd.Pioneer mp3 CD head unit. Air conditioning, electric windows, ABS, power steering, Black half leather sports seats with lumbar support (drivers is height adjustable), front air bags, split/fold rear seats with three point belts, electric adjustable mirrors, heated mirrors, steering wheel adjustment. The car is excellent conditon with only a couple of stone chip marks for the age. The only real cosmetic issue is that there is a small section on the from lower lip spoiler missing but nothing major. The car has just had the upper manifold replaced so no future worries there. This is a great example of a ZS 180 and with 1 owner and histroy you can appreciate a gem in a world of average cars.
Or a last of the line 2004 facelift model:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1672126.htm
MG zs 180 saloon facelift,2.5 v6. (2004)
48,000 miles £4,995
This one is a little over priced, but there's probably room for haggling.
300bhp/ton said:
If you want bigger then it might be worth a look at a ZT190, same engine with 10hp more but a bit heavier. More space and more upmarket cabin though.
If you want something really left-field...
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1773418.htm
MG ZT 260, 260 BHP V8, shade under £5 with all the toys. It's done 110k, but a massively under stressed V8 is bombproof (they use these engines in Taxi's in NYC ffs!)
Edited by Jakg on Thursday 10th June 13:25
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