Sweet small engines in fun cars

[stevemiller]

I currently have a Ford Fiesta Sportvan 1.6 TDCi as my work horse. Fun and 60mpg whats not to like, the sound. So this brings me to my search for answers. My weekend car is a MGZT V8 which has been supercharged, big noise and fun but a heavy price if I were to do 40k in it. I do under 10k in the MG and about 30k in the van.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

I like this as a replacement due to the sound,looks and costs and maybe 30mpg. Any others ?


Steve.

Edited by stevemiller on Monday 25th October 21:21

Edited by stevemiller on Monday 25th October 21:22

[sebhaque]

Roadsters? Things like the MX5/Elise/VX220/S2000/Z4? You can get 2.0L engines in most (or is the Elise a 1.8?) and they're all pretty good fun to drive. Plus, now's a good time to buy, as nobody wants a convertible over the winter and residuals are low.

If you're thinking of selling your ZT, send me a pm as I think I know someone who'll be interested.

[stevemiller]

sebhaque said:

Roadsters? Things like the MX5/Elise/VX220/S2000/Z4? You can get 2.0L engines in most (or is the Elise a 1.8?) and they're all pretty good fun to drive. Plus, now's a good time to buy, as nobody wants a convertible over the winter and residuals are low.

If you're thinking of selling your ZT, send me a pm as I think I know someone who'll be interested.

The MG is a keeper but I can recommend owning one.

[stevemiller]

sebhaque said:

Roadsters? Things like the MX5/Elise/VX220/S2000/Z4? You can get 2.0L engines in most (or is the Elise a 1.8?) and they're all pretty good fun to drive. Plus, now's a good time to buy, as nobody wants a convertible over the winter and residuals are low.

If you're thinking of selling your ZT, send me a pm as I think I know someone who'll be interested.

I like all of the above but the VX is not a car to cover 30k in or am I wrong? I am looking to spend only a little over the value of the van which I put at sub 5k but would go higher for the right car. I have gave consideration to all of your selection but I like a roof.

[jkracing]

Clio 172 cup.... Get a beautiful example for that money

[Matt UK]

Old shape Civic Type R?

[robsco]

Yes yes yes to the link you posted. If you want a sweet small engine as per your thread title, you can't go wrong with a Twin Spark. Extremely enthusiastic and revvy, lovely noise and decent fuel economy.

[stevemiller]

Some good input driven the honda and yes its sweet but the shape and height are wrong for me. The clio is closer to the mark but I prefer the alfa to look at and the engine sounds a little better.

Steve

[cheddar]

Get the Alfa but add a litre and 2 cylinders..........

[The Lukas]

cheddar said:

Get the Alfa but add a litre and 2 cylinders..........

Who would want a T Spark Alfa when they have a beautful V6 available? Honestly...

[Maxym]

What have all thes eposts got to do with the thread title - 'Sweet small engines...'? In my book small = well under 2 litres (and probably under 1.6) and low power - or at least power-to-weight ratio).

I haven't driven anything like that for ages, but IMO it's very satisfying to make brisk progress by driving at say 9/10ths in a small and sweet engine/sweet chassis combo. takes more effort but very rewarding.

[robsco]

The Lukas said:

cheddar said:

Get the Alfa but add a litre and 2 cylinders..........

Who would want a T Spark Alfa when they have a beautful V6 available? Honestly...

Because he wants 30mpg (or as near as dammit). My 2.5 V6 averages under 25mpg, a 3.0 is going to be closer to 20. Over 30k miles a year, no thanks.

[Roop]

Previous gen Fiesta ST...? It's 2 litres though.

How about the Panda 100HP. An absolute blast to drive. No weight. Wheel at each corner and a peppy 100bhp 1.4...

[Bonefish Blues]

MX3 with it's little V6 springs to mind - but AIUI the rest never lived up to the engine's promise.

[james_tigerwoods]

An Abarth 500 - A mate has one, it's a hoot!

[robsco]

The Crack Fox said:

james_tigerwoods said:

An Abarth 500 - A mate has one, it's a hoot!

+1

Or a Fiat Panda 100HP. Had a go in one of these recently and couldn't stop driving it, brilliant car.

[Rawwr]

I always thought the 1.25 available in Fiestas from c.1998 was a fantastic unit

[.:ian:.]

crx del sol vti? 160bhp from a little 1.6..

PS £4K for a TS GTV is nuts! even with the 17" teledials..

[CypherP]

Roop said:

Previous gen Fiesta ST...? It's 2 litres though.

How about the Panda 100HP. An absolute blast to drive. No weight. Wheel at each corner and a peppy 100bhp 1.4...

I'd go for this too, or failing that, Fiat 500. Had some great fun in the 1.4 Petrol

[thinfourth2]

Does a caterham fireblade count 900CC and less then 500Kg ?