£2500 Fast Petrol Cars With Good MPG
Discussion
I'll add the K12 Micra SR160 to the list-owned one seven years ago when I was 19. Went reasonably well for a small warm hatchback, awesome MPG when driven without lead feet, handled well and was pretty entertaining to punt about. Insurable, too.
MG ZR160 is also worth a look, but I doubt it'll be so insurance friendly at your age.
MG ZR160 is also worth a look, but I doubt it'll be so insurance friendly at your age.
So, DSUK said:
Fast petrol cars don't have good MPG, that's how internal combustion engines work. More speed requires either less weight (and 2.5k won't get you a Lotus) or more power. To generate more power, more fuel is used. This has the predictable consequence of returning poorer economy.
That's if you want an actual fast car (something red and Italian, or German and M3 shaped). If you simply want something which feels fast to someone accustomed to a 1200cc Corsa, then, well, insert your own "my Nan's mobility scooter is probably up to the job" joke here.
Simon.
dsuk said:
Instead of getting two cars, why don't you get one that isn't an embarassment to pistonheads
To which the OP replied:Memorise97 said:
I have a £2500 budget including selling the corsa I have now
So, OP, your answer to having a limited budget is not to buy one £2500 car, but two £1250 cars, in the hope that, somehow, each of them is better?Fast petrol cars don't have good MPG, that's how internal combustion engines work. More speed requires either less weight (and 2.5k won't get you a Lotus) or more power. To generate more power, more fuel is used. This has the predictable consequence of returning poorer economy.
That's if you want an actual fast car (something red and Italian, or German and M3 shaped). If you simply want something which feels fast to someone accustomed to a 1200cc Corsa, then, well, insert your own "my Nan's mobility scooter is probably up to the job" joke here.
Simon.
ecsrobin said:
What about a 1.3 CDTI corsa that way you have a TURBO!!!!!!!!! All the girls will lift their skirts when they hear you mention that.
Don't worry, diesel spoiled that party for everyone! 
In all honesty though, I'm stuck with using some of those awful 1.3CDTi engined Astras at work. The worst engine and gearing I've ever come across. Absolutely dreadful.
Baryonyx said:
ecsrobin said:
What about a 1.3 CDTI corsa that way you have a TURBO!!!!!!!!! All the girls will lift their skirts when they hear you mention that.
Don't worry, diesel spoiled that party for everyone! In all honesty though, I'm stuck with using some of those awful 1.3CDTi engined Astras at work. The worst engine and gearing I've ever come across. Absolutely dreadful.
I only picked it as it was the next engine size up from his present motor
ferrariF50lover said:
So, OP, your answer to having a limited budget is not to buy one £2500 car, but two £1250 cars, in the hope that, somehow, each of them is better?
Fast petrol cars don't have good MPG, that's how internal combustion engines work. More speed requires either less weight (and 2.5k won't get you a Lotus) or more power. To generate more power, more fuel is used. This has the predictable consequence of returning poorer economy.
That's if you want an actual fast car (something red and Italian, or German and M3 shaped). If you simply want something which feels fast to someone accustomed to a 1200cc Corsa, then, well, insert your own "my Nan's mobility scooter is probably up to the job" joke here.
Simon.
Second car... as in the one AFTER the first one.Fast petrol cars don't have good MPG, that's how internal combustion engines work. More speed requires either less weight (and 2.5k won't get you a Lotus) or more power. To generate more power, more fuel is used. This has the predictable consequence of returning poorer economy.
That's if you want an actual fast car (something red and Italian, or German and M3 shaped). If you simply want something which feels fast to someone accustomed to a 1200cc Corsa, then, well, insert your own "my Nan's mobility scooter is probably up to the job" joke here.
Simon.
Adam205 said:
Second car... as in the one AFTER the first one.
Ah, that'll teach me to trust DCUK!My vote goes to the person who suggested keeping the Corsa for another year or two and then getting something actually fun, rather than going all out now for the most fun you can have with such restrictive conditions. A 1.9 Punto is no one's idea of a good time.
Delayed gratification; you can have a Punto now and do little more than bore yourself to death, or you can buy a warmish hatch and sponsor your insurer's new Porsche or, in 18 months time, you can take all the money you've saved, buy an old M3 and have some real fun.
Let us know what colour your inevitable Clio 172 is.
Simon.
Golaboots said:
How about these?
Saab 9-3/900 turbo. Could sneak into classic insurance or be considered 'old man' enough to avoid the higher groups. Essentially avoiding cars that young people buy and crash is the aim here.
I don't know what the situation is now, because while I insure a 9-5 Aero for peanuts, I am in my forties, but quick Saabs and young drivers used to be a bad combination insurance-wise.Saab 9-3/900 turbo. Could sneak into classic insurance or be considered 'old man' enough to avoid the higher groups. Essentially avoiding cars that young people buy and crash is the aim here.
Just reading on your other threads, is this going to be your second car, or a second car alongside the one you have?
ZS's are good cars, some car reviews put the handling down as better than the ST but frankly its bulls
t.
I've owned my ST for 5 years and i'll give you a few stats.
-£220 a year tax
-£40 MOT ( yet to fail, touchwood)
servicing is about £40 for parts if you do it yourself ( C service every 3 years i think is £89 in parts)
-Insurance when i was 20 and 2 years ncb was £1400. Its now at about £500 with 6yrs NCB with all modifications declared ( don't ask me how many, maybe 7/8 ) through a specialist broker. You'll have to be 21 to be with a majority of specialist brokers for insurance.
-Currently 32MPG. A tank can range from about 220 miles to 300+ depending on your driving style.
-I run Toyo T1-R's ( you can't get them anymore but they have a newer model out ) generally good quality tyres are £75 a corner.
-Disks and pads set me back £140. They're from Pagid and i rate them pretty well for the price.
-They can be picked up for next to nothing these days, i don't want to sell mine for this reason as they've dropped that much i'd rather just keep it for the foreseeable future.
-Mines been relatively hassle free, i've spent money on it because i love it and it happily runs 180bhp and hasn't cost massive amounts to get it there.
Just be wary that your insurance is going to be ruinous regardless of how slow/small engine size car you get, so choose wisely on what you actually want then think if its worth spending the money on insurance or putting it towards something better later on in life.
A standard boring answer, but i sort of did the same.
HTH
ZS's are good cars, some car reviews put the handling down as better than the ST but frankly its bulls
t. I've owned my ST for 5 years and i'll give you a few stats.
-£220 a year tax
-£40 MOT ( yet to fail, touchwood)
servicing is about £40 for parts if you do it yourself ( C service every 3 years i think is £89 in parts)
-Insurance when i was 20 and 2 years ncb was £1400. Its now at about £500 with 6yrs NCB with all modifications declared ( don't ask me how many, maybe 7/8 ) through a specialist broker. You'll have to be 21 to be with a majority of specialist brokers for insurance.
-Currently 32MPG. A tank can range from about 220 miles to 300+ depending on your driving style.
-I run Toyo T1-R's ( you can't get them anymore but they have a newer model out ) generally good quality tyres are £75 a corner.
-Disks and pads set me back £140. They're from Pagid and i rate them pretty well for the price.
-They can be picked up for next to nothing these days, i don't want to sell mine for this reason as they've dropped that much i'd rather just keep it for the foreseeable future.
-Mines been relatively hassle free, i've spent money on it because i love it and it happily runs 180bhp and hasn't cost massive amounts to get it there.
Just be wary that your insurance is going to be ruinous regardless of how slow/small engine size car you get, so choose wisely on what you actually want then think if its worth spending the money on insurance or putting it towards something better later on in life.
A standard boring answer, but i sort of did the same.
HTH
JackP1 said:
Just reading on your other threads, is this going to be your second car, or a second car alongside the one you have?
ZS's are good cars, some car reviews put the handling down as better than the ST but frankly its bullst.
I've owned my ST for 5 years and i'll give you a few stats.
-£220 a year tax
-£40 MOT ( yet to fail, touchwood)
servicing is about £40 for parts if you do it yourself ( C service every 3 years i think is £89 in parts)
-Insurance when i was 20 and 2 years ncb was £1400. Its now at about £500 with 6yrs NCB with all modifications declared ( don't ask me how many, maybe 7/8 ) through a specialist broker. You'll have to be 21 to be with a majority of specialist brokers for insurance.
-Currently 32MPG. A tank can range from about 220 miles to 300+ depending on your driving style.
-I run Toyo T1-R's ( you can't get them anymore but they have a newer model out ) generally good quality tyres are £75 a corner.
-Disks and pads set me back £140. They're from Pagid and i rate them pretty well for the price.
-They can be picked up for next to nothing these days, i don't want to sell mine for this reason as they've dropped that much i'd rather just keep it for the foreseeable future.
-Mines been relatively hassle free, i've spent money on it because i love it and it happily runs 180bhp and hasn't cost massive amounts to get it there.
Just be wary that your insurance is going to be ruinous regardless of how slow/small engine size car you get, so choose wisely on what you actually want then think if its worth spending the money on insurance or putting it towards something better later on in life.
A standard boring answer, but i sort of did the same.
HTH
no, my second car, i will be selling the corsaZS's are good cars, some car reviews put the handling down as better than the ST but frankly its bulls
t. I've owned my ST for 5 years and i'll give you a few stats.
-£220 a year tax
-£40 MOT ( yet to fail, touchwood)
servicing is about £40 for parts if you do it yourself ( C service every 3 years i think is £89 in parts)
-Insurance when i was 20 and 2 years ncb was £1400. Its now at about £500 with 6yrs NCB with all modifications declared ( don't ask me how many, maybe 7/8 ) through a specialist broker. You'll have to be 21 to be with a majority of specialist brokers for insurance.
-Currently 32MPG. A tank can range from about 220 miles to 300+ depending on your driving style.
-I run Toyo T1-R's ( you can't get them anymore but they have a newer model out ) generally good quality tyres are £75 a corner.
-Disks and pads set me back £140. They're from Pagid and i rate them pretty well for the price.
-They can be picked up for next to nothing these days, i don't want to sell mine for this reason as they've dropped that much i'd rather just keep it for the foreseeable future.
-Mines been relatively hassle free, i've spent money on it because i love it and it happily runs 180bhp and hasn't cost massive amounts to get it there.
Just be wary that your insurance is going to be ruinous regardless of how slow/small engine size car you get, so choose wisely on what you actually want then think if its worth spending the money on insurance or putting it towards something better later on in life.
A standard boring answer, but i sort of did the same.
HTH
but yes i will be going for the Zetec S considering I will be 18, got quoted £1300 straight away without searching around which isn't too bad
General Madness said:
How about a decent condition phase 2 clio 172. You can get them for £1500 and put the saving towards the insurance.
I get 30mpg around town and on a run at 65 I get 48-52 mpg. According to the dash. Not to shabby considering it is rarely driven in a sedate manner
Not a chance in hell of insuring one at 18 - i was paying nearly 600 on one at 29 with 1 year ncb ( got my license at 27) good postcode for insurance as well so it wasnt cos of that.I get 30mpg around town and on a run at 65 I get 48-52 mpg. According to the dash. Not to shabby considering it is rarely driven in a sedate manner
Golaboots said:
How about these?
Saab 9-3/900 turbo. Could sneak into classic insurance or be considered 'old man' enough to avoid the higher groups. Essentially avoiding cars that young people buy and crash is the aim here.
1.7 ford puma.
Mgf?
I expect the Aero/HOT models will command far too strong an insurance premium for most young drivers.Saab 9-3/900 turbo. Could sneak into classic insurance or be considered 'old man' enough to avoid the higher groups. Essentially avoiding cars that young people buy and crash is the aim here.
1.7 ford puma.
Mgf?
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