What the hell to buy? 3-4K budget

[Easty-5]

I usually can't be arsed with these "what car" threads but I genuinely need a bit of help. I sold my turbo'd MX5 last night and now I am really struggling to find something to replace it with. I have a budget of around 3-4k but the cheaper the better. I started off looking at hot hatches as I would like something quick-ish, reliable and fun to drive. I went and veiwed a ClioSport 182 last night and was very disapointed with it. Condition-wise it was very good but when I took it for a drive it just felt like a really dull drive. The clutch was heavy, the steering was heavy and the car felt stupidly slow. It only starts to shift after 5000RPM and even then I would say it was far from fast. Maybe it's just me that needs to adapt to driving N/A cars again.

So, does anybody have any idea's on what car to go for? I would like something with a half decent interior too. So far I have been looking at ClioSports, RX8's (reliablity puts me off), 106 GTi's (impossible to find a good one) etc.

I have been looking at alternative options and one is to use the money from the sale of my MX5 and stick it down as a deposit for a car from a dealer for around the 10k mark. Although this option probably isn't the best as I am currently saving as much as I can for a house deposit and will be looking at taking out a mortgage in the next 18months so having finance against a car probably isn't the best idea when trying to get a mortgage.

[mnkiboy]

How about the previous shape Fabia VRS? Plenty of torque in a light(ish) car to give you the push in the back feeling you got from your previous turbo charged car.

Just keep it under 3000rpm and you'll never know the difference!

[xaero1]

I'd recommend a 306 Rallye, but I'm biased because I own one

Plus points are they are WELL within budget, they're very engaging to drive and are relatively cheap to run. Performance wise 0-60 is quoted at 6.7 which isn't bad at all, the engine is very torquey compared to other cars, however it'll feel slow compared to a turbo-MX5 and the interior (because it's a Rallye) is very basic.

[V8mate]

Why did you sell the MX-5?

[EDLT]

I'd drive another 182 first, the one you drove must have been broken. If it still feels slow, you won't like the RX8 either because they also lack that all-the-power-all-at-once feeling you get from turbos. What do you actually want, because you'll struggle to get something that feels like a turbo'd MX-5 (depending on how much power it had) for £4k.

MR2 Turbo, maybe or a Celica GT4/Impreza/ropey Evo?

[BadgerBill]

147

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3131872.htm

Everyone should have an Alfa once, just so they can say that they have tried.

It won't be fast, the best drive, cheap to run, etc. But it has to be better than a Clio.

BB

PS I've not had my alfa yet, but I always look for one everytime I change.

[Easty-5]

I sold the MX5 purely because i was offered the right price and it required a few bits and bobs doing that would have cost a bit in the long run. I think I need to accept the fact that whatever I get next isn't going to be as quick as the MX5 or my previous cars (MR2 Turbo, 200bhp Starlet). I was hoping to stick with a N/A engine purely for reliability. I would like to do track days again - hence the reason for looking at hot hatches. I am going to look at a few other ClioSports as I don't think the car I looked at last night was a fair representation of the little hot hatches.

[varsas]

E36 M3? 944 turbo? Both will do track days fairly easily and quite well. Might need brakes but that's true of anything. Jaguar XJR? (not as good for track days, obviously)

[alfa pint]

Fiat Coupe Turbo.

In your budget, surprisingly reliable if you have a non-tinkered one, fecking quick and surprisingly good handling if you don't plant your foot mid corner and a hell of a size boot to go with it.

I'm not a fan of many of the hot hatches, although I do quite like the Civic Type R. You'll have the same problem with that though - you don't get the power at lower revs.

[varsas]

The Crack Fox said:

I've mentioned on other threads that the Clio 182 is wildly over-rated. Try another and see what you think. I doubt your opinion will change though.

Honda S2000s are incredibly good value at the mo, and occasionally come up for c.£4k, although £5k might be more realistic. Quick, reliable, and entertaining. Worth a look ?

Insurance puts me off those, it's insane. Over double what I pay for my 328i. Perhaps that's why they are fairly cheap? In the same vein, I was going to suggest a Porsche boxster, but I'm not sure the budget will cover one.

[frosted]

Don't understand why the rx8 puts you off , bargain of the century if you ask me

[Chris71]

If a healthy Clio 182 felt far too slow then you can rule out just about any standard hot hatch in your price range I'd say. Good ones are - and feel - at least as fast the likes of the 306 GTi-6.

If that's the case, maybe you need something else with a turbo. Nissan Pulsar GTI-R? Impreza WRX wagon maybe?