Yet another choose me a car thread...with a twist!
Discussion
Evening PH, and welcome along to yet another 'I need a vehicle and I'm a car nut but I need the feedback of people with experience and the odd curveball thrown in for good measure' thread!
Although this one has a twist...
I need 2!
We currently run an 11 year old Fiesta 1.25 and a 10 year old MR2 Roadster. Both are giving trouble and we've decided to put a bit more money in and buy two new vehicles over the next few months (post bathroom and possibly one either side of Xm
s. (It's still October...I'm not going to say it yet!)
So, we're thinking about replacing the Fiesta with something small and sporty (Swift Sport, Fiesta Mk5(? - the previous generation) Zetec S or ST, Mazda 2 Sport, Mini) and the MR2 with something that will be used for some commutes (we both car share) and travelling to shows/weekend blasts. Both need to be reliable and the sports cannot be too expensive to run (hence I fear that an RX-8 is out of the question already). Debates have included 350Z, Westfield or something more practical such as Focus ST, Octavia vRS. I'd like a Boxter but our price range will not give us a new enough car.
Criteria include:
der (and indeed I already have!) and I like to think that I know a broad range of vehicles fairly well from reading as much as my tiny brain can absorb, but like I said at the start of this tedious (by now I'm sure) opener, I'd like feeback from experience and the odd curveball!
Go nuts PH...I know I can count on you!
Although this one has a twist...
I need 2!
We currently run an 11 year old Fiesta 1.25 and a 10 year old MR2 Roadster. Both are giving trouble and we've decided to put a bit more money in and buy two new vehicles over the next few months (post bathroom and possibly one either side of Xm
s. (It's still October...I'm not going to say it yet!)So, we're thinking about replacing the Fiesta with something small and sporty (Swift Sport, Fiesta Mk5(? - the previous generation) Zetec S or ST, Mazda 2 Sport, Mini) and the MR2 with something that will be used for some commutes (we both car share) and travelling to shows/weekend blasts. Both need to be reliable and the sports cannot be too expensive to run (hence I fear that an RX-8 is out of the question already). Debates have included 350Z, Westfield or something more practical such as Focus ST, Octavia vRS. I'd like a Boxter but our price range will not give us a new enough car.
Criteria include:
- no older than 2005 (2004 for a particulalry special car!);
- max 60k miles;
- one must be practical enough to take 4 people in relative comfort;
- at least one must be ruddy good fun, preferably both!
der (and indeed I already have!) and I like to think that I know a broad range of vehicles fairly well from reading as much as my tiny brain can absorb, but like I said at the start of this tedious (by now I'm sure) opener, I'd like feeback from experience and the odd curveball!Go nuts PH...I know I can count on you!
I know you want two new cars - but I would keep the MR2 (not sure what is wrong with it - but some times it is better the devil you know). This will provide as many smiles per mile as most sports cars in the £4 - £5k range.
Then I would choose something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3198637.htm
Obviously these divide the PH massive but they get great reviews for a reason. Depreciation should be less than two £4 - £5k cars. Reliability should be good. Interior quality is superior to the others you mentioned. Mpg not too bad for a 180bhp hatch.
Should leave some money to bring the MR2 back to life again as well if you search around....
Mike
Then I would choose something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3198637.htm
Obviously these divide the PH massive but they get great reviews for a reason. Depreciation should be less than two £4 - £5k cars. Reliability should be good. Interior quality is superior to the others you mentioned. Mpg not too bad for a 180bhp hatch.
Should leave some money to bring the MR2 back to life again as well if you search around....
Mike
Having just been helping a mate look for Swift Sports and MINIs I'd have to say Swift, purely for the fact that you'll get a lot more for your money, something far newer, although Suzuki Dealers seem as rare as rocking-horse poop. Whilst the MINI will hold it's value far better, for the price of an 09-plate Swift Sport, my mate got an 05 '54' MINI Cooper. The special car has to be a 350Z as the Boxster is out, though how does an AP2 Honda S2000 GT strike you?
£6,500 to £7k seems more like it...
.2007 Fiat Panda 100HP £3600
2005 Honda S2000 £5195
The Panda bends your mileage rule but gives you a few spare beans to get an s2000, imo a fair compromise.
2005 Honda S2000 £5195
The Panda bends your mileage rule but gives you a few spare beans to get an s2000, imo a fair compromise.
The FIAT isn't too high on mileage, I could cope with that for the right car. The Honda is tempting but I fear that examples of that age could be a little ropey at that kind of price...cat D with some previous minor damage and a few current dings....but it does reignite my will to hunt for them 
!
The Focus:MX-5 idea is good, but I don't fit in MX5s Mk1 or 2: I'd have to check if Mk3s come into range or not. I know they weren't quite as well received in the press in terms of handling and chuckability.
Does anybody have any experince of them here?
I do love how nimble our current MR2 is! (It's quite tempting to hunt for a facelifted version now I'm better versed in the issues to look out for!).
!The Focus:MX-5 idea is good, but I don't fit in MX5s Mk1 or 2: I'd have to check if Mk3s come into range or not. I know they weren't quite as well received in the press in terms of handling and chuckability.
Does anybody have any experince of them here?
I do love how nimble our current MR2 is! (It's quite tempting to hunt for a facelifted version now I'm better versed in the issues to look out for!).
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