Daily for £2-2.5k, Fun and 35mpg+ ??

[After_Shock]

Been thinking of changing my daily driver for a while now, however im genuinely struggling to find anything to replace it with, literally cant get any inspiration!

Reason for selling the current one is its getting very high on miles so it needs to go before its literally worth scrap value. Its also doing 29-30mpg which is the most economical car I use at the moment so a slight increase in MPG would be nice to offset recent fuel price increases.

Budget is ideally £2k absolute max £2.5k, dont like spending too much on daily's as it has to go to shopping car parks etc and drive through bad weather.

Criteria, dont want a cabrio or sports car, needs to be FWD or AWD for bad weather as everything else I have is RWD, not a 4x4 or people carrier but happy with saloon, estate, coupe.

Ideally slightly interesting to drive and as say 35mpg plus realistically would be nice.

Anyone got something to throw into the mix see if can give me some inspiration!?

[jimmy156]

How about an Alfa 156 2.0 TS



I love mine, it fits your criteria, and i get an average of 36mpg (measured brim->brim)

[CooperS]

Clio Sport 182

[IanMorewood]

Puma, £2.5k should get you a mint one with no rust.

[balders118]

IanMorewood said:

Puma, £2.5k should get you a mint one with no rust.

It'll be there, just hiding ready to pounce!

Pumas are great cars (I have one) but personally I wouldn't spend £2.5K on one. You can get ones in great condition for £2k, or even £1.5k and many that are a little tatty for comfortable under £1K. Great cars but spending £2.5k is an easy way to get ripped off IMO

[FRA53R]

Clio 172? I got a ph1 exclusive for £2600 with 51k a year and a half ago. Comfortable, quick, great handling and I get 40mpg when careful and better than 35 when hooning! If you want a saloon though why not look at a Honda Accord Type R?

[caprirob]

Might not get you many PH points but for that money you can get an excellent Hyundai Coupe 2.0

Spec wise it has the lot - a/c, cruise, full leather - 2.5k will get you a low mileage one with history and you won't have any issues getting around 35mpg out of it if you drive it normally.

FWD and its a hatchback with a usable boot.

Example :



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Cheap insurance too.

[After_Shock]

Some interesting options so far, keep em coming!

Didnt realise economy wise the Clio's were anywhere near 40mpg, I dont drive quick especially in the daily have other stuff to hammer about so getting near the top end fuel wise wont be hard. It would also tick another box as I want to get into doing the odd track day, was looking at buying something else for that on top so could get both in one. I have looked at a couple in the past and both had badly blowing exhausts, common issue with them?

Puma a good idea but as suggested wouldnt dare spend anywhere near that money on one! More a sub £1k car as they all do have the rust issue and would need that sorting.

Hyundai coupe another over looked car and a good idea.

Alfa 156 had a bad experience with one in the past, will have just been the car but has left me were I wouldnt buy another, but good suggestion.

[After_Shock]

FRA53R said:

If you want a saloon though why not look at a Honda Accord Type R?

Doesnt have to be saloon at all, just avoiding cabrios/sports cars.

ATR's are getting on a bit now arent they? Also economy wise I dont think would fit the bill, but could be wrong? was with the clio!

[IanMorewood]

After_Shock said:

FRA53R said:

If you want a saloon though why not look at a Honda Accord Type R?

Doesnt have to be saloon at all, just avoiding cabrios/sports cars.

ATR's are getting on a bit now arent they? Also economy wise I dont think would fit the bill, but could be wrong? was with the clio!

Nope you wouldnt get 30mpg out of an Accord even on a good day.

As to the Puma your right spend less and save for the replacement rear arches and bushes and you should have a cracking little car.

[FRA53R]

After_Shock said:

Doesnt have to be saloon at all, just avoiding cabrios/sports cars.

ATR's are getting on a bit now arent they? Also economy wise I dont think would fit the bill, but could be wrong? was with the clio!

Wasn't sure what you needed space wise. Yeah the clio surprised me too. I've heard several people say that they've acheived those figures so it's not just me. It's been pointed out though that the Accord won't pass the mpg test, so I guess that suggestion is out the window. For your budget though have you thought of the Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia Vrs?

[After_Shock]

FRA53R said:

Wasn't sure what you needed space wise. Yeah the clio surprised me too. I've heard several people say that they've acheived those figures so it's not just me. It's been pointed out though that the Accord won't pass the mpg test, so I guess that suggestion is out the window. For your budget though have you thought of the Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia Vrs?

Had ruled out the 1.8T equipped cars for MPG but not sure what exactly they get? Also same reason ruled out the Astra Coupe Turbo due to he mpg.

[MNBrennan]

caprirob said:

Might not get you many PH points but for that money you can get an excellent Hyundai Coupe 2.0

Spec wise it has the lot - a/c, cruise, full leather - 2.5k will get you a low mileage one with history and you won't have any issues getting around 35mpg out of it if you drive it normally.

FWD and its a hatchback with a usable boot.

Example :



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Cheap insurance too.

+1 I love mine

[deltashad]

Honda Accord 2.2 Type-R?
Saab 9-5 2.3HOT Aero [250] 5dr Auto Estate
Rover MG ZT 2.5 190

Edited by deltashad on Sunday 15th April 23:07

[FRA53R]

After_Shock said:

Had ruled out the 1.8T equipped cars for MPG but not sure what exactly they get? Also same reason ruled out the Astra Coupe Turbo due to he mpg.

I would reckon that, if you drive reasonably with the occasional blast you'll manage decent mpg out of the 1.8T's I don't know though as I've not owned one.

[SonicShadow]

Renault ClioSport 172 Cup comes to mind?

They seem to start at under 2k, some nice ones around for your budget:

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3801442.htm

[underphil]

Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTI

Mazda 3 2.0 sport

Toyota Corolla 1.8 T-Sport 190

[300bhp/ton]

After_Shock said:

Been thinking of changing my daily driver for a while now, however im genuinely struggling to find anything to replace it with, literally cant get any inspiration!

Reason for selling the current one is its getting very high on miles so it needs to go before its literally worth scrap value. Its also doing 29-30mpg which is the most economical car I use at the moment so a slight increase in MPG would be nice to offset recent fuel price increases.

Budget is ideally £2k absolute max £2.5k, dont like spending too much on daily's as it has to go to shopping car parks etc and drive through bad weather.

Criteria, dont want a cabrio or sports car, needs to be FWD or AWD for bad weather as everything else I have is RWD, not a 4x4 or people carrier but happy with saloon, estate, coupe.

Ideally slightly interesting to drive and as say 35mpg plus realistically would be nice.

Anyone got something to throw into the mix see if can give me some inspiration!?

Ford SportKA, reckon they look great and a riot to drive. Should do upto 36mpg, although they aren't exactly mpg focused, so I suspect 30-32mpg is a more realistic average.

You'll easily get a 2004 model for £2k or under. Rust on the arches is an issue, but for this money I doubt it's a real problem in the grander scheme of things.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 16th April 14:06

[300bhp/ton]

jimmy156 said:

How about an Alfa 156 2.0 TS



I love mine, it fits your criteria, and i get an average of 36mpg (measured brim->brim)

They must be incredibly frugal or you must drive really gentle and mostly on wide open roads at steady speeds. Also can they really be counted as "fun"?

[Chrisw666]

300bhp/ton said:

After_Shock said:

dont want a cabrio

Ford StreetKA, reckon they look great and a riot to drive. Should do upto 36mpg, although they aren't exactly mpg focused, so I suspect 30-32mpg is a more realistic average.

You'll easily get a 2004 model for £2k or under. Rust on the arches is an issue, but for this money I doubt it's a real problem in the grander scheme of things.