What £4k all-rounder?

[MrFrodo]

Hi all,

I might be looking for a new car in the next few months and I thought it was time to commence a spot of window shopping. Requirements are:

• Maximum £4k purchase budget and preferably not too ruinous to run
• Reasonable reliability
• Number of seats not important (well, providing there's at least two) but a substantial boot and/or folding rear sears would be handy
• Preferably a relatively civilised motorway car
• Added points for something a bit different and something with a bit of driver involvement, as long as it's still sensible enough to fulfil all the above

I'm not personally a fan of barges, so old Jags and 5 Series are out, despite the wafting potential.

Some initial thoughts:

I have a Porsche 924 currently which I love driving, but my girlfriend who's going to share the car can't get with the seating position at all, so that's out, as is a 944 presumably.

I like the look of the mk3 MR2, but I suspect the boot would be too small. I've also yet to tick the Integra Type R box, but I fear it might be a bit too full on for long journeys. I'd also consider an RX8, but to be honest the running costs scare me a little.

An MX-5 is a possibility - I've had one in the past - but they're not the best motorway cars and the boot space might be an issue these days.

Other thoughts:
E30 BMW 318iS (if you can still get a good one for sensible money), Peugeot 309 GTi (ditto), E36 BMW 328 Coupe, recent-shape Toyota Celica, Clio 171/182, Pug 306 GTi-6, Nissan 200 SX (if you can get an un-barry'd one), Alfa 145/146, Ford Racing Puma (out of budget?)

[Great Pretender]

Focus ST170?

[Iceman82]

Why not try the 944 and see if there is enough of a difference for her? Though, to be fair, would it not fail the Daily Driver/Non-ruinous to run test?

[SuperVM]

E36 M3 Evo. You can get a mechanically sorted example for that money with a recent inspection 2, so nothing to spend for a while.

[simonej]

Volvo S60R, MG ZT 260 (or 190s are dirt cheap), Mondeo ST220, Saab 9-3 HOT.

[AV12]

Using that brief, the obvious teach-to-suck-eggs choice:



Spanish, a really good steer and excellent VFM.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

£3245. Decent warchest remaining.

[aka_kerrly]

In your position I'd be considering mostly coupes and hot hatches as they offer the practicality and fun that you desire.

You have already mentioned the Integra Type R, E30, 309, Celica all are good shout, as are

- Alfa GTV
- VW Corrado
- Celica - Gt4?
- TT

[MrFrodo]

Great Pretender said:

Focus ST170?

I've looked at these in the past and I've owned a standard Focus. Certainly at the time my feeling was that they weren't quite hot enough to justify the (anecdotally) increased running cost, but they've come down quite a bit in price since then so that does rather help the situation. Might be worth a look.

The E36 M3 is an intriguing suggestion, but I've heard some scary reports on the maintenance costs of those. Also, insurance could be a bit of an issue - at least until the spring when I turn 30.

Have to confess I didn't realise you could get a decent E46 330 CI for that price. They are a bit of a weapon of choice around these parts though, which puts me off slightly.

ETA I've investigated a Corrado VR6 in the past too, but the cost of maintaining it was a bit of a concern. And while I'd love a GTV V6 I think I'd struggle to run one (you might notice a theme emerging here...) and I'm not sure the four-cylinder variants would hold my attention.

Edited by MrFrodo on Thursday 27th September 17:19

[kingstondc5]

Subaru Imprezza/Forester/Legacy?

[CampDavid]

Great Pretender said:

Focus ST170?

Just a slightly dull GTI-6 no?

[CDP]

MK2 MR2s have huge boots for what they are even bigger than the MG TF. The Toyota is the more comfortable cruiser but the newest examples are 12 years old; they've also got the potential for massive bills. Apart from the issues it's probably the best all-rounder I can think of, it can even tow a ton and turbos can be made stupidly fast.

I bought the TF after spending thousands on the MR2, you can get a full MIG welding kit and all the stuff for a weekend away in the boot. With the hardtop it's comfortable on the motorway but noisy with the softtop. With the right tyres handles so much better than the '2.

Toyota Celica?

MG ZT
Lexus IS300

Then there's the Germans...

[BriC175]

AV12 said:

Spanish, a really good steer and excellent VFM.

BMW? Spanish?

SuperVM said:

E36 M3 Evo. You can get a mechanically sorted example for that money with a recent inspection 2, so nothing to spend for a while.

This! I've just bought an M3 Evo Coupe for under £4k, and I absolutely love it!

[stropley]

BriC175 said:

This! I've just bought an M3 Evo Coupe for under £4k, and I absolutely love it!

Is it Spanish ?

[peterattheboro]

ST220

[AV12]

Spanish = Manual

[MrFrodo]

Dear God, why did someone have to suggest the Alfa GTV?

I just keep seeing adverts with Red GTV V6s sporting cream leather interiors and Larini exhausts now. Every time I do my wallet winces.

[AV12]

MrFrodo said:

Dear God, why did someone have to suggest the Alfa GTV?

I just keep seeing adverts with Red GTV V6s sporting cream leather interiors and Larini exhausts now. Every time I do my wallet winces.

I would specify Ragazzon and quad pipes, personally. TDF/Tan if you can get it otherise red/tan or silver/red. Ploy bushes and Q2 dif...(yes yes out of budget now)

[MrFrodo]

AV12 said:

I would specify Ragazzon and quad pipes, personally. TDF/Tan if you can get it otherise red/tan or silver/red. Ploy bushes and Q2 dif...(yes yes out of budget now)

TDF? I'm very partial to the dark blue colour personally. That or blood red.

[AV12]

Tour De France - dark blue

[Ephraim]

Probably fails the not-ruinous-to-run test (but no more than an M3), but how about a Jag XK8? Not too bargey, but lovely jag V8 and comfy.

What about a Lexus Soarer? Toyota reliability, plenty of space and good looking, IMO.

The RX8 will only really cost in fuel, but £70 for 220 miles is pretty costly.