Cheapest fun cars?

[spitfire355]

Hi,

I'm currently 22 and have a 2010 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 and am looking to upgrade to something more fun and within my price range.

I was looking at the obvious answer, an MX-5, however my insurer quoted me £4000 to switch over to one mid-policy - I currently pay just under £390 and have 1 years no claims).

So clearly an MX-5 isn't an option and I'm now looking at 4-seater non convertibles as I think they are the main contributors to the massive price increase.

So my question to you guys is what would you recommend I start looking at now? I have a budget of around £2k and it must meet the following criteria:

-Small engine - less than 1.8
-Reliable - it's going to be my daily driver
-Cheap to insure
-4+ seats
-Fixed roof
-Less than 2k for a good example

I was thinking maybe something along the lines of an old GTI or even some kind of off-roader. Either way, I'd just like to hear your ideas of what could make a great second car.

Cheers

[itcaptainslow]

MG ZR160-£2k buys a cracking example. They're fun in a raw, old school hot hatch kind of way and yes, to all the naysayers, they can be reliable if looked after!

Otherwise a Mk1 Focus 1.6/1.8 Zetec is definitely worth a look-again £2k buys a great example and Ford really did sprinkle the chassis with magic stars. They're a sublime steer (if you can get one which has suspension in decent fettle and not equipped with four mismatched budget tyres).

[dave_s13]

Have you tried a fresh quote for a new policy from elsewhere and then found out if you'll be charged to cancel your current one?

It might be that your current insurer won't touch you in an mx5 but someone else might.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Your car is only four years old and surely worth more than 2k. If you get out of that car an into any kind of 2k hot hatch, you are inevitably going to end up in a less reliable and efficient car as it is likely to be more like 10 years old.

[JackP1]

RX8

Actually, no. Don't

[spitfire355]

Yeah I've ran some fresh quotes, but I'd be hit with a big fee for cancelling the policy and more importantly (at this age) I'd lose the NCB I've already earned so far.

I only want to spend around 2kish so I can spend a few hundred on the extra insurance bump, tax and a service once I get it. The rest is going into savings.

And cheers for the suggestions - I'll check them out!

[cat220]

For that kind of money you could get a mint (no rusty arches) Ford Puma 1.7. Great little cars.

[NNH]

cat220 said:

For that kind of money you could get a mint (no rusty arches) Ford Puma 1.7. Great little cars.

Seconded.

[anonymous-user]

itcaptainslow said:

MG ZR160-£2k buys a cracking example. They're fun in a raw, old school hot hatch kind of way and yes, to all the naysayers, they can be reliable if looked after!

Otherwise a Mk1 Focus 1.6/1.8 Zetec is definitely worth a look-again £2k buys a great example and Ford really did sprinkle the chassis with magic stars. They're a sublime steer (if you can get one which has suspension in decent fettle and not equipped with four mismatched budget tyres).

I second the ZR comment. Get one with good history, spend a bit of money on sound proofing (if refined is what you want), or just leave it stock.

[BritishRacinGrin]

spitfire355 said:

Yeah I've ran some fresh quotes, but I'd be hit with a big fee for cancelling the policy and more importantly (at this age) I'd lose the NCB I've already earned so far.

I only want to spend around 2kish so I can spend a few hundred on the extra insurance bump, tax and a service once I get it. The rest is going into savings.

And cheers for the suggestions - I'll check them out!

Just don't. It's madness. You're going to spunk away all the value you have tied up in your newish car just so that you can have an older, less reliable and less efficient one (albeit more interesting?)
This is one of those things which you are likely to look back on as something stupid you did when you were younger.
Keep the Corsa for the duration of the policy, flog it at the end for 3/4k and use the money you will have saved on insurance adjustments and policy increases to up your budget to 5k+, then you can get something 'fun' which isn't also 'knackred' and 'decrepit'.

[Clivey]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Just don't. It's madness. You're going to spunk away all the value you have tied up in your newish car just so that you can have an older, less reliable and less efficient one (albeit more interesting?)
This is one of those things which you are likely to look back on as something stupid you did when you were younger.
Keep the Corsa for the duration of the policy, flog it at the end for 3/4k and use the money you will have saved on insurance adjustments and policy increases to up your budget to 5k+, then you can get something 'fun' which isn't also 'knackred' and 'decrepit'.

Have to agree with this. - Save your money now, then you'll get much more bang for your buck when your existing policy's up. I do know how you feel OP; I did my time in a Corsa too!

[stephen300o]

2cv, great fun and the insurer thinks they're safe.

[Jasandjules]

What would the insurance be on a MKII MR2 T-Bar?

[Cfnteabag]

NNH said:

Seconded.

Thirded, loved mine and would have another in a heartbeat

[anonymous-user]

Cfnteabag said:

Thirded, loved mine and would have another in a heartbeat

Ummm I have one for sale

[Cfnteabag]

With a Land Rover i am desperately trying to finish rebuilding, a van i cant decide if i am going to sell or not and a moped that I bought but dont really know why as well as the family volvo my drive is a little crowded already!

[Palms]

Its not a 1.8 but 2k would get you a cracking peugeot 306 gti6.
Great fun and handle like a dream.

[liner33]

Suzuki Ignis Sport

[nightcruiser]

Cfnteabag said:

NNH said:

Seconded.

Thirded, loved mine and would have another in a heartbeat

fourthed!

[Roger Irrelevant]

Gen 7 Celica? Granted it's only less than 1.8l by 2 whole cc, and I don't know what insurance would be like, but seems to fit the bill OK. You can even get a decent example of the 190 HP version for under 2k, but I suspect that really would knacker the insurance.