Cheap & Nippy? Is it possible?

[TomCooper]

I'm currently after a car that's relatively cheap to buy (Sub £1500), cheap on insurance (aiming for group 3) and pretty nippy and fun to drive. I'm not bothered about the look of the car or the make aslong as it satisfies the criteria I just said. Ive been looking for a while and all ive really found is this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Just wondering if anyone else has got any cars in mind other than this?

Any suggestions are much appreciated

Tom

[cv01jw]

I guess it depends on how you define nippy.

My Cinquecento Sporting is not quick by any means but is great fun to drive, has a very revvy and eager little engine and is cheap to run. £1500 is top money for a Cinq. You could also look at the newer Seicento Sportings too.

[TomCooper]

cv01jw said:

I guess it depends on how you define nippy.

The corsa does 0-60 in just over 10 seconds which I would say is nippy. So I'd be looking for something around that mark

I'll have a look at some cinqucentos, never thought of looking at them before so thanks

[Hell27]

Yes it is possible



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

If you shop around, you might also be able to get classic insurance for it too.


OR



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C213980/


Cheap, nippy, classic insurance, rear wheel drive, and negotiable on price. Find a pre 72 and free road tax too.

[Jimmyarm]

MK4 Fiesta with the 1.25 Yamaha engine

[Liquid Knight]

cv01jw said:

Cinquecento Sporting and Seicento Sportings.

+1

[FreeLitres]

I think that every car in existence has been described as 'nippy' by an over-enthusiastic owner at some point. I see it all the time.

These 'nippy' cars that I have heard about include:
Blandbox 1.6 diesels
The slowest of tiny-engined superminis
Boggo-spec Korean hatchbacks

So the good news for the OP is: Buy any car in your budget and it will be most definitely be nippy!

[cris654321]

106/saxo fairly nippy and you can carry it through the corners better than some so long as the back end isnt a heap of rust

[grimfandango]

Hell27 said:

Yes it is possible



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

If you shop around, you might also be able to get classic insurance for it too.


OR



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C213980/


Cheap, nippy, classic insurance, rear wheel drive, and negotiable on price. Find a pre 72 and free road tax too.

yes something like this! I bought a Ginetta G31 for about £300 and the insurance was only £100 (without any no claims!) it wasnt nippy so much as actually quite quick 0-60 was somewhere in the region of 7/8 seconds and it handled nicely as well

[harryowl]

1.4 ford puma

[slipstream 1985]

1.5 dci, bought for £2100 a year and a half ago. (can be had for £1500ish now) does 50mpg with a pistonheader behind the wheel handles well is "nippy" enough for overtakes and has been used to tow vw passats vauxhall vectra's out of snow banks, carry 3 people and all their boards or ski's, has been used to transport push bikes, drums of heating oil, bags upon bags of firewood and never grumbled. £30 road tax and £250 to insure.

[Farrant]

cris654321 said:

106/saxo fairly nippy and you can carry it through the corners better than some so long as the back end isnt a heap of rust

+1

I'm driving a saxo at the moment, most fun car I ever had. Maybe it's just the lack of PAS that makes it interesting, you can feel everything through the wheel (at least compatred to every other eurobox I've driven). And mine isn't at all rusty - Result!

[TomCooper]

Thanks for the ideas everyone

All very much appreciated, gives me a wider variety of cars to be looking at so thank you to everyone

[robsa]

For £1000 you could buy a tatty but perfectly usable, early MX5. That would take some beating!
£500 towards the insurance...