Small, cheap, fast and fun
Discussion
I keep finding myself looking for something small cheap fast and fun.
Like a VW up but fitted with better suspension and brakes with VAGs 1.4 150 tsi engine.
Can anybody offer any suggestions, I currently have a Leon FR 1.4 and for a slightly warm hatch it's great and does everything I want it too, but yet I can't stop looking. Test drove a fiesta ST the other day and loved it but it just made me want to go smaller and faster i.e. GoKart for the road.
Big powerful things don't really appeal to me as they are far too well composed and come with daft price tags and running costs, something I can really rag but because I want too and not because its underpowered is what I want
Like a VW up but fitted with better suspension and brakes with VAGs 1.4 150 tsi engine.
Can anybody offer any suggestions, I currently have a Leon FR 1.4 and for a slightly warm hatch it's great and does everything I want it too, but yet I can't stop looking. Test drove a fiesta ST the other day and loved it but it just made me want to go smaller and faster i.e. GoKart for the road.
Big powerful things don't really appeal to me as they are far too well composed and come with daft price tags and running costs, something I can really rag but because I want too and not because its underpowered is what I want
Panda 100HP? not up to 150hp fast obviously, but another small go-kart like car, and considering its a fiat with relatively common engine, parts are plentiful and cheap
And maybe not size wise, but feel-wise a mini cooper (S) would provide a lot of fun. More complex and costly to maintain though
And maybe not size wise, but feel-wise a mini cooper (S) would provide a lot of fun. More complex and costly to maintain though
Rusty569 said:
I keep finding myself looking for something small cheap fast and fun.
Like a VW up but fitted with better suspension and brakes with VAGs 1.4 150 tsi engine.
Can anybody offer any suggestions, I currently have a Leon FR 1.4 and for a slightly warm hatch it's great and does everything I want it too, but yet I can't stop looking. Test drove a fiesta ST the other day and loved it but it just made me want to go smaller and faster i.e. GoKart for the road.
Big powerful things don't really appeal to me as they are far too well composed and come with daft price tags and running costs, something I can really rag but because I want too and not because its underpowered is what I want
Are any of them really small, cheap, fast and fun? Or really even just one or two of those??? Like a VW up but fitted with better suspension and brakes with VAGs 1.4 150 tsi engine.
Can anybody offer any suggestions, I currently have a Leon FR 1.4 and for a slightly warm hatch it's great and does everything I want it too, but yet I can't stop looking. Test drove a fiesta ST the other day and loved it but it just made me want to go smaller and faster i.e. GoKart for the road.
Big powerful things don't really appeal to me as they are far too well composed and come with daft price tags and running costs, something I can really rag but because I want too and not because its underpowered is what I want
When reading the thread title, my first thought was maybe a TVR Chim. When the thread loaded and I read you were talking about the most boring segment of cars imaginable and seemingly new/newish ones too....
Small, light and fun. Pug 106 Rallye maybe. But not fast.
Personally struggle to call any 'new' car cheap. I know there are 'cheaper' ones, but even the lowest priced new car is still a lot of money in reality. Used cars can be bought cheap.
Diahatsu Copen for example. Ticks all the boxes apart from fast....
Classic Mini.
Vitorio said:
Panda 100HP? not up to 150hp fast obviously, but another small go-kart like car, and considering its a fiat with relatively common engine, parts are plentiful and cheap
And maybe not size wise, but feel-wise a mini cooper (S) would provide a lot of fun. More complex and costly to maintain though
Never really understood the appeal of the Panda. Frumpy mumsy looks. Tiny useless boot. Slow, because anything else weighing this amount with 100hp will get crucified for it's speed or lack there of.And maybe not size wise, but feel-wise a mini cooper (S) would provide a lot of fun. More complex and costly to maintain though
FWD and nose heavy, so not exactly the most dynamic or engaging of layouts. And every Fiat I've driven as had truly horrid hugely over assisted steering.
And I do fail to see how a MINI is too big???
The MINI and Panda are very similar sized. The MINI is 3" wider and 3" longer. That's hardly a different league of car.
300bhp/ton said:
Never really understood the appeal of the Panda. Frumpy mumsy looks. Tiny useless boot. Slow, because anything else weighing this amount with 100hp will get crucified for it's speed or lack there of.
FWD and nose heavy, so not exactly the most dynamic or engaging of layouts. And every Fiat I've driven as had truly horrid hugely over assisted steering.
And I do fail to see how a MINI is too big???
The MINI and Panda are very similar sized. The MINI is 3" wider and 3" longer. That's hardly a different league of car.
I dont know why the panda is rated as well as it is, as i havent driven a 100hp, im just willing to believe it is fun. They weigh 950 kg and do 0-60 in 9.5 seconds. Not insanely fast obviously, but more then good enough for spirited driving on anything but high speed tracks.FWD and nose heavy, so not exactly the most dynamic or engaging of layouts. And every Fiat I've driven as had truly horrid hugely over assisted steering.
And I do fail to see how a MINI is too big???
The MINI and Panda are very similar sized. The MINI is 3" wider and 3" longer. That's hardly a different league of car.
As for the mini being big, i meant more weight wise, they are heavy little buggers, well over 1100 kg. They might not be big cars, but they are built with lots of comfort and safety junk built in, weighing it down.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Doogs, Nanook or whatever other names you wish to call yourself. Do you ever actually read your own posts??"I don't wander into your threads to whine like a b
h about it."Yes you do and you know it, so don't be such a condescending fellow claiming you aren't. Would you like me to dig up replies and posts from you in the past doing just that very thing. They are there....
And frankly what use to the op was your post? Did it contribute anything other than to try and have a go at me? No it didn't. So maybe you should take your own advice.
Nanook said:
Trophy Husband said:
Great fun. But you feel like you are strapped to a plank with all of the big sharp dangerous things in the world flying around you at high speed.
Trophy Husband said:
Great fun. But you feel like you are strapped to a plank with all of the big sharp dangerous things in the world flying around you at high speed.
Are you after practicality or as a fun second car?
If the latter then maybe... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
If the latter then maybe... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Going on from peoples suggestion of older hot hatches, if you're worried about the condition/raising prices, the Twingo RS and Swift Sport offer good modern alternatives for a good used price. Not "Fast" as in peels your face back, but fast enough to have a lot of fun on B-Roads. If you need more pace, the 172/182?
If you have more budget, the 180 Comp Abarth has bags of character, especially with the Sabelt seats and Monza exhaust!
If you have more budget, the 180 Comp Abarth has bags of character, especially with the Sabelt seats and Monza exhaust!
Edited by JLC25 on Tuesday 6th December 16:34
Wow thats a hell of a response!
To clarify I'm looking for this to be my main car and to buy a shed for mountain biking and climbing duties
Running costs and insurance are important as being 22 and with some points lingering from my motorbike days I can easily be raped by the insurers.
The older hot hatches don't really appeal to me, as much as I would LOVE a GT86 they are out of my budget for now (I desperately wanted one when they first came out but ended up with a house)
To clarify I'm looking for this to be my main car and to buy a shed for mountain biking and climbing duties
Running costs and insurance are important as being 22 and with some points lingering from my motorbike days I can easily be raped by the insurers.
The older hot hatches don't really appeal to me, as much as I would LOVE a GT86 they are out of my budget for now (I desperately wanted one when they first came out but ended up with a house)
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