£1-2500 on something half decent

[JohnsMCS]

After I made a thread last week on which car to buy, my circumstances have changed a bit...

Now looking to spend between 1 and 2,500 pounds on a car that’ll do 8-9000 miles per year, mostly back roads, town driving and the occasional long trip on the motorways.

I need the car to be fairly reliable, but also want something with a bit of go...

Ideas I’ve had are Polo GTI 1.8t/Ibiza 1.8t, Clio 197 if I can find one cheap enough, same with civic type R, Mini Cooper S.

Any thoughts on the above or any other ideas?

Thanks

John

[VAGLover]

Might want to add a Zero if you want something decent....

For that budget, Polo GTI will be shagged

[CX53]

VAGLover said:

Might want to add a Zero if you want something decent....

For that budget, Polo GTI will be shagged

This doesn’t look shagged https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[VAGLover]

CX53 said:

VAGLover said:

Might want to add a Zero if you want something decent....

For that budget, Polo GTI will be shagged

This doesn’t look shagged https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

I was thinking the newer model....with the 180 bhp engine

[Pericoloso]

That Polo looks ok but 11yo car ,109,000 miles and 6 service stamps.

I'd prefer 10 or 11 stamps.

[LHRFlightman]

Honda Civic? I've got a 1.8 ES for commuting etc.

High mid 40's over 40,000 miles. Reliable as you'd expect from a Honda. A decent enough steer, comfortable and lots of toys.

Mines on a 57 plate, fsh, 118,000 and can't be worth more than £1500.

[VAGLover]

BMW 325i?
BMW 120d SE
Mini Cooper S
Ford Fiesta 2.0 ST
Chrysler Crossfire

[egor110]

I'd go for a clio 182 over a 197 , not quite as fragile .

[aka_kerrly]

Personally I couldn't get on with the seating position/controls on the Renault 1*2 models so I'd never consider buying one but all of my friends who have owned them have said they are great - most progressed from things like Escort RSTs, Pug 205GTIs, Golf GTIs an such like and are hardcore hot hatch lovers. Generally speaking the RenaultSport cars are better built than the regular Clio models an quite reliable with only have a handful of relatively expensive jobs that need doing periodically - cambelt/tensioner/idler being one of them.

On the other hand I've just bought myself a Civic Type R EP3 in your price range and so far it's been fantastic. I'm not one to leave cars standard so i've already bought a few bits an bobs but even as a standard car the handling , engine & gearbox are superb (I performed the Hondata airbnox mod the day after I got the car as the standard intake noise is far too quiet). The brakes feel a little under powered for my liking and the steering is a bit odd at TDC but has a good weight to it for a EPAS system and whilst it not be the most communicative you definitely know where the wheels are pointing and how much grip you have available. The gearing on them (6speed close ration short final drive) makes the car very easy to drive - honestly, the "lack of torque" is nonsense, you don't need to be sat at 6000rpm just to make it move but vtec does bring new levels of high rev fun. A 5.1 final drive is a good mod if you don't expect to be hitting 145mph anytime soon.

My daily commute takes me uphill windy single lane NSL riddled with potholes , a bit of dual carriage way and sometimes a bit of motorway followed by crawling in traffic. Then at weekends/evenings I may drive a bit more "enthusiastically" and i'm getting >300miles to a tank of Vpower which is good enough for me!

I've driven a couple of Seat Ibizas with the 1.8 20vt in them and yes they are fun, they can be tuned to produce some good HP for relatively small ££ and a Cupra version does come with some tasty bits like the seats, brakes + suspension upgrades on it and is well worth the money over a regular Ibiza FR.

Trouble is comparing a Ibiza with the Honda and a 182, the Ibizas only real positive is it's engine tunability being as it's already boosted, in standard form though with 180hp both the Clio and the Type R have far more engaging engines & chassis.

Does the Mini Cooper S supercharged interest you??>or something a little different the BMW 325ti Compact/ BMW 330ci, there are still good ones under £2500 which wont bankrupt you..

[egor110]

After a sold my 172 cup ( decided i needed something a bot more grown up ) i got a 325ci , and it made a nice noise and was comfy but boring compared to the cup.

I sold that and now have £480 worth of puma but i'd love to try a mini r53 with the super charger plus a civic just to see how they compare to the clio cup.

To be honest with a budget max of £2500 i'd settle for any of the above close to home and with a decent service record .

[Yipper]

Civic Type R.

[CX53]

If you can’t find a nice example of one of the hot hatches mentioned above, a petrol Ford Focus would certainly be a nice enough reliable car, if not particularly fast.

I’ve always loved Saabs at this budget. Speed and comfort for shed money.

[soad]

Fiat Barchetta?

[Toed64]

Here are a few ideas:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-VRS-1-8T-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-3-Series-2-5-3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-Toyota-Corolla-T-S...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-swift-sport-2009...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fabia-VRS-TDI-87k-Cambe...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8-manual-Eunos-Roadst...

[Obison]

I bought a E46 330ci m-sport for £2250 just over a year ago, genuine 94k miles with a very good spec.
It's been faultless so far, just gone thru a test with no advisories, they can be a bargain for bangs per pound.

[culpz]

Clio 172 or 182 over a 197. At this price range you can get a decent MK2, whereas a newer MK3 model would be fairly ropey i reckon.

The latter are also much worse on fuel and can be prone to some more expensive suspension and engine bits, so they're pricier to run overall.

[ZX10R NIN]

Warm/Hot Hatch Options:

Corsa/Astra SRI 1.6T 150/180bhp lower miles than a true hot hatch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Grande Punto T Jet

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Corsa VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Polo GTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mini JCW

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Twingo RS133

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Civic Type R

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Clio RS172 Cup

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

182

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

182 Cup

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

197 Cup

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

197

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa 147 Collezione Just look at the miles & interior that is a very decent hatch.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Hot Hatch wise it would be the 197 Cup Corsa VXR & then the JCW Mini, warm hatch wise it would be that 147 Twingo & T Jet Punto.

[egor110]

I'd go for that 172 cup providing you could live without air con , cruise control etc.

Such a well sorted straight out the box car , i never got anywhere near the capabilities of my old one .

Although i'd be really interested how the civic and mini compare , my fear would be the mini maybe would feel a bit isolated from what's going on ?

Edited by egor110 on Tuesday 13th February 17:55

[iwantagta]

Had one of these for a few years and it goes nicely & looks alright.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

9-3 Aero - mine was uber reliable.

[browna]

if your not going on the motorway toooo often then a swift sport would be reliable and fun