Relatively low budget, RWD and ideally light coupe. Ideas?
Discussion
Looking to finally move into something I can wrench on in the week and take for a little hoon at the weekend now I've got relatively decent funds and a few years NCB under my belt. The 1.2 corsa has been amazing but isn't quite giving the thrills I'd like.
I've got around 3K saved but naturally as time progresses this fund will grow.
At uni and living nearby so I'm not massively worried about fuel economy but it can never hurt. RX8 potentially? Fell in love with them years ago and I study engineering so I got a decent understanding of how to properly run one and potentially rebuild my own engine when it comes to it ( which it naturally will). Little gutless unless your above 6K though.
Fell in love with Lexus sc400's but sadly none for sale at a price I can afford and their seriously heavy things. Love the style and that gorgeous 1uz marvel.
MR2 SW20 is my current goal with the idea of eventually swapping the 4 pot for something a little pokier and looking at a little weight reduction to try and get it on par with the 3rd gen.
Absolutely LOVE 90's cars but as with all of the criteria above I'm very much flexible.
Any input is much appreciated, I'm sure your all very much bored of these "what car do i buy?" threads.
While on this note, any ideas if declaring myself as an engineering student will increase or decrease my premium? I'd like to think it lowers it but god knows with these evil insurance companies.
I've got around 3K saved but naturally as time progresses this fund will grow.
At uni and living nearby so I'm not massively worried about fuel economy but it can never hurt. RX8 potentially? Fell in love with them years ago and I study engineering so I got a decent understanding of how to properly run one and potentially rebuild my own engine when it comes to it ( which it naturally will). Little gutless unless your above 6K though.
Fell in love with Lexus sc400's but sadly none for sale at a price I can afford and their seriously heavy things. Love the style and that gorgeous 1uz marvel.
MR2 SW20 is my current goal with the idea of eventually swapping the 4 pot for something a little pokier and looking at a little weight reduction to try and get it on par with the 3rd gen.
Absolutely LOVE 90's cars but as with all of the criteria above I'm very much flexible.
Any input is much appreciated, I'm sure your all very much bored of these "what car do i buy?" threads.
While on this note, any ideas if declaring myself as an engineering student will increase or decrease my premium? I'd like to think it lowers it but god knows with these evil insurance companies.
Save the cash for next years beer fund when your allowed back in to the union bar. Drive your corsa until your finished uni and then buy the car you want. Dont buy something you cant afford to maintain.
Rx8s are not cheap to run
I had a gearbox bearing break and a fuel injector fail which also burnt out the cat (£2500)
Copious amounts of 5w30 oil. £30 every 6months roughly
Petrol . I ran a full tank out in 120 miles once. Less than 200 miles is average. Your not going to get more than 240 miles out of a tank. The engine sits at 3500 -4000rpm at 70mph in 6th gear
Brake discs are big (300+mm) and expensive.
Rx8s are not cheap to run
I had a gearbox bearing break and a fuel injector fail which also burnt out the cat (£2500)
Copious amounts of 5w30 oil. £30 every 6months roughly
Petrol . I ran a full tank out in 120 miles once. Less than 200 miles is average. Your not going to get more than 240 miles out of a tank. The engine sits at 3500 -4000rpm at 70mph in 6th gear
Brake discs are big (300+mm) and expensive.
If coming from a 1.2.Corsa, then I would serious consider not jumping into a high powered RWD car straight away, especially anything expensive to run it fix. Low powered RWD will still feel rocketship fast compared with the Corsa.
I would look at an E46/5 318ti (the ugly compact) as they are cheap, but quite fun to drive. Learn to drive it properly and it will be great fun, I had one as a loan car when my old 335i was in for a service and it was quite a good drive, even account for 160hp power difference between them. A basic 1 series will probably be similar, but I imagine not quite as easy to DIY fix.
Insurance companies are not evil at all, they are potentially (almost) life savers if you have an accident. Yes it's expensive, but then you present a huge risk to them as so many young people end up claiming. Your premiums will come down in time.
I would look at an E46/5 318ti (the ugly compact) as they are cheap, but quite fun to drive. Learn to drive it properly and it will be great fun, I had one as a loan car when my old 335i was in for a service and it was quite a good drive, even account for 160hp power difference between them. A basic 1 series will probably be similar, but I imagine not quite as easy to DIY fix.
Insurance companies are not evil at all, they are potentially (almost) life savers if you have an accident. Yes it's expensive, but then you present a huge risk to them as so many young people end up claiming. Your premiums will come down in time.
Read title, was going to suggest GT86 too but given the budget MX5 and 3 series are probably the answer. What’s the MR2 handling like - I’d guess with it being mid engined it might be a bit wayward?
Insurance - just register with one of the comparison sites and play around with the ‘occupations’. Student, in full time education, not in paid work - each of those might make a difference.
Insurance - just register with one of the comparison sites and play around with the ‘occupations’. Student, in full time education, not in paid work - each of those might make a difference.
Trackdayer said:
6 cylinder E46
Absolutely sublime chassis (impressed me more than Cayman, 911 and a handful of modern FWD hot hatches)
This is a good idea. My friend had a 320i for 9 years, did 100,000 miles in it and rarely had problems. Great chassis and a lovely noise. Not fast but definitely not slow. I suppose that's what the 325i and 330i is for....Absolutely sublime chassis (impressed me more than Cayman, 911 and a handful of modern FWD hot hatches)
If you want to get a good rwd car on a budget then I'd actually take a good look at the Hyundai Coupe you can get a nice 2.0 for sensible money insurance is decent & you'll have a decent amount to go towards insurance.
You can get a last of the line one for around 2K they're a decent steer, you won't have to worry about rust either unlike the E46's/MX5's.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
Or there's the 2.7 gen2 but I don't think insurance will be kind & in all honesty the extra 25bhp isn't the be all & end all.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012167...
You can get a last of the line one for around 2K they're a decent steer, you won't have to worry about rust either unlike the E46's/MX5's.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
Or there's the 2.7 gen2 but I don't think insurance will be kind & in all honesty the extra 25bhp isn't the be all & end all.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012167...
ZX10R NIN said:
If you want to get a good rwd car on a budget then I'd actually take a good look at the Hyundai Coupe you can get a nice 2.0 for sensible money insurance is decent & you'll have a decent amount to go towards insurance.
You can get a last of the line one for around 2K they're a decent steer, you won't have to worry about rust either unlike the E46's/MX5's.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
Or there's the 2.7 gen2 but I don't think insurance will be kind & in all honesty the extra 25bhp isn't the be all & end all.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012167...
Sorry, but these are fwd not rwd. Still a great car for the money though. Especially in 2.7 form.You can get a last of the line one for around 2K they're a decent steer, you won't have to worry about rust either unlike the E46's/MX5's.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
Or there's the 2.7 gen2 but I don't think insurance will be kind & in all honesty the extra 25bhp isn't the be all & end all.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010205...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012167...
sideways man said:
Good call on the Bmw 3 series compact, not driven one myself but it seems they’re a good steer. Available as a 318, so as cheap as a bm can get.
Given a bigger budget it say Toyota GT86, but for a car that’s routinely slagged off, they’re surprisingly expensive.
I’d recommend the Compact too, even having owned some older BMs back to the very first 3-series. Don’t seem to rust as bad as the non-hatch E46s. I’ve got the 6-pot so it’s GT86 performance for a fraction of the cost and very adjustable with 205s all round Given a bigger budget it say Toyota GT86, but for a car that’s routinely slagged off, they’re surprisingly expensive.
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