4.5k budget- third time buying from PH advice

[drssg121]

Hello all
Ive done this twice before many moons ago. I bought my XKR from fellow PHERs advice and a Honda civic diesel 2.2.

My car history includes
1. Fiat cinquecento sporting
2. Rover metro 1.1 rio
3. Fiat punto x 2 (not sure why)
4. Audi A2
5. Ford focus
6. Mitsubishi I
7. Mazda 3
8. Daihatsu sirion
9. Ford ka
10. Citroen C4 HDI
11. Toyota Iq x 2
and maybe a few more I can't remember

I guess more performance orientated cars have been
1. BMW Z4 coupe
2. BMW 130i coupe le edition (loved the engine so much bought it twice)
3. Porsche 944
4. Jaguar XKR 5.0

I currently have a 2018 Lexus RCF which I adore. I always have two cars once commuter (hence the long list above). My commute varies quite a bit. Its usually a mixture of east London, east Surrey and maidstone. I bought an IQ 1.3 VVTI because I thought it would be powerful enough but being out dragged all the time by vans became tiring so I sold it.

I now have 3-4.5k to spend. I want 40mpg wish fun and reliable. Its harder to buy cars now the internet has a story for them all but touch wood in 17 years I've been pretty trouble free, never being left at the side of the road apart from in the Porsche 944.

Anyway this weekend was pretty frought I almost bought a Honda crz, a Mini Cooper s with the N18 engine and a Peugeot rcz 200HP and I have offered on a Citroen DS3 THP 2014 which I understand has the revised unit? One needed a service and had a small consistent oil leak (mini) and the other two had 7 owners (I like 5 max just a pedantic thing). I always buy with full SH, I do small fixes myself but don't have the time for elaborate jobs

As you can tell I am pretty flexible.

My search on AT has 14 alerts on it

I am open to suggestions and do take the advice plus its fun

My current top 3 area
1. Suzuki swift mk2
2. Honda crz slow I know buts its quirky and indestructible apparently
3. anything else

I am fully open not only to suggestions but specific links too and would happily buy from a fellow pher who actually cares for their care.

Thanks in advance
Sim

[MrB.]

My usual response to a thread like this would be "Saab 93 or 95 Aero" but saw your need for the economy. They won't do that (I've had 6 Saabs, so its pretty much my answer to anything!). So, my other recommendation would be to consider a Volvo C30 2.0D or D5. I have the former (I didn't really need, or want a diesel, but the condition, history and spec was nice) and its my second C30 (had a T5 a few years back) and they are tidy handlers, have great build quality and (I think) are just that bit different in terms of styling.

Mine is a 2009 R-Design SE, had 95k on when I bought it, had just had a major service with timing belt and water pump, and I paid less than £3k. It's only a 2.0D so has just 136bhp, but its torquey and did London - Scotland - Cheshire on a tank of diesel. A D5 would give you a bit more oomph, but not as good on fuel.

If you need any more info, give me a shout.

B.

[drssg121]

Thanks
I totally forgot has to be petrol as I’m in the planned ulez expansion that’s been the issue this time usually I get a diesel for this and they are great even the floaty c4 was a real grower on pockmarked B roads. I don’t mind something a bit firmer the iq is surprisingly refined at speed so that kind of noise suppression would be good
Thanks

[drssg121]

I’d like to add I am also a fan of the c30s styling

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say take a look at the 208 XY it's the same car as the DS3 but with a nicer interior, the engine is reliable as it is in the DS3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101198...

This one actually has photos:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077...

DS3 DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012016...

Astra GTC SRI 180 a good spacious steer with a nice amount of go:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009254...

Or the 140 version

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010144...

Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170 a very good car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101238...

You won't see 40mpg out of a C30 unless it's a diesel model.

Abarth 500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011276...

[drssg121]

Thanks
If I’m not mistaken the ds3 thp had issues before its facelift in 2014 ? Similar to the n14?
I like the Peugeot ... any personal experience ?

[ZX10R NIN]

drssg121 said:

Thanks
If I’m not mistaken the ds3 thp had issues before its facelift in 2014 ? Similar to the n14?
I like the Peugeot ... any personal experience ?

As as far as I'm aware they were sorted as it's the same engine in the 208.

I've sourced a few XY's with no issues they are nicer than the DS3 but mainly I've sourced GTI's which if you stretch the budget by £500 & haggle you can get a GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008252...

[drssg121]

Yes this is exactly the one I have been looking at I have sent them a message. How have you found them ? Pros and cons ?

[ZX10R NIN]

Very good a smidge behind the Fiesta chassis wise but nicer inside & reliable.

[drssg121]

That’s really helpful
I’ve just put an offer of on the xy the idea of that engine and a slightly warmer tune than the gti is appealing to me
Many thanks
Sim

[drssg121]

Just an update
Bought a 208 1.6 2014 thp full dealer service history one owner 54k and three journeys in engine warning light and the fan becoming very loud after switching off for five minutes ... I bought the car from a dealer in Stoke it has a 14 day money back guarantee so returning it tomorrow
Unfortunately the search continues

[Kinky]

ZX10R NIN said:

Alfa Giulietta Veloce 170 a very good car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101238...

Picking up on ZXs suggestions as above, I'd be considering the Alfa

[ZX10R NIN]

drssg121 said:

Just an update
Bought a 208 1.6 2014 thp full dealer service history one owner 54k and three journeys in engine warning light and the fan becoming very loud after switching off for five minutes ... I bought the car from a dealer in Stoke it has a 14 day money back guarantee so returning it tomorrow
Unfortunately the search continues

Sorry to hear that I've sourced three 208's (1 GTI 1 Feline 1 XY) & 4 DSport Plus's with no issues, so your experience isn't indicative of the cars.

Take a look at this Astra it's nicely spec'd:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...

[drssg121]

So in a change of fate
As I was driving to Stoke from Kent i refuelled and the light has disappeared and the continued running of the fan has also stopped
So I drove back ... 200 miles and no return of the light and I restarted it a few times... no loss of power

So I have kept it for now and will monitor next 3-4 days .... it’s a bit odd
As a car I agree it’s great ... 160ish bhp really nice interior quick steering (lacking feel ) and generally feels well put together ... plus I like the purple !

[ZX10R NIN]

drssg121 said:

So in a change of fate
As I was driving to Stoke from Kent i refuelled and the light has disappeared and the continued running of the fan has also stopped
So I drove back ... 200 miles and no return of the light and I restarted it a few times... no loss of power

So I have kept it for now and will monitor next 3-4 days .... it’s a bit odd
As a car I agree it’s great ... 160ish bhp really nice interior quick steering (lacking feel ) and generally feels well put together ... plus I like the purple !

If you want some peace of mind take it to your local garage & get it read so you can see if there are any faults that need rectifying, depending on where you are in Kent give the guys at Eynsford Garage (they're near Brands Hatch) a call Mat is a very good mechanic & they're sensible rate wise.

[drssg121]

Just thought I’d update this thread
Unfortunately the XY did not work out. Three trips to Stoke and one to Peugeot who insisted nothing is wrong and then two miles from limp mode and an obvious misfire

Anyway I have returned it for a full a refund

So I have bought .... a Suzuki swift sport 2012 ... I was smitten by the test drive... so light and nippy

[Mr Tidy]

drssg121 said:

Just thought I’d update this thread
Unfortunately the XY did not work out. Three trips to Stoke and one to Peugeot who insisted nothing is wrong and then two miles from limp mode and an obvious misfire

Anyway I have returned it for a full a refund

So I have bought .... a Suzuki swift sport 2012 ... I was smitten by the test drive... so light and nippy

Thanks - it's always good to know how these searches end!