£3000 - mixed choice

[iacabu]

Currently waiting (rather impatiently!) to sell my 328i, when it goes I’ll have up to £3000 to spend on my next car.

I set my heart on something 1 week only to do a u-turn a few days later and look at something entirely different.

I don’t have any absolutely imperative requirements, but I would like something with a bit of poke and preferably a bit of character. However, I’ve pretty much ruled out BMWs and the like for a couple of reasons, but never say never! Also, no 2 seaters.

I know it’s ‘my’ car, but the mrs hates the thought of an embarrassing box on the drive….take this with a pinch of salt because I got excited when I saw a Delta Integrale just this morning and she said it was awful.

Current ideas so far:

Mini Cooper S R53 – fun and plenty of character, but I’m not sure I’ll get fed up of having a small car. Hear mixed thoughts on reliability/expense

Focus ST225 – same as above but with more room and I’ll be buying right at the bottom of the market and don’t want a dog

Golf GTI mk5 – looks smart and enough power, but again, bottom of the market and will probably have 140k+ miles

Fiesta ST 150 – seem to have a good reputation. Fast enough? I think they look alright though

Clio 1*2 – used to have a 172 cup which was great. Increased in value since then but should be able to pick one up in budget

Saab 9-3 aero 2.0/2.8– bit of power, bit more room but doesn’t excite me that much (used to own a 9-5 aero). Chains on the 2.8??

Insignia 2.0 turbo – I actually quite like the looks and interior and would be a newer car for the budget. Enough power with this engine.

Mondeo 2.0 ecoboost / 2.5t – same as above. Usual 2.5t engine issues (block mod), although I’d probably be unlucky if it went pop

Octavia VRS – interior not as nice as insignia/Mondeo but seems to be well recommended here

I haven’t had a fun car since the Clio about 4/5 years ago so I’m keen to get back in a hot hatch. But at the same time I enjoy comfort and space to throw something in the boot if I need to. I’m torn here but nothing is permanent if I change my mind.

The mrs has an Evoque convertible so this won’t be the only car I have access to.

Perhaps the best question to ask is 'what car would you buy for 3k if you had no requirements?'

[Pistonheader101]

id be tempted to get rid of the evoque convertible

[iacabu]

Pistonheader101 said:

id be tempted to get rid of the evoque convertible

I was fully expecting a comment on this. She loves it. I quite like it too to be fair.

[SAS Tom]

I like that she doesn’t want an embarrassing stbox on the drive but has an evoque convertible.

[ZX10R NIN]

C320 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010295...

Lexus IS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101318...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

CLK 500 great cars with no real borkage apart from fuel.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012197...

CLK 280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101027...

Crossfire

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102149...

Honda Legend

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102088...

Leon FR

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

Astra VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

2.0T Astra SRi this is a bit of a sleeper

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007221...

A4 Convertible

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012066...

[Matoakwell]

The ecoboost Mondeo's all (I think) come with powershift gearbox's which love to st themselves if not serviced correctly and to schedule.

[Jag_NE]

For 3 grand, I’d focus on finding something that has solid history and is in good condition. Anything leggy at 3k could be bork-tastic, don’t get tunnel vision on one model.

[ZX10R NIN]

Bowlers said:

Matoakwell said:

The ecoboost Mondeo's all (I think) come with powershift gearbox's which love to st themselves if not serviced correctly and to schedule.

Also known as the Powers**t.

Check it has been serviced and working smooth.

As long as they've been serviced correctly they're fine & I'd say are a safer option than the DSG boxes found in many a VAG product.

[Jamescrs]

I've owned

Mini Cooper S R53

Focus ST225

Fiesta ST 150

I still have the Mini albeit it isnt my daily car. The Fiesta ST150 is a great handling car but its slow in straight line and will be left behind by the Clips

The ST225 is a great car and in my experience very reliable but I feel your budget will leave you with a dog or a very abused example.

The Mini is great fun and the supercharger noise is addictive. They are surprisingly spacious but the interior trim can creak, bare in mind the earliest ones are now 19 years old though.

If I was in your position I'd either buy a Clip 1*2 if you can find a good one, which is getting hard again at your budget.

I'd probably go for a Civic Type-R like this one

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102159...

Edited by Jamescrs on Wednesday 17th February 21:26

[iacabu]

Thanks for the replies.

That's the problem, 3k can get you in to quite a variety of cars but at the bottom end of anything interesting. A lot of cars have crept up in price over the last couple of years making them just of reach.

The clk 500 is an interesting one. I'm kind of put off by the Germans over costs to run them (not fuel) but have heard before they are pretty solid. A friend had an E500 which he loved.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

If sticking to you list, £3k should get a pretty decent R53.

[culpz]

What about sommat like a Honda Accord 2.4? Can get a decent one for your budget and should be tough as nails. The bigger engine should give you some VTEC thrills and it's also practical but shouldn't feel overly boaty to drive. Choice of saloon or estate. Won't be as fun as the others, mind, but shouldn't bore you to tears either.

[ZX10R NIN]

iacabu said:

Thanks for the replies.

That's the problem, 3k can get you in to quite a variety of cars but at the bottom end of anything interesting. A lot of cars have crept up in price over the last couple of years making them just of reach.

The clk 500 is an interesting one. I'm kind of put off by the Germans over costs to run them (not fuel) but have heard before they are pretty solid. A friend had an E500 which he loved.

The 500 is bulletproof with no real borkage costs (an a/c pump/alternator costs the same as it does on a CLK200) parts are plentiful & sensibly priced, I wouldn't discount it because it's German.

[Pat H]

SAS Tom said:

I like that she doesn’t want an embarrassing stbox on the drive but has an evoque convertible.

So very true

I once replaced a BMW 328 with an Alfa 156 2.5 Veloce and had much more fun in the Alfa.

In fact, add a 147 2.0 Twinspark to your list, or even an Alfa GT.

If you don't need a full four seater, then a Mk1 Audi TT is worth a look.

[ST270]

Audi TT 3.2, great sound, still quick enough, fun (if safe) but well built and parts are cost effective - unlikley to lose anything on it either if kept in good conditon...

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a manual E46 325ti (Compact) as a daily for just under £2K in 2014, replaced it with a manual E91 325i in 2018 for just under £3K and replaced that with a manual E90 330i in 2019 for just under £3.5K so you can probably guess what I might suggest.

I just love an N/A straight 6 petrol with a manual gearbox and RWD, which is probably why I'm on numbers 5 and 6 now.

Anyway I hope you find something you like.

[iacabu]

I'll keep an eye on the clk 500 now, although I might be under a comfortable budget for one right now.

The tt I'll definitely take another look at. I've always liked them but other cars have just been purchased onstead. I sat in one a few years ago but then sat in an e46, which i preferred.

That led to me buying a 55plate 330ci. Since that car I've had a Fiesta rs turbo, na mx5, clio 172 cup, Saab 9-5 aero, 325i and a 328i. So a bit of a mixed bag and I've covered the e46 model at least. Just a shame none were manual.

After a while of having a hot hatch I wanted something comfortable and auto, but when I have a car like that there's not much fun to be had and they just become tools with not much appreciation.

The clio is the last car I really cared for. And by that I mean I enjoyed washing it a couple of times a week if needed and I replaced all the little things, like the indicators, number plate light, polishing the headlights etc. I just wanted it to be perfect.
All the cars since the clio I haven't cared if they had a scratch or were dirty.

Maybe that tells me to go back to a hatch or something fun.

[Wayne1989]

I have just bought a 2007 FN2 Civic Type R for less than budget here. It's on 136k but everything works and I couldn't find anything as fun with less bork factor for the budget.

[iacabu]

Wayne1989 said:

I have just bought a 2007 FN2 Civic Type R for less than budget here. It's on 136k but everything works and I couldn't find anything as fun with less bork factor for the budget.

I'm indifferent to the look of these but I really like the interiors.
I haven't spent enough time looking at them as wasn't sure if it would be rough at the money (as with plenty of others on my list). Had a quick look at your previous post and seems they are mostly OK.

[ZX10R NIN]

The FN2's don't have the following of the earlier cars but they're a good buy if you can find a nicely looked after one.