Discussion
Having recently gone from a 2 car household to a 1 car I’m quickly realising I can’t get away without something in the garage for the weekends ferrying the kids to various (separate) activities, small trips and me to the golf course on the odd occasion.
Needs to be cheap, reliable, fun. And also not cost a load in tax as it will end up being driven about 2k a year max. But it needs to be on call at the drop of a hat.
My car history is slightly varied but the main family wagon is a Volvo.
I have had Alfa’s, Astons, Saab, BMWs, an old Porsche, loads of different Volvos and quite fancy something special but small and cheap and a bit different!
I like the look of the Abarth’s 500 or 595. Seems there is plenty of choice around this bracket and appears to fit the brief bang on. There also seems to be a lot of thrashed rubbish out there, and I know nothing about them!
Other bits that have taken my eye are the 118dm sports I suppose (I had the M135i and it sort of looks identical) very boring though but sensible ish.
Mito QV (I love Alfa’s having had a couple of 33s many years ago!) look special and a bit different. Probably rubbish in many ways but I am not that fussed about that as long as it’s fun for the 20 miles it will travel a week.
208gti looks nice enough (and I was ferried about in a 205gti as a kid had a 306 myself) so I like it in a nostalgic way as the interior has many nods to the 80s!
Outside of those I can’t really get excited about much else. V40 is too bland. You see boat loads of minis. Not sure I like the clio etc, maybe a Megane? Old Yaris any good? Not sure I like Fords, and Audi/VW you can keep as they just look terminally dull (to me).
My wife is desperate to stop me coming home with something that misses the brief by miles. A lleggy petrol 6series or V8 Jag will distract me along the way and we will be back at square one. Expensive bills, loads of tax etc.
For her it is a common theme. I had taken my vantage in for a service/sales appraisal due to lack of use (while she was on holiday!) I promptly returned with a Rapide on the basis the kids would fit as well, and it still didn’t get used often enough to justify it. So here we are!
I need to focus on a few cheap, cheerful and sort of special feeling cars and see which I like the most.
I like hot hatches/small and nippy in principle. It will be garaged when not used so Italian/French and rust isn’t such an issue. Has to have 4 seats but luggage space not a concern save a set of golf sticks on the back seat.
Is it just me or does the Abarth look the most special out of the above? I am basically looking for a (very) cut price Yaris GR.
Mito
Abarth
208gti
(Boring option of a 1series)
Have I left anything off the short list?
Cheers
Needs to be cheap, reliable, fun. And also not cost a load in tax as it will end up being driven about 2k a year max. But it needs to be on call at the drop of a hat.
My car history is slightly varied but the main family wagon is a Volvo.
I have had Alfa’s, Astons, Saab, BMWs, an old Porsche, loads of different Volvos and quite fancy something special but small and cheap and a bit different!
I like the look of the Abarth’s 500 or 595. Seems there is plenty of choice around this bracket and appears to fit the brief bang on. There also seems to be a lot of thrashed rubbish out there, and I know nothing about them!
Other bits that have taken my eye are the 118dm sports I suppose (I had the M135i and it sort of looks identical) very boring though but sensible ish.
Mito QV (I love Alfa’s having had a couple of 33s many years ago!) look special and a bit different. Probably rubbish in many ways but I am not that fussed about that as long as it’s fun for the 20 miles it will travel a week.
208gti looks nice enough (and I was ferried about in a 205gti as a kid had a 306 myself) so I like it in a nostalgic way as the interior has many nods to the 80s!
Outside of those I can’t really get excited about much else. V40 is too bland. You see boat loads of minis. Not sure I like the clio etc, maybe a Megane? Old Yaris any good? Not sure I like Fords, and Audi/VW you can keep as they just look terminally dull (to me).
My wife is desperate to stop me coming home with something that misses the brief by miles. A lleggy petrol 6series or V8 Jag will distract me along the way and we will be back at square one. Expensive bills, loads of tax etc.
For her it is a common theme. I had taken my vantage in for a service/sales appraisal due to lack of use (while she was on holiday!) I promptly returned with a Rapide on the basis the kids would fit as well, and it still didn’t get used often enough to justify it. So here we are!
I need to focus on a few cheap, cheerful and sort of special feeling cars and see which I like the most.
I like hot hatches/small and nippy in principle. It will be garaged when not used so Italian/French and rust isn’t such an issue. Has to have 4 seats but luggage space not a concern save a set of golf sticks on the back seat.
Is it just me or does the Abarth look the most special out of the above? I am basically looking for a (very) cut price Yaris GR.
Mito
Abarth
208gti
(Boring option of a 1series)
Have I left anything off the short list?
Cheers
Mito Cloverleaf is a good shout - get the cambelt changed as soon as you buy it, should cost around £400 at an Alfa specialist. Otherwise the 1.4 TB engine is very reliable providing you change the oil every year, much more so than the VW/Audi group equivalent
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...
If you need a bit more space, you can get the Giulietta with the same engine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...
Other alternatives
Ford Fiesta ST - edit - just noticed this one has a Mountune badge on it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...
Kia Proceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110158...
Seat Ibiza SC 1.4 TSI ACT - this one is only £20 a year to tax
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...
If you need a bit more space, you can get the Giulietta with the same engine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...
Other alternatives
Ford Fiesta ST - edit - just noticed this one has a Mountune badge on it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...
Kia Proceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110158...
Seat Ibiza SC 1.4 TSI ACT - this one is only £20 a year to tax
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 20th October 11:18
They're at the top of your budget but a (I like the Mito Cloverleaf/QV's but the Giulietta is a better car) Giulietta Cloverleaf fit's your brief & is a fun steer & with your your super low annual mileage something with 100k shouldn't be to much of an issue.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...
The Mito does counter with the fact you can get a a Cloverleaf for under the lower end of your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108196...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109297...
You can get the Giulietta in the more sensible Veloce/Sportiva 170 spec for the lower end of your budget still a good steer not quite as much go:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110178...
With warm hatches in mind the Astra GTC SRI 200/180 are both decent & imo they look good too:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109157...
As is the Kia ProCeed GT 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...
The DS3 Ultra Prestige 170 is a little cracker (same chassis as the 208) & a rare sight:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...
Your budget just puts the Megane out of budget but you can get yourself a very nice RS Clio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...
If you want something newer that's almost as good then the 208 GTI is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107195...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110188...
If you want the same drivetrain as the above but in a more distinctive shell then the rare RCZ GT200 may just be the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...
The Mito does counter with the fact you can get a a Cloverleaf for under the lower end of your budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108196...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109297...
You can get the Giulietta in the more sensible Veloce/Sportiva 170 spec for the lower end of your budget still a good steer not quite as much go:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110178...
With warm hatches in mind the Astra GTC SRI 200/180 are both decent & imo they look good too:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109157...
As is the Kia ProCeed GT 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...
The DS3 Ultra Prestige 170 is a little cracker (same chassis as the 208) & a rare sight:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...
Your budget just puts the Megane out of budget but you can get yourself a very nice RS Clio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...
If you want something newer that's almost as good then the 208 GTI is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107195...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110188...
If you want the same drivetrain as the above but in a more distinctive shell then the rare RCZ GT200 may just be the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...
small update:
Drove an Abarth 500. Exterior wise in OK condition but the wheels were scabby and had non matching ditch finders, a very large exhaust and I noticed it had been chipped also. Drove OK but seem to steer a little off centre. Door rattle would be infuriating, but other than that was generally as expected!
We then took an RCZ out as a curveball and that drove very nicely indeed, the interior is a real step up from the Abarth. Still looks reasonably fresh and my wife was very surprised.
Going to try a 208gti, I imagine will be much the same as the RCZ if that is based on the same platform, I think however it is between these three!
Drove an Abarth 500. Exterior wise in OK condition but the wheels were scabby and had non matching ditch finders, a very large exhaust and I noticed it had been chipped also. Drove OK but seem to steer a little off centre. Door rattle would be infuriating, but other than that was generally as expected!
We then took an RCZ out as a curveball and that drove very nicely indeed, the interior is a real step up from the Abarth. Still looks reasonably fresh and my wife was very surprised.
Going to try a 208gti, I imagine will be much the same as the RCZ if that is based on the same platform, I think however it is between these three!
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