What car for two years in Scotland?

[NA-E36]

I am moving to Dundee from Tuscany (originally from the US, will return after Scotland) for two years and I am considering buying a used car, since apparently you need three years of credit in the UK to lease one. At home I have an E36 325is and an NA Miata (MX5) in storage so something completely different from those.

I would like something:

• FUN (fun can mean sporty, older, luxurious, just plain interesting or some combination of those)
• that won't break the bank (>£5K)
• is for lack of a better word "Unamerican". So, no Jeep Cherokees or anything like that.
• won't break down immediately (although, see below haha)
• Maybe something Italian (dare I?) or British (ditto) or French?
• for practicality's sake, it would need to have a back seat, but 2 doors is OK.

Other than that, 4x4s, saloons, hatchbacks, estates, manual or automatic...I'm pretty much open to anything as long as it's interesting.

Let the crazy (or even sensible) ideas come forth!

Edited by NA-E36 on Sunday 20th August 11:56

[Macron]

Panda 4*4 Cross.

Very easy to sell when you're leaving, won't lose much, don't need it in the centre but come November and any exploring you might do you'll be grateful. ETA if cheap, petrol. Euro 4 is city centre friendly across Scotland.

See also, Suzuki Jimny.

[Deerfoot]

Civic Type R?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308040...

[andburg]

Doesn’t exist in the US is a bit of a harder one

Initial thoughts were a Subaru forester turbo

Alfa Romeo brera v6 q4

Edit: mini countryman

Edited by andburg on Sunday 20th August 11:55

[holyramenemperor]

Not much help on the car front but man, Tuscany to Dundee is some downgrade

[ZX10R NIN]

A 208 GTI is a very good shout at this price point:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308120...

A Clio RS Cup, is a cracking steer & will suit those Dundee roads well:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308140...

E350cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...

CLK500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306218...

[biggbn]

holyramenemperor said:

Not much help on the car front but man, Tuscany to Dundee is some downgrade

Oi!! Nothing wrong with Dundee, although I do concede Tuscany may be marginally nicer...

[jonny996]

Is Dundee not getting ULEZ to be aware of

[biggbn]

jonny996 said:

Is Dundee not getting ULEZ to be aware of

Yes, tiny area though I'm sure.

[Dg504]

One of these (with a haggle to afford a set of all seasons tyres)?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307069...

[loskie]

Perhaps as a furriner you'll need also to look at insurance costs. I'm assuming you are not British but may be wrong. Also how long you can drive on a furriner's licence.

[ilikejam]

I offer no opinion on the merits of any of these cars....


Corsa VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306138...


DS3 Racing
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...


Volvo C30 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307260...


MG ZT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307199...


Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307189...


Polo GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 21st August 11:33

[Driver101]

ilikejam said:

I offer no opinion on the merits of any of these cars....


Corsa VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306138...


DS3 Racing
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...


Volvo C30 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307260...


MG ZT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307199...


Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307189...


Polo GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 21st August 11:33

The DS3 is being sold without warranty as the engine management light is coming on.

[PaulJC84]

Clio 172/182 is what I would get. Plus you cant get those in America so ticks a box.

It will be quite light on fuel, small and fun.

[5 In a Row]

biggbn said:

jonny996 said:

Is Dundee not getting ULEZ to be aware of

Yes, tiny area though I'm sure.

From memory I think the ULEZ is just inside the inner ring-road so you can still park in, for example, Greenmarket or go from the Tay Bridge up to Lochee (although why would you want to ), etc.