Honda CR-Z - or similar?

[CSR Performance]

Sometime in the next 12 months, I'm going to need a cheap gym/school/station run car. Sub £5k budget, but under £3k would be ideal. That budget doesn't run to an e-Golf which would otherwise be my first choice. It will need to do a 70 mile round trip for the occasional run to the office where there is no possibility of charging (don't ask!).

That pretty much wipes out any EV options, and I'm not a fan of the Zoe or Gen 1 Leaf anyway, so I'm looking at other options.

I've seen CR-Z's very cheap and I can get welding done easily enough and they do have rear seats for the youngest so it would work, and apparently they are pretty frugal while being fun to drive.

Small is better for London street parking etc, but it does need to have 4 seats. I'm open to all suggestions and methods of propulsion (except diesel).

Anyone have any real world feedback on the CR-Z or something else I may not have thought of?

[66HFM]

CSR Performance said:

Sometime in the next 12 months, I'm going to need a cheap gym/school/station run car. Sub £5k budget, but under £3k would be ideal. That budget doesn't run to an e-Golf which would otherwise be my first choice. It will need to do a 70 mile round trip for the occasional run to the office where there is no possibility of charging (don't ask!).

That pretty much wipes out any EV options, and I'm not a fan of the Zoe or Gen 1 Leaf anyway, so I'm looking at other options.

I've seen CR-Z's very cheap and I can get welding done easily enough and they do have rear seats for the youngest so it would work, and apparently they are pretty frugal while being fun to drive.

Small is better for London street parking etc, but it does need to have 4 seats. I'm open to all suggestions and methods of propulsion (except diesel).

Anyone have any real world feedback on the CR-Z or something else I may not have thought of?

Have a look at last weeks' Shed of the Week for a CRZ, not necessarily that one but plenty of comments / feedback on them.

[biggbn]

We have one and it is brilliant. It feels like a special little car to sit in and drive and always puts a smile on our faces. Happy to tootle around town or sit for miles with cruise on at M-way speeds. It feels like a pleasingly old school imagined future, brilliant 6 speed manual box. I actually prefer it to any of the three CRXs I used to own. Sure they were quicker and handled better but the CRZ is just so nice to own, for me looks better and is a 'happy car'. Also feels quicker than the figures suggest particularly once the revs are up past 4k.

[ZX10R NIN]

You'll get a good Mito Veloce/Cloverleaf for your budget, they're very robust & a good car that'll do everything you want with ease:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605032...

[biggbn]

Given these are getting rare (CRZ), I was astonished that three were parked in my street this morning, ours, another black one and a later white one...what are the odds!!

My next shout is an F56 Mini. I am biased but mine has been brilliant, longest I've kept a car, look forward to every drive.