£1000 challenge - Fun cheap daily needed

[His Lordship]

It's that time of year again where I turn to my fellow Pistonians in search of inspiration.

I'm looking for a daily runabout - Looking for ideas.

Basic parameters:
- Budget £1000 (with wiggle room up to £1500)
- Small, basic.
- Fairly cheap to tax & insure
- In some way "fun" - i.e not a beige diesel Lada
- Happy to be hard top or convertible
- Working AC would be nice
- Must be currently roadworthy with MOT but happy to look at something that needs TLC (not welding)
- Not too fussed if Cat N/S

Ideas that have come up, but unlikely in budget:
- MX5 / Z3
- something like a VW UP/citigo/ but not sure how "fun" they would be.

Edited by His Lordship on Wednesday 24th June 11:02

[FarmerJim]

A Fiesta of some sort would fit the bill, obviously avoiding any Ecoboom variants. A decent drive, with cheap parts and maintenance.

[Countdown]

Yaris, Jazz, Fiesta, maybe a Mazda 2.

[FarmerJim]

How about this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606193...

[His Lordship]

FarmerJim said:

How about this?

Oh now there's an idea, I'm into classic minis, so a Bini would be a good shout actually.

Re the Fiesta idea, I agree that they could fit the bill but 2 problems, Mrs has one and I hate it - slow as hell - and it's silly roland rat steering wheel /dash staring at me!!!!

[James_N]

107 / Aygo fits the bill Little go karts

[Nickp82]

FarmerJim said:

A Fiesta of some sort would fit the bill, obviously avoiding any Ecoboom variants. A decent drive, with cheap parts and maintenance.

Yup or a Puma but finding one that doesn’t need welding will be fairly tough

[mikeyr]

This Suzuki Swift Sport is in your area?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606233...

[mikeyr]

Few Alfa Mitos out there, dunno know much about them but look nice. To be honest, at around £1k it'll be very much what's in your area. I've had a VW up (admittedly the EV one) and was a really nice car.

[CrippsCorner]

Yaris T-Sport here for a grand...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606223...

Panda 100HP is twice the price, but maybe you could find something on eBay or Facebook Marketplace...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606053...

[DaveyBoyWonder]

R50 Mini is a good shout. Should be able to pick one up for about a grand.

MX5s for that price will be 90% rust.

Leftfield option, a VW Polo 6n/6n2? Think some came with the same/similar engine as the 6n2/Lupo GTI which are a hoot to drive.

[biggbn]

Original Ford Ka, or StreetKa.

[fflump]

Agree a private sale Cat N as due diligence can get you a long way towards something decent.
Get a friend to poke around unless you can do it yourself.

Basically set your search criteria and the world is our oyster.

This Pug CC looks a fun thing-decent poke and nothing to say the roof isn't working.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605312...

A little DS3 staying in the French theme.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604251...

Plenty of small Vauxhalls worth looking at too.

[mikeyr]

fflump said:

This Pug CC looks a fun thing-decent poke and nothing to say the roof isn't working.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605312...

I love a convertible but this (and the 'new' Beetle) was the least enjoyable drives I've ever had. But for cheap, roof down options prob as good as it gets sadly at that price.

[biggbn]

mikeyr said:

fflump said:

This Pug CC looks a fun thing-decent poke and nothing to say the roof isn't working.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605312...

I love a convertible but this (and the 'new' Beetle) was the least enjoyable drives I've ever had. But for cheap, roof down options prob as good as it gets sadly at that price.

My 1.9tdi 'new' Beetle convertible is one of my favourite cars owned. I'd have another in a heartbeat

[Tracklover]

Mini R50/R53
Twingo RS133
Clio 172/182
MR2 Mk3

[Jamescrs]

Tracklover said:

Mini R50/R53
Twingo RS133
Clio 172/182
MR2 Mk3

If you have seen a Clio 172 or 182 at that budget i'd love to see it because i'd probably buy it myself

OP I've seen a reasonable looking Sport Ka on Car and Classic just now with sensible mileage for £1500.

[blue_haddock]

Tracklover said:

Mini R50/R53
Twingo RS133
Clio 172/182
MR2 Mk3

About as much chance of getting a decent one of those in budget as I have of having a threesome with Kylie and Danni minogue!

[blue_haddock]

Get yourself a little starlet, mine is absolutely fantastic fun across a b road and cost me less than £150 in a year and 10k miles for maintenance.

No aircon but drop the windows and sunroof and it's lovely!

[Mr Tidy]

FarmerJim said:

How about this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606193...

Those R56 Minis are great cars, but Mrs Tidy bought hers at the launch event in 2006 and a couple of years ago it needed a new cam-chain on just 70K miles so I'd be a bit wary of them now.