Discussion
Im looking for some advice.
So I'm looking for a weekend toy, but there are some issues. Do want too much trouble (wife) so I'm limited to 5-6k, it has to be newer than 2006 (live in the ULEZ) and will live outside. So I have been thinking, needs to be small hatch. My current short list is
R56 Mini Cooper S, with engine rebuild (they are not the most robust)
R56 Mini JCW (full V5 spec) will be higher mileage (100k+) but might be a better basis (and might even end up a classic)
Clio Trophy but the prices have gone mad in the last few months so not many in that bracket
Clio 200 RS lots in the bracket but can have chocolate boxes.
Was thinking of a few older things but all hit by ulez.
Thoughts people ?
So I'm looking for a weekend toy, but there are some issues. Do want too much trouble (wife) so I'm limited to 5-6k, it has to be newer than 2006 (live in the ULEZ) and will live outside. So I have been thinking, needs to be small hatch. My current short list is
R56 Mini Cooper S, with engine rebuild (they are not the most robust)
R56 Mini JCW (full V5 spec) will be higher mileage (100k+) but might be a better basis (and might even end up a classic)
Clio Trophy but the prices have gone mad in the last few months so not many in that bracket
Clio 200 RS lots in the bracket but can have chocolate boxes.
Was thinking of a few older things but all hit by ulez.
Thoughts people ?
Little Hatchback...Suzuki Swift? https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/1183...
Complete leftfield option but I've bought a Honda CR-Z which fits right in your price bracket.
However I'm not sure you could call it a 'weekend toy' though it does make a very nice daily driver. £20 tax, ULEZ compliant due to being a hybrid. Sweet handling. My godson is 17 and learning to drive. I'm recommending one to him as it ticks many boxes a young driver might car about.
I've had Clio Trophys, and a RS 200 and they are certainly faster, and more precise. The Clio Trophy I miss, the RS 200 not so much. The RS 200 I found awkward at low speeds due to the throttle mapping and was not well appointed. It did do well on tracksdays but not as exciting as the Clio Trophy, or even a well modified Clio 182. I'm sure it's faster but again I prefer the excitment of the older car.
However I'm not sure you could call it a 'weekend toy' though it does make a very nice daily driver. £20 tax, ULEZ compliant due to being a hybrid. Sweet handling. My godson is 17 and learning to drive. I'm recommending one to him as it ticks many boxes a young driver might car about.
I've had Clio Trophys, and a RS 200 and they are certainly faster, and more precise. The Clio Trophy I miss, the RS 200 not so much. The RS 200 I found awkward at low speeds due to the throttle mapping and was not well appointed. It did do well on tracksdays but not as exciting as the Clio Trophy, or even a well modified Clio 182. I'm sure it's faster but again I prefer the excitment of the older car.
Edited by Rawhide on Monday 4th October 16:12
The Mazda MX-5 may not in fact be the answer to everything, but I think it is the answer to this question - open top, FR layout sounds like a great £6k weekend toy to me. Look hard and you can find a folding hardtop for budget, if worried about it living outdoors, eg https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109257... .
ETA: main forum for such questions is Car Buying, mods may well move it, often get some good suggestions in there.
Paw said:
No its 2006 for petrol and 2016 for diesel.
Those are certainly the 'guaranteed' ULEZ-exempt dates, yeah. More specifically it's Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel, which became mandatory in those respective years, however manufacturers phased in compliant engines in the years prior to the respective deadlines. So there are some pre-2006 petrol models that are Euro4 compliant and thus ULEZ eligible.ETA: main forum for such questions is Car Buying, mods may well move it, often get some good suggestions in there.
samoht said:
Those are certainly the 'guaranteed' ULEZ-exempt dates, yeah. More specifically it's Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel, which became mandatory in those respective years, however manufacturers phased in compliant engines in the years prior to the respective deadlines. So there are some pre-2006 petrol models that are Euro4 compliant and thus ULEZ eligible.
You are indeed correct on the Euro4/6 I have heard some people having issues so just wanted to safe, not that you can drive in London at the mo with the fuel issues and now the loft insulators muppets. I did buy a nice Green MX5 PRHT earlier in the year with a duff engine as a project, but when I went to pick it up they would not sell it to me as a mate wanted it. That did leave a bad taste.samoht said:
Those are certainly the 'guaranteed' ULEZ-exempt dates, yeah. More specifically it's Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel, which became mandatory in those respective years, however manufacturers phased in compliant engines in the years prior to the respective deadlines. So there are some pre-2006 petrol models that are Euro4 compliant and thus ULEZ eligible.
ETA: main forum for such questions is Car Buying, mods may well move it, often get some good suggestions in there.
ETA: main forum for such questions is Car Buying, mods may well move it, often get some good suggestions in there.
as said. Cars like the 996 and so on are exempt, you can contact Porsche and they send you the Co2 and then TFL will exempt you.Dunno about PH classifieds, but Autotrader has a ULEZ except checkbox to filter with.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff