Economical daily driver, but a bit fun - any Jap suggestions
Discussion
My track car plans have been put on hold briefly as someone wrote off my daily driver on Monday. 
I need a replacement - budget is up to £7k for something special, but preferably a lot cheaper! The main issue is economy - I'm looking for the best part of 40mpg (assuming it's petrol, 50+ if it's diesel thanks to Mr Brown's taxes) and a decent motorway cruise. Insurance has to be reasonable after Monday, so sadly no Integras and such like.
It needs to be big enough to hold one (preferably two) mountain bike frames in the back, but I'd prefer something reasonably compact. I'm looking at things like the bog standard 1.6 Focus and wondered if there might be some more exciting suggestions.
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
I need a replacement - budget is up to £7k for something special, but preferably a lot cheaper! The main issue is economy - I'm looking for the best part of 40mpg (assuming it's petrol, 50+ if it's diesel thanks to Mr Brown's taxes) and a decent motorway cruise. Insurance has to be reasonable after Monday, so sadly no Integras and such like.
It needs to be big enough to hold one (preferably two) mountain bike frames in the back, but I'd prefer something reasonably compact. I'm looking at things like the bog standard 1.6 Focus and wondered if there might be some more exciting suggestions.
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
Chris71 said:
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
Great fun, very reliable, not massively fast but enough to have some fun, but use the VTEC and they are quite thirsty for a 1600. I had an EG6 VTI with basic breathing mods and a Quaife ATB, loved it.Marf said:
Chris71 said:
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
Great fun, very reliable, not massively fast but enough to have some fun, but use the VTEC and they are quite thirsty for a 1600. I had an EG6 VTI with basic breathing mods and a Quaife ATB, loved it.a bit under rated and therefore a bit cheaper to buy.
If you can find/run to a Beat they are a hoot around town and back roads.
660cc V-Tec screamer Go Kart
Never drove one on a motorway though so couldn't comment
odyssey2200 said:
Marf said:
Chris71 said:
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
Great fun, very reliable, not massively fast but enough to have some fun, but use the VTEC and they are quite thirsty for a 1600. I had an EG6 VTI with basic breathing mods and a Quaife ATB, loved it.a bit under rated and therefore a bit cheaper to buy.
Marf said:
odyssey2200 said:
Marf said:
Chris71 said:
An old Civic VTi sprang to mind, but they're something like group 15 insurance for some reason!
Great fun, very reliable, not massively fast but enough to have some fun, but use the VTEC and they are quite thirsty for a 1600. I had an EG6 VTI with basic breathing mods and a Quaife ATB, loved it.a bit under rated and therefore a bit cheaper to buy.
We had a slightly breathed of ECU that had the rev limiter removed.
I managed to "borrow" it and had it in a 4Door VTI civic.
I always changed up at about 11000rpm out of sympathy and the change in noise when vtec comes in is addictive
OH had a 16i-16 which was a quick car.
lol 11,000 RPM 
If I had to trade down from my MR2 Turbo now for something cheaper to run I'd probably pick an SiR Civic. Had my VTi not been written off by some old get not looking and pulling out on me it would either have had a frankenstein nasp engine built for it, or I'd have forged the B16, dropped the compression a bit and added a GT28R.
If I had to trade down from my MR2 Turbo now for something cheaper to run I'd probably pick an SiR Civic. Had my VTi not been written off by some old get not looking and pulling out on me it would either have had a frankenstein nasp engine built for it, or I'd have forged the B16, dropped the compression a bit and added a GT28R.
Edited by Marf on Friday 11th July 19:34
How about a 2003-4 MR2? A much underrated car. Superb chassis, direct steering and handling, playful on the limit, and 38mpg - maybe more if driven gently, + you can go to Silverstone Performance later down the line and drop a Toyota approved turbo conversion into the mix to achieve 230Bhp and a better power-weight ratio than a Boxster S!
daveknott5 said:
How about a 2003-4 MR2? A much underrated car. Superb chassis, direct steering and handling, playful on the limit, and 38mpg - maybe more if driven gently, + you can go to Silverstone Performance later down the line and drop a Toyota approved turbo conversion into the mix to achieve 230Bhp and a better power-weight ratio than a Boxster S!
but unless his mountain bike frames are Action Man sized, not much use
Wadeski said:
daveknott5 said:
How about a 2003-4 MR2? A much underrated car. Superb chassis, direct steering and handling, playful on the limit, and 38mpg - maybe more if driven gently, + you can go to Silverstone Performance later down the line and drop a Toyota approved turbo conversion into the mix to achieve 230Bhp and a better power-weight ratio than a Boxster S!
but unless his mountain bike frames are Action Man sized, not much useThe ITR is very tempting too, but the insurance companies (and the fuel stations) will laugh at me! I need something reasonably cheap to insure with the bets part of 40mpg.
Have just ha da brain wave though - how about the recent shape 140hp Celica? Ticks all the boxes - room for a bike with the seats down, bit more fun than the usual hatch and a colleague who has one reckons he gets 40mpg on the motorway.
stuno1 said:
You considered a skoda fabia VRS??? 45MPG and up to 49MPG on the motorway, re-map and econemy remains the same but the BHP goes from 130 to approx 175!!!
I had one of these and you can pick up a good example at 3-4 years old for 5k so sounds spot on for your requirements?
Yep, considering one. There don't seem to be many for sale locally though and those I've seen have been £6k+. If I saw a good one I'd be very tempted.I had one of these and you can pick up a good example at 3-4 years old for 5k so sounds spot on for your requirements?
Just read this after sending you an email about the Celica. I would certainly reccomend the Fabia too if you could stretch to it, but they do seem to hold their values quite well for a poor VAG relation car. I used to have one, that wasn't quite standard and loved every minute of it. Seriously regret selling it now.
I used to have one, that wasn't quite standard and loved every minute of it. Seriously regret selling it now. Wadeski said:
daveknott5 said:
How about a 2003-4 MR2? A much underrated car. Superb chassis, direct steering and handling, playful on the limit, and 38mpg - maybe more if driven gently, + you can go to Silverstone Performance later down the line and drop a Toyota approved turbo conversion into the mix to achieve 230Bhp and a better power-weight ratio than a Boxster S!
but unless his mountain bike frames are Action Man sized, not much useWhere there's a will there's a way.
Graeme_Gman said:
Just read this after sending you an email about the Celica. I would certainly reccomend the Fabia too if you could stretch to it, but they do seem to hold their values quite well for a poor VAG relation car. I used to have one, that wasn't quite standard and loved every minute of it. Seriously regret selling it now.
Cool, I'll investigate that once I get back into work (should really swap my PH email addresses!) I used to have one, that wasn't quite standard and loved every minute of it. Seriously regret selling it now. The Fabia sounds encouraging and I've always been impressed with the VAG diesels I've driven, but it is a lot of money, plus there aren't a lot around.
996TT-MAC said:
I have went for an evo can get 25 mpg on my daily commute and its alot of fun lol... not the most economical but alot more fun than an oil burner
Definitely, but I've already got fun covered with my TVR, I need something economical, but just interesting enough that I don't resent getting in it.Dont know what size of car you need but have you considered a Suzuki Ignis Sport? I have one and it's great fun - a bit more 'raw' than some of the modern warm hatches (I like to think it's a bit like a modern 106 Rallye with airbags). Engine is quite punchy and great fun over 4000rpm where the vvt 'rasp' kicks in. Handles great too as long as you ensure it has decent rubber fitted (having the standard sticky Yokohama tyres fitted is a bonus!). EASILY get a tidy, low mileage 2003/4/5 car for under £4k. I get 35mpg with mine and thats with plenty town driving and the odd b road blast so driving sensible would get high 30's mpg easily. Something a bit different that's cheap to run, reliable and will put a grin on your face when required. Just a thought.
Edited by mark_mcd on Wednesday 16th July 13:08
mark_mcd said:
Dont know what size of car you need but have you considered a Suzuki Ignis Sport? I have one and it's great fun - a bit more 'raw' than some of the modern warm hatches (I like to think it's a bit like a modern 106 Rallye with airbags). Engine is quite punchy and great fun over 4000rpm where the vvt 'rasp' kicks in. Handles great too as long as you ensure it has decent rubber fitted (having the standard sticky Yokohama tyres fitted is a bonus!). EASILY get a tidy, low mileage 2003/4/5 car for under £4k. I get 35mpg with mine and thats with plenty town driving and the odd b road blast so driving sensible would get high 30's mpg easily. Something a bit different that's cheap to run, reliable and will put a grin on your face when required. Just a thought.
Hmmm, might have a peruse on Autotrader. It's likely to be a bit small for me and a little full on for (mostly) motorway miles, but I like the idea! I'll take a look. Edited by mark_mcd on Wednesday 16th July 13:08
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