Most fun car for narrow garage (4.6m x 1.8m)

[RoVoFob]

My wife and I have just bought a house, which I made sure had a garage. Sadly, it’s a little compact - 4.6m x 1.8m (through door. Nearing 2.0m inside) - so I’m contemplating the most fun sub-£10k car that will fit.

When we put the offer in I had a BMW 130i which I loved and thought might just fit. However, as we’re doing lots of work to the house and needed something to ferry things around, I came over all sensible and sold it for a Subaru Legacy estate - albeit a 3.0 Spec B.

As much as I’m enjoying the Legacy, I’d like to get another fun car before long. So, what’s the most fun - and not too maintenance-hungry - small car that I could fit in there for up to around £5-£10k?

Must be petrol, manual, engaging to drive, with an exciting - or at least distinctive-sounding - engine. I’m a particular fan of five and six-pots, RWD, light weight, low driving positions and weighty steering. Primarily thinking about hatchbacks or coupes, but open to other suggestions...

I have a few cars in mind, but interested to hear if I’m forgetting any other good options. Also intrigued by going down classic route for no VED, MOT and lower insurance.

Thanks!

[Mr MXT]

A Westfield.

Absolutely tiny, even compared to something like an MX5.

[RoVoFob]

Mr MXT said:

A Westfield.

Absolutely tiny, even compared to something like an MX5.

Good in theory, but most of them are way too expensive, I think. Having a proper roof is sometimes useful, too!

[stumpage]

RoVoFob said:

Must be petrol, manual, engaging to drive, with an exciting - or at least distinctive-sounding - engine. I’m a particular fan of five and six-pots, RWD, light weight, low driving positions and weighty steering. Primarily thinking about hatchbacks or coupes, but open to other suggestions...

Can't think of anything that ticks all those boxes.

Alfa - GTV V6 Not RWD
MX5 - Not Hatch or more than 4 cylinders
Hot Hatch - Most 4 pots for lightweight and no distinctive sounding engine. Oh hang on older 5 pot Focus ST!! Nope FWD

I give up.

Edited by stumpage on Monday 6th January 20:25

Edited by stumpage on Monday 6th January 20:26

[mikey P 500]

Porsche 996, very narrow compared to modern cars and frameless doors make getting out in tight space if put window down. Plus a great car.

[RoVoFob]

stumpage said:

Can't think of anything that ticks all those boxes.

Alfa - GTV V6 Not RWD
MX5 - Not Hatch or more than 4 cylinders
Hot Hatch - Most 4 pots for lightweight and no distinctive sounding engine. Oh hang on older 5 pot Focus ST!! Nope FWD

I give up.

This is how I ended up selling my first 130i and then buying another a month later! If I can make the dimensions work, I think I might end up buying another one in a year or so...

[Pica-Pica]

These:
VW GTi 4268 2027 1799
Skoda Scala 4362 1988 1793
Seat Ibiza 4059 1942 1780
Seat Arona 4138 1942 1780
Toyota Prius 4575. 1760
VW Polo 4053 1964 1751
First dimension is length, middle dimension is overall width, last figure is body width. That last figure does not necessarily include folded mirrors.
In truth many garages are too narrow, apart from recent builds.

[RoVoFob]

mikey P 500 said:

Porsche 996, very narrow compared to modern cars and frameless doors make getting out in tight space if put window down. Plus a great car.

Would love one, but prices seem to be on the way up and I’m a little worried about bork factor.

[egor110]

Give up the rwd requirements and spend half your budget on a clio 172 cup or spend more on a trophy.

[stumpage]

GOT IT!!!! Ford Capri 2.8i - Petrol, yes. Manual, yes, engaging to drive, yes, nice sound engine, yes, 6 cylinder, RWD, light weight (Today world yes), low driving position yes, No power steering so weighty and a coupe. And by today's standards quite small. 1.7m wide x 4.2m long.

[RoVoFob]

Pica-Pica said:

These:
VW GTi 4268 2027 1799
Skoda Scala 4362 1988 1793
Seat Ibiza 4059 1942 1780
Seat Arona 4138 1942 1780
Toyota Prius 4575. 1760
VW Polo 4053 1964 1751
First dimension is length, middle dimension is overall width, last figure is body width. That last figure does not necessarily include folded mirrors.
In truth many garages are too narrow, apart from recent builds.

Erm, I’m not sure they’re the most exciting to drive. Sure, it’s a tight garage, but I’m pretty good at parking!

I’m thinking that something like a Honda CRX could fit the bill. Doesn’t need to be the most practical or everyday modern car...

[RoVoFob]

stumpage said:

GOT IT!!!! Ford Capri 2.8i - Petrol, yes. Manual, yes, engaging to drive, yes, nice sound engine, yes, 6 cylinder, RWD, light weight (Today world yes), low driving position yes, No power steering so weighty and a coupe. And by today's standards quite small. 1.7m wide x 4.2m long.

Love the idea, but cheapest one on PH is £14,695...

[stumpage]

RoVoFob said:

Love the idea, but cheapest one on PH is £14,695...

Doh!!

[anonymous-user]

Grinnall Scorpion ?

[Tasmin200]

You'd get a lot of GTE 5 for £6-8k

Edited by Tasmin200 on Monday 6th January 20:52

[RoVoFob]

wormus said:

Grinnall Scorpion ?

What a fantastically left field suggestion.

Interesting, but I think I’d prefer four wheels!

[ZX10R NIN]

Honda S2000

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[RoVoFob]

Tasmin200 said:

You'd get a lot of GTE 5 for £6-8k

Edited by Tasmin200 on Monday 6th January 20:52

Ah, nice.

There used to be a flat blue one in the village I grew up. Always loved the look of it, but know very little about them. Will do some homework...

[Ecosseven]

Struggling to meet all your criteria but what about an original 200SX (s13)?

Are you sure about the width of your garage? 2.0m internally sounds really narrow. Does it have brick pillers on either side?

[cailean]

you could make the spec B more fun, for its size it is actually narrower than most cars. I also have one in a garage.