5k - 7k used fun car to last me 2 years

5k - 7k used fun car to last me 2 years

Author
Discussion

ThMo0118

Original Poster:

55 posts

54 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
After realising another lease isn't going to work for me, I am in the need of a car to last me a couple of years whilst I buy a house and try and keep outgoings to a minimum. Car must haves:

- Around the 5 - 7k mark as a rough guideline.
- Relatively good on fuel (Circa 1k miles a month)
- Reliable - hopefully shouldn't have to fork out too much over the space of 24 months.
- Fun! as a bit of context -currently driving a 2.0 190 bhp Scirocco and that is fairly fun to me!
- Might be worth something at the end to get a bit of money back.

Happy to consider absolutely anything! Thanks in advance.

P.S - A comfy ride is always nice

Edited by ThMo0118 on Wednesday 4th December 12:18

Thales

619 posts

56 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
Z4 Coupe

ThMo0118

Original Poster:

55 posts

54 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
Thales said:
Z4 Coupe
Certainly not something I would have ever ever considered but reading some good really strong reviews!! thanks

ninjag

1,827 posts

118 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Honda S2000?

RCD24

33 posts

74 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Fiesta ST?

Plenty kit if you go for an ST-2 or ST-3, 180bhp in something lighter than your Scirocco and should return reasonable MPG.

Good few about for your budget.

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

vtecyo

2,122 posts

128 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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The best Honda with an R badge you can find.

Premier edition EP3 probably (expect a low mileage minter for your budget - don't be duped by scene tax), or an early JDM example.

croissant

1,262 posts

137 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
vtecyo said:
The best Honda with an R badge you can find.

Premier edition EP3 probably (expect a low mileage minter for your budget - don't be duped by scene tax), or an early JDM example.
excuse my ignorance, but what is 'scene tax'?

TommoAE86

2,659 posts

126 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
croissant said:
excuse my ignorance, but what is 'scene tax'?
It's extra £££ people put onto things just because they fit part of a fashion/cult/area, for example:

- Skyline tax, everything that is related to Skyline's costs more, because Skyline
- Fast Ford's, see above
- Drift cars, yes please charge me an extra £5k because you've smacked your Chaser into a lamp-post and zip-tied it back together

ITP

1,996 posts

196 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Guilietta cloverleaf.
28-36mpg, 235bhp, reliable. Quite rare too. Underrated I’d say.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
ThMo0118 said:
Thales said:
Z4 Coupe
Certainly not something I would have ever ever considered but reading some good really strong reviews!! thanks
They are great fun - I've had one for over 5 years and love it.

But don't expect a comfy ride, that isn't what they are about - especially if they have the standard run-flat tyres!

As a slightly more comfy option might be an E92 330i or 335i Coupe.

Someone mentioned the Fiesta ST, but there was also the Focus ST that seems to get positive reviews.

Or if a hatch is an option, there is always the BMW 130i - same engine as the Z4 Coupe, but fitted to a 1 Series!

Happy hunting anyway. thumbup

AnneTeak

166 posts

108 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Mr Tidy said:
Or if a hatch is an option, there is always the BMW 130i - same engine as the Z4 Coupe, but fitted to a 1 Series!
OP, I was looking for something similar and plumped for the 130i. Good mix of practicality with a N/A straight six. You'll find a good one for your budget.

Very little changed over the period they were made.. Later LCI ones loose hydraulic PAS but get better MPG (due to the alternator and brake energy regeneration) and revised interior materials.

If size isn't an issue the 125i uses the same engine in coupe body format (although slightly detuned and geared). However they seem to command a premium over the 130i.

Mikee19

591 posts

95 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Civic FN2 Type R, reliable, reasonably fun, more creature comforts than an EP3, plenty available and easily within budget.


hxc_

382 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Bought a 350z in almost identical circumstances. Don't regret it at all.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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AnneTeak said:
Mr Tidy said:
Or if a hatch is an option, there is always the BMW 130i - same engine as the Z4 Coupe, but fitted to a 1 Series!
OP, I was looking for something similar and plumped for the 130i. Good mix of practicality with a N/A straight six. You'll find a good one for your budget.

Very little changed over the period they were made.. Later LCI ones loose hydraulic PAS but get better MPG (due to the alternator and brake energy regeneration) and revised interior materials.

If size isn't an issue the 125i uses the same engine in coupe body format (although slightly detuned and geared). However they seem to command a premium over the 130i.
The N52 engine is fantastic - which is probably why I've ended up with a 55 plate E90 330i as a daily to go with my E86 Z4 Coupe! But mainly because I couldn't find a 130i within budget. laugh

romeodelta

1,113 posts

160 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Not sure I’d recommend some of these for keeping outgoings to a minimum, but seems as everyone else is doing it smile

986 Boxster
TT
MGTF
500 Abarth
Cooper S

Edited by romeodelta on Friday 6th December 09:46

AnneTeak

166 posts

108 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Mr Tidy said:
The N52 engine is fantastic - which is probably why I've ended up with a 55 plate E90 330i as a daily to go with my E86 Z4 Coupe! But mainly because I couldn't find a 130i within budget. laugh
Agree, the N52 is a peach. OP, if you end up looking at 325i/330i. from around mid 2007 they are fitted with the N53 engine which uses direct injection (rather than port) and seems to suffer more with problems (high pressure fuel pump and injectors largely) than the N52 did.