Something fun but economical for under £3500 - thoughts ?

[sjtgeray]

Hi all.....i need something to do 70 miles each way to work around the m25 at least two days a week, so need reasonable economy, but also want it to be interesting, and ideally 4/5 door. Viable for the odd track day would be a bonus too.

Any thoughts ? Was thinking a Leon Cupra, but not sure how economical it would be round the M25......cheers

[james280779]

I am a bit bored at work so thought I would help out
maybe the following, some well within budget



1.8 turbo


3.0 V6


The classic T5 Turbo



only 2 doors but heaps of style and power (210bhp) and about half your budget




cheap running



m sport will never be cheap to run but in budget



2.5 v6 and gorgeous looking. fun to drive too

hope this helps, dont be put off by the bigger engines, they are far more economical for motorway cruising (less revs).
Example 1.3 Ford Ka cost me 14 gbp a day to drive to work. 3.0 V6 Pug Coupe cost me 10 gbp for the same journey and was far more comfortable (providing I drove sensibly of course).

Edited by james280779 on Monday 26th March 02:40

[matthias73]

To the above poster, can you elaborate on your experiences with the 3.0 coupe? I've been driving a 1.8 saloon for coming on two years now, and I like it very much, but in the future would possibly like to upgrade to something faster and sportier, whilst keeping the comfort and relative subtlety.

[aussieal]

The Alfa 156 GTA is a 3.2 V6, sounds great, none better than that one in particular as it was my best man's car.

Idiot sold it though, never figured out why.

[james280779]

Unfortunately the GTA is well outside the 3500 budget, the 2.5 v6 isnt.

[DanielJames]

Saab prices are getting cheap now, if you fancy a 93 2.0T?

Not sure if it's the same troublesome Z20x engine they use in the Vauxhalls though

[jbi]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[philmots]

The 2.0 Saab unit is based on the 2.2 Vauxhall unit, not sure on engine codes. IIRC Saab shortened the stroke to make it smaller capacity.

In Vauxhalls the 2.2 suffered from timing chains snapping from poor lubrication. No such problems on the Saab version. Pretty bullet proof.

[aussieal]

Sorry, I wasn’t suggesting a GTA would be in budget.

I was just pointing out that the 156 pictured is in fact a GTA and not a 2.5 V6.

The 156 is a lovely looking car and by all accounts the 2.5 V6 is a good drive but the GTA does look better, that one in particular. It was in absolutely immaculate condition and I personally saw 165mph in on the Autobahn en route to Munich for my stag do. But I digress.