Backroad Rally-Stage Commuter Needed

[jonesey]

But of an exaggeration but I need to buy a car for the daily station run. Cross-country, potholed, muddy in sections roads. Only about 8/9 miles but I’d really like it to be fun.

Budget is about 4K, ideally small as the lanes are tight. Manual, decent tyre profile for the rough roads and ideally a bit of power.

I’ve been wracking my brains with everything from a SWB Pajero to Mini Coopers and Panda 100hp.

Anybody got a hidden gem of an idea as I’m drawing a blank.

LJ

[Dicky Knee]

Subaru Impreza WRX.

Made for the job.

[FA57REN]

Dicky Knee said:

Subaru Impreza WRX.

Made for the job.

Certainly on a closed course with pacenotes and a navigator... but overkill in this situation I think.

But narrow country lanes suggests poor sightlines and tight passing-points. I'd suggest something small and chuckable like an RS Twingo, Fiesta ST, an old Puma. Lots of fun well below NSL.

[Fluffsri]

(02/03) Audi S3? My wife had one and loved it on her commute and that was a cross country back lane dash.

[blue_haddock]

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

A bit more than budget but the slightly raised suspension will be better on the backroads whilst the 1.8t engine should give it some poke.

Alternatively a saab is a bit different!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Gareth1974]

Ignis Sport? Slightly raised ground clearance, rally history, strong engine and you’d likely only need to spend half your budget. I recall one was featured in SOTW last year.

[ChrisH72]

Suzuki swift sport

RS Clio. Whichever one 4k will buy, probably a 197?

[ZX10R NIN]

Simple

Twingo RS

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

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

Cup Pack

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Gordini

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mito Cloverleaf not as composed as the above but still fun:

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Abarth 500

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

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

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

[jonesey]

Gareth1974 said:

Ignis Sport? Slightly raised ground clearance, rally history, strong engine and you’d likely only need to spend half your budget. I recall one was featured in SOTW last year.

I like this, I’m worried that low profile tyres on a Twingo or RS Clio might be not ideal but have seen an ignis on higher profile tyres.

[Richtea1970]

How pot-holed is it?

I loved our old 500 Abarth but I wouldnt want to be driving it over heavily pot holed roads.

[samoht]

Peugeot 106 GTi, 205 GTi, 306 Ralleye / GTi-6 .

[ChrisH72]

That old Ignis sport is a funky thing, very left field.

Same engine in the Yaris t sport which could also work.

Older stuff tend to have smaller wheels with higher tyre profile so worth looking into.

Citroen C2 vts or vtr
Twingo GT
Toyota starlet

You could end up spending much less than 4k and having lots of fun whilst not bothering too much if you hit a few potholes or scrape some bushes!

Ford puma is a laugh, I had one. They ride on 15's and are practically on stilts compared to newer stuff.

[Gareth1974]

Ignis SOTW https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-s...

[designforlife]

Scoob Forester