Best B-road Blaster for under £7k?
Discussion
I'm looking for something fun,small and fizzy for bombing around the b-roads on Sunday morning in the dry and the wet and not bothering about the brambles that I've been forced into at the side of the road by the Range Rover.
I've had MX5's,a Golf GTi Mk5 dsg, Audi A4, a couple of Porsche Boxsters, but they all ended up costing a fair bit in maintenance bills, besides which I didn't like them getting scratched. I want something I don't care about now and I'm not bothered about depreciation/ future values.
I've narrowed it down to a few but have only driven a Golf and MX5. Your advice/experiences welcomed.
The Renault Clio I've been put off by tales of broken gearboxes, the Twingo lacks power apparently, the Polo has lots of DSG problems as does the Golf, that leaves the Suzuki.
Renault Clio 200 (or 182?)
Renault Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift
Polo GTi
Another Golf
Another Mazda
cheers!
I've had MX5's,a Golf GTi Mk5 dsg, Audi A4, a couple of Porsche Boxsters, but they all ended up costing a fair bit in maintenance bills, besides which I didn't like them getting scratched. I want something I don't care about now and I'm not bothered about depreciation/ future values.
I've narrowed it down to a few but have only driven a Golf and MX5. Your advice/experiences welcomed.
The Renault Clio I've been put off by tales of broken gearboxes, the Twingo lacks power apparently, the Polo has lots of DSG problems as does the Golf, that leaves the Suzuki.
Renault Clio 200 (or 182?)
Renault Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift
Polo GTi
Another Golf
Another Mazda
cheers!
I'd advise against having something you've already owned, life's too short. Try something else. Out of those you have listed, I'd go for one of the Renaults or the Swift.
Here are some other ideas
Alternatives to a Golf
Honda Civic Type R
EP3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...
FN2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
Ford Focus ST 2.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...
Renaultsport Megane F1 Team
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
edit: Maybe that Megane is a bit much! Here's another
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...
Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...
Keeping it Italian, what about one of these?
Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...
Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105303...
Fiat 500 Abarth
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112280...
Similar to the 500 Abarth
Mini Cooper S
R53
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...
F56
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...
Other similarly sized stuff to the Mini
Peugeot 208 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...
Vauxhall Corsa VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...
Ford Fiesta ST's
mk6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
mk5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...
Both these are remappable to 200 bhp and have low kerbweight
Citroen DS3 THP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...
Mitsubishi Colt CZT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...
Keeping it Japanese
Subaru Impreza WRX blobeye
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...
Toyota Celica
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...
Toyota MR2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111239...
Nissan 350Z Convertible
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
Another Roadster - BMW Z4 3.0i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...
Sticking with BMW - 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...
Another German, not quite as quick, but certainly fun - VW Lupo GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...
Finally - Fiat Panda 100HP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...
Here are some other ideas
Alternatives to a Golf
Honda Civic Type R
EP3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...
FN2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
Ford Focus ST 2.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...
Renaultsport Megane F1 Team
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...
edit: Maybe that Megane is a bit much! Here's another
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...
Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...
Keeping it Italian, what about one of these?
Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...
Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105303...
Fiat 500 Abarth
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112280...
Similar to the 500 Abarth
Mini Cooper S
R53
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...
F56
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...
Other similarly sized stuff to the Mini
Peugeot 208 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...
Vauxhall Corsa VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...
Ford Fiesta ST's
mk6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
mk5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...
Both these are remappable to 200 bhp and have low kerbweight
Citroen DS3 THP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...
Mitsubishi Colt CZT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...
Keeping it Japanese
Subaru Impreza WRX blobeye
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...
Toyota Celica
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...
Toyota MR2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111239...
Nissan 350Z Convertible
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109016...
Another Roadster - BMW Z4 3.0i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...
Sticking with BMW - 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...
Another German, not quite as quick, but certainly fun - VW Lupo GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...
Finally - Fiat Panda 100HP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Tuesday 18th January 21:04
993kimbo said:
I'm looking for something fun,small and fizzy for bombing around the b-roads on Sunday morning in the dry and the wet and not bothering about the brambles that I've been forced into at the side of the road by the Range Rover.
I've had MX5's,a Golf GTi Mk5 dsg, Audi A4, a couple of Porsche Boxsters, but they all ended up costing a fair bit in maintenance bills, besides which I didn't like them getting scratched. I want something I don't care about now and I'm not bothered about depreciation/ future values.
I've narrowed it down to a few but have only driven a Golf and MX5. Your advice/experiences welcomed.
The Renault Clio I've been put off by tales of broken gearboxes, the Twingo lacks power apparently, the Polo has lots of DSG problems as does the Golf, that leaves the Suzuki.
Renault Clio 200 (or 182?)
Renault Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift
Polo GTi
Another Golf
Another Mazda
cheers!
If it's a B Road blaster then these would be my picks:I've had MX5's,a Golf GTi Mk5 dsg, Audi A4, a couple of Porsche Boxsters, but they all ended up costing a fair bit in maintenance bills, besides which I didn't like them getting scratched. I want something I don't care about now and I'm not bothered about depreciation/ future values.
I've narrowed it down to a few but have only driven a Golf and MX5. Your advice/experiences welcomed.
The Renault Clio I've been put off by tales of broken gearboxes, the Twingo lacks power apparently, the Polo has lots of DSG problems as does the Golf, that leaves the Suzuki.
Renault Clio 200 (or 182?)
Renault Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift
Polo GTi
Another Golf
Another Mazda
cheers!
Megane RS250 Cup this would be my pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106163...
Focus ST-3 great cars with a very good engine:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...
Mazda3 MPS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006089...
RS200 Cup
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201111...
ZX10R NIN said:
If it's a B Road blaster then these would be my picks:
Megane RS250 Cup this would be my pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106163...
Just not that one, from that seller. Megane RS250 Cup this would be my pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106163...
So much available at this budget, but you cannot go wrong with any Renaultsport really.
R26 might be in budget, prices of good ones are rising a bit. Go for the R26 over the 225 for the LSD. Having said that, many have been upgraded by now.
Clio 172/182/197/200 are all a solid shout. Gearboxes can crunch between 2nd and 3rd as you've pointed out, but bare in mind that boxes are cheap and easily replaced. It certainly wouldn't put me off one.
Civic EP3 Type R is a good shout, robust, cheap to run, easily fettled with and appear to be appreciating at a decent rate.
R53 MCS. I would personally avoid the R56, had a few friends that have had serious problems with them and they seem pretty highly strung.
Mk3 MR2. You will be able to pick up a clean car with the 2ZZ 190 engine (found in the Corolla and Celica TS) well within budget. These are great fun with the extra power over standard. I've seen a few for sale around the £4/5k mark on the usual track pages.
R26 might be in budget, prices of good ones are rising a bit. Go for the R26 over the 225 for the LSD. Having said that, many have been upgraded by now.
Clio 172/182/197/200 are all a solid shout. Gearboxes can crunch between 2nd and 3rd as you've pointed out, but bare in mind that boxes are cheap and easily replaced. It certainly wouldn't put me off one.
Civic EP3 Type R is a good shout, robust, cheap to run, easily fettled with and appear to be appreciating at a decent rate.
R53 MCS. I would personally avoid the R56, had a few friends that have had serious problems with them and they seem pretty highly strung.
Mk3 MR2. You will be able to pick up a clean car with the 2ZZ 190 engine (found in the Corolla and Celica TS) well within budget. These are great fun with the extra power over standard. I've seen a few for sale around the £4/5k mark on the usual track pages.
Synchros on all Clio 'boxes can let go especially given the age/mileage on most of them by now, but the 172/182 gearboxes are much more robust than the 197/200 ones. If it does let go a full rebuild isn't too bad - £500 or so for parts and labour, plus removal and refitting.
For B-roads you want something small, wieldy, raw and full of feedback which you can regularly use close to its full potential. Just powerful enough to dispatch overtakes comfortably but not so powerful that you're always holding back. For me a mk2 or mk3 Clio fulfils the brief better than most. Parts getting more scarce now is one downside - you can't get front wheel arch liners for mk2s now, nor OEM mk2 Cup spec wishbones.
For B-roads you want something small, wieldy, raw and full of feedback which you can regularly use close to its full potential. Just powerful enough to dispatch overtakes comfortably but not so powerful that you're always holding back. For me a mk2 or mk3 Clio fulfils the brief better than most. Parts getting more scarce now is one downside - you can't get front wheel arch liners for mk2s now, nor OEM mk2 Cup spec wishbones.
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