What car - lightweight / winter hack mobile!

[motorbreath]

I know another ‘what car thread’ Im sure your all sick to death with them, but I like to think this one has a twist in its tail – I’m not looking to spend a small fortune on an upgrade for an M3 / Aston etc, in fact I fancy a down wards step, fed up of loosing bucks through depreciation and a bit board of newer cars, - I fancy a winter hack mobile. So wants the best money can buy for smile per mile taking into consideration the following:

Criteria is as follows in order of importance:

Under £2k
Light weight (not over 1,100kgs)
Good handling characteristics
Mid MPG’s 35ish
Not chav!
Over 150bhp

Things I have considered so far are:

Pug 106 GTi (a track prepped one would be preferable) (don’t know if I can bring myself to buy one as they seem to be a car for the ‘youth’ – i.e. could be mistaken for a Halfrauds special (my worst nightmare))

Lancia Intergrale 16v (needed a fair amount of TLC) – and I doubt it would be happy with the salt content of winter British roads, come summer I’ll only have a pile of rust left.

Two completely different cars I know, to cover my back ground, handy with a spanner, but don’t have much time any more for high level rebuilds (already got a project on the go)

Thank you all

[redgriff500]

Mk2 Golf GTi with a 2 litre transplant (easy and common swap)

[5lab]

a ratty clio 172 might tick those boxes

[sawman]

Up until you said 150 hp, I was thinking 2cv

[motorbreath]

I did see a corrado with a 20v VRS lump in it, too much for what it was though. And VR6 mk2 golfs are fairly cheap but pricy to run, MI16 205's are cool, seem to have dated interiors though. Decitions decitions.....

[5lab]

its a bit of a ph cliche, but a 1.8 mx5 is around 950kg, which is similar power to weight as something on your target weight and power. Heaters work well in the winter, likes to go sideways in the snow.

[motorbreath]

5lab said:

its a bit of a ph cliche, but a 1.8 mx5 is around 950kg, which is similar power to weight as something on your target weight and power. Heaters work well in the winter, likes to go sideways in the snow.

Do they come in a 'non convertable' model? Never even given them any thought

As for Mk2 golfs wit convertions some nice ones out there, and some dogs! I always remember working on my mate Mk2 Gti and clearly remember 'this things a rust bucket'

[MDT]

redgriff500 said:

Mk2 Golf GTi with a 2 litre transplant (easy and common swap)

I have a Golf GTI (mk2) with a 2.1 TSR lump it is making a fine "hack" and is doing 40+ mpg on a run. It is proper quick when you want it to be. loving the light weight of the thing next to the other cars. looking for some winter boots for it just now.

[v8will]

motorbreath said:

Do they come in a 'non convertable' model? Never even given them any thought

As for Mk2 golfs wit convertions some nice ones out there, and some dogs! I always remember working on my mate Mk2 Gti and clearly remember 'this things a rust bucket'

Look hard enough and you may get one with a removable hard top. I had the hard top on mine for winter use. It made it considerably stiffer and very useable in the worst weather.

[motorbreath]

MDT said:

I have a Golf GTI (mk2) with a 2.1 TSR lump it is making a fine "hack" and is doing 40+ mpg on a run. It is proper quick when you want it to be. loving the light weight of the thing next to the other cars. looking for some winter boots for it just now.

That sounds interesting, do you know how much it weighs? TBH im swayed more towards the Golf GTi conversion / 205 MI16 conversion as they were what school boy dreams were made of back in the day

[Gad-Westy]

Clio Williams hits all the criteria....

[mickymellon1]

another (biased) vote for the 1.8 MX5

awesome car + some winter boots

[aka_kerrly]

Gad-Westy said:

Clio Williams hits all the criteria....

Good shout.

Personally I'm quite the mk2 golf + corrado fan and your budget should get you a good 16v example.

OR
BMW 3series compacts look pretty appealing

[excel monkey]

Fiat Tipo 16v or Alfa 145/146 Cloverleaf would be a more manageable alternative to a Lancia Delta. Should just about meet your 150bhp / 1100kg criteria.

Or going Jap, how about an early Honda Integra DC2?

[ManOpener]

Corrado G60? Obtainable for a grand, 1115kg and 168bhp. Might struggle to see 35mpg all the time but it's certainly possible.

[redgriff500]

I'm a huge RWD fan but for a winter hack RWD simply isn't the sensible choice.

[motorbreath]

Cheers for the suggestions guys, I quite like the thought of an old Alfa, some thing I've always wanted. And the Clio Williams is tempting...

Have to agree RWD is prob not the best for winter hacking, dont mind 4x4 or FWD.

On the golf front I found this, along with a few others knocking around ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190573173845?ssPageName=...

Its got my current engine, (one i really like) and weighs less, seems like a winner!

Will do some research into other suggestions now!

[PaulGT3]

Xsara VTS... A mint one will be half your budget and meets most of your criteria!