Suggestions for a 20yo please ( and smart roadster thoughts)
Discussion
HI all, not posted for a long time but... I'm looking for a car and would like some tips on what to get, I currently own a bentley eight and a Porsche 944 I've owned a tvr tasmin and a Suzuki vitara (I know my profile is out dated but I'm on an iPad and can't seem to edit it on here) and would like something that meets the following criteria,
- £5000 or less to buy
- not too high insurance costs
- decent mpg ( certainly better than the above
- something a bit different, not keen on the usual corsa etc, just not for me
- preferably with an ok spec, aircon and the rest
Performance isn't my main consideration, I just want something fun and quite cheap, I've been looking at smart roadster coupes, any thoughts?
- £5000 or less to buy
- not too high insurance costs
- decent mpg ( certainly better than the above
- something a bit different, not keen on the usual corsa etc, just not for me
- preferably with an ok spec, aircon and the rest
Performance isn't my main consideration, I just want something fun and quite cheap, I've been looking at smart roadster coupes, any thoughts?
Bias post but... If you can find a good one, how about a Fiat X19, classic insurance, cheap as chips to run (if you can avoid the tin worm) and you dont see many about. Quick enough, revvy engine, reliable (honest!), great handling, practical, great owners club, and retro.... I miss mine! 
aquilla said:
Performance isn't my main consideration, I just want something fun and quite cheap, I've been looking at smart roadster coupes, any thoughts?
I've only driven a few thousand kms in Smart Roadsters back in about 2004 (they were on the standard Europcar fleet here in Germany, nice way to spend travel allowance 
). My 2 euro cents: do an longer test drive first to find out if you can live with the limited power/torque and especially the gear box (thing seems to have its own mind, even in manual mode). They also need servicing every 10k kms, the engines don't last very long (but are cheap to replace) and they never got the thing sorted out WRT to leaks. Also there is an issue with some airco tubes breaking (design fault, best look that up on a dedicated forum).
Plus side: pretty & uncommon sight, fairly practical, very good fuel economy (~ 40 mpg despite long stretches of autobahn at over 100 mph) and, even if this is probably not very PH to say -- the ESP works nicely and that would probably have saved me from making a few expensive mistakes when I was ~ 20
.Alternatives to consider IMO: MX5 NA or NB, Elise mk1. All use more fuel but especially the Elise will not depriciate much (if at all, so the 5000k loan to make budget might acutally be free) when taken care of and will be painless to sell on when you want to move on to something else. Not sure about the insurance in the UK though, that seems even more crazy than here for younger drivers...
Edited by Kolbenkopp on Thursday 29th September 23:47
Kolbenkopp said:
I've only driven a few thousand kms in Smart Roadsters back in ~ 2004 (they were on the standard Europcar fleet here in Germany, nice way to spend travel allowance ).
My 2 euro cents: do an longer test drive first to find out if you can live with the limited power/torque and especially the gear box (thing seems to have its own mind, even in manual mode). They also need servicing every 10k kms, the engines don't last very long (but are cheap to replace) and they never got the thing sorted out WRT to leaks. Plus side: pretty & uncommon sight, fairly practical, very good fuel economy (~ 40 mpg despite long stretches of autobahn at over 100 mph) and, even if this is probably not very PH to say -- the ESP works nicely and that would probably have saved me from making a few expensive mistakes when I was
20.
Alternatives to consider IMO: MX5 NA or NB, Elise mk1. All use more fuel but especially the Elise will not depriciate much (if at all) when taken care of and will be painless to sell on when you want to move on to something else. Not sure about the insurance in the UK though, that seems even more crazy than here for younger drivers...
Not sure I'd even contemplate loking at a sub £5k Elise. You'd more than likely spend another £4k getting it upto scratch. ). My 2 euro cents: do an longer test drive first to find out if you can live with the limited power/torque and especially the gear box (thing seems to have its own mind, even in manual mode). They also need servicing every 10k kms, the engines don't last very long (but are cheap to replace) and they never got the thing sorted out WRT to leaks. Plus side: pretty & uncommon sight, fairly practical, very good fuel economy (~ 40 mpg despite long stretches of autobahn at over 100 mph) and, even if this is probably not very PH to say -- the ESP works nicely and that would probably have saved me from making a few expensive mistakes when I was
20
.Alternatives to consider IMO: MX5 NA or NB, Elise mk1. All use more fuel but especially the Elise will not depriciate much (if at all) when taken care of and will be painless to sell on when you want to move on to something else. Not sure about the insurance in the UK though, that seems even more crazy than here for younger drivers...
You should just about be able to get a 2.2 VX220 for £5k, insurance for me when I was 20 wasn't overkill on my Turbo so I can't see the 2.2 being horrendous. That said, there's very little in the way of creature comfort; then again I never found myself wanting any.
Other than that, something like an E46 320d coupé is relatively "normal", but you should get a nice example for your budget. Insurance shouldn't be too bad (I'm 21 and it costs me ~£1043 fully comp on my M3) and it's a nice car to run around in. All the toys too.
Alternatively, find something that's been restored to play with. You should be able to get a fully restored Mini with a new engine in it for £5k easily, and they're pennies on insurance (while returning good mpg too). Most of the restored ones will have updated tech in them.
Other than that, something like an E46 320d coupé is relatively "normal", but you should get a nice example for your budget. Insurance shouldn't be too bad (I'm 21 and it costs me ~£1043 fully comp on my M3) and it's a nice car to run around in. All the toys too.
Alternatively, find something that's been restored to play with. You should be able to get a fully restored Mini with a new engine in it for £5k easily, and they're pennies on insurance (while returning good mpg too). Most of the restored ones will have updated tech in them.
I might be biased but I'd say the Smart Roadster ticks the boxes you mention - though get a test-drive as the pseudo-auto box is a bit marmite (but bear in mind initially you'll be experiencing the worst of it - it gets better as you get used to it!)
Make sure you do your homework on what to look out for - they had a tendency to leak, one of the common leaks drips into the main fuse/computer unit (called the SAM) which can be about a grand to fix. To be honest though if they've got to this age most will have had the relevant remedial work. Checking for other leaks can be as simple as sliding your hand under the carpets behind the seats.
Mine leaked a bit when I first got it, but the garage I bought it from fixed it (I think they shoved hosepipe down the rubber seals to make it a more watertight fit against the door!) - no problems since then (touch wood). A remap can very cheaply give you quite a bit more 'oomph' too...
Other than that, you don't see many of them about, the roof you can open/close even at motorway speeds is cool and 50+mpg is easy to get out of them on long runs. They handle really well, and most importantly are tons of fun even at legal speeds.
Insurance is dirt cheap, there's loads of Smart independents (or you can use 'normal' garages), I honestly think they'd make a great "first" car.
The engines are actually also used in light aircraft so aren't as flimsy as some make out, some people have 100k on theirs (with the occasional turbo replacement I guess) but even then, you wouldn't pay anything near most sportscar prices for the parts.
I use mine as a daily hack - my commute is only about 20 miles per day but it's honestly the most fun I've had driving, and if it's nice (like this week) I've been taking the long way home!
Hope this doesn't read too much like fanboyism, why not post where you are based and that you're looking at possibly buying a Roady on theroadster.net - someone will more than likely offer to take you out for a spin in theirs and show you round it...
Make sure you do your homework on what to look out for - they had a tendency to leak, one of the common leaks drips into the main fuse/computer unit (called the SAM) which can be about a grand to fix. To be honest though if they've got to this age most will have had the relevant remedial work. Checking for other leaks can be as simple as sliding your hand under the carpets behind the seats.
Mine leaked a bit when I first got it, but the garage I bought it from fixed it (I think they shoved hosepipe down the rubber seals to make it a more watertight fit against the door!) - no problems since then (touch wood). A remap can very cheaply give you quite a bit more 'oomph' too...
Other than that, you don't see many of them about, the roof you can open/close even at motorway speeds is cool and 50+mpg is easy to get out of them on long runs. They handle really well, and most importantly are tons of fun even at legal speeds.
Insurance is dirt cheap, there's loads of Smart independents (or you can use 'normal' garages), I honestly think they'd make a great "first" car.
The engines are actually also used in light aircraft so aren't as flimsy as some make out, some people have 100k on theirs (with the occasional turbo replacement I guess) but even then, you wouldn't pay anything near most sportscar prices for the parts.
I use mine as a daily hack - my commute is only about 20 miles per day but it's honestly the most fun I've had driving, and if it's nice (like this week) I've been taking the long way home!
Hope this doesn't read too much like fanboyism, why not post where you are based and that you're looking at possibly buying a Roady on theroadster.net - someone will more than likely offer to take you out for a spin in theirs and show you round it...
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