Any cars with over 200bhp, more than 35mpg for under £3000?

[jackal7791]

Currently own an mg zr 160, absolutely love it. However, i get bored quickly so im looking for something new. Im only 21 so im not able to afford anything too ridiculous, i would just like my next car to be a little quicker without suffering on the running costs. Idealy im looking for something with a 0-60 around the 7 second mark with the mpg above 30. My budget is quite low, £3000 being my absolute limit.
Any ideas?? So far i've looked atm bmw 330's and type r accords + civics.
Thanks in advance for any help provided.

[Adam190]

Celica T Sport.

Only 190bhp but has the 7 second to 60 time you want.

Can easily be got for under 3k.

You can probably get a high mileage S2K for that price too, not sure if i would want too though.

[psummers]

MR2 turbo? It’s got around 240bhp (up to 280 with a few inexpensive mods), 25-35mpg and surprisingly cheap insurance.

£3000 would get you a decent example too.

[Speedracer329]

My Jag S Type 3.0 manual does the 0 - 60 in about 7.5 secs, I get 34mpg on a run & 27 around town if I don't abuse it, & you can pick them up for well under your budget.


Edited to say, just seen how old you are, most youngsters think Jags are an old mans transport.

[excel monkey]

Corolla T Sport
Leon Cupra
Clio 182
MG ZS 180

All a bit short of 200bhp, but will meet your other criteria.

Insurance is going to be a killer at your age, unless you live in a very low risk postcode.

[intrepid44]

Might be able to get a Starlet with a TD04 for that, but I'd be weary if it's been done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

Mine has 214 bhp according to it's last dyno print out, and it doesn't appear to have effected the fuel economy providing you drive it off boost with a light foot.

[Captain Muppet]

I had a £600 BMW 535i that had 220bhp and would do 30mpg. The spare £2400 could go on petrol.

[StottyZr]

I had a Zr 160 before, after lots and lots of thought and consideration the only car I could think of that I would have over it (in your situation) would be a modified Peugeot 106 (stripped out, cams, induction, 4-2-1 manifold) will see 150hp and ~800kgs

Theres lots and lots of these around. Failing that you could try a Golf/A3 1.8T and remap it/put a K04 turbo on there (from an S3)

Could also try a Clio 172/182 if insurance permits.

[durbster]

Adam190 said:

Celica T Sport.

Only 190bhp but has the 7 second to 60 time you want.

Can easily be got for under 3k.

You can probably get a high mileage S2K for that price too, not sure if i would want too though.

Was just about to post the same thing. I picked up a Celica 190 a couple of months ago and I reckon it's as quick as I will ever need on the road - in the sense that if it was any quicker then it's all over too quickly to be fun.

I actually think the 0-60 time is slightly deceptive because the power / weight raio is good, so when the lift kicks in yo it must be as quick as most things on the road.

However, because the engine has essentially two modes you do have to work hard to get your rewards so if you prefer lazy power then it's definitely not for you.

Handles well too, and must be one of the most practical coupes around.

[Baryonyx]

psummers said:

MR2 turbo? It’s got around 240bhp (up to 280 with a few inexpensive mods), 25-35mpg and surprisingly cheap insurance.

£3000 would get you a decent example too.

I never saw more than 30mpg out of mine, even on long dual carriageway drives (I did a run from Newcastle to Wetherby and back when I bought it).

Could it do more than 30mpg? Maybe, if you're below the boost threshold of the turbo. But it's just coming into turbo range at 70mph, so cruising will see it guzzle fuel. The gearing is pretty short and punchy, and I was getting about 22-23 mpg out of mine around town when taking it easy and less than 20 when I was really giving it some.

I'd also steer clear of ones with the boost turned up to up the bhp. It's got more than enough grunt as it is, and even my standard example could struggle to get the power down in the wet. Just buy a standard one and revel in it, if you can afford to run them they are really good cars.

[Apache]

Alpina B3 3.2, 260bhp, 22 to 34mpg, 0-60 6.2 secs

[Baryonyx]

Apache said:

Alpina B3 3.2, 260bhp, 22 to 34mpg, 0-60 6.2 secs

I doubt thats going to happen for a 21 year old. Especially as I suspect the Alpina will be counted as an import for insurance purposes. Can anyone clarify this matter?

[StottyZr]

Celica 190 looked like a good shout but I've just looked them up and its 33mpg and 0-60 in 7.2 which isn't really better than the Mgs 7.4 seconds and 37mpg.

The MG is also in a lower tax bracket.

Fiesta ST is 38mpg with 0-60 in 7.9, these can easily be modified.

Basically, on paper its quite difficult to beat a Zr 160s mix of performance and fuel consumption with cost of purchase.

[Addymk2]

I'm probably going to get a digging for this, but a tidy well modified Toyota Glanza, I drove mine around Europe running nearly 200bhp and got about 45mpg driving sensibly! I'm shopping for another now, image is crap though

[jackal7791]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, gonna take me a while to look into them all, but keep them coming. Insurance is a big problem, i live in a low accident area so its not as bad as it is for most people i know.

[m44kts]

Accord Type R?

[Baryonyx]

Addymk2 said:

I'm probably going to get a digging for this, but a tidy well modified Toyota Glanza, I drove mine around Europe running nearly 200bhp and got about 45mpg driving sensibly! I'm shopping for another now, image is crap though

I quite like the Starlet Glanzas (st name though). There are plenty of crap looking ones around, but there are a few decent looking ones but they tend to attract a premium. I hear they can be fairly nippy, though the handling is poor and the interior rubbish. I'd still like to have a go and see though.

[jackal7791]

StottyZr said:

Celica 190 looked like a good shout but I've just looked them up and its 33mpg and 0-60 in 7.2 which isn't really better than the Mgs 7.4 seconds and 37mpg.

The MG is also in a lower tax bracket.

Fiesta ST is 38mpg with 0-60 in 7.9, these can easily be modified.

Basically, on paper its quite difficult to beat a Zr 160s mix of performance and fuel consumption with cost of purchase.

The mg's get a lot of bad stick for realiability and such, but they have suprisingly decent engines. I have been a very happy with my zr, very decent purchase.

[Frances The Mute]

Baryonyx said:

Apache said:

Alpina B3 3.2, 260bhp, 22 to 34mpg, 0-60 6.2 secs

I doubt thats going to happen for a 21 year old. Especially as I suspect the Alpina will be counted as an import for insurance purposes. Can anyone clarify this matter?

Older Alpina's can be difficult for underwriters to identify. More often than not, they tar it them with the M-Power brush so you can expect Group 20 with a bit on the top for good measure.

You'd have to drive it like a nun to get over 30mpg, too. In addition, you'll be buyinga snotter for under £3k. The E46 variants normally sell for less money. They have 280bhp and better fuel economy, anyway.

[McSam]

Baryonyx said:

I doubt thats going to happen for a 21 year old. Especially as I suspect the Alpina will be counted as an import for insurance purposes. Can anyone clarify this matter?

It shouldn't be, unless it actually is a post-delivery import.

And 21 really isn't as uninsurable as people think it is - when you turn 21, risk loading on the basis of the car drops dramatically (I could tool around in an XJR for £700 premium), so don't worry too much about that when picking cars.