Low BHP, big smiles.

[GenePoolReject13]

I'm certain I cant be the only one here who likes a car that doesn't have loads of power but is a lot of fun to drive. My current car is a prime example. Ford Puma 1.7VCT, it only has 123bhp but is great fun to drive and is useable everyday. It has lots a character and a boot that things can fit in, what more could one ask for?
There are of course plenty of other examples out there such as the Panda 100hp and Ignis sport.

So what low powered but fun to drive car would you reccomend? I'm sure there are lots of different examples that I and others had never even considered, I would love to here about them and what ever experiences people have had with them.

I would like to add a couple of rules that suggestions should abide by, 1) lets say no more than 150bhp although less can be more in this case and 2) should be capable of being used as a reasonably practical everyday car.
No budget as this is not a what car and there will be examples of all ages. So lets hear your suggestions.

[5lab]

mx5?

[ewenm]

I used a 115bhp Caterham as an only car for 5 years. It was practical enough for my needs apart from moving house Even carried the mountain bike on it a few times.

[VoziKaoFangio]

Smart Roadster, Citroen 2CV.

[DaveH23]

doogz said:

106/Saxo in various forms, S1 Rallye, XSI, S2 Rallye, GTi, VTR, VTS

Can I add 306 GTi6 to this aswell.

What about the Toyota Starlet Glanza Turbo thing or whatever it was called.

[Jayho]

Classic mini cooper 1.3? <- gotta be the daddy of all?

Ford ka 1.3

Suzuki cuppachino

Twingo?

[Eighteeteewhy]

To me 150bhp isn't low.

There's so many at that range,

Most Pug GTIs
Most Golf GTIs
Etc etc

Less than 115bhp would be more interesting and a lot less to pick from. IMO

[Kwistof]

Daihatsu Charade 3 cylinder 1.0l turbo

[deadtom]

doogz said:

No, you can't.

Awesome cars, but fall down on the <150bhp requirement in the OP.

this. they were 169bhp IIRC

[bicycleshorts]

Jayho said:

Ford ka 1.3

This.

The sportka is a good laugh as well.

[vixen1700]

Had the Vixen on the rolling road last year, 105.6 bhp, but big smiles.

Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 17th April 14:08

[Krikkit]

Eighteeteewhy said:

To me 150bhp isn't low.

There's so many at that range,

Most Pug GTIs
Most Golf GTIs
Etc etc

Less than 115bhp would be more interesting and a lot less to pick from. IMO

So narrow that list down to Original Golf GTI's and 106 Rallye/GTI's (being realistic, GTI's will have lost 5hp by now) and the older hardware.

[Captain Muppet]

VoziKaoFangio said:

...Citroen 2CV.

Every journey in mine was a flat-out sprint. Happy memories.

[crocodile tears]

would go for a 106 rallye straight up

[Riknos]

MX5 /endthread surely?

[DanDC5]

Surprised no one has said S1 Lotus Elise yet.

[cv01jw]

Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.

[eggchaser1987]

Can I put in the idea of a series Land Rover. 2.25 petrol but not very many horses under the bonnet think it was about 70bhp.

Gave me big smiles driving it and as it was my first car taught me so much about driving and looking at the road ahead!

[varsas]

bicycleshorts said:

Jayho said:

Ford ka 1.3

This.

The sportka is a good laugh as well.

Drove one recently, thought it was horrible.

Really slow, gloopy, feedback free steering (this one was powered) terrible driving position (header rail was too low, doors to high so it felt very claustrophobic, this coming from a SIII LR owner) the throttle was difficult to modulate (the first inch of travel seemed to be 90% of the action) and the dash was difficult to read.

Gearbox and steering where good though.

My Stag is good fun, and just dips below the OP's 150bhp maximum, more in keeping my Spitfire was great as are MX5's (of course).

[KrazyIvan]

A bit left field but

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/suzuki/cappu...

Unlike the mx5, you have the only one in your road/street/post code/town