Car opinions required.......Ok it's a what car thread

[no effort]

I want to buy a car to take over to Sweden to use during their winter. I don’t want to spend much on a car because I might not bring it back. Also if I dent it I wouldn’t be too bothered. My budget therefore is 2k max (no creeping over it as I’ve also got to buy winter tyres).
I estimate that I’ll do around 1800 miles in Sweden during the winter months before I might be coming back to the UK so I wouldn’t be put off by a high mileage car.

The car then:
Nothing too small
Nothing modified (stage 1 remap is acceptable though)
Nothing to exotic (in case I do need to take it to a garage, it’s expensive enough out here without the garage having to order a part from the other side of the world)
NO RWD CARS
No cars with after market big alloys
No convertibles

Ideally I would like something that is fun to drive in the dry as well.

So far I have:

Golf 1.8T GTi
A3 1.8T (Quattro version would be nice)
Puma
Focus ST170
Vectra 2.2 SRI (old school)

I know I can do a search with a max budget of 2K but what would you recommend and why?

[kambites]

Well there's all the usual, older coupes like the Integra, Corrado, Celica, Prelude, etc.

Maybe a basic Impreza turbo?

[Captain Muppet]

If you have a Vectra on your list of fun cars then you could pretty much just buy anything and be happy with it.

Although I'd go for a Honda Civic, because never breaking down is the most fun part of driving in a country with real winters.

Oh, or a Volvo, any Volvo.

[no effort]

Captain Muppet said:

If you have a Vectra on your list of fun cars then you could pretty much just buy anything and be happy with it.

Its on the list because its cheap £800-1000 for 150bhp I didn't think was to bad.

[boobles]

Volvo!

[028butlerboy]

90's subaru legacy, swedish winters demand AWD and plenty of grunt makes for a fun enough car in the dry.

[no effort]

Celica 1.8 VVTI are these any good?

[Dangermouse58]

Celica gt4. 4wd, enough poke and fun to drive, and within budget.

[Captain Muppet]

no effort said:

Captain Muppet said:

If you have a Vectra on your list of fun cars then you could pretty much just buy anything and be happy with it.

Its on the list because its cheap £800-1000 for 150bhp I didn't think was to bad.

My mother-in-law has one, she has no interest in cars at all, and she hates the Vectra.

I had an early one as a company car for a while, and the later ones aren't anything like as bad, but also aren't anything more than just transport either.

[no effort]

The Crack Fox said:

Volvo S60 T5 ? Great cars, plenty of good examples about at that price, and you'll fit in with the locals

Sadly at the moment the nearest one to me is 60 miles away.

[Captain Muppet]

no effort said:

The Crack Fox said:

Volvo S60 T5 ? Great cars, plenty of good examples about at that price, and you'll fit in with the locals

Sadly at the moment the nearest one to me is 60 miles away.

I hate it when people make obvious jokes about usernames.

[Lanxx]

Honda Accord

[boobles]

How come the MX5 hasn't been mentioned yet?

[no effort]

Gaz. said:

The previous generation GT4 should be considered too, more costly to run but the 4wd would be advantagous where you are going.

Love the previous versions, I can't find one within budget though.

[Raitzi]

http://www.nettiauto.com/subaru/legacy/4977969

http://www.nettiauto.com/mercedes-benz/c/4986242

or if it gets really bad get this:

http://www.nettiauto.com/opel/frontera/4981302

Sorry no swedish links and Finnish prices are likely a bit higher than you find over in Sweden.

[alex290568]

Captain Muppet said:

no effort said:

The Crack Fox said:

Volvo S60 T5 ? Great cars, plenty of good examples about at that price, and you'll fit in with the locals

Sadly at the moment the nearest one to me is 60 miles away.

I hate it when people make obvious jokes about usernames.

[Animala]

no effort said:

Celica 1.8 VVTI are these any good?

Pretty good, I like mine and for what it is it does sometimes impress with its exhaust note. Fuel consumption isn't bad and neither is insurance.

It's quick but not out right fast, if that makes any sense.

[Bonefish Blues]

Saab 9-5 Aero, shirley?

[SammyW]

Old impreza turbo? 4wd, decent performance, practical, japanese reliability, what's not to like?!

[300bhp/ton]

I'd probably opt for the Puma out of the OPs list.

However maybe a Volvo C70 or a Saab 900 tubro would be quite fitting?