New car help
Author
Discussion

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Basically I'm turning 21 in 2 weeks and I want to upgrade to a nicer car. I have a few in mind but wouldn't mind some more options. A few on my list are nice but everyone else has one, and something a bit different (like the S2000) really appeals to me. Anyway, here's whay I've got so far:

RenaultSport Clio (182 up to 197), Toyota Supra (3.0 litre NA), Vauxhall VX220, Civic Type R EP3, Mazda RX7 or Honda S2000.

I've got a budget of up to £5,000, and can insure sort of anything in the same bracket as this list. I preferably want something newer, but if it's a really interesting car and it's been properly looked after, I'd definitely go older.

Thanks for any help.

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
bump.

LukeSi

5,780 posts

188 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Chimaera.

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Because I can afford to run that.

PUA

1,060 posts

186 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
others to consider - RX8, 350z, S3 quattro

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Quite like the idea of a 350, thanks. Was looking at an Impreza WRX but the fuel bills seem crippling.

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Quite like the idea of a 350, thanks. Was looking at an Impreza WRX but the fuel bills seem crippling.

LukeSi

5,780 posts

188 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Shade said:
Because I can afford to run that.
Keep off the loud pedal and it will get just as good mpg as the rest you are looking at. RV8, pretty simple engine. Just treat it a bit more gingerly and bobs your uncle. A Chim isn't going to cost much more to run than say, an S2000 and is probably better on fuel than an RX7.

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Didn't know they were that good. Just don't appeal to me though. I guess they aren't cheap to maintain either if something does go wrong with them. Insurance on the 350 is pretty reasonable.

LukeSi

5,780 posts

188 months

Monday 20th August 2012
quotequote all
Shade said:
Didn't know they were that good. Just don't appeal to me though. I guess they aren't cheap to maintain either if something does go wrong with them. Insurance on the 350 is pretty reasonable.
Servicing is pretty reasonable actually.
Using Str8six as an example. A 6,000 mile service on a Chim is £380, and a 12,000 service is £570, which for a low volume sports car is pretty reasonable in my opinion.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4016444.htm
I know you say it doesn't appeal, but do an insurance quote, you might be pleasantly surprised.
The rear lights are from a Mk3 Fiesta so the replacement would be cheap. Only real issue is chassis rust, generally the outriggers.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

236 months

Monday 20th August 2012
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S2000 insurance is still stupid I think. Far higher than anything else similar.

Zwolf

25,867 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st August 2012
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That should buy an excellent condition E36 328i Sport, insurance should be comparable at around 17/18 (on the 1-20 scale, I haven't adapted to the newer 50 point scale yet). Age - both yours and the vehicle's - may now make classic insurance a possibility for you too.

Servicing and parts aren't bank-breaking, mechanicals are relatively simple, fuel consumption is around 27-30 driven normally, 22-25 with lots of town or leaden feet thrown in.

Shade

Original Poster:

91 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st August 2012
quotequote all
BMW's do absolutely nothing for me. I got offered my mums 98 318i a few months back for a bargain, and I really wasn't interested. Thanks for the suggestion, but they really just don't float my boat.

S2k insurance is still stupid. £2,2000. Fact is though, up until February, that's what I was paying for my Fiesta.

Been looking at Impreza WRX's all last night. Getting more tempted by the minute.

BevR

818 posts

170 months

Tuesday 21st August 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
Servicing is pretty reasonable actually.
Using Str8six as an example. A 6,000 mile service on a Chim is £380, and a 12,000 service is £570, which for a low volume sports car is pretty reasonable in my opinion.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4016444.htm
I know you say it doesn't appeal, but do an insurance quote, you might be pleasantly surprised.
The rear lights are from a Mk3 Fiesta so the replacement would be cheap. Only real issue is chassis rust, generally the outriggers.
I had never looked at these but thought I would have a look- cheapest quate thanks to the meercat was just a shade under a grand. I am 26 with 5 years no claims and only had a 5000 mile policy. Not crazy expensive. Maybe in another few years.

ST270

672 posts

209 months

Tuesday 21st August 2012
quotequote all
An S2k might be high on insurance (for good reason just look at how many cat d examples there are) but as an interesting motor which shouldn't cost the earth to run and service it should provide you with the thrills you seek. I am biased having just acquired one myself, but they are a lot of fun when pushed and when pootling surprising economical. Day to day parts are very reasonable (not mentioning geo bushes of course!)