7k what reliable fun car

[jackh707]

Ok my mate is looking for a new car.

He currently drives a fiat punto 1.4 t-jet, that he's tweaked to 170hpish, he likes the turbo grunt and whooshes, but fancies something different and more reliable.

He has £7k, he likes to hoon but cruises down the motorway fairly often and would like 35mpg+ at 70.

He's 23 so must be reasonable to insure, reliable and be a reasonably nice place to sit in.

Currently he's looking at fn2 type r's, z4 2.0's but he's a bit lost.

My suggestions of an older e46 330i or a nice clio 182 were shunned, too old and too unreliable :s. So I am now stuck for recommendations, please help!

[ShineyT]

I think a z4 2.0i wouldn't impress all that much. I own a 2.5i and am currently looking to move up to a 3.0si or ///M. Cracking cars though, I can get 35mpg or so on a motorway from mine but short journeys around town expect 20mpg.

Just get a 6cyl one basically

[steve_bmw]

Can't go wrong with a z4, reliable fun but get a i6 engine sounds superb.
Not a lot to go wrong either exept hood motors but that's a maintenance issue keep the drain holes free of debris and you'll be ok.