£7k budget - what is going to be fun?

[hotchilidamo]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and looking for some advice if possible

I currently have a Saab 9-3 as a company car. Its done a good job if a little tedious at times, but its time to say goodbye. So I have a budget of about £7k to play with.

The trouble I have is there's a lot of cardigan wearing, snooze-mobiles around. I'm looking for something fun to drive, good to look at, with a wee bit of practical sense to it as well.

Everyone keeps telling me Golf or Focus, but I was hoping to find something a bit different and dare I say more exciting than that if possible. But I don't want to go too crazy on running costs or insurance groups. Is there a good mix of great fun, but kind of sensible on the wallet too?

Please send me some suggestions before I end up driving something my Dad would love and my gran thinks is a nice ride

[wemorgan]

A few Q's

number of seats?
number of doors?
age?
petrol / diesel?
what do you want from the car? What do you mean by fun?


This should help to narrow it down a little

[hotchilidamo]

wemorgan said:

A few Q's

number of seats?
number of doors?
age?
petrol / diesel?
what do you want from the car? What do you mean by fun?


This should help to narrow it down a little

OK then

I see where the problem is. Let me try this...

We're most likely going to have a kid on the way soon. So I need to factor in a family, so sadly the 2 seater 2 door variety probably won't work. oh god, I can feel the fun seeping out already

Doors probably 5 based on the above.

Most of the time I'm doing town driving to and from work during the week, a mix of dual carriageway and 30 mph roads, with approx 20ish miles per day so I'm guessing a petrol is more sensible.

Age, ideally within 5-7 years.

I've been driving a Saab for 2 years, a Vectra for 3 before that, the last time I drove a fun car was a little skateboard of a car - Seat Ibiza Cupra, a good few years back. So I guess by fun I mean decent performance and handling with 0-60 in under 10 seconds. But I guess more than that is just something that doesn't look or feel boring.

Hope that helps

[kambites]

Sounds like some kind of hot hatch is probably the least boring thing that will suffice. We got a 6 year-old Octavia VRS for rather less than that a few years ago? Most hot hatches of that size and age should be in budget.

Looking interesting is a difficult one, though, since hot hatches generally don't.

Edited by kambites on Monday 25th February 18:19

[PGN 500sl]

Leon Cupra R MK1

Quick, space for family, cheap to own/service, relatively good running costs and you can get a great one for 5-6k.

Save the rest for the remap- quicker and actually more fuel efficient.

[Caulkhead]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[wemorgan]

I find myself saying 2006+ Honda Civic to quite a few threads lately. The 1.8 VTEC Sport should look quite nice.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Edited by wemorgan on Monday 25th February 19:23

[schmalex]

Mazda 3 MPS

[PH lurker]

£6,500
Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS TI 4dr Saloon 2008
2008 (58 reg) Saloon 83,500 miles Manual 2.2L Petrol
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
A good looking car.
?

[Jonny_]

Focus 2.5 ST?

OK it's not the most glamorous vehicle, but it's quick, sounds nice, drives well and is still comfy and practical.

As long as you can live with 25 or 30mpg, mind

[rallycross]

BMW 130 5 door

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-07-BMW-1-SERIES-130...


Or high mileage 325/330i E90 3 series touring with sports suspension

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-55-BMW-330-M-SPORT-...

[wemorgan]

rallycross said:

BMW 130 5 door

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-07-BMW-1-SERIES-130...


Or high mileage 325/330i E90 3 series touring with sports suspension

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-55-BMW-330-M-SPORT-...

Nice suggestions!
Big capacity petrols look excellent VFM these days

[wilbo83]

Having similar thoughts myself with similar criteria. Often search PH classifieds with criteria of year 2005+, 30+ mpg and 0-60 less than 8 seconds. Brings me to a shortlist of Audi A4 2.0 TFSI, Renaultsport Megane, Civic Type R or Golf GTi. The Audi is the top of mine due to practicality.

[robsa]

Another vote for an Alfa 159, how about a sportwagon? Stunning looking cars

[SlowStig]

I would suggest a mazda 3 MPS, co-incidentally selling mine




Either that or maybe look at a focus ST or bmw 130i.

[wilbo83]

Surely an MPS isn't too sensible on the wallet?

[cheddar]

You're nipping at the heels of Clio 200's with £7k to spend - I know they're 3 doors but you can live with it and it's hard to find much more - modern - fun for the money.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

[billzeebub]

Golf GTI mk5

[wilbo83]

cheddar said:

You're nipping at the heels of Clio 200's with £7k to spend - I know they're 3 doors but you can live with it and it's hard to find much more - modern - fun for the money.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

Everything on that car looks great...apart from the dash. Why can't renault make them look more premium, rather than just a huge bit of grey plastic.

[31mph]

PH lurker said:

£6,500
Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS TI 4dr Saloon 2008
2008 (58 reg) Saloon 83,500 miles Manual 2.2L Petrol
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
A good looking car.
?

That is a thing of beauty