Something fun for under £4k
Discussion
I've been visiting Pistonheads daily for years and reading the forum but never actually registered before now because I need your help!
I'm currently commuting 30 miles a day on a Honda CBF 125 and as my route is mainly city centre it's by far the fastest and cheapest way to commute. I'm changing jobs soon though ad my commute will still be about 30 miles, but principally dual carriageway which is not what a 125cc motorbike was made for! So I need a car.
As a lifelong petrolhead it shames me to say that this, at 28, will be my first car so I want to get something that puts a smile on my face, but I've only got £4k to spend. It also needs to keep the OH happy, so reliable, ideally less than 60k miles on the clock (and definitely less than 80k) and no more than 10 years old are a must.
I was initially considering an RX-8 231 as they are a bargain to buy, good looking, good performance and a great interior. I can't live with 20mpg though! I don't like the looks of the Celica VVTLi, the Hyundai Coupe is good looking but seems a little sedate, I don't like the MGF (and I doubt it would pass the reliability test!) and much as I love anything with a Renaultsport badge on I can't convince myself that a 2004 Renaultsport Megane 225 won't break within minutes of me taking ownership.
It seems that my only option is a Mk2.5 MX-5 1.8, but I just can't get myself as excited about it as the RX-8. Plus at 6'4" I only just fit.
Can anyone either suggest another option, or alternatively make me more excited about the MX-5!
I'm currently commuting 30 miles a day on a Honda CBF 125 and as my route is mainly city centre it's by far the fastest and cheapest way to commute. I'm changing jobs soon though ad my commute will still be about 30 miles, but principally dual carriageway which is not what a 125cc motorbike was made for! So I need a car.
As a lifelong petrolhead it shames me to say that this, at 28, will be my first car so I want to get something that puts a smile on my face, but I've only got £4k to spend. It also needs to keep the OH happy, so reliable, ideally less than 60k miles on the clock (and definitely less than 80k) and no more than 10 years old are a must.
I was initially considering an RX-8 231 as they are a bargain to buy, good looking, good performance and a great interior. I can't live with 20mpg though! I don't like the looks of the Celica VVTLi, the Hyundai Coupe is good looking but seems a little sedate, I don't like the MGF (and I doubt it would pass the reliability test!) and much as I love anything with a Renaultsport badge on I can't convince myself that a 2004 Renaultsport Megane 225 won't break within minutes of me taking ownership.
It seems that my only option is a Mk2.5 MX-5 1.8, but I just can't get myself as excited about it as the RX-8. Plus at 6'4" I only just fit.
Can anyone either suggest another option, or alternatively make me more excited about the MX-5!
Welcome, just browsing the classifieds I came across this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
£3750
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
£3750
Nice comfortable commute, ruinous on petrol. The engine woofle will make you smile, stick some better pipes on it
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
These are too old, but I wanted to share them anyway
It'll be fun, but ruinous on petrol. Engine is very solid, but it's Italian, so...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Probably also ruinous on petrol (sense a theme?) but I imagine fun to drive, and can stick a turbo on it presumably at some point?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
These are too old, but I wanted to share them anyway
It'll be fun, but ruinous on petrol. Engine is very solid, but it's Italian, so...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Probably also ruinous on petrol (sense a theme?) but I imagine fun to drive, and can stick a turbo on it presumably at some point?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
£4k will get you a facelift 9-10 year old Civic Type R with 60-70k.
Reliable, fun (as long as you like high revs), 35 mpg achievable, 30 mpg normal. I used to commute 80 miles a day on A roads in mine and it wasn't too bad. I certainly never get tired of it.
Get one that recently had the big 72k servicing done and you're laughing!
Reliable, fun (as long as you like high revs), 35 mpg achievable, 30 mpg normal. I used to commute 80 miles a day on A roads in mine and it wasn't too bad. I certainly never get tired of it.
Get one that recently had the big 72k servicing done and you're laughing!
Codswallop said:
The mk3 Toyota MR2 is considered by many to be a very good driver's car and is well worth a look.
Yep, these are exceptional. No boot space at all though if that is a consideration.I'm guessing Honda S2000's are down to this sort of price now as well but check insurance as I'm assuming you'll have 0 no claims discount?
Thanks for all the responses!
I would love an Alfa, but surely they are even more fragile than the Renaultsport? On the plus side though, I'd still be able to look at it if it was broken down!
The S-Type is a really interesting suggestion, I remember they were well received at the time. I've never driven an auto though and I suspect I'd prefer a manual. Going through Autotrader I'm amazed at how cheap some of them are.
The CLK is an interesting one too. I really like AMG Mercedes, but I'm concerned about the reliability of Mercedes' from late 90's/early 00's. I know I'm breaking my own rules with this one, but http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m... is a LOT of car for
the money!
I would love an S2000, but they aren't quite down to the required price. I've got 2 years NCB as a named driver on my wife's policy so insurance isn't too big an issue. It means I have to insure with Churchill, but they don't seem too expensive for me, especially if I have my wife on as a named driver.
Food for thought definitely!
I would love an Alfa, but surely they are even more fragile than the Renaultsport? On the plus side though, I'd still be able to look at it if it was broken down!
The S-Type is a really interesting suggestion, I remember they were well received at the time. I've never driven an auto though and I suspect I'd prefer a manual. Going through Autotrader I'm amazed at how cheap some of them are.
The CLK is an interesting one too. I really like AMG Mercedes, but I'm concerned about the reliability of Mercedes' from late 90's/early 00's. I know I'm breaking my own rules with this one, but http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m... is a LOT of car for
the money!
I would love an S2000, but they aren't quite down to the required price. I've got 2 years NCB as a named driver on my wife's policy so insurance isn't too big an issue. It means I have to insure with Churchill, but they don't seem too expensive for me, especially if I have my wife on as a named driver.
Food for thought definitely!
Edited by tomglibbery on Wednesday 20th March 10:40
I'm not sure what the Mk2.5's are like, but I had a mk1 MX5, and I got 25mpg from it.
The odd thing was, basically however I drove it I got 25mpg. I was at the time doing a 38 mile each way motorway commute, and I think my all time best average was 27mpg avg from a tank, but it would also happily return 25mpg when being nailed down B roads on a weekend.
Worth bearing in mind if you can't cope with 20mpg, 25 isn't much better.
The odd thing was, basically however I drove it I got 25mpg. I was at the time doing a 38 mile each way motorway commute, and I think my all time best average was 27mpg avg from a tank, but it would also happily return 25mpg when being nailed down B roads on a weekend.
Worth bearing in mind if you can't cope with 20mpg, 25 isn't much better.
D4MJT said:
Worth bearing in mind if you can't cope with 20mpg, 25 isn't much better.
It can make quite a big difference though? Say you have a 16 gallon tank that's 400 miles to a tank instead of 320. That extra 80 miles at 20mpg will cost you another £25 or so, so it'd soon add up...
As for the Alfa, the GTVs are solid in so far as they'll keep going mechanically, you'll just get the odd warning light that'll come and go because it's an Alfa. Favourite being the airbag light, because there's a connector under the seat that gets shifted about when the seat is adjusted, and can trip the light...
The cambelt should really be done every 36,000 miles (about £450) so if they haven't done that, walk away as this is very common knowledge to anyone who has taken an interest in the upkeep of their V6.
tomglibbery said:
I've been visiting Pistonheads daily for years and reading the forum but never actually registered before now because I need your help!
I'm currently commuting 30 miles a day on a Honda CBF 125 and as my route is mainly city centre it's by far the fastest and cheapest way to commute. I'm changing jobs soon though ad my commute will still be about 30 miles, but principally dual carriageway which is not what a 125cc motorbike was made for! So I need a car.
As a lifelong petrolhead it shames me to say that this, at 28, will be my first car so I want to get something that puts a smile on my face, but I've only got £4k to spend. It also needs to keep the OH happy, so reliable, ideally less than 60k miles on the clock (and definitely less than 80k) and no more than 10 years old are a must.
I was initially considering an RX-8 231 as they are a bargain to buy, good looking, good performance and a great interior. I can't live with 20mpg though! I don't like the looks of the Celica VVTLi, the Hyundai Coupe is good looking but seems a little sedate, I don't like the MGF (and I doubt it would pass the reliability test!) and much as I love anything with a Renaultsport badge on I can't convince myself that a 2004 Renaultsport Megane 225 won't break within minutes of me taking ownership.
It seems that my only option is a Mk2.5 MX-5 1.8, but I just can't get myself as excited about it as the RX-8. Plus at 6'4" I only just fit.
Can anyone either suggest another option, or alternatively make me more excited about the MX-5!
Hi.I'm currently commuting 30 miles a day on a Honda CBF 125 and as my route is mainly city centre it's by far the fastest and cheapest way to commute. I'm changing jobs soon though ad my commute will still be about 30 miles, but principally dual carriageway which is not what a 125cc motorbike was made for! So I need a car.
As a lifelong petrolhead it shames me to say that this, at 28, will be my first car so I want to get something that puts a smile on my face, but I've only got £4k to spend. It also needs to keep the OH happy, so reliable, ideally less than 60k miles on the clock (and definitely less than 80k) and no more than 10 years old are a must.
I was initially considering an RX-8 231 as they are a bargain to buy, good looking, good performance and a great interior. I can't live with 20mpg though! I don't like the looks of the Celica VVTLi, the Hyundai Coupe is good looking but seems a little sedate, I don't like the MGF (and I doubt it would pass the reliability test!) and much as I love anything with a Renaultsport badge on I can't convince myself that a 2004 Renaultsport Megane 225 won't break within minutes of me taking ownership.
It seems that my only option is a Mk2.5 MX-5 1.8, but I just can't get myself as excited about it as the RX-8. Plus at 6'4" I only just fit.
Can anyone either suggest another option, or alternatively make me more excited about the MX-5!
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about age or indeed milage. For example a 10 year old car is well outside its warranty period and in reality stands no less chance of failing than a 20 year old car does.
Indeed at 10 years old a car is prime for needing a suspension overhaul and some work doing on it. Older cars have often gone through this.
It's a similar story with mileage. Ok it is something to look at and consider, but overall condition is far more important. Even more so when most modern cars are likely fine for 150,000 - 200,000 miles + without any bother.
30 miles a day doesn't really sound that much at only 15 miles each way. In terms of running costs, do you have a budget in mind? As this will sort of dictate what sort of mpg you need from a vehicle.
Personally my preference would either to go for uber comfy, maybe a Jag of some kind. Or sporty, so a classic, Porsche 944 would appeal on this level and budget.
300bhp/ton said:
Hi.
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about age or indeed milage. For example a 10 year old car is well outside its warranty period and in reality stands no less chance of failing than a 20 year old car does.
Indeed at 10 years old a car is prime for needing a suspension overhaul and some work doing on it. Older cars have often gone through this.
It's a similar story with mileage. Ok it is something to look at and consider, but overall condition is far more important. Even more so when most modern cars are likely fine for 150,000 - 200,000 miles + without any bother.
30 miles a day doesn't really sound that much at only 15 miles each way. In terms of running costs, do you have a budget in mind? As this will sort of dictate what sort of mpg you need from a vehicle.
Personally my preference would either to go for uber comfy, maybe a Jag of some kind. Or sporty, so a classic, Porsche 944 would appeal on this level and budget.
Age and mileage is a condition set in place by the OH. If it was entirely up to me a 944 is exactly what I would be getting, but despite attempts to explain that actually a 20 year old car that has been lovingly maintained is better than a 5 year old car that no-one has bothered with is better she still isn't convinced. I'm not complaining too much though, she's letting me have something as silly as I want aside from age and mileage!Personally I wouldn't worry too much about age or indeed milage. For example a 10 year old car is well outside its warranty period and in reality stands no less chance of failing than a 20 year old car does.
Indeed at 10 years old a car is prime for needing a suspension overhaul and some work doing on it. Older cars have often gone through this.
It's a similar story with mileage. Ok it is something to look at and consider, but overall condition is far more important. Even more so when most modern cars are likely fine for 150,000 - 200,000 miles + without any bother.
30 miles a day doesn't really sound that much at only 15 miles each way. In terms of running costs, do you have a budget in mind? As this will sort of dictate what sort of mpg you need from a vehicle.
Personally my preference would either to go for uber comfy, maybe a Jag of some kind. Or sporty, so a classic, Porsche 944 would appeal on this level and budget.
I would prefer to get at least 30 mpg. I currently get 125 mpg on the bike, so it's going to be a real shock to the system having to deal with a car's thirst and 20 mpg would be too much to take. I really don't fancy spending £180+ a month on petrol or even worse taking my wife's car in preference as I don't want to spend the money on fuel.
I'll take a look into the MR2 - I guess I've always just written them off as hair-dresser cars (I'm aware the same is often levelled at the MX-5!) but they might be worth a second look. Just need to pry myself away from V8 Mercedes I couldn't afford to service, fuel or insure!
tomglibbery said:
I would love an Alfa, but surely they are even more fragile than the Renaultsport?
Fragile for what?? Are you entering the Dakar or something, or is this 15 mile commute more hard core than you are letting on???Edited by tomglibbery on Wednesday 20th March 10:40
Seriously - each and every day hundreds of thousands of Renaults and Alfa's are used as daily transport. The very vast majority suffer no issues while doing this. And the ones that do are likely a similar percentage to any other make or model.
I mean this with no personal offence, but please live in reality. Any mass produced car is perfectly fine for most peoples daily duties.
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