106 GTi Replacement.
Discussion
Hi guys & girls.
I currently own a 106 Gti that's been played with so it lowered & had a few cosmetic changes so it could be classed as near full on boy racer.
However age of both it & me have caught up & with 130k on the clock I'm starting to think its time to let it go. I'm finding more & more bits are starting to break & the ride is too hard for the local back roads.
The trouble is what to replace it with?
The GTi maybe considered abit slow these days but to me the on-cam performance still makes me smile.
What ever I replace it with would need to be as new as possible minimum age would be 2001 & it still needs to be fun - as I do the odd track day.
The other problem is I have this stupid rule that you should always buy the top of the range of that particular model. So for example if your in the market for a petrol 3 door BMW 3 series & don't buy the M3.......
Finally the budget. No more than £2k - impossible??
I'd love your feedback.
I currently own a 106 Gti that's been played with so it lowered & had a few cosmetic changes so it could be classed as near full on boy racer.
However age of both it & me have caught up & with 130k on the clock I'm starting to think its time to let it go. I'm finding more & more bits are starting to break & the ride is too hard for the local back roads.
The trouble is what to replace it with?
The GTi maybe considered abit slow these days but to me the on-cam performance still makes me smile.
What ever I replace it with would need to be as new as possible minimum age would be 2001 & it still needs to be fun - as I do the odd track day.
The other problem is I have this stupid rule that you should always buy the top of the range of that particular model. So for example if your in the market for a petrol 3 door BMW 3 series & don't buy the M3.......
Finally the budget. No more than £2k - impossible??
I'd love your feedback.
rossnunn said:
Hi guys & girls.
I currently own a 106 Gti that's been played with so it lowered & had a few cosmetic changes so it could be classed as near full on boy racer.
However age of both it & me have caught up & with 130k on the clock I'm starting to think its time to let it go. I'm finding more & more bits are starting to break & the ride is too hard for the local back roads.
The trouble is what to replace it with?
The GTi maybe considered abit slow these days but to me the on-cam performance still makes me smile.
What ever I replace it with would need to be as new as possible minimum age would be 2001 & it still needs to be fun - as I do the odd track day.
The other problem is I have this stupid rule that you should always buy the top of the range of that particular model. So for example if your in the market for a petrol 3 door BMW 3 series & don't buy the M3.......
Finally the budget. No more than £2k - impossible??
I'd love your feedback.
Welcome to the forums!I currently own a 106 Gti that's been played with so it lowered & had a few cosmetic changes so it could be classed as near full on boy racer.
However age of both it & me have caught up & with 130k on the clock I'm starting to think its time to let it go. I'm finding more & more bits are starting to break & the ride is too hard for the local back roads.
The trouble is what to replace it with?
The GTi maybe considered abit slow these days but to me the on-cam performance still makes me smile.
What ever I replace it with would need to be as new as possible minimum age would be 2001 & it still needs to be fun - as I do the odd track day.
The other problem is I have this stupid rule that you should always buy the top of the range of that particular model. So for example if your in the market for a petrol 3 door BMW 3 series & don't buy the M3.......
Finally the budget. No more than £2k - impossible??
I'd love your feedback.
I had a 106 GTi as my first car. They are a great introduction into the world of performance motoring IMO and do still feel pretty nimble, even by todays standards. Thank the light weight for this!
I would suggest a Clio sport of some kind, similar car but slightly faster and 'newer'. Should find a good un for £2000.
Similarly, a SEAT Leon Cupra will be in your range.
If you fancy taking a chance I think Imprezas are now dipping into that money. See also Celica GT4s et al.
Alternatively, a Volvo R or T5 model will easily come into this price bracket.
My left field car of choice would be a Jag XJR.
Granted, some of these wont meet your post-2001 tick box but at this price range you might need to rethink the age and by on condition.
HTH
Very strange suggestions so far!
Having owned a 106 GTI back when they were new I also have fond memories of them. The best thing about those cars was the kart like steering and handling. Sadly most cars aside from the Elise or Caterhams will be left somewhat lacking in compsrison. The closest thing in a normal car would be a DC2 Integra, T190 Celica, not much else. Many other cars will feel like huge wallowing lumps in comparison.
Having owned a 106 GTI back when they were new I also have fond memories of them. The best thing about those cars was the kart like steering and handling. Sadly most cars aside from the Elise or Caterhams will be left somewhat lacking in compsrison. The closest thing in a normal car would be a DC2 Integra, T190 Celica, not much else. Many other cars will feel like huge wallowing lumps in comparison.
Indded. When I bought a new 111R Elise back in the day I said to myself; "This is the best handling car I have owned since my 106 GTI".
Suggestions of fat family wagons and rep mobiles will only end in vast dissapointment. There is so much more to fun driving than BHP alone. Lightweight is the holy grail, it really is.
Suggestions of fat family wagons and rep mobiles will only end in vast dissapointment. There is so much more to fun driving than BHP alone. Lightweight is the holy grail, it really is.
k-ink said:
Indded. When I bought a new 111R Elise back in the day I said to myself; "This is the best handling car I have owned since my 106 GTI".
Suggestions of fat family wagons and rep mobiles will only end in vast dissapointment. There is so much more to fun driving than BHP alone. Lightweight is the holy grail, it really is.
Amen brother!Suggestions of fat family wagons and rep mobiles will only end in vast dissapointment. There is so much more to fun driving than BHP alone. Lightweight is the holy grail, it really is.
I had a 106 S2 Rallye and went to a 172 cup, the cup is a great car but does lack the ultimate involment of the 106, as most things do though.
If you want a slightly more grown up 106, you could consider a 306 gti /rallye. Pushing your age criteria, but £2k will get a very good one, slower than the cup but with familiar pug involvement. I brought one as a cheap run around, enjoyed it so much kept it for nearly 5 years, and only sold it when I got a Caterham!
Or you try something mid-engined like a mk3 MR2?
If you want a slightly more grown up 106, you could consider a 306 gti /rallye. Pushing your age criteria, but £2k will get a very good one, slower than the cup but with familiar pug involvement. I brought one as a cheap run around, enjoyed it so much kept it for nearly 5 years, and only sold it when I got a Caterham!
Or you try something mid-engined like a mk3 MR2?
Agree with most comments, have you thought about spending as few quid on the Pug and making it look standard, then upgrade the performance a little? Maybe put the standard shocks and springs back on.
I really like these little cars. My cousin had an early 106xsi back in the day, it was great fun to drive!
I really like these little cars. My cousin had an early 106xsi back in the day, it was great fun to drive!
Had my 106 for seven years and still going strong (albeit with a lot of help from my wallet). Good luck finding something equally able put a smile on your face - it will exist but I'm not sure where!
However, on another note - what's happening to your current car? Would you be willing to sell a few bits and bobs from it?
However, on another note - what's happening to your current car? Would you be willing to sell a few bits and bobs from it?
Well I have to admit I wasn't expecting that. - to keep the 106.
The problem I have with it is just the amount it would need to have spent on it.
Because the roads are just so bad round here, it really needs raising back up & I'd like to replace every bush & joint in the suspension, front & rear while it's apart.
Even when it's done it's still a old car now so it squeaks & rattles like a told tin can - things I put up with, even appealed to me when I first got it, but now just annoys me.
The trouble is I used to drive much newer vans for work & even them feel better built. It's not until you get in something new you suddenly realise how far the came had moved on.
I understand I'll loose some of the precision in the handling department but also a enthusiastic driver - I'm now Jenson Button.
The problem I have with it is just the amount it would need to have spent on it.
Because the roads are just so bad round here, it really needs raising back up & I'd like to replace every bush & joint in the suspension, front & rear while it's apart.
Even when it's done it's still a old car now so it squeaks & rattles like a told tin can - things I put up with, even appealed to me when I first got it, but now just annoys me.
The trouble is I used to drive much newer vans for work & even them feel better built. It's not until you get in something new you suddenly realise how far the came had moved on.
I understand I'll loose some of the precision in the handling department but also a enthusiastic driver - I'm now Jenson Button.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
What about an EP3 CTR? Around the £2k mark now.
What about an EP3 CTR? Around the £2k mark now.
WillG said:
If you want a slightly more grown up 106, you could consider a 306 gti /rallye. Pushing your age criteria, but £2k will get a very good one, slower than the cup but with familiar pug involvement.
Is that still the case? Prices for the good ones seemed to be rising at an alarming rate last time I looked. Curious to hear the GTi vs Clio comparisons. I've driven most of the other quick Pugs, but not the 106 GTi.
Only driven a 182 briefly, but it struck me a as a really good hot hatch. And the fact that some people claim remarkably good economy figures from the 182 (40+ mpg on the motorway) would sway it in the Clio's favour for me as a daily driver.
ETA Maybe the GTi6s hadn't gone up quite as I suspected. Sounds like a pretty honest example for £1.5k: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 30th September 14:24
rossnunn said:
Well I have to admit I wasn't expecting that. - to keep the 106.
The problem I have with it is just the amount it would need to have spent on it.
Because the roads are just so bad round here, it really needs raising back up & I'd like to replace every bush & joint in the suspension, front & rear while it's apart.
Even when it's done it's still a old car now so it squeaks & rattles like a told tin can - things I put up with, even appealed to me when I first got it, but now just annoys me.
The trouble is I used to drive much newer vans for work & even them feel better built. It's not until you get in something new you suddenly realise how far the came had moved on.
I understand I'll loose some of the precision in the handling department but also a enthusiastic driver - I'm now Jenson Button.
Shocks, springs, bushes and steering bits can all be done in a couple of days of slow home-tinkering, or a day in a garage. Decent pattern parts are out there for peanuts these days. The difference between tired and fresh is immense too.The problem I have with it is just the amount it would need to have spent on it.
Because the roads are just so bad round here, it really needs raising back up & I'd like to replace every bush & joint in the suspension, front & rear while it's apart.
Even when it's done it's still a old car now so it squeaks & rattles like a told tin can - things I put up with, even appealed to me when I first got it, but now just annoys me.
The trouble is I used to drive much newer vans for work & even them feel better built. It's not until you get in something new you suddenly realise how far the came had moved on.
I understand I'll loose some of the precision in the handling department but also a enthusiastic driver - I'm now Jenson Button.
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