£1000-£1500 safe, economical, small, reliable... and FUN

[elephantstone]

Bit of a boring what car thread but I'm hoping it doesn't have to be...

Girlfriends giving me the job of picking a car for her to go to liverpool from Manchester and back. It has to be economical and reliable aswell as relatively modern for some safety. The catch is because I get to drive it, I want to spend her cash on something I'll enjoy buzzing around in. I've tried the jag xj route... Didn't go down too well!

[sparks_E39]

E36 328i will get mid to late 30's mpg on a run. Finding a decent one may be challenging.

[elephantstone]

sparks_E39 said:

E36 328i will get mid to late 30's mpg on a run. Finding a decent one may be challenging.

I am afraid there is no chancedo. Not my money. Hatchbacks and small cars to run on a student budget and she doesn't care about cars at all!

Seat arosa is the first choice. Lupo gets a lot of praise..

[Eski1991]

Mk 2 Golf GTI. 8 Valve will get 40 MPG driven sensibly, great fun when you want it to be. There's not enough to go wrong for it to be unreliable.

[0a]

Ford Puma

[Vaud]

Problem is you are at the bottom of the market for all those criteria - but it depends on your idea of fun. And small...

VW Lupo Sport
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

MG ZR 105
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[elephantstone]

Eski1991 said:

Mk 2 Golf GTI. 8 Valve will get 40 MPG driven sensibly, great fun when you want it to be. There's not enough to go wrong for it to be unreliable.

Lacking safety...

[elephantstone]

Vaud said:

Problem is you are at the bottom of the market for all those criteria - but it depends on your idea of fun. And small...

VW Lupo Sport
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

MG ZR 105
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

I quite like the idea of the lupo/arosa even in 1.0. Slow yes but I had a fiat cinquecento and loved that. Shame they are so unsafe.

[Dave_]

A late 106 gti? Cheap as chips, mega fun, look good.

Even late ones are 11/12 years old now though.

[elephantstone]

0a said:

Ford Puma

Good shout will have a looksie.

[anonymous-user]

elephantstone said:

Lacking safety...

ive had a few mark 2s and 30mpg is fantasy land as well

[storminnorman]

Dave_ said:

A late 106 gti? Cheap as chips, mega fun, look good.

Even late ones are 11/12 years old now though.

I would have said that but if safety is the OP's concern, the 106 is not a pretty sight on some of the crash test videos out there (especially compared to the arosa/lupo, although cars as small as that don't inspire much confidence anyway)
I'm biased, but many on here will attest to the handling of the 306 and it is a larger and probably safer car (I don't want to look at crash tests for peace of mind ) and maybe a better bet over the 106

[Eski1991]

elephantstone said:

Lacking safety...

So you're planning on crashing?

[Vaud]

elephantstone said:

I quite like the idea of the lupo/arosa even in 1.0. Slow yes but I had a fiat cinquecento and loved that. Shame they are so unsafe.

OK, if you don't mind that slow, then a 306 1.9 in XR or similar spec will be excellent.

[carinaman]

Peugeot 406 Coupe 2.2 Petrol?

Would it be easier to replace the girlfriend with one that already has her own tasty motor?

[elephantstone]

Eski1991 said:

So you're planning on crashing?

I'm not but I'm in charge of getting my mrs a car and if some tit crashed into her during a Monday AM rush hour and could've survived but didn't, I would beat myself up.

[jamieduff1981]

Eski1991 said:

elephantstone said:

Lacking safety...

So you're planning on crashing?

Am I right in thinking the OP is the guy who nearly bought an MGB GT but got cold feet after a friend or relative had a crash in another car and crashworthiness became the prime consideration?

If so, I can understand why you're a bit shaken up but you really need to look at car crashworthiness as the absolute last line of defence. There are so many things within your control that can mitigate the extreme majority of crashes without resorting to how strong your steel cage is when it finally happens.

[elephantstone]

jamieduff1981 said:

Eski1991 said:

elephantstone said:

Lacking safety...

So you're planning on crashing?

Am I right in thinking the OP is the guy who nearly bought an MGB GT but got cold feet after a friend or relative had a crash?

If so, I can understand why you're a bit shaken up but you really need to look at car crashworthiness as the absolute last line of defence. There are so many things within your control that can mitigate the extreme majority of crashes without resorting to how strong your steel cage is when it finally happens.

See above. eta: call me paranoid

[0a]

I'd also look at the Toyota Yaris, I had one when I was 17 and it was a great car and reasonably fun to drive for what it was with the little vvti engine. They are exceptionally reliable to the extent that my sister has a mk2.

[iwantagta]

Maybe not fully fitting the brief but:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
A 147 - Leather included,