10k. Interesting, reliable steer.
10k. Interesting, reliable steer.
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Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I'm pretty open, but something that's a bit of a headturner would be good. Bonus if it's practical (hatchback or can fit a bike rack). Nothing too big though.

Civic Type R - pros: practical, vtec, reliable and relatively cheap to run; cons: fwd (is this really a con? never driven a rwd car for very long), bit of a chavvy image, rough ride (not too bothered)

Integra Type R DC5 - pros: very cool, relatively practical, vtec, hydraulic steering, real headturner; cons: expensive to buy and run (import insurance, old car so imagine would need more in repairs, expensive to buy for age), rough ride/loud

S2000 - pros: vtec, rwd, 9000 revs, soft top, shouldn't depreciate much; cons - impractical, reputation for being a bit lairy, expensive to buy for age,

350z - pros: powah, real headturner, sound; cons: fuel economy, very impractical, tax,insurance

Any thoughts? FWD v RWD? Other thoughts include Boxster (presume expensive to run), Z3 (not a fan of the styling), Renaultsport Megane (think my favourite hot hatch would be Type R, and the best are out of budget), Golf R32 (golfs are dull), various BMWs (reliability?). Anything else to consider?

Evolved

3,944 posts

205 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Evo 5/6, just bought exactly this for that budget. It'll show a clean pair of heels to all of those listed and will go up in value too if you buy right.

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Evolved said:
Evo 5/6, just bought exactly this for that budget. It'll show a clean pair of heels to all of those listed and will go up in value too if you buy right.
Probably a bit old and a bit expensive for me. Not brave enough!

Evolved

3,944 posts

205 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
They're the same age as the s2k. Also, bullet proof so buy right and enjoy it, will spank the whole list too and reward you endlessly. £10k buys a mint 5

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Evolved said:
They're the same age as the s2k. Also, bullet proof so buy right and enjoy it, will spank the whole list too and reward you endlessly. £10k buys a mint 5
Aren't 5/6 1999-2001? I could get into an 05/06 S2K in budget. Also, don't seem to be any on budget on auto trader (though perhaps on pistonheads not looked yet). Not denying they're great cars though!

Evolved

3,944 posts

205 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
I'd go M3 or boxster then if no Evo. Never been a Honda fan.

Evolved

3,944 posts

205 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Ah of course, mistakenly thought S2k production ended in early 00's

Lancer register/eBay and PH are the places to hunt for one. Like you say, maybe not for you.

Integroo said:
Evolved said:
They're the same age as the s2k. Also, bullet proof so buy right and enjoy it, will spank the whole list too and reward you endlessly. £10k buys a mint 5
Aren't 5/6 1999-2001? I could get into an 05/06 S2K in budget. Also, don't seem to be any on budget on auto trader (though perhaps on pistonheads not looked yet). Not denying they're great cars though!

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Monday 10th July 2017
quotequote all
Evolved said:
I'd go M3 or boxster then if no Evo. Never been a Honda fan.
M3 would be brill but quite frankly the reliability/repair costs on a 10k m3 would terrify me, haha.

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
DC5 all day long. They're holding value very well so you are unlikely to lose money on one, brilliant blend of practicality and performance, and they seem pretty reliable.

The only issues i've had with mine have been with the aftermarket alarm and immobiliser, which were badly fitted.

Insurance surprisingly cheap (£440 a year for me), and doesn't guzzle fuel, i'm getting north of 20mpg despite driving in a pretty enthused manner.

The ride is a little firm, but this can be improved considerably with eibach pro springs, which are more progressive than OEM.

Not particularly loud in the cabin, and mine has an unsilenced mid pipe. Servicing and maintenance all reasonable, the only stinger is the 75k service which is about £550.

I love mine to bits, drive one and you won't be disappointed...My only advice would be don't buy a civic type R, the EP3 is essentially a poor mans DC5...they're mechanically almost identical, although you don't get the hydraulic steering, LSD, or extra 15 odd bhp of the JDM k20.

Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 11th July 10:37


Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 11th July 10:38

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
DC5 all day long. They're holding value very well so you are unlikely to lose money on one, brilliant blend of practicality and performance, and they seem pretty reliable.

The only issues i've had with mine have been with the aftermarket alarm and immobiliser, which were badly fitted.

Insurance surprisingly cheap (£440 a year for me), and doesn't guzzle fuel, i'm getting north of 20mpg despite driving in a pretty enthused manner.

The ride is a little firm, but this can be improved considerably with eibach pro springs, which are more progressive than OEM.

Not particularly loud in the cabin, and mine has an unsilenced mid pipe. Servicing and maintenance all reasonable, the only stinger is the 75k service which is about £550.

I love mine to bits, drive one and you won't be disappointed...My only advice would be don't buy a civic type R, the EP3 is essentially a poor mans DC5...they're mechanically almost identical, although you don't get the hydraulic steering, LSD, or extra 15 odd bhp of the JDM k20.

Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 11th July 10:37


Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 11th July 10:38
In an ideal world I would be all over the DC5, it's just that it'd cost near 10k for a fifteen year old car with quite high miles, and because they're imports my insurance quotes were all nearer 1200 quid (surprised at how cheap you are, though I am relatively young without too many years of ncb as I didn't have a car for a few years). If I went Civic Type R I'd get a CW FN2 - comes with the LSD, though not the hydraulic steering - test drove a few non-CW FN2 and thought they were great, albeit in the confines of a short test drive in a city.

Also 20mpg is, to me, pretty thirsty! At least coming from my current car which gets north of 40mpg, still mid 30s if driven enthusiastically ...

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
bought mine for £9k in January this year, with 62,000 miles on the clock, its pretty much immaculate...there are some very well cared for examples around for £8-9k, with sub 80k miles.

I get about 27mpg commuting, and have had around 40mpg on long motorway runs...it does about the same fuel economy as my old mk2 mx5. Usually get around 300 miles to a tank.

A civic type R will cost you around the same as a DC5 to run and maintain, they're essentially the same car.

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
bought mine for £9k, with 62,000 miles on the clock, its pretty much immaculate...there are some very well cared for examples around for £8-9k, with sub 80k miles.

I get about 27mpg commuting, and have had around 40mpg on long motorway runs...it does about the same fuel economy as my old mk2 mx5. Usually get around 300 miles to a tank.

A civic type R will cost you around the same as a DC5 to run and maintain, they're essentially the same car.
Fresh import, or from the UK? Which year? I really, really like the DC5s, so it is tempting, I just feel somewhat that the EP3/FN2 is better value - the DC5 is the marginally better car, but is it 5k better than a mint EP3, or 2/3k better than a CW FN2 that is 5/6 years newer? The FN2 would presumably be a bit cheaper to run and maintain given its age.

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Leftfield choice, what about a Subaru forester STI? £9k will buy a minter, and they are quick and unusual cars, super practical too.

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Integroo said:
designforlife said:
bought mine for £9k, with 62,000 miles on the clock, its pretty much immaculate...there are some very well cared for examples around for £8-9k, with sub 80k miles.

I get about 27mpg commuting, and have had around 40mpg on long motorway runs...it does about the same fuel economy as my old mk2 mx5. Usually get around 300 miles to a tank.

A civic type R will cost you around the same as a DC5 to run and maintain, they're essentially the same car.
Fresh import, or from the UK? Which year? I really, really like the DC5s, so it is tempting, I just feel somewhat that the EP3/FN2 is better value - the DC5 is the marginally better car, but is it 5k better than a mint EP3, or 2/3k better than a CW FN2 that is 5/6 years newer? The FN2 would presumably be a bit cheaper to run and maintain given its age.
UK car, was imported ten years ago.... tbh the fresh imports are keeping the UK car prices up, so there's nothing in it. It's a 2002.

The EP3 is cheaper because they aren't holding their value so well, my reasoning was, if i'm going to spend £9k on a car I want it to depreciate as little as possible...at the moment DC5 values are gradually rising.

Also the DC5 is a bit of an icon, a purpose built road going track day car, that is a bit special and not very common....the Civic is still a shopping hatchback, regardless of the type R trimmings and engine.

I see why people buy the Civics over the DC5 though, you pay a premium for the experience.

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
Integroo said:
designforlife said:
bought mine for £9k, with 62,000 miles on the clock, its pretty much immaculate...there are some very well cared for examples around for £8-9k, with sub 80k miles.

I get about 27mpg commuting, and have had around 40mpg on long motorway runs...it does about the same fuel economy as my old mk2 mx5. Usually get around 300 miles to a tank.

A civic type R will cost you around the same as a DC5 to run and maintain, they're essentially the same car.
Fresh import, or from the UK? Which year? I really, really like the DC5s, so it is tempting, I just feel somewhat that the EP3/FN2 is better value - the DC5 is the marginally better car, but is it 5k better than a mint EP3, or 2/3k better than a CW FN2 that is 5/6 years newer? The FN2 would presumably be a bit cheaper to run and maintain given its age.
UK car, was imported ten years ago.... tbh the fresh imports are keeping the UK car prices up, so there's nothing in it. It's a 2002.

The EP3 is cheaper because they aren't holding their value so well, my reasoning was, if i'm going to spend £9k on a car I want it to depreciate as little as possible...at the moment DC5 values are gradually rising.

Also the DC5 is a bit of an icon, a purpose built road going track day car, that is a bit special and not very common....the Civic is still a shopping hatchback, regardless of the type R trimmings and engine.

I see why people buy the Civics over the DC5 though, you pay a premium for the experience.
No I agree entirely, I would much rather drive a DC5. One to consider. My current car is a 10k 2014 Civic that will depreciate like a stone so it's something to think about!

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
if you are anywhere near hertfordshire i'll gladly take you out in mine

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
if you are anywhere near hertfordshire i'll gladly take you out in mine
Thanks for the very kind offer, which I would have gratefully taken you up on - except I am in Glasgow, so couldn't get much further away!

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
Leftfield choice, what about a Subaru forester STI? £9k will buy a minter, and they are quick and unusual cars, super practical too.
That's actually a really interesting shout. One to consider! Though not sure it nails the sporty handling I was looking at!

designforlife

3,742 posts

181 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Integroo said:
That's actually a really interesting shout. One to consider! Though not sure it nails the sporty handling I was looking at!
yeah more of a point and shoot quick car, something to be said for comfort on crappy UK roads though...if i needed something bigger it would be high on my list.

Another one that should hold its value exceptionally well, and the 4WD would come in pretty handy in scottish winters I would imagine.

Integroo

Original Poster:

11,585 posts

103 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
designforlife said:
Integroo said:
That's actually a really interesting shout. One to consider! Though not sure it nails the sporty handling I was looking at!
yeah more of a point and shoot quick car, something to be said for comfort on crappy UK roads though...if i needed something bigger it would be high on my list.

Another one that should hold its value exceptionally well, and the 4WD would come in pretty handy in scottish winters I would imagine.
There's a pretty epic looking modified one on AutoTrader for 10.5k, in the classic Subaru blue, but the modifications on top of import status mean the cheapest insurance quote I could get is 2k pa. Also, I am not sure my girlfriend would agree to get in a car with a hood scoop ... though I genuinely think they look amazing, and certainly a head turner!