Cheap to run, fun Daily , thoughts?

[FIREBIRDC9]

Following on from my last thread a while back , i have decided to keep my MR2 as my second car and get a new daily!

I currently run two cars , A Chrylser PT Cruiser as my daily and a Toyota MR2 SW20 (MK2) as a weekend toy.

The MR2 lives in a small rented garage which i pay for monthly.
I have owned both cars for 4 years and have 4 years no claims on both.

I currently plan to sell the Chrylser and replace it with something cheaper to run and more fun.

The only Criteria is that the car is cheaper , faster and more fun to drive than my Chrysler (£305 annual road tax and Insurance group 26 , drinks fuel)

I now have a Shortlist , i would like to hear your thoughts and any other suggestions you have.

MK1 Suzuki Swift Sport
Toyota Yaris T-Sport
Toyota Yaris SR 1.8
Renaultsport Twingo 133
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart
Ford Fiesta ST Mk5

And just for the hell of it , Toyota MR2 Mk3 Roadster! (Not very practical , but having two MR2s would be fun!)

Love to hear opinions on the above cars , plus any suggestions anyone has!


Forgot to mention - Budget is around £3000

Edited by FIREBIRDC9 on Tuesday 22 August 14:47

Edited by FIREBIRDC9 on Tuesday 22 August 14:47

[MR2 Steve]

I read the title and instantly thought "MR2 Roadster". I've had one since 2003 and it's now on 101,000 miles. It was my daily driver for 10 years, then became a 2nd car. I've been using it daily again since May and have really been enjoying it. If you can live the relatively lack of practicality then it's a great daily.

I also had a Yaris T sport before it which was more fun than it's looks suggest. No comparison to an MR2 though.

[caelite]

Mx5?

[Peperami]

Clio 182.

[avenger286]

I have owned a Yaris t sport and they are good and would quite happily have another.
Worked for Mitsubishi the czt is fastest out of the things you have on your short list but handling isn't that fantastic and very plastic inside but still good.
I own a Twingo 133 and it's by far the best car I have ever owned. Had her 5 years with no issues and over 70k.
You have a choice of standard 133, 133 with cup chassis or a 133 cup (bench rear seat, no air-conditioning etc)
Tax is around 160 and 40mpg.

[ZX10R NIN]

What about the Peugeot GTI 180 they're easy to run & cheap to buy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-206-GTI-180-205b...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Or the T Sport Fiat Punto is a very good call in terms of running costs & Performance:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Or a Clio RS

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[FIREBIRDC9]

Getting some good suggestions so far.

I really like the look of the Twingo 133 , i would like a blue one ideally. The ones on Auto Trader are nearing the top end of my Budget though

Not a Fan of the Clio 182

I have considered MX5s , it would have to be the NC as the others are a bit old (And plagued with Rust issues i'm told)

No to the Peugeot , i don't like the shape of the 206 at all

T Sport Punto looks good , i shall do some more research on them (if my budget were higher , i'd be all over the Abarth Punto Evo 1.4)

And No to the Clio RS , bit too expensive for me , the Tax is almost the same as the PT Bruiser and i'd like it to be a lot cheaper

[MildRelish]

ZX10R NIN said:

What about the Peugeot GTI 180 they're easy to run & cheap to buy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-206-GTI-180-205b...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Christ, didn't know these were 180bhp. £2k and you could embarrass some decent cars on B roads. Are they really cheap to run?

[avenger286]

Nice blue one on eBay 132290925384 although it's on the vcar.
There is always one or two for sale on twingo 133.net.
Just look out for worn bottom arms as the bushes go, coils can get water in them but never had this issue.
As above the punto t. Jet is not bad either.

[Mr2Mike]

MildRelish said:

Christ, didn't know these were 180bhp. £2k and you could embarrass some decent cars on B roads. Are they really cheap to run?

They aren't the nicest things to drive IMO, and were widely slated at the time. Horrible gear change, not as quick as you'd expect from 180bhp and not the best reliability either.

The Clio 172/182 is a better car in almost every way.

[Challo]

MildRelish said:

ZX10R NIN said:

What about the Peugeot GTI 180 they're easy to run & cheap to buy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-206-GTI-180-205b...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Christ, didn't know these were 180bhp. £2k and you could embarrass some decent cars on B roads. Are they really cheap to run?

I had the 138bhp version and while cheapish to buy at the time it had consistent electrical gremlins, and shocking interior build quality.

[caelite]

Challo said:

MildRelish said:

ZX10R NIN said:

What about the Peugeot GTI 180 they're easy to run & cheap to buy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-206-GTI-180-205b...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Christ, didn't know these were 180bhp. £2k and you could embarrass some decent cars on B roads. Are they really cheap to run?

I had the 138bhp version and while cheapish to buy at the time it had consistent electrical gremlins, and shocking interior build quality.

[-]I had the 180bhp version, great fun wee car, engine pulls like an absolute truck, right down from ~1500rpm too it is fantastic to drive. Steering was a bit overassisted and numb & ditto about the electrical gremlins, however the interior I felt was of an adequate quality, particularly in this pricerange. I had a Land Rover crash into mine at fairly high speed and I didn't die so there is that too! [/-] EDIT: No I didn't, I can't read. I had a 207 175bhp. Great fun motor also within your pricerange, although the motor does have some niggles.

As for the MX5, they all rust. Buy an older one that has been repaired, they are better drivers cars (in my opinion, having driven a '93, '04 & '12), they make a fantastic daily, but I will be honest they are very similar to an MR2.

[Ahbefive]

Out of your list the ST150 although to me a Megane 225 or for a bit more R26 would be preferable.

Other options Focus ST170, Clio, Corolla 190, Celica 190, Leon Cupra R

[ZX10R NIN]

MildRelish said:

Christ, didn't know these were 180bhp. £2k and you could embarrass some decent cars on B roads. Are they really cheap to run?

They're no better or worse than the Renaults in terms of reliability an Ex had one I found it a fun thing to drive, it wasn't as good as the Clio but wasn't as bad as people made out she had no issues with hers & I gave it stick every time I drove it.

Other options:

Celica T Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

ST170

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Astra 2.0T Twin Top

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[SCEtoAUX]

Another vote for the MR2 MK3 Roadster.

I'm on my second one and just adore them. If you can live with the lack of storage space they are fantastic cars. Top-down motoring when conditions allow is a huge bonus over the other cars discussed here, and in comparison to an MX-5, well they don't really rust. Also, as a huge bonus they're not an MX-5.

Other plus points over the MX-5 are better fuel economy (40mpg is possible) and I just think that they look better (though the very newest MX-5 is gorgeous).

They're not particularly quick, not slow of course, but that isn't the point of them anyway.

[markirl]

Panda 100hp?

[FIREBIRDC9]

markirl said:

Panda 100hp?

Whats it like? Go Karty?

Don't see them very often , is it a hidden gem?

[FIREBIRDC9]

I am going to look at a 2007 Swift Sport tomorrow evening

[avenger286]

FIREBIRDC9 said:

I am going to look at a 2007 Swift Sport tomorrow evening

Good luck!

[browna]

hope you like it, my mk1 SSS is good fun, its not fast, but its "peppy" enjoyable to drive and is reasonable nice to rev, seems to pick up a bit after 4000 revs, chuck it around a coupled of roundabouts it doesn't really understeer much. good fun for a cheap reliable nippy daily car. plus its just about big enough for daily shopping and carting stuff about, with the rear seats down has managed everything I need.
tbh it make a nice change to be able to thrash it about and look at the speedo and still be doing a legal (ish) speed haha.