"Interesting" station car

[CM954]

I know I know, another "what car" thread.... but...... there's a possibility of moving somewhere I'd need to drive to a rural train station and leave a car for 2/3 days whilst in London.
Initially I thought a cheap snotter might be a bit of fun - but I may as well have something a bit more fun/interesting.
And that's where I'm struggling. I've ready every page of the "Best of the Bargain Basement" and "Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large" threads for the last few years.
I'm not sure an X308 or S500 is going to be a good station car though.

Criteria - must be
- cheap (under £3k),
- reliable (to start in winter after being sat for 2 days),
- small enough to fit in a cramped parking space (no bigger than a modern Ford Focus),
- fun (only going 5 miles so no need for huge power, maybe a classic?)

Shortlist so far:
Mercedes 190
Toyota Aygo
Renault Clio 172
Daihatsu Copen
MX-5

Any ideas for something a bit more interesting? Not sure if something like a classic Beetle would ever be reliable enough?

[CM954]

Old pick-ups like a VW Caddy from the late 80s?

[Integroo]

Suzuki Jimny with its convertible top? I always thought they would be good craic, dirt cheap, fine to leave sitting in a train station and nobody will look twice at it.

[Lee540]

Only 5 miles and leave it for a couple of days..

Mate, I would call for a taxi.

[rallycross]

You need something that always starts and does not suffer from damp and condensation in winter would reject most on your list for those reasons so I'm going Japanese with my suggestions:

Swift -1.5 drives great - a bit like a MINI and totally reliable and cheap.
Civic 2.0 sport - not the type R but nice enough to be fun and pwon't get any unwanted attention left over time in car parks.
Yaris with the bigger engine 1.5 vvti small but fun and like the Suzuki should be near bullet proof reliability and won't be cold and damp and everything will work even at £1k budget.

[CM954]

Fair point - Swift and Yaris just about tickle the interesting spot........ I think I can afford to be a little more daring though. Surely something a bit older but used regularly would be reliable enough?

[D7PNY]

Panda 100HP or swift sport would be my shortlist.

[Jakg]

Smart Roadster?

[Gibby88]

Mk6 Fiesta ST. The heated windscreen would be a bonus as a station car.

[james_gt3rs]

CM954 said:

Fair point - Swift and Yaris just about tickle the interesting spot........ I think I can afford to be a little more daring though. Surely something a bit older but used regularly would be reliable enough?

Can just about get a Boxster for 3k

[blueg33]

Gibby88 said:

Mk6 Fiesta ST. The heated windscreen would be a bonus as a station car.

This. Just bought a Mk6 1.4 Ghia for my daughter to learn to drive it. Its quite good fun and until she has passed her test its my station car. Heated screen is great when you get back late to a frozen up car.

[ZX10R NIN]

C350 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 Audi A3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C30 T5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Romeo Bera

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

407 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[CM954]

Heated front windscreen is probably more important than I gave it credit for - Fiesta Mk6 a good steer as well so def worth looking.


C30 T5 - great shout - quirky, interesting, *touch wood* reliable too. Had no idea they'd crept down to £3k for something with sensible miles.