Small & fun, cheap to run but with a deep engine? 7k Max

[Hatethisbit]

I'm bored of my old leon and its high pitched turbo, its also wasted on my 4 mile daily commute. I'm contemplating something even smaller to save on petrol but i'd quite like something with a nice deep engine rumble and still fun in the corners, is there such a thing for this price and size? I could stretch to around 7k with a loan but i could chop mine in for 4-5k cash.

Current thoughts based on plenty of reviews are;
Newish MG 3, fun to drive and ok quality interior, gutless engine
Aygo, poor interior and low on power but cheap to run and i dont mind the looks
Older suzuki swift, good rep on here for the handling and they look great imo
Have considered mk3 mx-5 but i like the looks of the new one so much i think i'd resent the previous gen and get bored.

Appreciate user reviews or any other suggestions. For the record i dont have a problem with a turbo but i really do fancy something that sounds deeper.

[Ahbefive]

Deep engine note, Aygo/Mg3/Swift? Really?

[Kewy]

K20A is possible one of the best sounding 4-pots going. Can pick one up for £7k in either a DC5, Accord CL7 or JDM EP3 – put an intake on it and it growls…

[Hatethisbit]

Ahbefive said:

Deep engine note, Aygo/Mg3/Swift? Really?

Yeah hence the part of my post where i specifically asked if such a thing exists....

Thanks Kewy, Civic is a possibility, others might a be a bit bigger than i was imagining.

[s m]

130i/ 325ti

If you can spanner a bit they are reasonably cheap to run - if you have to take it to a dealer for everything then not so cheap - you can use 205./55 x 16s on a 325ti and mine averages over 30mpg.
Has quite a deep burble

[Kewy]

s m said:

130i/ 325ti

If you can spanner a bit they are reasonably cheap to run - if you have to take it to a dealer for everything then not so cheap - you can use 205./55 x 16s on a 325ti and mine averages over 30mpg.
Has quite a deep burble

Yes 130i is a very good shout also.

[Hatethisbit]

The beamer is an interesting suggestion, funnily enough i noticed a diesel version on my lunch break and i quite like the looks

[Kewy]

Hatethisbit said:

The beamer is an interesting suggestion, funnily enough i noticed a diesel version on my lunch break and i quite like the looks

Looks are meh if you ask me, but a good mate of mine has one and that engine is fantastic.

[Frimley111R]

You won't be doing anything much good with a 4 mile commute. Definitely no diesels with that distance.

Deeper engine notes are really going to mean 6 cylinders

[Hatethisbit]

Frimley111R said:

You won't be doing anything much good with a 4 mile commute. Definitely no diesels with that distance.

Deeper engine notes are really going to mean 6 cylinders

Understood. There's a couple of decent looking 130i's not too far away from me so might check them out.

I know what you mean about not doing them any good, my leon suffers from the mayo oil problem quite a lot, i had actually contemplated holding off a little and possibly getting an electric car because of my short commute but that would be taking the sensible route and who wants to do that!

[MissChief]

Focus ST or Volvo C30 T5 for a different look? Unique engine note and you won't suffer too much with your mileage.

[s m]

Frimley111R said:

You won't be doing anything much good with a 4 mile commute. Definitely no diesels with that distance.

Deeper engine notes are really going to mean 6 cylinders

From the Top Gear review of the 325ti with Marc Gene, the old F1 driver........

[ZX10R NIN]

My suggestion is a Renault Twingo RS, with a Milltek cat back system:

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

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

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

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

Or a 3.2 Audi A3:

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

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

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