A more amusing commute (£5k budget)

[Fuzzarr]

Hello fellow car nutters and a happy new year, too.

Now then, let's get right to it. I'm currently using a 2012 Mitsubishi Colt Cleartec Juro (breathe) for commuting and second-car duties (main car is a lovely Mondeo estate).

The commute is about 20 miles of mostly B-roads. It can be quite an enjoyable run sometimes, even in the Colt, whose twin-cam 1.3 at least has a good go at things above 3,500 revs. It's a funny car, the Colt; it's plenty roomy inside and even has leather seats, though I'd prefer grippier cloth items to be honest. It's an ok drive and I suppose offers a decent balance of performance and economy. It'll do 40mpg on a run, nearer 50 if you're gentle.

But as an ownership prospect it leaves me a bit cold.

So I'm wondering about getting something that offers a bit more entertainment and have found a couple of takes on the matter.

One option is something that does a lot of what the Colt does but has a bit more performance, handling prowess or both. The other is something that is probably slower but delivers fun factor in other ways such as through its design, interior layout etc.

So far I've come up with three options but I'd love to hear any other suggestions.

Budget is £5k.

Note that this car will also serve as backup family car duties so isofix, 5 doors, reasonable rear legroom etc are desirable. It'd also be good if the missus got on with it. Only looking at petrol options as it'll do a fair few short runs.

Current shortlist:

Colt Ralliart
Panda 100HP
Nissan Cube

The Ralliart should certainly tick the performance box but I don't know if it's different enough to warrant the change. I like the thought of the turbo motor they have but that might not be enough to improve smiles per mile.

Quite fond of the Panda and a late model is well within budget but understand some are starting to crumble as they get on a bit.

The Cube... To be honest this is really appealing to me at the moment. I love the looks, the oddness and all that (only looking at the UK-sold models from around 2010). The main weak spot is the engine which with 110bhp won't be hopeless but it will be a step down in performance after the Colt and it's obviously far from aerodynamically efficient so fuel economy isn't great either (but probably good enough). Something about the Cube is appealing to me but I would still have to drive it and I don't know if it would be frustrating for someone who quite enjoys giving it some welly.

What I'd really like is a Twingo 133 but it doesn't have enough doors!

What have I missed?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Something a touch bigger and older? 5k will get a decent mk5 Golf GTI - more room, 5 doors, ISOFIX, choice of manual or DSG at that price. Reasonably frugal if you need it to be but a great thing to drive when needed.

Otherwise out of your choice, the Panda appeals to me personally to the point where I may want to get another car for a commute this year and the 100HP features on my list of requirements (small, economical but something a little different).

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want five door fun then go for a Focus in ST-2/3 it's a better steer than the VAG stuff but just behind the RS Meganes/Clio's:

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...

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

If you need 5 seats then go for the ST-2 as the ST-3's are 4 seats only, these cars can do both the cruising part & then when it comes to some scruff of the neck driving it'll be right there & you also get that cracking 5 pot engine.

A bit leftfield & a different kind of a car to go for could be one of these:

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

These aren't the most dynamically gifted cars but that engine & AWD makes it a more interesting proposition than the 2.0T.

If you don't mind a warm hatch then the Alfa Giulietta in Veloce trim is a great shout:

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...

Another underrated car is the 2.0tce Megane in GT form:

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

Or if you want the full wolf in sheep's clothing then go for one in Dynamique spec but the handling won't be as sharp:

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

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

All the above will handle as well/better than the cars you listed while also adding a bit of refinement that the OH will appreciate & still giving you something to have fun with.

For me it would be the ST followed by the Alfa & the Audi just edging the Megane because of the V6.

[Jamescrs]

second the Focus ST, there's a few within budget, great car to drive and loads of room.

If you find one without ISOFIX mounts you can buy the mounts from Ford for about £15-£20 and fit them yourself in 10 minutes.

Three or five door options,

Seems to cover all the bases

[Fuzzarr]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Something a touch bigger and older? 5k will get a decent mk5 Golf GTI - more room, 5 doors, ISOFIX, choice of manual or DSG at that price. Reasonably frugal if you need it to be but a great thing to drive when needed.

Otherwise out of your choice, the Panda appeals to me personally to the point where I may want to get another car for a commute this year and the 100HP features on my list of requirements (small, economical but something a little different).

Thanks. I think of those two the Panda would be preferable, it'd be a bit newer and fresher than the equivalent mk5 Golf, though that extra 100bhp would be nice!

[Fuzzarr]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want five door fun then go for a Focus in ST-2/3 it's a better steer than the VAG stuff but just behind the RS Meganes/Clio's:

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...

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

If you need 5 seats then go for the ST-2 as the ST-3's are 4 seats only, these cars can do both the cruising part & then when it comes to some scruff of the neck driving it'll be right there & you also get that cracking 5 pot engine.

A bit leftfield & a different kind of a car to go for could be one of these:

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

These aren't the most dynamically gifted cars but that engine & AWD makes it a more interesting proposition than the 2.0T.

If you don't mind a warm hatch then the Alfa Giulietta in Veloce trim is a great shout:

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...

Another underrated car is the 2.0tce Megane in GT form:

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

Or if you want the full wolf in sheep's clothing then go for one in Dynamique spec but the handling won't be as sharp:

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

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

All the above will handle as well/better than the cars you listed while also adding a bit of refinement that the OH will appreciate & still giving you something to have fun with.

For me it would be the ST followed by the Alfa & the Audi just edging the Megane because of the V6.

Thanks a million! Extremely helpful as always.

I like the Focus but I think it might be a step too far in thirstiness. Shame as I'd really enjoy the warble.

The Audi isn't floating my boat but the Megane is the sort of wildcard gem I thought you might come up with! Quite like the Giulietta as well and there seem to be plenty of those on the used market.

That's given me a couple more options to explore, cheers.

[clockworks]

I know you said "petrol only", but if you are considering a Panda 100, look at a Panda diesel. A remap will give you similar performance to a Panda 100, with a fair bit more torque. The 70bhp versions don't have a DPF, so short journeys aren't really an issue.

I had the same 1.3 diesel engine in a much heavier Fiat Qubo. Remapped to 95bhp, and it was surprisingly quick.

I've now got a cheap Panda diesel for local journeys where my Touareg is just too big. Very easy to get over 65mpg. If it hadn't done 104k miles, I'd be getting it remapped.

[ZX10R NIN]

Fuzzarr said:

Thanks a million! Extremely helpful as always.

I like the Focus but I think it might be a step too far in thirstiness. Shame as I'd really enjoy the warble.

The Audi isn't floating my boat but the Megane is the sort of wildcard gem I thought you might come up with! Quite like the Giulietta as well and there seem to be plenty of those on the used market.

That's given me a couple more options to explore, cheers.

My ST which was far from standard averaged 27mpg when I owned it, this seems to be the same as most owners were getting, the Megane is a good pick but very hard to find the Giulietta's are easier to find but not in Veloce trim (which is the one to have as that means 170bhp) you can get a nice exhaust note(as heard from the Abarth 500's) from these with a nice aftermarket exhaust.

[p4cks]

Doesn't the Panda 100HP have awful ride quality? I'd find it difficult to live with if it's a bad as my 500 Abarth (which was terrible!)

[Shiv_P]

Longish.runs recently I have seen 31mpg calculated from my mk2 St. It is a 5 door facelift which is the heaviest of them all and was hovering around 75 to 80mph so not the most economical driving either

[ScoobyChris]

p4cks said:

Doesn't the Panda 100HP have awful ride quality?

Depends what you mean by awful - it's pretty firm but I managed 60k miles in mine in 3 years without too much issue. Definitely worth a long test drive though to make sure it's suitable...

Chris

[p4cks]

Yeah apologies, I meant 'awful' in the sense that I really couldn't get on with it so it was a subjective view.

Back on topic, and if the ride quality of a 100HP doesn't bother the OP then maybe a 500 Abarth - they just creep into the OP's budget

[sinbaddio]

I reckon i'd be tempted by a Fabia vRS. Loads around in budget, not a great looker but a bit different and decently quick, comes as standard with DSG and 40mpg +

https://www.evo.co.uk/skoda/fabia-vrs

[romeodelta]

500 Abarth and use the Mondeo when necessary.

Although you can fit a car seat in the back of the Abarth.

[anonymous-user]

The cube has a horrible CVT gearbox iirc. Not ideal if you enjoy a spirited drive.

[Fuzzarr]

OpulentBob said:

The cube has a horrible CVT gearbox iirc. Not ideal if you enjoy a spirited drive.

They're not all CVT, the ones sold in the UK for a brief period were mostly manuals.

Anyway, thread update time.

I've gone off the Cube as, well, I think it'd become tiresome to drive, even with a manual 'box. Bizarrely, when I posted this thread there were about 10 good ones for sale in UK manual flavour, but now there are... two.

I was all set to buy the aforementioned Megane GT TCE 180 this coming weekend. I loved everything about it on paper, but it doesn't appear to be as well looked after as the ad claims, so it's back to the drawing board.

I'll keep an eye out for another Megane in GT spec, though. as the package looks ideal.

I don't think the Panda's going to cut it. I love the looks and I bet it'd be a right laugh for a week or two, but can't see it being an enjoyable long-term prospect.

The Giulietta is an interesting one and I am warming to them increasingly. Watching those closely.

One addition to the search list which hasn't been covered before is the Citroen DS4 DSport with the 1.6 THP. It's an intriguing package with 200bhp but a surprisingly lethargic 8.something to 60. Quite high miles at sub-£6k but one to watch I think, even if rear access is supposed to be pretty tricky (despite having rear doors).

Also I am increasingly liking the Mazda 2 1.5 Sport. Main concern is whether it'll feel all that different to my Colt, but reports suggest it has a sweet chassis and gearchange, which I'd certainly enjoy on my B-road blast to work.

[designforlife]

Go for a Toyota bB rather than the cube if you go down that route, far better car.

Punchier 1.5vvti engine and chassis/suspension from the Yaris tsport. 4 speed auto box (not that CVT rubbish). quite firm handling, mine is a right laugh since i polybushed it. They only weigh about 1050kg so are brisk for what they are, and parts are easy to get as they are a yaris underneath.

110bhp but due to the lightness of the car it doesn't feel slow, but isn't mx5 quick. Doesn't struggle on hills etc and will cruise happily at 70-90mph.

with mixed lead footed driving i get about 32 mpg to a tank, but on longer motorway runs it does over 40.

Much more of a lifestyle car than a warm hatch, but it makes me laugh every time i drive it.

readers car thread here-

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 26th February 12:56

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

For £5k: You need a Porsche Boxster 986. You do not need a family.

[ilikejam]

designforlife said:

Go for a Toyota bB rather than the cube if you go down that route, far better car.

Punchier 1.5vvti engine and chassis/suspension from the Yaris tsport. 4 speed auto box (not that CVT rubbish). quite firm handling, mine is a right laugh since i polybushed it. They only weigh about 1050kg so are brisk for what they are, and parts are easy to get as they are a yaris underneath.

110bhp but due to the lightness of the car it doesn't feel slow, but isn't mx5 quick. Doesn't struggle on hills etc and will cruise happily at 70-90mph.

with mixed lead footed driving i get about 32 mpg to a tank, but on longer motorway runs it does over 40.

Much more of a lifestyle car than a warm hatch, but it makes me laugh every time i drive it.

readers car thread here-

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I had absolutely no idea what a Toyota bB was, so just went and had a look on Autotrader - holy shît OP you have to buy this!!

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

[JJ55]

Swift sport another one to consider