What car to buy? 21yo, 5k budget sub 8 0-60

[KaptainKhaki]

Hey I'm looking to potentially upgrade my car in summer, currently driving a 94 mini which I love but it's at 80k miles and more and more maintenance is required.

I've got a 5k budget roughly, looking for something that'll be exciting to drive but won't have crippling insurance either. Insurance isn't a part of the budget but I'm on a multicar policy and will have 4 years ncb in summer so premium should be lower than most.

Anyone got any suggestions?

[LittleBigPlanet]

MX5.

/thread.

[A500leroy]

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

RE: ins, AVOID anything that your typical young lad would have put through a hedge (ie clios,corsas,swifts,fiestas etc) as the computer will put your age against the car vs how many times they've had to pay out in that scenario and come up with a quote of £300000000000000

[anonymous-user]

Swift sport. Or, go retro. Mk2 golf 16v gti, fantastic cars.

[richard-p03]

Insurance will be a big factor so maybe have a look at a MINI Cooper S, which I found very reasonable/cheap to insure.

What kind of car are you looking for? Any must haves?

[cib24]

Fiat Panda or similar and add a 75 shot of nitrous to it for when you want to be faster than 8 seconds 0-60.

[alec.e]

If you want something quick and cheap to insure, a large engined barge is worth looking at. I ran a 3.0 X350 XJ at 19, quicker than my mates cars and way more prestige. Not the best if you want sports car handling though.

[anonymous-user]

Panda 100hp is a hoot, don't get caught up in 0-60 bks

[Sycamore]

I bought a 3 litre 2004 BMW Z4 for £4k. 65k miles.

I'm 23 in an awful postcode between Birmingham and Wolverhampton and it only comes to £650 or so. Not really the sort of car which everyone else my age goes for so insurance is cheaper than it would be on a Golf with Halford tat on

[Mr Gearchange]

0-60 shouldn’t be a decision criteria for any car.
30-50 and 50-70 are much more useful benchmarks

[ZX10R NIN]

Abarth 500

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

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

Giulietta Veloce

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

[S16KBW]

I'm 22 and in the same boat, looking at Abarth 500/595, R53 Mini Cooper S, Fiat Panda 100hp (as well as some off-piste options like Skoda Fabia/Octavia VRS if you're feeling brave with repairs)

Its all about what you fancy really, take some for test drives and take it from there, the Abarth 500 is seriously fun to drive IMO

[fizmo100]

RX8, and keep the extra budget aside for an engine rebuild should it be necessary. Can't believe how cheaply you can pick up a tidy example at present.

[Blanchimont]

Have a look at the Abarth Grande Punto. In budget, left field. Sounds mega with an exhaust (same engine as in the Abarth 500's)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abarth-GRANDE-PUNTO-155...

[cib24]

Get whatever and just add a modest shot of nitrous to it. Why did this fad die out in the early 2000s? Cheap horsepower on demand!

[ottermanuk]

I know people might not agree but - Clio 182/197/200

I'm 21 with 2yr NCB and my insurance is 1200. Lots yes - but 4 yrs and you'll be fine. The Clio owner base seems to be a lot more mature than their original perhaps antisocial owners.

My 182 was £4.2k but that was definitely the top end of the market (mint model). You can easily get a solid model for 2.5-3k, and they're fairly bulletproof. No turbo so picks up instantly, pulls in every gear, I love it, and on longer runs I've had 41mpg.

[aka_kerrly]

S16KBW said:

I'm 22 and in the same boat, looking at Abarth 500/595, R53 Mini Cooper S, Fiat Panda 100hp (as well as some off-piste options like Skoda Fabia/Octavia VRS if you're feeling brave with repairs)

IMO

What are you on about? SKODA consistently beat FIAT and BMW in the major reliability surveys. Bmw these days are bottom half of the leaque table

[Jayridium]

z3 3 litre will hit the performance numbers you are after and are an appreciating classic.

[S16KBW]

aka_kerrly said:

S16KBW said:

I'm 22 and in the same boat, looking at Abarth 500/595, R53 Mini Cooper S, Fiat Panda 100hp (as well as some off-piste options like Skoda Fabia/Octavia VRS if you're feeling brave with repairs)

IMO

What are you on about? SKODA consistently beat FIAT and BMW in the major reliability surveys. Bmw these days are bottom half of the leaque table

Very true but a lot of the ones in the bottom of the market (sub £5k) are on 120k+ miles, and if they haven't had the cambelt/water pump done when required and not fully serviced they're just waiting to grenade.

[nuttywobbler]

E36 Touring with a 2.8 engine transplant and a welded diff? Brutal and proud wheelspin / drift / sound etc.