Suggestions for my brother, 5k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Tuesday 18th June 2019

My brother is looking at replacing his PCP Fiat 124 Spider at some point in the near future. He wants to spend c.5k, four seats and a roof, a bit quicker than his Spider but reasonably reliable and cheap to run, and decent looking.

He fancies a Mini, but I thought I'd ask to see if there were any other suggestions. Warm hatches around 7s 0 to 60 is probably what we are looking at.

Lukas239

463 posts

125 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019

- Mk5 golf GTi/Leon FR/Octy VRS
- focus ST (bit thirsty)
- Alfa giulietta 170

Mini seems like a good shout now on 2nd thought but no 5 door ones?!

Didn't ask for 5 doors, forget that

RazerSauber

2,892 posts

89 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019

I'm not sure on performance figures but would a Focus ST fit the bill?

ilikejam

1,229 posts

145 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019

The Giulietta seems to fit the bill. Decent blend of nippiness, reliability, decent looking and new-ness. Could get something faster and older of course.

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

A bit of man-maths gymnastics required to reach a Cloverleaf unfortunately...

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

30,528 posts

154 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019

Mr Tidy

31,241 posts

156 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019

Mazda 3 MPS maybe?

Maybe a Seat Leon Cupra or Skoda Octavia VRs?

Or if he likes RWD it has to be a BMW 130i.

30,528 posts

154 months

Wednesday 19th June 2019

Mr Tidy said:

Mazda 3 MPS maybe?

Maybe a Seat Leon Cupra or Skoda Octavia VRs?

Or if he likes RWD it has to be a BMW 130i.

Can you get a 130i with sensible mileage for 5K, I've not seen any in a while.

Lukas239

463 posts

125 months

Wednesday 19th June 2019

To hijack this slightly; what's the real world mpg on the giulietta 170?

Looked at a couple today and it's top of the list but research suggests ~35mpg, at which point you may as well go for the Cloverleaf

30,528 posts

154 months

Wednesday 19th June 2019

Around town & on short journeys it'll be a real world 35mpg but in mixed conditions it'll be in the 40's.

Mr Tidy

31,241 posts

156 months

Thursday 20th June 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Can you get a 130i with sensible mileage for 5K, I've not seen any in a while.

I suppose it depends what you call "sensible" mileage!

For one of those I wouldn't worry about 100K+, although most people may not be so keen.

cerb4.5lee

44,322 posts

209 months

Thursday 20th June 2019

Mr Tidy said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Can you get a 130i with sensible mileage for 5K, I've not seen any in a while.

I suppose it depends what you call "sensible" mileage!

For one of those I wouldn't worry about 100K+, although most people may not be so keen.

Any engine that has more the 100k miles on it will be a world of pain for me. I'm used to old Ford engines though that don't last 2 minutes at high mileage so I'm a little bit scarred! biggrin

I need more faith I think in fairness though. smile

30,528 posts

154 months

Thursday 20th June 2019

Mr Tidy said:

I suppose it depends what you call "sensible" mileage!

For one of those I wouldn't worry about 100K+, although most people may not be so keen.

At which point in general on most cars you'll be closing in on a suspension refresh too, I'm not saying they're bad cars but they're not cheap to run fuel wise which is something the OP's brother was looking for. Which is why the Alfa ticks a lot of boxes.

Shiv_P

3,036 posts

134 months