What Car next?

[CMacC]

Having Just sold my Accord Type R (Awesome car, but ruinous fuel economy) I really don't know what to buy next. As it's a work car, and will likely be abused, I've set a budget of £3500. At the moment, my drive is a mix of central london commute and Motorways, with the odd B Road from time to time. I'm after something fun, reliable and relatively economical. I keep coming back to an R56 cooper S or mk5 Golf GTI - Is there anything else out there that would fit the bill?

[Benbay001]

Im struggling to picture how going from an Accord type r to a Cooper S will save a notable amount of money.

What, 25 mpg in the accord? 30 mpg in the Mini / gti?

You may save £300 a year.

[CMacC]

Before I had the Type R i had a 208 GTI, Dull as ditchwater to drive, but returned 45mpg on a motorway run, and 40mpg through London, The Honda by comparison does 34mpg on motorways at a lower speed and ,id 20's through London. I borrowed a mini from BMW a couple of weeks back and that was averaging 47mpg indicated throughout - and that was driving it like a loan car - To put that into context, thats a difference of £6 per day fuel saving comparing the mini to the honda - assuming I don't have to visit multiple sites

[CMacC]

There are other factors - The ATR is too low geared and becomes monotinous on the motorway, it's too lead footed at lower revs for city driving, and to be honest, its coming to the stage in life where its going to need some decent money spent on it

[ZX10R NIN]

Here's the thing comparing N/A with forced induction means the N/A will look bad also both cars will have been lighter than the Accord, the Mini you'll be looking at won't be the most reliable so the money saved will probably be eaten up with maintenance they're also short geared so motorway work will be similar to the Accord.

If you you thought the 208 was dull don't buy the Golf, for me with your budget I'd go looking for a warm forced induction warm hatch because you get a swift decent handling hatch which have nice spec/handle well & are fairly newish compared to a hot hatch for a similar price:

Astra GTC Sport 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Giulietta Lusso 170 you'll have to haggle but you can get one

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Megane Dynamique 180

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

GT Line TomTom 130

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

308 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Benbay001]

You can compare actual fuel economy on both of these sites

https://www.spritmonitor.de/

http://www.fuelly.com/

You can just about sneak a Suzuki Swift Sport in budget, which gets a genuine 40 mpg.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Honda CRZ Hybrid https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...


I think youre kidding yourself though if you think youre going to make notable fuel savings whilst also getting any form of performance car.

Edited by Benbay001 on Sunday 5th July 14:31