Fun Second Car

[CMacC]

Before anyone points it out - I've been through a few cars this year already - and enjoyed most of them in their own way!!

I've come to the conclusion that I want a car with a bit more Character - on a budget. I'ver narrowed it down to 3
2002 ep3 type r, 120k miles £2750
Alfa 156 GTA Sport Wagon, 136k, Needs a bit of tidying £5kish
2014 Fiesta ST1, 86k, £4650

I'm after a fun car that will take me from Guildford - Dartford and back from time to time, but ultimately we have the 335d for that as well. Anyone any opinions or advice - particularly on the Alfa??

[ChrisH72]

I have an ST3 and it certainly is a lot of fun.

It’s the first hot hatch I’ve owned and I am really appreciating the blend of performance and practicality. For me, a hot hatch is a car that you can drive daily, carry passengers and luggage on occasion and yet still have a lot of fun with. My mileage is quite low and we have a family car for longer distances but apart from the ride being a bit hard I’m sure the fiesta would be okay if it had to do a long run.

I suppose it depends how much you plan to use it? The Alfa would feel much more special but could obviously cost a lot more to run. The type r is a modern classic but may be harder work if you’re using it a lot because of the pesky power delivery.

[Benbay001]

CMacC said:

Before anyone points it out - I've been through a few cars this year already - and enjoyed most of them in their own way!!

I've come to the conclusion that I want a car with a bit more Character - on a budget. I'ver narrowed it down to 3
2002 ep3 type r, 120k miles £2750
Alfa 156 GTA Sport Wagon, 136k, Needs a bit of tidying £5kish
2014 Fiesta ST1, 86k, £4650

I'm after a fun car that will take me from Guildford - Dartford and back from time to time, but ultimately we have the 335d for that as well. Anyone any opinions or advice - particularly on the Alfa??

I think youre going to end up buying yet another car and not finding it characterful.

Get a car for the weekend and one for the commute.

Assuming the commute car is relatively economical, it will end up costing you the same overall.

[ChrisH72]

Just to add, I think the fiesta is very good at what it does but if it’s character you’re after then something older will fit the bill better.

It seems there’s a bit more history to your post so definitely worth taking advice and giving some more thought before taking the plunge.

[HiAsAKite]

I would reiterate the last poster's point.


If this is a truely second car, and presuming your first car is relatively practical, look at sevens, TVRs, Lotuses etc depending on where you budget sits,...


I've had two cars since 2003, and the combination of a practical/family car, and fun car works well.

[HiAsAKite]

Ok - just read the budget in the original post. clearly that won't stretch to the suggestions I mentioned.

If that is the budget I'd probably focus on something that gives driver feel and experience, as opposed to outright pace (your 335D will likely quickest point to point - that that is not the point (excuse the pun) of a fun car.

I'd be looking for something simple and basic, or a soft top, as these give a very different experience (can you pick up an MX5, Z4 for that budget? maybe. Stretch to a boxster maybe?

I'm biased. I like open top cars,

[ChrisH72]

HiAsAKite said:

Ok - just read the budget in the original post. clearly that won't stretch to the suggestions I mentioned.

If that is the budget I'd probably focus on something that gives driver feel and experience, as opposed to outright pace (your 335D will likely quickest point to point - that that is not the point (excuse the pun) of a fun car.

I'd be looking for something simple and basic, or a soft top, as these give a very different experience (can you pick up an MX5, Z4 for that budget? maybe. Stretch to a boxster maybe?

I'm biased. I like open top cars,

Definitely.

The most characterful car I’ve had was an mr2 roadster. And that did manage some very memorable weekends away despite some creative packing!

[CMacC]

HiAsAKite said:

Ok - just read the budget in the original post. clearly that won't stretch to the suggestions I mentioned.

If that is the budget I'd probably focus on something that gives driver feel and experience, as opposed to outright pace (your 335D will likely quickest point to point - that that is not the point (excuse the pun) of a fun car.

I'd be looking for something simple and basic, or a soft top, as these give a very different experience (can you pick up an MX5, Z4 for that budget? maybe. Stretch to a boxster maybe?

I'm biased. I like open top cars,

I had a vx220 turbo last year, the trouble with cars of higher value is that you place more value on looking after them than enjoying them, if that makes sense? I ultimately want a car I can jump into on the way home from a night shift and enjoy empty roads, without worrying if that branch in the hedgerow acratched my b pillar, or that pothole wasted an alloy!

[CMacC]

Benbay001 said:

I think youre going to end up buying yet another car and not finding it characterful.

Ive enjoyed each of the cars Ive had over the last 18 months, and I imagine I will end up with anothwr car in 6 to 8 months, but is that such a bad thing? We are in the twilight of the ICE, and I want to enjoy as many of the great engines as i can before fossil fuels are taxed to the point where I wont enjoy burning it!!!

[The Rotrex Kid]

The EP3 is the one in your list with the most 'character' IMO.

You'd need to lower it, get the geo sorted and at least fit an induction kit, but really, for a bit of fun, that's all you would need to do.

[ZX10R NIN]

With your budget I'd say look at the Focus ST, the 5pot is a peach & the chassis is engaging too

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003238...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012116...

When looking at the Civic I actually prefer the way the FN2 drives:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011266...

Leftfield suggestion:

Yes it's a Cat N & Yes I'm bias but these have bags of character roof down bellowing V8 at the end of your night shift & I don't think you'll loose a penny moving it on in 6 months time,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006059...

[Dift]

ChrisH72 said:

Definitely.

The most characterful car I’ve had was an mr2 roadster. And that did manage some very memorable weekends away despite some creative packing!

Indeed. I don't think a warm hot hot hatch will provide anything over and above the daily driver.

I'd be looking at an MR2 roadster with a 2zz conversion. Can be had from upwards of 3500.

NA, manual, light (~1000kgs), mid engined and rev any where from 8200 to 8700rpm depending on ECU used.