£4,000 budget - fun, practical, reliable. Pick 2?

[Mully1906]

Evening PHers.

I’m currently driving a Mk8 Fiesta ST, but financially, what with this thing called Covid going on and some government backed “furlough” scheme in effect, I may have to get shot to get rid of my monthly payments.

I’d therefore be looking at getting into something that I own once again but I have some criteria:

- must be practical (big/easy enough to sling a muddy mountain bike and associated kit/helmets/boxes/shoes etc in the back)
- reliable (because why would you want an unreliable car?)
- have some “oomf” about it. I haven’t got time for slow cars. Literally.
- petrol or diesel - not overly fussed.

I’m thinking something along the lines of a PD engined VAG car, Mondeo ST, Volvo V70 D5.

Any other suggestions?

[JimBR]

Facelift Merc W211 E320 cdi estate. I’d buy on history and condition rather than mileage too.

Edited by JimBR on Saturday 9th January 08:51

[stargazer30]

Obvious answer is a smaller loan or pcp and get a cheap/earlier mk7 fez ST. It won’t be far off the mk8 driving fun wise. The mk7s can be had for around £7-8k now.

If it has to be £4K then perhaps an EP3 or FN2 civic type r but you might even then need to stretch the budget a bit.

[Halo in reverse]

Golf GTi Mk5 perhaps

[d_a_n1979]

E46 or E39 330D / 530D, a nice remap and away you go

Not that I'm a derv fan

The 330i and 530i tourers are excellent also and there is a stunning E46 330i touring on The Bay currently, but it's more than £4k unfortunately due to it's low miles, overall condition and rarity

[Mully1906]

stargazer30 said:

Obvious answer is a smaller loan or pcp and get a cheap/earlier mk7 fez ST. It won’t be far off the mk8 driving fun wise. The mk7s can be had for around £7-8k now.

If it has to be £4K then perhaps an EP3 or FN2 civic type r but you might even then need to stretch the budget a bit.

I had a mk7 before the mk8. Did like it, but was just too damn harsh. And not as big as I’d like it to be.

[England87]

Just got a mk5 Gti for a little over your budget, fits the brief.

[duggyfresh]

FN2 Type R

[ZX10R NIN]

How about all 3 as long as you're not looking a badge you can get a decent reliable steer for your budget:

1.6T Astra GTC 180 SRI a nice warm hatch that ticks all of your boxes

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077...

If you don't mind a Cat N this Alfa Giuletta Veloce 170 is keenly priced:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011216...

Veloce 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011236...

308 GT 200 you'll have to haggle hard but this is a very good hatch this comes with the forged bottom end so none of the issues that the lower powered versions suffered with:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012137...

Focus Zetec S 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011055...

Civic Type S GT 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

C30 T5 but in all honesty I'd buy the Focus ST:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101087...

Focus ST-2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101037...

3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

2.0T Cat d Scirocco GT 200 like the Alfa keenly priced but as always do your checks

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012297...

[mbwoy84]

I’ve got a Passat B6 Estate 2.0 TFSI (MK5 Golf GTI engine), all the bells and whistles, carried out a swirl flap delete and a few minor tweaks and it’s running 280bhp. Super practical, very rapid, very smooth and very cheap for what it is.

[randomeddy]

mbwoy84 said:

I’ve got a Passat B6 Estate 2.0 TFSI (MK5 Golf GTI engine), all the bells and whistles, carried out a swirl flap delete and a few minor tweaks and it’s running 280bhp. Super practical, very rapid, very smooth and very cheap for what it is.

Same here, quite a rare car really. Interested in this swirl flap delete. Will look into that.

[Mully1906]

mbwoy84 said:

I’ve got a Passat B6 Estate 2.0 TFSI (MK5 Golf GTI engine), all the bells and whistles, carried out a swirl flap delete and a few minor tweaks and it’s running 280bhp. Super practical, very rapid, very smooth and very cheap for what it is.

Interesting... My only gripe with the Passat is that I find it a little...boring. Especially the interior. But I guess that makes for quite a good sleeper!

[Overall D]

4k should get a decent Legacy Spec B estate. 240ish hp from a 3 litre N/A engine so not a slouch and they are very reliable. Not a bad steer either.

[willmagrath]

Hey Mully,

I'd say either:

V60 D5 (may dad had one, loved it).
Jag x-type V6 AWD (thirsty but will be cheap and sound nice).
Saab 9-3 sportwagon (Cheap and has good diesel/fast petrol options)
Octavia vrs wagon (because why not)

[Mully1906]

willmagrath said:

Hey Mully,

I'd say either:

V60 D5 (may dad had one, loved it).
Jag x-type V6 AWD (thirsty but will be cheap and sound nice).
Saab 9-3 sportwagon (Cheap and has good diesel/fast petrol options)
Octavia vrs wagon (because why not)

Never thought I’d find you lurking on here!

My dad’s well into his Saab’s and I have considered a 9-5 Aero petrol...

[Jag_NE]

OP, are you sure this makes sense? I presume you are on 80% pay but probably better to keep making payments on the fiesta (which i presume aren’t massive and it’s a zero hassle car) versus sinking 4k cash into a potential lemon.

[culpz]

I was kinda thinking along the same lines. Might be worth keeping the cash in the bank for now and seeing what happens. As risky as it is having monthly payments while on 80% wage, sinking 4k cash into a replacement car seems equally as much of punt right now.

[Blackpuddin]

Octavia Scout 4x4, brilliant car for the money and PD version is definitely available for £4k, CR is better still for £4.5k, 140hp but easily mappable to 170hp and more.

[Mully1906]

Jag_NE said:

OP, are you sure this makes sense? I presume you are on 80% pay but probably better to keep making payments on the fiesta (which i presume aren’t massive and it’s a zero hassle car) versus sinking 4k cash into a potential lemon.

My point is, I want to get away from the monthly payments altogether. Yes there is the risk of buying a car that needs work doing to it. But that’s not a definite. And if I can save the £300ppm I’m paying for the Fiesta then that’s a win

[TameRacingDriver]

R53 Cooper S

Get a decent one for £2k-£3k. Get a reduced pulley on it if it hasn't already. Remove useless back seats. Job done.

Not a perfect car by any stretch of the imagination but mine has got under my skin in a way I didn't think it would. Oozes character and feels fun at any speed.