Ideas for a new car

[DonkeyApple]

Not being one to chop and change the older cars but preferring to keep and not having an interest in cars I don't feel I can use at any time for anything, I've not had a non Rangie classic since selling the Typhon.

Now I'm getting properly itchy feet for something. I know that a Griffith would be perfect and it will be the car that I return to eventually but I've a hankering for something a bit more of the hot hatch variety. Less pokey than a Griff but with a nice gear throw.

I had a Gordini 5 as my first car and pondered one of those but never had a Golf GTI or 206.

Don't want to spend much more than £20k and the thinking is that it can be the simple manual that my daughters can learn to drive on alongside whatever modern cars are around.

Something like an R5 Turbo would be too brash for me. Things like the Audi s2 too large but I'm assuming there are some classic hatchback sort of things other than a golf that I've forgotten?

[Mars]

Could you get a 205GTi for £20K? I suspect you wouldn't lose your stake in it.

Was one of the best 80s cars I ever drove back then - comparable or even better than a friend's Lotus Elan (M100).

[Doofus]

106 or 205 Rallye.

[RSTurboPaul]

Renault 5
Renault Clio 16v / Williams / 172 / 172 Cup / 182 / 182 Cup / 182 Trophy
Renault 19 16v
Peugeot 205 GTi / Rallye
Peugeot 309 GTi
Peugeot 106 GTi / Rallye
Peugeot 306 GTi / Rallye
XR2
XR2i
XR3
XR3i
RS Turbo
Golf GTi / VR6 / G60
Scirroco GTi / VR6 / G60(?)
Polo GTi (?) / G60(?)
Charade GTti
AX GTi
Xsara VTR / VTS
Saxo VTR / VTS
Civic of some fast variant
Metro GTi
Micra twin-charged thing
Nova GTE?
Astra GTE?
Mini?
500?

[DonkeyApple]

RSTurboPaul said:

Renault 5
Renault Clio 16v / Williams / 172 / 172 Cup / 182 / 182 Cup / 182 Trophy
Renault 19 16v
Peugeot 205 GTi / Rallye
Peugeot 309 GTi
Peugeot 106 GTi / Rallye
Peugeot 306 GTi / Rallye
XR2
XR2i
XR3
XR3i
RS Turbo
Golf GTi / VR6 / G60
Scirroco GTi / VR6 / G60(?)
Polo GTi (?) / G60(?)
Charade GTti
AX GTi
Xsara VTR / VTS
Saxo VTR / VTS
Civic of some fast variant
Metro GTi
Micra twin-charged thing
Nova GTE?
Astra GTE?
Mini?
500?

A good list. Have discounted most of those already, more than one for failing the Southend Sea front test. . Others because I'm 6'2 and many of the French ones because sadly I am not gifted with the gibbon gene that delivers the short legs and long arms required for comfortable piloting.

Was just hoping there was something I'd forgotten.

[RSTurboPaul]

DonkeyApple said:

A good list. Have discounted most of those already, more than one for failing the Southend Sea front test. . Others because I'm 6'2 and many of the French ones because sadly I am not gifted with the gibbon gene that delivers the short legs and long arms required for comfortable piloting.

Was just hoping there was something I'd forgotten.

Perhaps one of the crazy Kei cars?

126?

Either that or get searching on Car and Classics for even older stuff


I am assuming safety is not featuring high on your list of requirements

[DonkeyApple]

RSTurboPaul said:

Perhaps one of the crazy Kei cars?

Either that or get searching on Car and Classics for even older stuff

The ancient halls of the London Motor Show still echo with the simple words I yelled at the salesman who slammed the door of a Capuchino, crushing my knee between it and the wheel. It was literally the day I stopped playing rugby and if I'd been able to reach the man it would also have been the day I went to live at Wormwood Scrubs. Never felt pain like it.

[OutInTheShed]

You're only limited by what you consider to be a 'classic'.

And what you're prepared to pay for insurance to cover a young person.

[SFTWend]

I'll upset a lot of people buy saying I'd avoid all the warm Fords as few of them were best in class in their day and they are overpriced now.

Shame you have to dismiss French offerings as a Peugeot 306 GTi is highly rated as a drivers car and still great value, if you can find one.

[DonkeyApple]

SFTWend said:

I'll upset a lot of people buy saying I'd avoid all the warm Fords as few of them were best in class in their day and they are overpriced now.

Shame you have to dismiss French offerings as a Peugeot 306 GTi is highly rated as a drivers car and still great value, if you can find one.

Dismissed only because they're crippling uncomfortable. I bought a 306 back in my 20s as a cheap London car. Found it crippling and gave it to my sister. It was just a thing with French hatchbacks of the time that their pedals were too far into the cabin so my knees would be up into the steering wheel space but if you moved the seat back far enough for the legs then you had to lean forward for the wheel and good luck reaching the gear stick.

It's why first thoughts were the go to Golf GTi as the VW fwd cars of that era had more leg room so didn't suffer from the same issue. It was a very French thing.

[RSTurboPaul]

You could always buy a steering column extender thingy like the rally cars use...

[Mumble]

Latest shed

[MisterTee]

How about an Alfa?

147 GTA

Seat Leon Cupra

Seat Ibiza GTI

VW Scirocco

Citroen ZX Volcane

Porsche 944 Turbo

Toyota Corolla GTI

SAAB Turbo

Edited by MisterTee on Friday 5th September 22:26

Edited by MisterTee on Friday 5th September 22:33

[Google [bot]]

Sounds like a Golf GTI makes sense, but (assuming mk2) I’d definitely go for a 16V.

Civic/Integra Type-R?

[EJH]

It's at the older end but how about a Mini R53?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505222...

The gearshift in the S isn't quite as nice as that in the One / Cooper (it's a Getrag, feels it, but a much tougher box than the chocolate "Midland," one fitted to the lower models). Lots of space (in the front) and a really nice driving position.

[anyoldcardave]

SFTWend said:

I'll upset a lot of people buy saying I'd avoid all the warm Fords as few of them were best in class in their day and they are overpriced now.

Shame you have to dismiss French offerings as a Peugeot 306 GTi is highly rated as a drivers car and still great value, if you can find one.

If you can find one, the 309 gti is very good.

Fun per buck though, Golf Mk5 gti, best fun on the fleet , beats my ST Mountune , my god son just bought one too, great everyday car anyone can drive, insurance not that bad even for a 21 year old who has written one off in the last year.

Do not tell the kids the limiter comes in @ 160 mph lol.

Be plenty of money left to pay insurance with a 20k budget

[FHCNICK]

How about this

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1937365

[PomBstard]

306GTI would’ve been my first thought, but you’ve answered that one

Left field suggestion - FIAT Punto GT - plenty of room for you, I’m also 6’2” and had a Mk1 Punto for a couple of years with no probs. Make sure it’s a Mk1 though, as Fiat chose to throw all the fun out for the Mk2. Not the tidiest handling thing but quick enough to be fun. No idea if you find one.

Fiat also did a Bravo HGT around that time too - next size up, could be fun?

I just don’t ‘get’ the Golf GTI - we had a Mk6 for a few years and was just about the dullest 200bhp I’ve ever owned. Maybe VW did a Fiat and took all the fun out of the Mk5 for the Mk6.. I also remember driving a couple of 8v Mk2 GTIs when they were about 5-6yo and wasn’t sure what the fuss was about - so it could just be me.

What about a coupe? Honda Integra? Corrado? Prelude? Probe (fnar, fnar)? Calibra? Mk1 406 Coupe?

[coppice]

Honda CRX .Job done .

[vixen1700]

Was gonna suggest a Sunbeam Lotus, but looking at the prices if them now, I won't