Nippy fun cheap to insure city commuting car for £1500?

[Emeye]

I'm after a fun or interesting car to get me the five miles to and from work and sit in the car park all day unless I go to subway for lunch.

I'm not after stunning performance, just something that can nip in and out of the traffic and doesn't feel dangerous - so quick off the line would be nice. Reasonably decent handling would be nice too, but isn't a priority as long as it feels safe/fun.

I'm using my gf's Polo 1.9 NON-turbo diesel at the moment and whilst it does the job of keeping me dry on the way to work the sluggish performance and boat like handling is depressing.

Cheapish insurance is a priority, as I refuse to pay stupid money, so I've been trying to think "outside the box" - eg. I have considered an old freelander, which is still fun to punt along, but is turning out to be stupid money to insure.

I also thought about a mk1 mx5 or Eunos on an owners club policy, but I've had one before and fancy something different.

Oh, and it would be a bonus if it sounded good, and had room for a decent stereo - so no caterhams!

[Pat H]

Ford Ka, Ford Puma, Ford Fester 1.25.

[Steve_F]

Saxo VTR, if you can find one of that age un-modified and can put up with the image.

[Krise]

Mk3 XR2i ? Bit different, insurance may be high mind

[300bhp/ton]

Emeye said:

I'm after a fun or interesting car to get me the five miles to and from work and sit in the car park all day unless I go to subway for lunch.

I'm not after stunning performance, just something that can nip in and out of the traffic and doesn't feel dangerous - so quick off the line would be nice. Reasonably decent handling would be nice too, but isn't a priority as long as it feels safe/fun.

I'm using my gf's Polo 1.9 NON-turbo diesel at the moment and whilst it does the job of keeping me dry on the way to work the sluggish performance and boat like handling is depressing.

Cheapish insurance is a priority, as I refuse to pay stupid money, so I've been trying to think "outside the box" - eg. I have considered an old freelander, which is still fun to punt along, but is turning out to be stupid money to insure.

I also thought about a mk1 mx5 or Eunos on an owners club policy, but I've had one before and fancy something different.

Oh, and it would be a bonus if it sounded good, and had room for a decent stereo - so no caterhams!

So thinking outside the box:




Being classics they'll be silly cheap to insure compared to more modern mundane stuff.

If you fancy more sporty:


triumph tr7 2l sport (1976)
98,000 miles £1,850
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1803458.htm

[Andehh]

Steve_F said:

Saxo VTR, if you can find one of that age un-modified and can put up with the image.

This^, it needs to be unmodified & bought from a non council estate though.

[boomboompow]

Another vote for a Puma here, although make sure to find one with as little rust as possible.

[edo]

Tr7, FFS, you have to be kidding, talk about scraping the barrel to suggest cars you own! Are you trying to single handedly increase their values or something?

[300bhp/ton]

edo said:

Tr7, FFS, you have to be kidding, talk about scraping the barrel to suggest cars you own! Are you trying to single handedly increase their values or something?

They wanted out of the box and cheap insurance................


Umm lets see, two days back you bhed and moaned that I commented on a car I didn't own. And now you're bhing and moaning at me for commenting on a car I do own.

Great logic....



Here's an idea. Maybe just not comment to me at all, and I'll return the favour

[Chris71]

The Crack Fox said:

I might get shot for this, but... have you thought about a Smart ? If you can lift with the quirky 'box, they tick all the other boxes.

There's definitely potential there. I don't know about prices, but the one I drove was a very nice place to be and actually really shifted for a city car. Up to motorway speed they feel genuinely nippy and emit a surprisingly pleasant 'half a 911' sound (although to be fair this one had been lightly tweaked). The steering is actually really nice and you get used to the gearbox after a while. Just don't try cornering enthustically. You will end up on three wheels (or your roof).

I take it Smart Roadsters are still well north of £1,500?

Failing that I'd go for a warm 106/Saxo. Best part of 50mpg, sublime handling - up there with the 205 GTi IMHO - and surprisingly practical.

[edo]

300bhp/ton said:

edo said:

Tr7, FFS, you have to be kidding, talk about scraping the barrel to suggest cars you own! Are you trying to single handedly increase their values or something?

They wanted out of the box and cheap insurance................


Umm lets see, two days back you bhed and moaned that I commented on a car I didn't own. And now you're bhing and moaning at me for commenting on a car I do own.

Great logic....



Here's an idea. Maybe just not comment to me at all, and I'll return the favour

Anything to slow your post rate down.

300bhp/ton
10,389 posts in 25 months

[visual123]

I'd go for a Fiesta over a 106/Saxo, having driven both. Couldn't get on with the driving position of the 106 at all, and the interior looks naff (not that MK4/5 Fiestas are much better really). My poverty spec Fiesta was much more fun to drive and much more chuckable without the 106's body roll, although it understeered like a bh in anything other than perfectly dry conditions.

Puma would also be a good one.

[renrut]

Maybe an MR2 mk1? 1.6 engine, rwd very comfy interior and incredibly nippy. Insurance shouldn't be too bad either.

Downsides are finding one with intact arches and sills within budget and visibility in traffic isn't the best if an SUV or MPV pulls up alongside.

Or maybe a 106 gti? Less a stereotype than the Saxo but the same car underneath.

[wrighty78]

OP - Given what you say, and assuming for a moment you can get classic car insurance (age restrictions, use / mileage limits etc) then I agree with 300bhp: go "classic". But not a TR7

How about...

Pork 924: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1868664.htm

BMW 525 (e28): http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1672927.htm

Merc CE (W123 or W124): http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1879567.htm or http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1892009.htm

Parts all cheap(ish) from ECP / GSF etc

[djt100]

This
Fiat Seicento 1.1 Sporting

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1896980.htm


Cheap as Chips to run and insure, and Very good fun around town, thoroughly enjoyed thrashing my brothers one previously. Not to bad on a run either

Edited by djt100 on Tuesday 27th July 13:18

[Munter]

I wonder what the insurance is on:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1879604.htm

Or more seriously:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1870989.htm

[300bhp/ton]

wrighty78 said:

OP - Given what you say, and assuming for a moment you can get classic car insurance (age restrictions, use / mileage limits etc)

I wouldn't worry about specific classic insurance, although it might be worth trying first. But classics are normally cheaper to insure even with normal insurance.

[Chris71]

djt100 said:

This
Fiat Seicento 1.1 Sporting

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1896980.htm


Cheap as Chips to run and insure, and Very good fun around town, thoroughly enjoyed thrashing my brothers one previously. Not to bad on a run either

Can imagine that'd be good fun. An ex-colleague (a proper petrolhead with far more exotic machinery to play with the rest of the time) raved about his and a friend used to have a Cinquecento Sporting that was great fun. The Cinq felt rather like an original Mini.

Actually, speaking of which the Metro GTi is a hugely underrated car. No really. Or if the image bothers you, there's always the actual Mini (dunno if you can get a sound one for under £1,500 still?) but the K-Series Metro is, dare I say it, better to drive.

[rolty]

djt100 said:

This
Fiat Seicento 1.1 Sporting

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1896980.htm


Cheap as Chips to run and insure, and Very good fun around town, thoroughly enjoyed thrashing my brothers one previously. Not to bad on a run either

Edited by djt100 on Tuesday 27th July 13:18

Was going to recommend a Cinq Sporting!

Great round town, no trouble parking, can get 4 adults in reasonably easily for a short trip back from the pub, go kart handling, and best of all no matter how you drive it, they never use any more fuel than when just pottering about.

Cheap as chips, you'll be able to get a late i.e. '98 in top condition for less than a grand. Parts are cheap and it's pretty basic so most things can be fixed by anyone half handy with the spanners.

Just make sure the red immobiliser key comes with the car as this is needed to re-code the immobiliser should the ignition need to be replaced, or something like that.

[Emeye]

wrighty78 said:

OP - Given what you say, and assuming for a moment you can get classic car insurance (age restrictions, use / mileage limits etc) then I agree with 300bhp: go "classic". But not a TR7

How about...

Pork 924: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1868664.htm

BMW 525 (e28): http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1672927.htm

Merc CE (W123 or W124): http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1879567.htm or http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1892009.htm

Parts all cheap(ish) from ECP / GSF etc

Look interesting, especially the Porsche - thing is, do you really think I can get cheap classic insurance on something like these?

I currently have a 1995 E34 535i Touring which I thought I could get cheap insurance on with it being 15 years old, but I had to insure it on a multi-car policy which only allowed me to be the driver of my cars, and this isn't possible now.

Only car I successfully managed to get cheap car insurance on was my Mk1 Eunos.

I don't seem to be able to find any online quotations for classic cars so I can play around.