Fun cars under 1.4 and £1000

[strangehighways]

I fancy a small engined cheap car.

I am veering towards a Fiat Cinquecento or Seicento sporting. I know nothing about them at all, but want to drive a car where one can feel everything - vibrations through the pedals, gearstick, clutch etc. I am sick and tired of driving modern (middle of the road, not high end) cars that dull the senses.

It would be a daily driver covering 250 miles a week.

I am interested to hear any feedback on the Fiat, or any other suggestions that you lot can think of. Speed is not an issue, as you might have worked out. It is about having something fun and thrash-able.

Thanks

[Defcon5]

Pug 106? Was there a 1.4 Puma?

[Alex106]

S1 106 Rallye?

Immense fun, cheap and generally awesome!

[anonymous-user]

Flame suit donned for this one.

Fiesta 1.25 Zetec. Great engine and in some ways it was just as fun to drive as my 172. Brilliant car in the snow as well.

ETA: This is silly, I miss the little thing now. I saw it the other week as well. *sniff*

Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 11th October 17:43

[The Lukas]

I am also in this market at the moment, what does one think of a 1.4 Seat Arosia?

[Defcon5]

The Lukas said:

I am also in this market at the moment, what does one think of a 1.4 Seat Arosia?

For under a grand? Will be a right lemon I would imagine

[aka_kerrly]

depends how modern a car you want, for under £1k you can get very good examples of 80s buzz boxes like AX GTs, Polo GTs, Nova SRs or more modern cars like a Ka, Fiat Chinq (as you mentioned) mk4 Polo 1.4 16v (100hp) or Puma 1.4

dave

[SystemParanoia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8eEWyKQHM

done

[va1o]

MSTRBKR said:

Flame suit donned for this one.

Fiesta 1.25 Zetec. Great engine and in some ways it was just as fun to drive as my 172. Brilliant car in the snow as well.

+1, 1.25 Fiesta is about the most fun you will have in that price/ engine range. Handles very nicely and surprisingly nippy for its size.

[va1o]

Defcon5 said:

The Lukas said:

I am also in this market at the moment, what does one think of a 1.4 Seat Arosia?

For under a grand? Will be a right lemon I would imagine

No you can get clean examples for that sort of money, but it will be the pre-facelift (steel wheels and 6n polo interior version). I've always found the little old 8v 60PS 1.4 a bit slow for my liking, but its adequate for the size of car. The 16V (75/100 PS) 1.4 on the other hand is great fun ... but expensive. Also watch out for gearbox issues with the Arosa in general, also applies to the Lupo/ Polo of same era.

Edited by va1o on Monday 11th October 17:39

[al1991]

Agree with the fiesta comments, mine is a very accomplished car.

[Shaw Tarse]

Defcon5 said:

Pug 106? Was there a 1.4 Puma?

[RobM77]

Alex106 said:

S1 106 Rallye?

Immense fun, cheap and generally awesome!

yes, yes and yes However, I just went with great excitement onto the classifieds to see if I could get one for the same cost as a set of tyres for my race car, and the cheapest is £1750...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=325&am...

I'm not sure about a Fiesta being as much fun as a 172 by the way, but each to their own!

I'm not sure what I could suggest really. An AX GT would be a right hoot, but they're rather unsafe in an accident and most are getting on a bit now. If it was me I think I'd buy a 406 diesel for its excellent commuting opportunities and then spend £3k to £4k on a sporty car as described when I'd saved up a bit more money; that would get a decent 106 GTi, mk1 MR2, MX5, 200SX, 328i sport coupe etc.

[anonymous-user]

RobM77 said:

I'm not sure about a Fiesta being as much fun as a 172 by the way, but each to their own!

I said in some ways. Pretty much at any point below 30mph in 1st gear and then at that point I forget about the Fiesta completely

[Dr Derek Doctors]

There is a 1.4l 16v Puma for sale on Nottingham Gumtree for £720 if that is of any help.

[va1o]

Just thought you might actually be able to get a 1.4 16V Polo for that money, 100bhp so fairly quick and very well equipped for a car of its age.

[The fatboy]

fiesta 1.25, often see those on motorways running like mad, easy to fix and cheap to run.

[davepoth]

Shaw Tarse said:

Defcon5 said:

Pug 106? Was there a 1.4 Puma?

But was later on, so it'll be almost impossible to find one in the price range. Look for a 1.4 zetec fiesta, it's the same chassis.

[doodles19]

Alex106 said:

S1 106 Rallye?

Immense fun, cheap and generally awesome!

+1

Probably the most involving, best handling and fun car under 1.4 thats n/a.


It you're taking into account forced induction, try the starlet glanza turbo?

[Steameh]

My recommendations;

Daihatsu Charade GTTi - 1 litre 3 cylinder turbo charged pocket rocket. Finding one will be the tough part.

Suzuki Swift GTi - Had one as my first car, 1.3 litre 100hp little tin can weighing about 800kg.