100 bhp per ton, 40 mpg, £1000 opinions please.

[lou556]

hello,
As per title; looking for a replacement for the peugeot 306 d-turbo/bmw 328i mini fleet I currently have. So looking for one car 100 bhp per ton, 40 mpg average and £1000ish budget. Looking for opinions rather than fact/statement; really need to know what these cars are like to live with and any problems that I should look for when buying.

Lewis

[CampDavid]

The Citroen Saxo VTS. Has over 100bhp per ton, a grand should buy a good straight one and it'll do 40mpg with some mild effort. I managed about 36mpg with mine by driving it like it's arse was on fire.

People will call you a chav, however people who generally judge people's wheels like that are usually fairly worthless so I wouldn't let it bother me

[VladD]

Marque 1 MX5.

Cheap to buy and run. Plenty of parts available as they made so many.

[djt100]

Saxo VTS, good bet, i'm sure they are designed to take punishment, had one for a while and worked fine, rad went bang after a big stone hit it, but made it home and a 20 min job to change

Oh, and not chav if it's 100% standard

[lou556]

have considered cars such as hot citroen's, honda's, ford's etc.. However I struggle some what to locate a standard example that has had a half decent life. Any suggestions as to were I might find such a thing, maybe forums and auctions I guess; any other ideas?

[Defcon5]

A late VTR would fulfil your criteria, may be a few more about to get a decent standard one

[BLGuy77]

I just brought a city rover and put nos on it now it gives anything a run for its money

[CampDavid]

by searching about? Easy enough to find

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

They, oddly, did manage to sell a few to the elderly. During my hateful time at PC World I remember one old lady who must have been well into her 70s driving a then new VTS.

[lou556]

I was not aware that examples like this were so easy to find. last time I looked there were so many modified (often badly) examples around; maybe now a few years later we are starting to see the more shall we say responsible/tasteful owners looking to sell.

Thank you for the advice

[GreatGranny]

Bloody hell thats looks like good value.

They are 935kg dry so with driver + fuel probably 1050kg with 120bhp.

Job done.

[cptsideways]

I have a 98 Seat Cordobra Coupe Tdi 90bhp that might be in the ballpark, "almost" 100bhp ton, 55mpg, leather, AC etc. Zippy enough in real life.



It is in Banana yellow though

[mrtwisty]

If you want to swap 'chav' for 'girlie' - 1.7 vct Puma.
By the numbers the vts is quicker, but in the real world they're very evenly matched. A standard example will be a LOT easier to find, with less miles on it to boot. Insurance should be considerably cheaper too. Reliability is generally very good - just make sure it's not got clutch slip and that it's had the right oil (5w30) if poss.
A little thirstier than the saxo's maybe (38 mpg if your careful, 34 if you're thrashing it)
Most importantly though a really great steer. Grippy and communicative. Enormous fun on b-roads.

[300bhp/ton]

VladD said:

Marque 1 MX5.

Cheap to buy and run. Plenty of parts available as they made so many.

40mpg!

[lou556]

interesting suggestion will have to look into this seat coupe which I was not aware of; strange really as anything motoring related rarely gets past me

The 100bhp/ton requirement is really my gauge of everyday performance of course xxx torque per ton comes into play aswell along with the power delivery of the engine/harmonics of the engine.

[edo]

Buy this. Sell the hardtop for £500 (minimum). Don't confuse this first gen 115bhp Gen 1 with the later 90bhp one.


£1,550
1990 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible
Private Seller



40,000 miles, 2 Door Convertible, Petrol, Manual. ONLY 40,000 MILES!! Tax Till 30th March 2011, MOT till end of July 2011. Hard top and soft top. Had no problems with it since i have had it. Power assisted steering,Radio/CD,immobiliser, past MOT/service receipts.

[lou556]

yes 40mpg and the mx5 are hardly bed fellows, more like 30ish

Of course taking average mpg out of the equation just one word. Epic.

Edited by lou556 on Monday 21st February 17:23

[Jonny_693]

300bhp/ton said:

VladD said:

Marque 1 MX5.

Cheap to buy and run. Plenty of parts available as they made so many.

40mpg!

Have you owned one? Even driving like a saint I struggled to get 32mpg,they are surprisingly thirsty.

[harryowl]

1.7 ford puma?

[Jayho]

Not sure about the weight of the Rover25/MgZR but the 1.4 104 BHP? aint really a slug and should get you 40+ MPG. Many bargains to be had aswell. Decent on insurance aswell.

[rallycross]

a nice tidy unmodified saxo VTR - good handling lightweight fun. Might be half way to falling to bits at that price range though.