massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

For the last eight months I've been using a V70 D5 as my every day car and I'm pretty well fed up with it. It's been pretty unreliable and isn't exactly the most thrilling car ever created.

My intention is to buy a newer car but I'd like to put that off for a few months yet. I'm sick of the Volvo so thinking of buying a cheap hack for the winter, preferably something a bit more fun.

Do people have any suggestions? It really needs to do mid-30s to the gallon, and I'm more interested in handling than massive speed. Not that you can get massive speed for that money of course! I think I'd prefer non-turbo for simplicity.

I've always fancied a Clio 172 but they're a bit small and I have reliability concerns. The Saxo VTS is another but has the same issues.

A Focus ST170 was another thought but the DMF and IMRC worry me.

Also, if it was decent enough, it might be subject to the odd track day so that's another thought.

So, time to open it up to the floor!

slammedorion

If you want the mpg get a hdi 306...
Should pick up a good'en for your budget...

p.cressie

306 gti?

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

No diesels for me, want a bit more fun than that.

Reliability worries me with a GTI, would it be a shitter? Don't know what good ones go for.

strada84

Nissan Almera GTi. Massively overlooked and underrated car.

stevos

Octavia vrs is a great cheap car now sod not having a turbo.
Mine used to give me 40 mpg consistently.

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

I have a bit of a soft spot for the Almera. Can't be many of those left now.

I looked at the vRS. For £1500 they seem to have high miles on.

stevos

Mine had 140k on it and was sweet as a nut they engines can take the miles no probs.
the Clio 172 is also a good shout although I would go for the cup version. I enjoyed my 172 and gave it death every day and never had a problem with it.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Ford Puma. I love mine. They go well and handle well. Its just a shame 95% of them have rusty arches.

STeve

iTrader: (11)

healthy budget for a winter hack tbh, pick up a rs2000 for that easy

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

What about a corolla t-sport, rev to 9000rpm, supposed to be a civic type-r in disguise!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Cor...item1c4453e384

AJC

iTrader: (6)

for £1500 something fun, subaru wrx wagon for about £1200-£1500

studabear

Mpg might be a issue with a scoob

studabear

That looks smart, could be a good car.

doga-ot

iTrader: (1)

So so true these are massively overlooked and bloody gd cars bullet proof engines and go really well but good luck finding them theyre pretty rare as people who own them tend to keep hold of them until they die as they are such good cars

Cos500

St24, scoob wagon, I've had 2 or 3 rs1800 fiestas as runabouts for around £800-£1500.
RS2000, I've got a vectra edition 100 2.0 turbo, returns 40 on the motorway and has been a great car, done 40k in it and only serviced it and changed the front tyres.

Stage6

Mk5 Fiesta Zetec-S is a safe bet....

plenty for sale with different mods for less than £1500.

boy-racer-1

What about a 4x4 rs2000? Won't get the mpg though

STeve

iTrader: (11)

only get a rough one for that money but the 2wd should be no hastle

3i Jim

Volvo V70 t5 gets my vote.

chettle

Xsara VTS, same engine as the GTi 6 in a lighter shell and 5 speed box, but more room inside

mcst

Another for the Almera, came with front and rear strut braces as standard. They ride a bit high but reasonably quick, handle well enough I'd say the steering felt a bit light as a minor criticism. My ex brother in law ( a cunt but that's another story) had one with full stainless that sounded good.

Won't be as sharp as a Clio but will be better built IMHO.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

E36 325i/328i with an LSD?

Thinking about something similar myself, although with a budget of 2-3k. I'd wanted a clean Classic Impreza, but all the cars I've seen have been rafts of shite under the skin.

Just bought a 328i to break and it's got me thinking that a clean example might be exactly what I'm after. Quick-ish, handle well, slide around easily and pretty well made too.


Cheers,
Grant

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

I must say I had considered a 318ti. Bit gay but thought it might be a giggle over winter but wasn't sure if you could rob the LSD off another model.

I'm impressed at how much love there is for the Almera.

CrOwSoN15

I'll go one up on the Almera and say a Primera GT, same bomb proof SR20 and supposedly handle rather well, not to mention they went racing with them in BTCC!

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

A friend of mine has had a couple of Primera GTs and they do seem pretty tough old things. Another one that must be getting rare though. Always thought the seats let them down a bit though, not the most comfortable of cars.

Another thought I had was that I wouldn't mind the engine/box out of an ST170 for another project, so maybe I should buy one and then break it later

Perfmr2

Ive got a Seat Toledo V5 daily hack.
Its basically a A4/Bora chassis, with the Golf 2.3 V5 power plant. Has 170bhp & 225lbft. Its a absolute hoot to drive, and sounds great when pushed. Gives me 38 - 42mpg. Has all the toys, leather, sat nav etc, can get them cheap as chips now.
VW group product, without the price tag

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I used to work on these.The interiors or horrid and look cheap. You only own a Corrolla when your over 50 and have grey hair lol.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Dont the Almeras rot like fook.

CrOwSoN15

Haven't sat in one so can't comment on that! I agree with the rarity, I find myself quite often looking to see if there's any for sale.

Must admit, quite shocked about the Ovlov, only ever heard good things about the D5's!

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

IS200 fits that bill - not fast, but fuck do they handle well! Comfortable, nice to drive, generally looked after and tidy - mileage isn't a problem so long as regularly serviced, which most are. More or less bomb proof, provided the cam belt has been done around 60-80k (Lexus suggest 100k, but wiser to do it before that). Plenty of examples around for under £1500k - BUT you won't get anywhere near 30mpg

Perfmr2

Recently restored a Amera GTI Phase 1. The rear arches, and sills were like swiss cheese. Made a nice profit on it though.

massivewangers

iTrader: (1)

The engine is ok, but plenty of problems with the rest of it lately. Perhaps I've just been unlucky with it, but it's not come close to my ST220 in terms of reliability. The price of parts is also pretty hard to stomach at times.

Just fancy something a bit more fun for a bit now. I miss steering feel

L1AM_RS

Mk1 Octavia vRS. 210 - 230bhp with a stage 1, filter and a decat.

306 GTi-6.

Had both, loved them!

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

fun winter hack gotta be one of these surely for arse out antics


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-328I-S...item33939ce767

gcfcos

I'd go for a 318 e36, not bad on fuel and slides well in wet/snow had one last time it snowed and was out every night and come summer time sold it on for a profit the e46 318 seems to have more punch though I've noticed after driving a few

BigErn

Leon Cupra M1 can be had for under a grand, couple of mods and a map and they go pretty well.... Ive got one as a daily and its been bloody mint for the past 2 years

The Crocodile Hunter

Strange, had mine coming up a year now and have never averaged less than 30mpg over a tank. Think the lowest I have seen is 30.something when the climate control has been on permanently this summer. Always brim it and clock the milage too so I know exaclty what its getting.

I would also recommend one of these. I ended up with one as I couldn't think of a better cheap family motor for 1500, but I just wanted domething decent that was unlikely to go wrong, not VAG, and powered by petrol to avoid any expensive diesel problems likely on what you get for 1500. Really depends what kind of car you want tho?

They are not particularly quick but no worse than any other 2l in this size car.

luke19790_3

Did it sell for good money? got a almera gti and primera gt for sell near me cheap

gjh

Proton satria GTI? Can pick them up within your budget and often used as club level rally cars and seem to be reliable when thrashed. Same about the almera GTI and GTI6. I'd go for one of these 3.