Help is needed, other half currently has a 2001 fester Zetec S...bought as a non runner and fitted the SE engine, new rear bushes, nice little back box and clean as interior!

The car is a great runner. Great mpg and a go kart on the back roads.

Unfortunately a "newer" car is wanted and my idea is to combine 2 birds with 2 stone a newer, more spacious car with the ability to barnstorm the backdoors of most things when i use it on a weekend!

Problem is a sierra Cosworth wouldnt be aloud near the house and a Civic Type R has some holes in the seats...were talking seriously picky!!

Mondeo ST/Vectra GSI are my current thoughts but maybe not quite hard enough...

any thoughts welcome guys. Looking at 4k budget, and a diesel is a no go, noise and power delivery is no good for a fun drive!

 

Without meaning to bring up jap stuff but have you considered a newage wrx wagon, loads of room good soundtrack and performance to boot, bit bad on fuel but that's the only downside really as they are cheap to buy and cheap to service. Very reliable if looked after. I have had 2 newage impreza's first a wrx now a jdm sti and even though i wouldn't sell my cossie I must say the impreza is superb. The jdm sti is a bit hardcore for some and out of budget but you should pick up a wrx in budget.

 

Would be looking to buy a 2004 ST220 for that money.

Sensible and well equipped but with added poke and a nice soundtrack. Subtle.

 

Focus RS. thats if you can get insurance. Or a mk 1 or mk2 focus st.

Me and the wife have had a 53 reg focus for 2 months now and my mrs bloody loves it.We used to have a mk5 fiesta ghia. She misses the fiesta cause it was a bloody good car but the focus is 110% better car.

 

Bit out of my price range though, would love an ST as overall ticks all boxes.

 

SportKa? Admittedly not the fasest car in the world

 

As has been said you could do worse than look at Scoob wagons. How about a BMW touring? Can look really nice and go well with the right engine.

Vectra? You might as well walk, fucking hateful cars with terrible interiors

 

Another vote for the scooby from me.
Can't see anything bettering the overall package,fast,safe,reliable,look good and great to drive.
Tons of tuning potential if you want in the future.
I'd say the markets bottomed out on them now as well,they won't go much below Ł4000.
St220 are nice but comparative economy to the scoob and not nearly as well built,slower and no 4x4.

 

Focus st170. You can get good ones for 3.5k.