Small good to drive car, views please?

[hitandhope]

Wondering about a reasonably quick small car thats good to drive. Are Swift Sports any good? Got a Cooper S right now but fancy a change. £4000ish, would anything else fit the bill? I've considered a Mito, but the combination of Alfas and complexity unmans me. MX-5 ruled out because want some sort of rear seats. Any ideas?

[njw1]

My default answer for small and good to drive is always Ford Fiesta. 4k would get you a nice mk6 ST or mk7 Zetec S.

[georgeyboy12345]

hitandhope said:

Wondering about a reasonably quick small car thats good to drive. Are Swift Sports any good?

Yes. A bit down on power compared to a Cooper S, but a very good steer.

hitandhope said:

Got a Cooper S right now but fancy a change. £4000ish, would anything else fit the bill? I've considered a Mito, but the combination of Alfas and complexity unmans me.

Mitos are good too, not quite as good to drive as a Cooper S or a Swift Sport, mind. Their reliability doesn't concern me. Here's a nice Quadrifoglio Verde with one careful lady owner (or so the ad says), you might want to budget another £500 for the cambelt if it hasn't been done, still under £4k though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310293...

Ford Fiestas drive well too, though I have some reservations about their reliability and build quality - more so than the Alfas!

Other ideas

The French know how to make a small car that's good to drive. Here are some examples

Peugeot 208 GTi - go for the Euro 6 models. The Euro 5 models had... issues.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304206...

Renaultsport Clio 197
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312104...

Also keep an eye out for older 182s and 172s, though decent ones are becoming hard to find at £4k now

Renaultsport Twingo 133
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311224...

How about something a bit older? This Citroen Saxo VTR looks to be in great nick. Look after it and it'll probably increase in value
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309021...

this Saxo VTS is in not as nice condition, but it is a grand less and has more power
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312144...

Ok, that's enough French cars for now

What about this Fiat Panda 100 HP for half your budget? Not sure about the seller though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312225...


A Honda Civic Type R is a great steer, but is possibly a bit larger than what you are after?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...

Also keep an eye out for the older EP3 models - supposedly better handling but they are pretty old and ropey now at £4k, like the Clios.

Last but not least - what about this BMW 130i - loads of power, a 3 litre NA 6 cyl and RWD, FSH and new MOT!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401055...

[ACCYSTAN]

Suzuki Swift Sport

[LuS1fer]

Fiat Panda 100HP but try the Facebook page where the nice ones live - the sills can rot behind the body kit and the rear axle needs checking for corrosion.

Mk 6 Fiesta ST lacks power though one from a keen owner can be a good buy. Mk 7 was a quantum leap and my favourite but out of budget.

Outside your box, a Toyota MR2 Mk 3 - my son has one - convertible, fantastic handling, cheap but maybe too old and complicated, being mid-engined.

I would also chuck in the Corsa VXR which can be good value at this price point and handle well. Downside is image and possibly insurance but there are some nice ones still about.

[Silvanus]

Loved my MiTo, never had any issues with it, was a great little car.

[hitandhope]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'd like ok mpg as I commute plus need 4 seats so that limits it (I know, a mini convertible isn't exactly practical but ok at a push).
Looking at the options and all this I reckon it's Swift, Fiesta, Corsa or...another Mini. That said, the Mito has something about it - had a 145 a while ago which was a love/hate thing but the Mito seems to be more reliable.
Thanks again, plenty to think about.

[ZX10R NIN]

hitandhope said:

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'd like ok mpg as I commute plus need 4 seats so that limits it (I know, a mini convertible isn't exactly practical but ok at a push).
Looking at the options and all this I reckon it's Swift, Fiesta, Corsa or...another Mini. That said, the Mito has something about it - had a 145 a while ago which was a love/hate thing but the Mito seems to be more reliable.
Thanks again, plenty to think about.

The Mito is a good shout as is the Astra GTC SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310253...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312114...

Mito Qaudrifoglio:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310293...

Or it's bigger brother the Giulietta Veloce:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401035...

[survivalist]

I think you probably already have the best car for your budget.

Swift sport might be cheaper to run and (IMHO, entirely subjective) looks better (also blander) but having driven both the Mini is the better car.

Same with the Mk6 fiesta, it’s the mk7 you’d want.

[hitandhope]

Yes, I've owned the mini for 7 years wondering about other cars that put a smile on your face, it's on 112k but don't want another mini

[ScoobyChris]

The MINI is a hard act to follow and I would thoroughly test drive any of the suggestions as imhe none of them get close (at least unmodified)!

Chris