Small engined cool Jap cars?
Discussion
Hi all 
If you havn't read my threads in GG etc, then I'm 17 this summer and I can't find a car that I like and can afford to insure. I've gone through everything from Smart cars to Caterhams, even Volvos
. I would really like a 2 seater (so I don't become a taxi for my mates!) but its not that important. The main criteria are that it has to have a small engine (max 1.6!) and must look good. I like the look of most Jap cars, I love Skylines, supras etc 
.
I've looked at MX-5's, but insurance was in excess of £3500 I'm not sure about mk1 MR2's as a lot of them seem to be rusting pretty heavily, and I've heard they can be a bit twitchy? My mum has has both a mk1 and mk2 MR2 in the past and liked them both. I might have been imagining this, but did Toyota make a 1.6 NA version of the Celica or MR2 mk2?
Any other suggestions would be great
, or should I not even bother looking at any Jap cars? 
If you havn't read my threads in GG etc, then I'm 17 this summer and I can't find a car that I like and can afford to insure. I've gone through everything from Smart cars to Caterhams, even Volvos
. I would really like a 2 seater (so I don't become a taxi for my mates!) but its not that important. The main criteria are that it has to have a small engine (max 1.6!) and must look good. I like the look of most Jap cars, I love Skylines, supras etc . I've looked at MX-5's, but insurance was in excess of £3500
I'm not sure about mk1 MR2's as a lot of them seem to be rusting pretty heavily, and I've heard they can be a bit twitchy? My mum has has both a mk1 and mk2 MR2 in the past and liked them both. I might have been imagining this, but did Toyota make a 1.6 NA version of the Celica or MR2 mk2? Any other suggestions would be great
, or should I not even bother looking at any Jap cars? HIya Southpaw, I'm the boring old fart [cough] voice of reason round here 
At your age, any insurance co is going to basically laugh at you or shaft you for ca$h.
Stay well clear of anything imported, but there is plenty of other Jap stuff around- it may not be quite as cool as you were hoping though. May be a civic or crx.
This won't be what you want to hear, but here goes. Get a sound old banger (sub £500.00)something that is sub insurance group 10, dont do it up/mod it, only spend absolutely essential money on it. Meanwhile, build up your no-claims & save your hard earned for a year or two & get something you want.
At your age, any insurance co is going to basically laugh at you or shaft you for ca$h.
Stay well clear of anything imported, but there is plenty of other Jap stuff around- it may not be quite as cool as you were hoping though. May be a civic or crx.
This won't be what you want to hear, but here goes. Get a sound old banger (sub £500.00)something that is sub insurance group 10, dont do it up/mod it, only spend absolutely essential money on it. Meanwhile, build up your no-claims & save your hard earned for a year or two & get something you want.
tuttle said:
HIya Southpaw, I'm the boring old fart [cough] voice of reason round here
At your age, any insurance co is going to basically laugh at you or shaft you for ca$h.
Stay well clear of anything imported, but there is plenty of other Jap stuff around- it may not be quite as cool as you were hoping though. May be a civic or crx.
This won't be what you want to hear, but here goes. Get a sound old banger (sub £500.00)something that is sub insurance group 10, dont do it up/mod it, only spend absolutely essential money on it. Meanwhile, build up your no-claims & save your hard earned for a year or two & get something you want.
The man speaks sense.
Of course, *everyone* ends up crashing / spunking a load of cash on their first car....
MrFlibbles said:
HIya Southpaw, I'm the boring old fart [cough] voice of reason round here
At your age, any insurance co is going to basically laugh at you or shaft you for ca$h.
Stay well clear of anything imported, but there is plenty of other Jap stuff around- it may not be quite as cool as you were hoping though. May be a civic or crx.
This won't be what you want to hear, but here goes. Get a sound old banger (sub £500.00)something that is sub insurance group 10, dont do it up/mod it, only spend absolutely essential money on it. Meanwhile, build up your no-claims & save your hard earned for a year or two & get something you want.
The man speaks sense.
Of course, *everyone* ends up crashing / spunking a load of cash on their first car....
correct..
although the spunking cash never seems to stop..
dai capp said:
Fiat Barchetta...
Tiny engine, two seats, low insurance and you can get the lid off...
Cheers
DC
These are all LHD though aren't they? Might be a bit dodgy for a first car.
Cappuccino - I've looked at these, even went to see one for sale but insurance is astronomical, I think as its a turbo
Edit: Just checked, and the Barchetta is a 1.8 and group 19
>> Edited by southpaw on Tuesday 2nd May 17:55
steve_evil said:
Totally off the subject but have always been tempted by the thought of a hayabusa engined Cappuccino, ex-gf's mum (and now the ex-gf) had one and it was awesome fun, really roomy too (i'm 6'1 and fitted in perfectly) could easily cope with a lot more power.
Would a Hayabusa engine cope with the weight? What do they weigh anyway?
I wonder what would happen if you made the 600cc unit a twin turbo
... or NOs... or a Chevy V8, oh hang on, now I'm being daft
They can't be that heavy, and Z-cars seem to be dropping the unit into pretty much everything, even elises (elisii??) so i'm sure it would cope, especially as the normal unit is only a 660cc jobby.
Even better would be a turbocharged busa unit, 300bhp cappuccino...
edit: just had a nose and the stats are as follows:
[url=www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z863/Suzuki_Cappuccino/default.aspx]Cappo Stats[/url]
only 650kg so the busa transplant is more than do-able
>> Edited by Steve_evil on Tuesday 2nd May 18:53
Even better would be a turbocharged busa unit, 300bhp cappuccino...
edit: just had a nose and the stats are as follows:
[url=www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z863/Suzuki_Cappuccino/default.aspx]Cappo Stats[/url]
only 650kg so the busa transplant is more than do-able
>> Edited by Steve_evil on Tuesday 2nd May 18:53
southpaw said:
Fiat Barchetta...
Tiny engine, two seats, low insurance and you can get the lid off...
Cheers
DC
These are all LHD though aren't they? Might be a bit dodgy for a first car.
Cappuccino - I've looked at these, even went to see one for sale but insurance is astronomical, I think as its a turbo
Edit: Just checked, and the Barchetta is a 1.8 and group 19
>> Edited by southpaw on Tuesday 2nd May 17:55
just think what really good cars you can get for group 18 insurance! First cars are generally run of the mill cars, due to insurance costs. There are a couple of options though.
I wouldn't normally suggest it, but now there are companies who will give you NCD as a named driver - this might be a good option for you.
Failing that, why not consider a "classic" car - NCD tends not to be as much of an issue, although they do normally have to be garaged.
Insurance WILL be painful. Forget two seaters and soft tops really... get something that you can have some fun in, get a year of driving (without hitting anything) under your belt and go from there.
I'd have a look at a Mk1 Golf and see what you get quote for that.. solid, fun to drive and pretty reliable.
I wouldn't normally suggest it, but now there are companies who will give you NCD as a named driver - this might be a good option for you.
Failing that, why not consider a "classic" car - NCD tends not to be as much of an issue, although they do normally have to be garaged.
Insurance WILL be painful. Forget two seaters and soft tops really... get something that you can have some fun in, get a year of driving (without hitting anything) under your belt and go from there.
I'd have a look at a Mk1 Golf and see what you get quote for that.. solid, fun to drive and pretty reliable.
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