Around 2k - fun/interesting commuter?

[crofty1984]

Howdy y'all

My van is going to go in the next couple of months and I have a job with a 20 mile each way commute, almost completely dual carriagway.
I need a car that will be pretty reliable for the age and I'm sure the answer is "diesel Focus" or similar but I also want it to not bore me to tears.
I might do an occasional track day. Though for reference I was planning on doing one in my 1.6 hdi berlingo van, so I don't need a "track tool".
Need about 35mpg plus. I also like the idea of a convertible, but it doesn't HAVE to be one, was thinking if not convertible, then a hot hatch maybe?

Current thoughts are pretty random, but they tend to generally follow the lines of waft along with the roof down or light(ish) zingy b-road car.

Fiesta ST150
Mk1 Toyota Aygo
Fiesta 1.25 (they're meant to be a nice revvy engine?)
Mk4 Golf/Bora 1.8t
Saab 9-3 ragtop
VW Eos/Audi A4 cabrio
Mini R53 Cooper S
Ordinary BMW Mini
Suzuki Swift Sport
Mk 2.5 MX5 - though they're thin on the ground in non-rusty guise near me
MGTF - Had one and liked it, but getting on a bit now
Saxo VTS
Another small van
Volvo C70
Smart car/Smart roadster

I don't know if anyone wants to add to the list or has any experience of the ones on there? I've basically been putting up to £2.5k on Autotrader/ebay/etc, arrange by distance and waiting until I go "ooh, that looks interesting!"

[Challo]

crofty1984 said:

Howdy y'all

My van is going to go in the next couple of months and I have a job with a 20 mile each way commute, almost completely dual carriagway.
I need a car that will be pretty reliable for the age and I'm sure the answer is "diesel Focus" or similar but I also want it to not bore me to tears.
I might do an occasional track day. Though for reference I was planning on doing one in my 1.6 hdi berlingo van, so I don't need a "track tool".
Need about 35mpg plus. I also like the idea of a convertible, but it doesn't HAVE to be one, was thinking if not convertible, then a hot hatch maybe?

Current thoughts are pretty random, but they tend to generally follow the lines of waft along with the roof down or light(ish) zingy b-road car.

Fiesta ST150
Mk1 Toyota Aygo
Fiesta 1.25 (they're meant to be a nice revvy engine?)
Mk4 Golf/Bora 1.8t
Saab 9-3 ragtop
VW Eos/Audi A4 cabrio
Mini R53 Cooper S
Ordinary BMW Mini
Suzuki Swift Sport
Mk 2.5 MX5 - though they're thin on the ground in non-rusty guise near me
MGTF - Had one and liked it, but getting on a bit now
Saxo VTS
Another small van
Volvo C70
Smart car/Smart roadster

I don't know if anyone wants to add to the list or has any experience of the ones on there? I've basically been putting up to £2.5k on Autotrader/ebay/etc, arrange by distance and waiting until I go "ooh, that looks interesting!"

They all offer what you need in various guises. If your not that fussed why not play the autotrader / bay lottery and see what comes up. Also check FB, loads of cars sold on there.

[d_a_n1979]

BMW E46 325i or 330i coupe or vert, maybe?

[andburg]

crofty1984 said:

Howdy y'all

My van is going to go in the next couple of months and I have a job with a 20 mile each way commute, almost completely dual carriagway.
I need a car that will be pretty reliable for the age and I'm sure the answer is "diesel Focus" or similar but I also want it to not bore me to tears.
I might do an occasional track day. Though for reference I was planning on doing one in my 1.6 hdi berlingo van, so I don't need a "track tool".
Need about 35mpg plus. I also like the idea of a convertible, but it doesn't HAVE to be one, was thinking if not convertible, then a hot hatch maybe?

Current thoughts are pretty random, but they tend to generally follow the lines of waft along with the roof down or light(ish) zingy b-road car.

Fiesta ST150
Mk1 Toyota Aygo
Fiesta 1.25 (they're meant to be a nice revvy engine?)
Mk4 Golf/Bora 1.8t
Saab 9-3 ragtop
VW Eos/Audi A4 cabrio
Mini R53 Cooper S
Ordinary BMW Mini
Suzuki Swift Sport
Mk 2.5 MX5 - though they're thin on the ground in non-rusty guise near me
MGTF - Had one and liked it, but getting on a bit now
Saxo VTS
Another small van
Volvo C70
Smart car/Smart roadster

I don't know if anyone wants to add to the list or has any experience of the ones on there? I've basically been putting up to £2.5k on Autotrader/ebay/etc, arrange by distance and waiting until I go "ooh, that looks interesting!"

that money, a lighlty ropey Mk3 MR2 or a Celica 190

fancy being a bit braver and you can get an early SLK

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104051...


edited to add:

Not exactly the last word in driving dynamics but a 2.7 V6 Hyundai Coupe (£500+VED)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104171...

Edited by andburg on Thursday 22 April 14:11

[Shieldsy94]

I'm in a pretty similar position to you. 20 mile commute, wanting to spend £2k etc. I've been looking at the Swift Sports. Heard they are really reliable and have enough kit to get along with (keyless entry etc). Best of the bunch.

[Norbury90]

I'm biased because I have one, but it seems to tick all of the boxes you need, apart from maybe reliability but mine never left me stranded in the 70k miles I did in it... Clio 172/182. Values seem to be starting to increase too.

[CostaBrava1972]

Alfa Romeo 147 TS.

(1.6 or 2.0 - the Lusso is very well equipped; the GTA a total handful and outwith this note).

Upsides: Fun to drive & practical - think Peugeot 205 GTi. Even better - it's Italian!

Sufficiently anonymous to leave parked in the street.

The 'Bangernomics' positives also include a fizzy, zingy 'Twin Spark' engine set in a charismatic little hatch. Very reliable, too - will manage high mileages, provided timing & drive belts (plus oil changes) are kept up to date. Ready parts availability includes the all-important suspension bits, many of which will need replacing by now.

Plus, it's an Alfa - did I mention that?

Downsides: most of them circulate amongst - and are sold very cheaply by, or to - people who often can't afford - or simply won't - spend their money on its proper maintenance**. So, are usually cheap to buy in the first place, but spend some money on its maintenance** and you will be rewarded. Even better if all that's been done for you already.

(**See 'belts', as above, but also suspension: if not already replaced, most rear struts have all reached point where the spring-supporting 'bowl' rusts through, ramming road spring down onto the top of its tyre, jamming rotation. Sills and forward section of rear wheel arch are the main rust hotspots, so check out those areas and the struts very carefully indeed. The rest will be fine, tho' the red on its badgework tends to fade a bit....)

And the best solution to such faults? See 'maintenance' as above. Or else buy one with an up to date service history covering the areas aforementioned, from some nice people who clearly have loved it.

We bought one for our expendable winter-runabout (and as a more interesting alternative to some sacrificial Fiesta or Golf) but sometimes find myself enjoying it more than our other, 'serious' cars... proper little go-kart, it is.

Find a good one and look after it, your commute will be pleasure.

[crofty1984]

CostaBrava1972 said:

Alfa Romeo 147 TS.

SNIP
Find a good one and look after it, your commute will be pleasure.

You know, I did have a 147 TS Lusso in red and it was great. I'm not against having another one, but tempted to try something different. BMW Z3/Z4 are also now on the list.

[Raymond Reddington]

The Swifts are excellent on a back road but when I had mine, I ended up wearing noise cancelling headphones for the commute because its deafening on a dual carriageway or motorway run above 65mph.

[BDKM]

For 2k Toyota Corolla T-sport of a Celica

[Brett748]

I’ve just bought a Renaultsport Twingo as a daily beater to preserve my C63 and I absolutely love it.

It will be on track soon too.

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternates List:

Alfa Mito Veloce 155

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104191...

If you want a bit of a sleeper then the Astra SRI 180 is a cracking buy at this price point:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...

Insignia SRI 220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

Another option is the 2.5 Mazda6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104131...

9-3 Aero

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

Hyundai Coupe V6 a decent steer but with a sweet V6 but you may not see 35mpg more like high 20's

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

Or you could go for a last of the line 2.0 which is the sweeter steer out of the two:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104181...

[Yadizzle1]

Panda 100HP or Suzuki Swift Sport would fit the bill perfectly. Should hit your 35mpg requirement quite easily, will both be a shedload of fun on a day to day drive and should be entertaining on a trackday.

Owned a 100HP for 4 years and it was fantastic

[defblade]

Take the Smarts off your list, I've just test driven a few for my daughter. They put a massive smile on your face, as they are fun... around town, great, but a regular DCWay commute in one is going to get old very quickly. They are noisy and petrol/oil smelly as the engine is almost in the car with you, and also damp and a bit smelly from leaks in the 3 I looked at. Oh, and every single garage/mechanic type person I mentioned them to sucked their teeth and told me about overheating engines. As I say, perfect town car if your longest drive is 10-15 minutes and parking's tight. Anything more, buy a less focused car.


And we were replacing a mk1 Aygo - I car I really loved, reminded me of old Italian cars in its no-frills-just-drive-the-bks-off-me-please way... but I don't think you'd get much more out of one on a track than you would on normal roads


There are 819 convertibles under £2.5k on Autotrader just now, so I'm sure you could find something fun

[Shieldsy94]

BDKM said:

For 2k Toyota Corolla T-sport of a Celica

Good luck finding one for £2k that isn't a shed. These were top of my list but all the ones in this price range that I've seen are horrible.

[crofty1984]

Hello lovely people!
In the interests of finishing this thread - I'll be picking up a 2007 MINI Cooper S convertible on Monday. Thanks all for your advice (and, there was a little scope creep in the price - £2.3k)

[ZX10R NIN]

Nice one OP.

[defblade]

crofty1984 said:

Hello lovely people!
In the interests of finishing this thread - I'll be picking up a 2007 MINI Cooper S convertible on Monday. Thanks all for your advice (and, there was a little scope creep in the price - £2.3k)

Oh, so the bad weather due Monday is your fault!