£4K “fun” second car
Discussion
I’ll soon be in the position to get myself a new toy and want to see if I’m missing anything.
Family car will be sorted but my car will also need 4 seats for the occasional trip out together so a hot hatch should work.
My budget may stretch to £4500 and my only other criteria is that is can’t cost the earth in maintenance, can’t be majorly prone to rust and not in the top car tax bracket.
As a massive Renault fan a Clio 182 is top of the list. A 197 isn’t ruled out either but I didn’t gel with my last one
whereas I loved my 172.
Corsa VXR’s look appealing and I would consider a FN2 Civic Type R.
Any other suggestions?
Family car will be sorted but my car will also need 4 seats for the occasional trip out together so a hot hatch should work.
My budget may stretch to £4500 and my only other criteria is that is can’t cost the earth in maintenance, can’t be majorly prone to rust and not in the top car tax bracket.
As a massive Renault fan a Clio 182 is top of the list. A 197 isn’t ruled out either but I didn’t gel with my last one
whereas I loved my 172.
Corsa VXR’s look appealing and I would consider a FN2 Civic Type R.
Any other suggestions?
My hot hatch budget has been around £4k for my last three cars... went from a Clio 182 to a Mini Cooper S to now an Astra VXR.
I can see you've had Clio's so don't need to talk about those. The Mini I feel wasn't as good out the box but really came alive with a few mods, had a lot of fun on track with it! The Astra didn't have the best start (definitely wasn't cared for by it's previous owner unfortunately) but I'm now starting to gel with it and despite it's bad image I love the way it looks and that it's a bit bigger.
I'm considering a DS3 as a new project, or possibly a Scirocco GT or 1 Series coupe. I would go for a Corsa VXR but only a Nurburgring edition.
I can see you've had Clio's so don't need to talk about those. The Mini I feel wasn't as good out the box but really came alive with a few mods, had a lot of fun on track with it! The Astra didn't have the best start (definitely wasn't cared for by it's previous owner unfortunately) but I'm now starting to gel with it and despite it's bad image I love the way it looks and that it's a bit bigger.
I'm considering a DS3 as a new project, or possibly a Scirocco GT or 1 Series coupe. I would go for a Corsa VXR but only a Nurburgring edition.
Craig W said:
Outside of hot-hatches which I now find very dull, a nice standard-ish E46 330ci? Lovely sound, handle nicely, classic shape etc.
Good shout and would tick a lot of boxes but I couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a nice, clean example without rust or that hasn’t been ruined. Will add to my search though, cheers 👍🏼CrippsCorner said:
My hot hatch budget has been around £4k for my last three cars... went from a Clio 182 to a Mini Cooper S to now an Astra VXR.
I can see you've had Clio's so don't need to talk about those. The Mini I feel wasn't as good out the box but really came alive with a few mods, had a lot of fun on track with it! The Astra didn't have the best start (definitely wasn't cared for by it's previous owner unfortunately) but I'm now starting to gel with it and despite it's bad image I love the way it looks and that it's a bit bigger.
I'm considering a DS3 as a new project, or possibly a Scirocco GT or 1 Series coupe. I would go for a Corsa VXR but only a Nurburgring edition.
I’ve had a go in a R53 Mini Cooper S which I liked but the lack of any rear legroom (I’m 6”3) and next to no bootspace would rule these out. Shame they didn’t do a supercharged Clubman!I can see you've had Clio's so don't need to talk about those. The Mini I feel wasn't as good out the box but really came alive with a few mods, had a lot of fun on track with it! The Astra didn't have the best start (definitely wasn't cared for by it's previous owner unfortunately) but I'm now starting to gel with it and despite it's bad image I love the way it looks and that it's a bit bigger.
I'm considering a DS3 as a new project, or possibly a Scirocco GT or 1 Series coupe. I would go for a Corsa VXR but only a Nurburgring edition.
I’ve always liked Astra VXR’s but didn’t think they were down to my price point so will check that out.
Thanks for your suggestions.
I'd get a Clio Sport 182 while you still can for under £4k. I reckon people will soon realise how good they are and prices will start climbing accordingly.
Here are some other ideas
What about a fast(ish) Ford?
Focus ST-170 for well under budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204305...
Puma 1.7
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...
Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...
Something German?
BMW 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...
Audi TT 1.8T Quattro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205145...
Mini Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204244...
Here are some other ideas
What about a fast(ish) Ford?
Focus ST-170 for well under budget
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204305...
Puma 1.7
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...
Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...
Something German?
BMW 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...
Audi TT 1.8T Quattro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205145...
Mini Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204244...
Twingo RS:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...
Megane RS225 Cup:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...
Abarth 500:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Mito Quadrifoglio Verde:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Leftfield but worth a look is the Corsa VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...
Megane RS225 Cup:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...
Abarth 500:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Mito Quadrifoglio Verde:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Leftfield but worth a look is the Corsa VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Thanks for your suggestions, it’s nice to see what else is out there.
Not really interested in anything German or with a Ford badge to be honest.
A 182 is top of the list, Megane 225 would be a good shout too but not many around my budget from what I’ve seen ☹️.
Corsa VXR is on the list, have a soft spot for sporty Vauxhalls.
Other thing I’ve spotted is an Abarth Grande Punto.
Is autotrader and PH the best source for searching? Owners clubs, eBay etc. just seem to be dogs.
Not really interested in anything German or with a Ford badge to be honest.
A 182 is top of the list, Megane 225 would be a good shout too but not many around my budget from what I’ve seen ☹️.
Corsa VXR is on the list, have a soft spot for sporty Vauxhalls.
Other thing I’ve spotted is an Abarth Grande Punto.
Is autotrader and PH the best source for searching? Owners clubs, eBay etc. just seem to be dogs.
ZX10R NIN said:
Twingo RS:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...
Megane RS225 Cup:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...
Abarth 500:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Mito Quadrifoglio Verde:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Leftfield but worth a look is the Corsa VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Might want to check that Twingo link https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...
Megane RS225 Cup:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...
Abarth 500:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
Mito Quadrifoglio Verde:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...
Leftfield but worth a look is the Corsa VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205035...
I'd definitely have that for £4k!Regarding the Astra VXR - I bought mine for £3k but that was a week before lockdown v1 - It seems there's only one on AT for under £4.5k now! Guess they've gone up along with everything else.
I found the whole '2 car garage' really frustrating.
It always felt like the world was out to get you.
If you took the boring family car because you wanted to save money and be comfortable, you'd have a nice clear run and wish you had something more fun to enjoy the clear roads. If you took the 'fun' car, you'd end up stuck in traffic, guzzling petrol at an obscene rate and wishing for something with nice soft suspension and mod-cons to just waft you through the jam. You felt permanently in the wrong car! (just perception - it wasn't like that 100% of the time, but often enough to frustrate)
So I 'compromised' and got a Porsche 986S Boxster as my only car!
My only niggle is that my commute has changed since I bought it (company took advantage of lockdown and closed my local office, so instead of 20 miles a day, 5 days a week, I now have 80 miles a day, about once a fortnight) and I now do wish it had cruise control. I know it can be retro-fitted, so may look into that over the summer.
For what it's worth, my previous fun car was a Mazda RX8. Handled like a dream and a high revving engine that really rewarded you when you grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and drove it properly. But unreliable as hell and drank like a fish (the only plus side being you got about 20mpg whether you drove like a saint or hammered it - so didn't feel bad for enjoying it when you could).
It always felt like the world was out to get you.
If you took the boring family car because you wanted to save money and be comfortable, you'd have a nice clear run and wish you had something more fun to enjoy the clear roads. If you took the 'fun' car, you'd end up stuck in traffic, guzzling petrol at an obscene rate and wishing for something with nice soft suspension and mod-cons to just waft you through the jam. You felt permanently in the wrong car! (just perception - it wasn't like that 100% of the time, but often enough to frustrate)So I 'compromised' and got a Porsche 986S Boxster as my only car!
My only niggle is that my commute has changed since I bought it (company took advantage of lockdown and closed my local office, so instead of 20 miles a day, 5 days a week, I now have 80 miles a day, about once a fortnight) and I now do wish it had cruise control. I know it can be retro-fitted, so may look into that over the summer.For what it's worth, my previous fun car was a Mazda RX8. Handled like a dream and a high revving engine that really rewarded you when you grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and drove it properly. But unreliable as hell and drank like a fish (the only plus side being you got about 20mpg whether you drove like a saint or hammered it - so didn't feel bad for enjoying it when you could).
ron130888 said:
Other thing I’ve spotted is an Abarth Grande Punto.
Is autotrader and PH the best source for searching? Owners clubs, eBay etc. just seem to be dogs.
Grande Punto is a good shout, great cars if you can find one. Autotrader is by far the best as the search options are better, i.e. you can exclude cat s/n/c/d cars, etcIs autotrader and PH the best source for searching? Owners clubs, eBay etc. just seem to be dogs.
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