£5k sporty-ish, ULEZ compliant, reliable what would you bu

[Tallerton12]

Hi all,

Looking for some PH advice — I’m buying my Mrs a car with roughly these constraints:

Budget: ~£5,000

Sporty feel but reliable/low-hassle

ULEZ compliant

she does around 7,000 miles a year

So far I’ve looked at:

BMW Z4

MINI Cooper S

Basically she wants something with a bit more fun than a normal run-around, but I don’t want to end up on every forum moaning about yet another expensive repair.

Other cars you’d recommend in the same ballpark that are:

Sporty/fun to drive, ULEZ compliant, and Generally less of a maintenance headache at this budget.

Happy to consider hatch/coupe/roadster as long as it’s usable day-to-day and doesn’t turn into a wallet-drainer.

Cheers.

[soad]

Suzuki Swift Sport?

[ZX10R NIN]

Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601219...

208 Prestige:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601309...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601109...

RCZ GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508135...

GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512128...

SLK 300:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601169...

3.2 TT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510107...

350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602039...

Kia ProCeed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601249...

R32:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512208...

[thatguyoverthere]

Left field https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510046...

[robemcdonald]

Boxster

[biggbn]

Left field again, we have just bought a Honda CRZ as a cheap run around for Mrs Biggbn, it was half your budget and is one of those cars we have instantly loved and brings a smile to our face at 30mph. 5k likely buys the best available and I doubt a good one will lose money...£35 road tax, 45mpg trundling around.

[_kitt_]

I bought an Audi TT 3.2 for £2688. Plenty of money left for maintenance. Still in the cheaper tax band too.

FSH, replacement dsg box 7k miles ago, chains all good per computer. Good car for the money.

[biggbn]

_kitt_ said:

I bought an Audi TT 3.2 for £2688. Plenty of money left for maintenance. Still in the cheaper tax band too.

FSH, replacement dsg box 7k miles ago, chains all good per computer. Good car for the money.

Great buy. Like these a lot

[chip*]

_kitt_ said:

I bought an Audi TT 3.2 for £2688. Plenty of money left for maintenance. Still in the cheaper tax band too.

FSH, replacement dsg box 7k miles ago, chains all good per computer. Good car for the money.

Crikey, lot of car for not a lot of cash!

I bought a new 3.2 TTR on 2004 which I started tracking. Very quickly realised 1)I wasn't very good at driving 2) the TTR was a poor choice for a track car!

[ZX10R NIN]

Any suggestions work for you OP?

[Dog Biscuit]

what about a 500 abarth so something?

[Dozymare]

[quote=ZX10R NIN]

GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512128...

I would put this in the category "wallet drainer"

Love mine to bits but fuel economy is just hideous (if you drive like a granny you might be able to achieve 30mpg - I'm sure I've managed it once, usually you're looking at very low 20s), and whenever anything breaks you have to add the VXR tax to the cost of repair (front discs come in at around £1000 the pair for the parts alone if you replace using like for like aftermarket)

[drgoatboy]

A £5k cooper s is going to be loads of hassle assuming it's a 1.6 turbo. I had one for a couple of years and loved it. Spent a small fortune on preventative maintenance and it ran great, but there was always something. If you are prepared to love it and cherish it I would whole heartedly recommend. If you just want to put petrol on it and service it every other year I wouldn't...

[Garett]

soad said:

Suzuki Swift Sport?

I came here to say the same thing, 2012-17 ZC32S will be within budget. I am biased as I own one. A highly agile, fun little car that will look after you in terms of running costs and reliability. You get quite a lot of kit for your money too, Xenon lights, BT, cruise control, ACC, decent seats too that are comfortable even on a longer run.

[E17KRY]

I was looking for something similar and managed to get an F56 mini cooper s for £4k in November 108k miles full mini service history, chilli pack but with a bit of lacquer peel on the bonnet. I would reccomend one although if you get one with halogen lights you'll have to replace the bulbs as they are useless!

I've also had a mk 2 TT with the 3.2 and I loved that so would also recommend one as well.

I had the BMW E89 Z4 on the shortlist but couldn't justify the extra cost to the Mrs she also vetoed an Abarth 500.

I think I was also looking at Fiesta St's at that price point.

Good luck with the search!

[biggbn]

E17KRY said:

I was looking for something similar and managed to get an F56 mini cooper s for £4k in November 108k miles full mini service history, chilli pack but with a bit of lacquer peel on the bonnet. I would reccomend one although if you get one with halogen lights you'll have to replace the bulbs as they are useless!

I've also had a mk 2 TT with the 3.2 and I loved that so would also recommend one as well.

I had the BMW E89 Z4 on the shortlist but couldn't justify the extra cost to the Mrs she also vetoed an Abarth 500.

I think I was also looking at Fiesta St's at that price point.

Good luck with the search!

I adore my Mini. Smile every time I drive it and its only a basic OneD. Good shout.

[ChrisH72]

I was thinking Swift Sport but was surprised to find there aren't many available under 5k. Can be done though.

Plenty of F56 Mini Coopers around that price. The 1.5 engine is decent I believe.