Fun, reliable, practical car for £5k?
Discussion
Hello,
I've been driving PCP EVs for a while now and I've decided I'd like to get off the finance merry-go-round, release the equity that's in the car (by some miracle, it seems to be worth almost as much as I paid for it) and get something that's more fun to drive. The EV is quick (Volvo EX30 Twin Motor) but the speed is just a party trick, it rolls like nobody's business if you try to carry any speed through corners and it's utterly soulless.
This should leave me with about £5k to spend on its replacement.
It will be our only car but we only do about 5,000 miles a year.
It needs to be reasonably practical (hatch, saloon or estate; decent boot) but, above all, reliable.
I've always wanted to try a Megane RS (the ones made from 2010 2016) but the only ones I can find for £5k look a bit ropey. I'd also consider a Clio RS, although they might be a bit small. What's their reliability like?
I realise this sort of question gets asked on here a lot. I've been through other similar threads but I'd appreciate any advice.
Thanks very much in advance.
Edit:
I've had a lot of German hot hatches in the past; I'd like to try something different this time.
I've been driving PCP EVs for a while now and I've decided I'd like to get off the finance merry-go-round, release the equity that's in the car (by some miracle, it seems to be worth almost as much as I paid for it) and get something that's more fun to drive. The EV is quick (Volvo EX30 Twin Motor) but the speed is just a party trick, it rolls like nobody's business if you try to carry any speed through corners and it's utterly soulless.
This should leave me with about £5k to spend on its replacement.
It will be our only car but we only do about 5,000 miles a year.
It needs to be reasonably practical (hatch, saloon or estate; decent boot) but, above all, reliable.
I've always wanted to try a Megane RS (the ones made from 2010 2016) but the only ones I can find for £5k look a bit ropey. I'd also consider a Clio RS, although they might be a bit small. What's their reliability like?
I realise this sort of question gets asked on here a lot. I've been through other similar threads but I'd appreciate any advice.
Thanks very much in advance.
Edit:
I've had a lot of German hot hatches in the past; I'd like to try something different this time.
Edited by BillTheButcher on Wednesday 12th August 16:58
Lefty said:
I've heard and read good things about these; definitely going on the shortlist.Lefty said:
Is that the generation with the Prince engine?kiethton said:
I had no idea you could get them for that kind of money. 
I had an M140i years ago which I found quite twitchy and frustrating to drive; it sounded nice, though, and I really liked the interior.
Another one for the shortlist.
kiethton said:
Yeah, but not that one.This one: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/16997669...
Sorted suspension and an LSD.
Edit: I don't know the seller of the above. This is mine. Auto with standard suspension and no LSD
Still a great car for not a lot of money.
Edited by pti on Friday 14th August 09:53
A Mk3 Megane RS (250/265/275) is an incredible car, but the examples at £5k will need maintenance and you'll end up spending more making it right. IMO a good example will be north of £8k, especially if you want Cup/Recaro's etc Clio is a great option, boxes have some issues but the rest are simple and robust. Renaultsports aren't nearly as fragile as many say.
At this budget you'll get a leggy 130i, we run a track car on 150k miles, and it gets properly used hard and it just laps it up. Brilliant car, especially with some choice upgrades. That gets my vote.
At this budget you'll get a leggy 130i, we run a track car on 150k miles, and it gets properly used hard and it just laps it up. Brilliant car, especially with some choice upgrades. That gets my vote.
130i owner here too. A fabulous all rounder IMO.
Desperately needs a LSD and you need to make sure the suspension has been refreshed. Mine has the Birds B1 kit on it, 17" wheels, M3 arms and a steering wheel from a 320d (the standard M Sport robs it of feedback). Have a BDS induction kit ready to go to release a bit more noise too.
I would get a HPAS car too - drove mine back to back with an EPAS and it was miles better for feel.
Desperately needs a LSD and you need to make sure the suspension has been refreshed. Mine has the Birds B1 kit on it, 17" wheels, M3 arms and a steering wheel from a 320d (the standard M Sport robs it of feedback). Have a BDS induction kit ready to go to release a bit more noise too.
I would get a HPAS car too - drove mine back to back with an EPAS and it was miles better for feel.
Another vote for the Fiesta ST if you can get one in budget. Always love driving my partners, such great fun! Also surprisingly practical (we get our 2 large dogs in the boot easily!) and very frugal if required. Interior is pretty dated now though and the ride is firm so worth bearing in mind.
127Sport said:
Brilliant should. Kia Proceed 3 door in its 'hot' trim another good one. Would be F56 Mini for me though, in ANY spec!! Alfa Giulietta maybe? Not Toyota levels of reliability, but much better than you'd expect - and dare I say it, more reliable overall than the equivalent German cars...
Look at either the 1.4 turbo with 170bhp or the 1.75 Cloverleaf with 235bhp. The 1.4 170 is fast enough to be fun, and £5k should be enough for a very nice example.
Engines are very reliable as long as they're properly serviced with the correct oil. Make sure the service history demonstrates this and avoid anything that's had cheap crap oil rather than the correct Selenia/Petronas stuff.
Check that the electrics all work (particularly dual zone climate control), and check for rust around the rear end of the sills.
Look at either the 1.4 turbo with 170bhp or the 1.75 Cloverleaf with 235bhp. The 1.4 170 is fast enough to be fun, and £5k should be enough for a very nice example.
Engines are very reliable as long as they're properly serviced with the correct oil. Make sure the service history demonstrates this and avoid anything that's had cheap crap oil rather than the correct Selenia/Petronas stuff.
Check that the electrics all work (particularly dual zone climate control), and check for rust around the rear end of the sills.
Buyer beware on those 130is
My experience if knowing people with them are endless tails of unreliability, oil leaks, coolant leaks, general aging BMW,, leaking plastic valve covers, Vanos issues and subframe corrosion.
I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.
They are old cars now and show their age.
About the only dedeeming feature is the noise is decent.
Also lots of people say they're great once you do this that and the other
Most cars will be great if you fit an LSD and change the whole suspension
My experience if knowing people with them are endless tails of unreliability, oil leaks, coolant leaks, general aging BMW,, leaking plastic valve covers, Vanos issues and subframe corrosion.
I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.
They are old cars now and show their age.
About the only dedeeming feature is the noise is decent.
Also lots of people say they're great once you do this that and the other
Most cars will be great if you fit an LSD and change the whole suspension
There's actually a lot of choice out there for your budget from Hot to warm but also reliable.
1.6T GTC:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608114...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607234...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607124...
ProCeed GT Tech:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606083...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607304...
Giulietta Sportiva:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511308...
Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607254...
Scirocco GT:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607204...
Full Fat GTC VXR very hard to look past at this price point:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607274...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605032...
208 GTI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608115...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608094...
1.6T GTC:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608114...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607234...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607124...
ProCeed GT Tech:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606083...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607304...
Giulietta Sportiva:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511308...
Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607254...
Scirocco GT:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607204...
Full Fat GTC VXR very hard to look past at this price point:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607274...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605032...
208 GTI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608115...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608094...
TechnoKnows said:
Buyer beware on those 130is
My experience if knowing people with them are endless tails of unreliability, oil leaks, coolant leaks, general aging BMW,, leaking plastic valve covers, Vanos issues and subframe corrosion.
I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.
They are old cars now and show their age.
About the only dedeeming feature is the noise is decent.
Also lots of people say they're great once you do this that and the other
Most cars will be great if you fit an LSD and change the whole suspension
From someone who actually owned one and still regrets selling.My experience if knowing people with them are endless tails of unreliability, oil leaks, coolant leaks, general aging BMW,, leaking plastic valve covers, Vanos issues and subframe corrosion.
I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.
They are old cars now and show their age.
About the only dedeeming feature is the noise is decent.
Also lots of people say they're great once you do this that and the other
Most cars will be great if you fit an LSD and change the whole suspension
I took mine to 170k miles (did 120k in 8 years) - I had none of those problems.
Didn’t need an LSD, replaced shocks/springs at about 70k as you would in many cars.
A quick look on the MOT history check website suggests it’s still going strong at 189k miles.
Just need to find a good one.
swanny71 said:
From someone who actually owned one and still regrets selling.
I took mine to 170k miles (did 120k in 8 years) - I had none of those problems.
Didn t need an LSD, replaced shocks/springs at about 70k as you would in many cars.
A quick look on the MOT history check website suggests it s still going strong at 189k miles.
Just need to find a good one.
That's fair enough. I took mine to 170k miles (did 120k in 8 years) - I had none of those problems.
Didn t need an LSD, replaced shocks/springs at about 70k as you would in many cars.
A quick look on the MOT history check website suggests it s still going strong at 189k miles.
Just need to find a good one.
It's just a warning on how a 5k fun car can swallow a few some thousand, especially with one with as many common problems like the 130i
I'd be looking for the least rusty well serviced fn2 I could find
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