Tax evasive roadtests needed.

[Tuff Noodell]

I have received my proposed tax bill for my company car and have now decided to not take it home from work thus eliminating any taxable benefit to myself.

I now need a fun, good handling cheap car to run the 25 miles each way to and from work.

Can anyone suggest any cheap fun motors to test drive. I need to keep my total expenditure for the year to less than £4000 incl financing the vehicle.

[Jason F]

A nice little Mk1 MR2 can be got for that sorta cash. A lotta fun to drive too, and get a T-top for both sunny days of the year

[mcecm]

1l citroen saxo. Beats most things round corners and its cheap.

[mondeoman]

Tax company drivers off the roads..........
As you've just pointed out, how do they get to work then??

Will you be liable for the carparking space tax seeing as its still "your" car?

[Tuff Noodell]

mcecm

Strange you should mention the Saxo, I had thought of that myself, thought that the VTR may be the best balance between fun and economy....
Have you tried it?

[currymonster]

quote:
Will you be liable for the carparking space tax seeing as its still "your" car?

I didnt know there was one????

[mcecm]

VTR is a good bet just don't mention it too much round here or the "Saddos in Saxos" brigade will shoot you down.

[Fatboy]

VTR is quite a nice motor - handles well, pulls quite well. But the pedals and gearbox are awkward (especially if you're over 6').

How about a mint old Mini Cooper (90s)? From somewhere like cooper garages, Minisport or Miniman? An absolute scream to drive, dirt cheap to run and insure, easy to park and you ALWAYS get let out of side turnings

[Paul V]

Minis are good fun and very tuneable if you wanted to go that way, how about a Porsche 924 turbo?

[Tuff Noodell]

Yeh, I read the Saddos in Saxos thread and cringed at my impending classification, however if it is such a good car surely I am not obliged to fit trumpet exhausts and glowing lights on my dash. Is it possible to buy one without a bootful of sub woofers????

At the risk of getting linched, I have had some very bad experiences with mini's. Everyone I meet raves about how much fun they are.... however my experience involves 1 No. accident in one, 3 No. repairs to get me home. So far every trip I have done in a mini has not got me to my destination - is this a standard feature of the cars.

[Leadfoot]

Don't get a Saxo, go for a 106 Gti instead. Mechanicaly almost the same, but looks a lot better (& not 'maxed') IMHO. 'er indoors has got one which we've had for 4 years with no probs.
Try one - I garuantee you'll like the way it goes.

[thom]

quote:
Minis are good fun and very tuneable if you wanted to go that way, how about a Porsche 924 turbo?

Erm...They're quite slow compared to most modern machinery: a friend of my dad who has one has decided he will sell it because his diesel golf goes faster...

[beano1197]

quote:

Can anyone suggest any cheap fun motors to test drive.

You'll be wanting one of them special two-wheeled-jobbies. Can't get much more fun for the money! Think they're called bikes......

Pity, I've just sold me R6

[smeagol]

quote:
Minis are good fun

Erm...They're quite slow compared to most modern machinery: a friend of my dad who has one has decided he will sell it because his diesel golf goes faster

Depends on the mini, the Cooper Sport is nippy (ok not the highest top speed) but the handling is still lots of fun. I suspect that the mini cooper 1.3i would out perform a Golf on the twisty stuff.

Its also a question of character, you buy a mini because of the fun drive and so you don't look like a member of the max-power brigade.

[Fatboy]

quote:Minis are good fun

Erm...They're quite slow compared to most modern machinery: a friend of my dad who has one has decided he will sell it because his diesel golf goes faster

In a straight line yes, but there's not much can keep up with a well driven Mini on a twisty, poorly surfaced B-road. Plus you could bung one of the engines off this site in one www.holeshotracing.co.uk/tuning/turbo_car.asp
The reliabilty is not too bad if you look afetr them, and buy a good one from a mini specialist you SHOULD be OK.

[campbell]

Stick with the MR2, there are good fun and I know it

[Tuff Noodell]

Cambell

Have you tried the Mk2 MR2's? Are they any better or should I concentrate on the older Mk 1's

[tycho]

I've got a Saxo VTR (without the max power crap on it) and it isn't as bad as people say it is. For the price it is really good fun especially if you don't want to pay lots for the insurance (I live in quite a rough area). I'm keeping mine until I can afford a "proper" sports car (and a house with a garage). Go and try one and then make a judgement, just don't add the bean can exhaust and the LED washer nozzles!!!!

[M@H]

quote:
Don't get a Saxo, go for a 106 Gti instead. Mechanicaly almost the same, but looks a lot better (& not 'maxed') IMHO. 'er indoors has got one which we've had for 4 years with no probs.
Try one - I garuantee you'll like the way it goes.

Get the SAXO !! IMHO much better looking than the 106, plus better interior, and the suspension setup on the VTR/VTS is fantastic..

Top Torque is at a much lower range in the VTR also (round 3000 rpm) rather than about 5000 in the 106) so it gives you a sporty drive without revving the knackers off it.. plus its a bit lighter.. plus you could get the VTS if you need more speed.. 1 second faster 0-60 than the 106 (8 secs=VTS).

my " 'er indoors " has got one, and her brother too.. nice motors

Cheers
Matt.

[tycho]

I've got a Saxo VTR (without the max power crap on it) and it isn't as bad as people say it is. For the price it is really good fun especially if you don't want to pay lots for the insurance (I live in quite a rough area). I'm keeping mine until I can afford a "proper" sports car (and a house with a garage). Go and try one and then make a judgement, just don't add the bean can exhaust and the LED washer nozzles!!!!