Best fun, practical, economical small car ?

[andys]

Seriously considering getting a new motor (will be a 2nd car as we have a scenic diesel) I always wanted a 5 th gen golf gti, but insurance and petrol prices put me off now.

Anyone recommend a small practical car that would make a good runabout and returns decent mpg ? Ideally something fun to drive with decent performance.

Was looking at mini diesel and Audi A1 diesel, but they only have 2 seats in the rear and I need 3. Maybe a golf diesel ? Only wanted to spend around 10k tops ideally. the less the better - just want something that's reliable, safe etc.

Cheers
Andy

[mole2k]

GT TDI golf ?

[johnnygibbon]

robin reliant

[Jabber]

What about a Ford puma, future classic lol. Skoda fabia vrs?

[Sk8er_alex]

the skoda would be a good one to get and its vw made anyway thats my next car

[Chequered Flag Racing]

this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEKyu5xN6ik&feature=related

[Richard Lowe]

Fun to drive + Diesel = Mutually exclusive :p

[andys]

Fun to drive + Diesel = Mutually exclusive :p

I did consider an R32 as they are giving one away at my local garage as no one can afford to put petrol in it :p

I'm after something to keep for a while, so with rising fuel costs I need to be sensible, don't want to end up with something I can't afford to run !

[ben]

If your looking to spend 10k on a car.. surelyyy you must be able to stretch to an extra few pennies for insurance 'n fuel?!

Alfa romeo Mito?

[Richard Lowe]

no one can afford to put petrol in it :p
Sounds about right :lol:

The GTi is a bit more agile and fun to drive than the R32, similar performance and slightly better on fuel too. On the other hand they sound like a hair dryer and are front wheel drive so don't put all their power down in the wet.

Any good...?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201113383143569/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/petrol/transmission/automatic/price-to/10000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/model/golf/make/volkswagen/page/1/postcode/ls134an/radius/1500?logcode=p

[andys]

If your looking to spend 10k on a car.. surelyyy you must be able to stretch to an extra few pennies for insurance 'n fuel?!

Alfa romeo Mito?

Ben. Insurance on a 'sporty car' for me would be around the £600-£800 mark, on something sensible £200. Road tax each year varies from £0 to around £300-£400 for something with a decent engine. Then fuel, a diesel golf will do around double the milage of an R32 for example, maybe be even pushing double of a GTI. Tyres will also be £150 ish a corner rather then £55 for a more sensible motor, lots to consider above and beyond the price of the actual car.

There's some serious cash involved in running certain cars these days, that's why i'm asking the question which / what car is a good compromise of all the above ?

[WHITTLER555]

Buy a good Impreza for £4k, 4 door roomy saloon for the kids, £1k max insurance at your age and spend maybe £1.5k per year on fuel? You have saved £3.5k. Depends on how many miles you will drive I suppose.

[andys]

Sounds about right :lol:

The GTi is a bit more agile and fun to drive than the R32, similar performance and slightly better on fuel too. On the other hand they sound like a hair dryer and are front wheel drive so don't put all their power down in the wet.

Any good...?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201113383143569/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/petrol/transmission/automatic/price-to/10000/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/model/golf/make/volkswagen/page/1/postcode/ls134an/radius/1500?logcode=p

Rich. Looks nice but i'd really be looking for something with much lowers miles on the clock - 98K scares me !

[andys]

Buy a good Impreza for £4k, 4 door roomy saloon for the kids, £1k max insurance at your age and spend maybe £1.5k per year on fuel? You have saved £3.5k. Depends on how many miles you will drive I suppose.


Believe me i've considered something similar - I saw a nice new shape Impreza STI for very sensible money !
The problem will be compounded by how many years you run the car, and 'if' petrol prices go sky high !

[WHITTLER555]

Well, this is what I have done, big bangs for small bucks, very reliable.

But you what they say - You don't get OWT for NOWT!

I think you are looking for a mythical beast, fast car, low fuel, they don't exactly go hand in hand.

Saying that you could buy a Peugeot 309 GTi, they are about £400 on Ebay, pretty quick and only 1.9 petrol normally aspirated, rare too.

[andys]

I think you are looking for a mythical beast, fast car, low fuel, they don't exactly go hand in hand.


I know what you mean, I do though keep coming back to golf GT's or Audi A3 diesel equivalents. 170bhp and good fuel economy if you are sensible.

If I only had 2 kids i'd but a mini cooper diesel. A friend has one, it's great to drive, pulls really well and gets approaching 80mpg on a long run :)

[Richard Lowe]

It's still a diesel though, the turbo diesel engines are fine for grunt - but the way they deliver it is 'orrible.

My Dad's got an Octavia with a 2L 140hp diesel which is fine for go, but it's no fun. You get what feels like nothing until the turbo kicks in, then a second or so of power then nothing again, maybe I've been spoilt by my NA V6 :)

I don't think mileage is that much of an issue on modern cars so long as they've been well looked after (within reason obviously).

Anyway if you stopped buying random 8th kits and engines you'd be able to afford to fuel/tax an R32 :p

[Chrislong]

Claires just bought a Seat Ibiza FR petrol, its 150bhp 1.4TSI with DSG, it is amazing and I love it. 0-60 is 7.6 seconds, it is £120 to tax and insurance is low (she saved £200 a year over her 1.6 Pug 206cc despite the Seat being a higher group). Apparently it'll return around 40-50mpg, although we're yet to get much more than 35mpg.... its probably still tight, only done 600miles.

[Richard Lowe]

I've not driven one but the 1.4 TSI is meant to be an awesome little engine :)

[Stu]

I'm with Damo.

Buy something old & fun, especially if you have a local garage mechanic that you know and trust.

2K will buy you something real nice if you go older, but will take some good hunting to get something good.

It'll need some looking after by your local man (who will like it 'cos he can fix it) but the savings overall, including fuel & insurance, will be massive compared to shelling out 10K to buy the thing.

306 GTI-6 On Autotrader. (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201114383695439/sort/priceasc/price-to/3000/price-from/1000/model/306/make/peugeot/radius/1501/keywords/gti/postcode/bb120ld/page/1/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/124540/usedcars?logcode=flp)

If I needed a car I'd buy that, nice plate on it too.

[Stu]

Actually, I think I am 'gonna buy that. :woot:

[andys]

Which one Stu ?
Were you already looking, or is it a spur of the moment thing !

[mdb_75]

It's in Astor Grey too which was regarded as the nicest, most exclusive colour to have a '6' in over at 306gti6.com when I used to own a Diablo red one! They've come down in value too...

Oh and they are fun!

[Col]

It's still a diesel though, the turbo diesel engines are fine for grunt - but the way they deliver it is 'orrible.

My Dad's got an Octavia with a 2L 140hp diesel which is fine for go, but it's no fun. You get what feels like nothing until the turbo kicks in, then a second or so of power then nothing again, maybe I've been spoilt by my NA V6 :)

I don't think mileage is that much of an issue on modern cars so long as they've been well looked after (within reason obviously).

Anyway if you stopped buying random 8th kits and engines you'd be able to afford to fuel/tax an R32 :p

You're driving the wrong diesels, Rich!
Take mine for a spin if you're at York this sat...



edit: Gti-6's are awesome value for money at £1400. Only better 306 is a rallye and they're less spec for more money... buy it now and never regret it!

[SlowOne]

Fun to drive + Diesel = Mutually exclusive :pTry a 306 D Turbo and change your mind!

I am with the others on here who recommend the 306. Almost anything on that chassis is a hoot to drive, with proper steering feel and a great ride. Since there is no gain without pain, and as they are French, the electrics seem to have a Gallic shrug about them when it comes to working reliably! If you are looking at one, check twice that all the electrics work as they should.

On the plus side, the engines are good for 200k if the oil is changed regularly, and the parts are readily available as they are usually common to both Citroen and Peugeot. If I were to buy a classic, a 306 GTi-6 would be top of my list. HTH :)

[daz]

You're driving the wrong diesels, Rich!
Take mine for a spin if you're at York this sat...
I dont think Rich would get very excited driving a astra van:lol:



edit: Gti-6's are awesome value for money at £1400. Only better 306 is a rallye and they're less spec for more money... buy it now and never regret it!
Should change that to 'Buy it now, always regret it':lol:

[Hog]

Fabia VRS - mine's a 54 plate with 105K on the clock. Still feels solid, and pulls like a steam train thanks to 130bhp as standard and a six speed box.

Not to mention 60mpg on the motorway :woot: