A mate of mine who has just finished his 5 year course in Automotive Engineering at Bath University has £6000 to spend on a car. We've been racking our brains for *interesting* options. The prerequists are that it needs to be reliable, at least a tiny bit practical and not a nightmare to insure. He's 24 with 6 years NCB and a clean license.

What would you buy in his position?

Ben.
MY99 Sport.

P.S. As much as he's tempted he doesn't want a Scoob as all his mates have them!

[This message has been edited by blf21 (edited 02 October 2001).]

 

Clio Wiliams perhaps? Stay with a scoob through the twisties I reckon but not on th straights.... flame suit on.....

 

Nissan 200SX?

Pick them up dirt cheap (have you seen the depreciation on them!) , 197BHP, rear wheel drive.

Friend of mine bought one brand new just over a year ago for £22,500. He is now considering getting rid as it is costing him too much to run. I didn't have the heart to tell him it is probably worth half what he payed for it now....

 

306 GTi-6

 

you stupid fools, Sunny GTiR!!!

 

Rover 620 ti Motobuild chip, Konis, Motobuild Springs and some tyres

A very understated Q car!

[This message has been edited by Scott J Davies (edited 02 October 2001).]

 

A mate has just picked up a pulsar for 6k. In gunmetal grey, 1 lady(?) owner. 40k on the clock.

Nice .....

From his history of owning motors it won't stay stock very long.

Keep an ear out around yateley for him

SteveM

 

Might be able to pick up a E30 M3 if he is lucky or a 944 turbo. Insurance is a killer on both though. The E30 M3 is the nicest handling car I have ever driven. LHD is not a problem but the dogleg gearbox takes some getting used to.
Mark

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Scott J Davies:
<B>Rover 620 ti Motobuild chip, Konis, Motobuild Springs and some tyres

A very understated Q car![/quote]

But how reliable can you honestly say it is???

I agree with others, a Nissan Sunny GTi-R/Pulsar GTi-R is the way forward for that sort of money - Scoob performance on the cheap!!!

Matt

 

BMW E30 M3.

 

BMW E30 M3. But then I would say that wouldn't I! LOL

 

Nissan Pulsar GTiR if he can afford the insurance.

 

If he doesnt mind buyin a turbo kit every year then a calibra turbo is top value for money!

 

Ford Ka on nitrous oxide.

 

I agree.......

Sunny GTi-R all the way.
A black one with white rims and a fat exhaust mmmmmm Jap look is dogs.

 

Um, the Sunny/Pulsar is suffering from a change in ownership profile at the moment.

How about some sort of turbocharged 4wd quattro? Or Seat Ibiza Cupra?

 

Golf VR6

 

Another Gti-R vote, if he can find a good one.

Insurance was a lot less than a Scoob when I was looking a couple of years back, personally I like them in white, but are a bit thin on the ground.

Othrewise a Corrado V6 should be within range, or a 16v Ibiza Gti.

 

Toyota Celica GT4 or Toyota MR2 Turbo.

Bren

 

Pulsar/Sunny GTI-R as first choice I think, but a couple of others not mentioned yet include the Fiat Coupe Turbo and Honda Prelude VTEC (used to own one of these and still miss the VTEC doing it's stuff).

 

Think we've all missed something....

"not a nightmare to insure....."

All these cars would give the poor bloke a heart attack!!!!

 

Mondeo ST24/Ghia,Saloon/Hatch very nice motors

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Lushman:
At the end of day what does he want the car for. My mum didn't buy a metro for performance and I didn't buy my scoob for economy.
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

He'll be using it mainly for the daily commute to work - along very twisty (and muddy ) Mendip hills to Swindon. Then at weekends to go see his g/f in Reading and when not doing that, going mountain biking at various places.

Its the classic conflict of interests, and the same problem I had last year. Complete petrol head, with a limited budget, but also needs reliability and practicallity. I went for an Impreza Sport, as did another mate of mine just after. 3 would be a little OTT though...

 

Cheers for all the replies... the thinking has been pretty much along the same lines as we've had...

Clio Williams
106 Gti
306 Gti-6
MkIII Golf VR6
Corrado VR6 (insurance pretty high)
Golf Rallye (ditto)
Seat Cupra variants
BMW 320i
Westie

Keep 'em comming though - he's after something that handles well, has a useful turn of speed, although doesn't have to be silly quick, but mose of all; a bit of character.


Ben.

 

"not a nightmare to insure....."

a brand new daewoo matiz??? got twin airbag, air-cond and alloy :-)

 

Pug 406 3.0 V6 194-210bhp 0-60 7s, 0-100 19.4s, 149mph, 30-70 6.9 IG16. Fully loaded with leather, climate, CD changer, auto wipers, and a very refined engine with exceptional ride and pretty good handling.

3year old example with 30000 might only set you back £7k.

 

personally, i like the pulsar. but how about a honda prelude 2.2 vtec? cheap as chips at the mo, and ive seen one in colchester that looks well tasty, sounds sort of like an f1 car with the mods its got.
IMHO a good looking car, reasonably quick, and honda build quality.

 

I'll go with John Banks on this one. My 406 V6 (estate for practicality) goes to auction on the 12th. 80k miles, fsh, about £4k. Absolutely cracking car, everyone expects it to be diesel. Great for motorways, bit soggy around the bends - overall good value for money, insurance about £500 fully comp, £100 xs

 

SMART !
Funky - cheap to run - nippy etc etc.
& its new so no MOT or replacing bits for a few years too !
& it has a warranty !
& you can park it in places no-one else can get into !

Ro.

 

Tell your mate to stop messing around and buy a Cossie. He can get a decent 2wd saff for 5k, leaving 1k for insurance. Broadside city in one of these puppies. Mines been 100% reliable apart from the Rocker cover gasket going. Which aint major when you look at it.
astraboy.
"I like to broadside my Cossie.... It gives me a deep meditation...."