Requirements:

Budget: £6000-7000
Insurance: less than £1500 (2 years NCB and clean licence)
Must be either Japenese or German
Everyday Commute
Low car-jack risk
Look good and go well
Preference Sporty and Comfy (Sporty being more important)
Be used in situations where taking my scoob isnt practical.

So far was thinking alkong the lines of Honda Integra Type R (early model)....

What are people's recommendations?

 

golf gti
civic type r (although you will be pushed to find one at that price)
audi a4 1.8 turbo

 

golf gti - dont like
CTR - out of price range
Audi A4 - too big and old looking

Not that I'm fussy

Bob

 

A bmw 328I coupe in black or silver or maybe boston green

 

Audi A3 1.8turbo then?
BMW compact 316?

 

No-Brainer this one ..........

MX5, buy right and you can run it for years yet still get all your money back!

Pete

 

that puts the mx5 out!

 

yes. The mx5 is impractical and she reckons only old men drive em.

bmws.....too old and pimp looking


Have shortlisted so far:

Audi A3 1.8T Sport
Honda Integra Type R (1999 shape)
Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTi (2000 on)
Golf GTi (maybe GT TDi) - change of mind

or.....


was thinking...the only reason I wanted to avoid buying a scoob was the car-jack/theft factor. Now if I was to buy a Scoob turbo wagon and make it look like a sport or GL that would eliminate that risk. That way she gets a reliable fast car, without attracting the wrong attention. Also can do most of the work myself and hae lots of spares etc. What do you guys reckon?

Bob

 

My mate got a 2001 Golf TDi with 70k miles for £8k I know its over your budget by a grand, but they are quite good cars, and cheap on the old juice and built like a tank.

 

Civic type R or an old shape celica GT4. Celica GT4 may tickle your fancy a bit more as you can pick ane one up for a fairly cheap price. If you dont fancy the civic type R then maybe the watered fown civic VTI (R reg) would be enough. thanks

 

I think removing the bonnet scoop would be detrimental to the airflow over the intercooler unless you fit a FMIC which kind of defeats the object of dressing down the car in the first place !
If a normally aspirated Scoob wagon isn't fast enough for her, go for the 1.8T A3, as it has a bit of tuning potential and there's plenty about.

 

Indeed removing the scoop would be detrumental to airflow. Would need to fit a FMIC which would be easy enough and have it sprayed a stealthy black.

She isnt too keen on wagons at the moment, but i think they are great value for money at the mo. 1999/2000 UK turbos going for around £6500! I just think its a great car.....easy to maintain, reliable etc (personally think they are 'worth' considerably more).

To achieve the stealth GL/sport look would require only a change of bonnets, badges and maybe spoilers (if she'll let me). Oh the fun that could be had with a stealth scoob

Fuel Consumption is a bit of a concern though, as she knows what fuel bills I rack up (but mine is modded and I have heavy feet).

Bob

 

And tailpipe? and possibly interior. Many car thieves aren't stupid.

Not sure a Teg is practical or comfy, and as they're rare they might be a higher carjack risk than expected.

 

std twin tailpipe should be fine etc.

after all, what do we scoob enthusiasts look for when sorting the turbos from the non-turbos?

Bob

 

I think that's my point. If you look for a twin pipe to know it's a turbo, you'll have to change it for a single pea-shooter to look like a sport. No?

 

I think the scoop is the biggest distinguishing factor between turbo and non-turbo. If the car hasnt got a scoop then we know (or at least assume) its a non-turbo. From behind you have the spoiler, badges and exhaust. I dont think its unordinary for a sport to have twin pea shooters.

I always go by the scoop in my mind.

Bob

 

and the tegs rareness isnt a major factor as many cars around here are car-jacked to do bank jobs and ram raiding. They want cars that they know are quick enough for the police not to even bother giving chase.

I have advised her to test drive one if she wants one as they are known to be a little hard.

Bob

 

dare I say the word VOLVO,
a stealthy looking t4 would fit your bill nicely
you could get a low mileage one with all the toys for that money,
give one a try, you or more importantly your wife might like it!
Taffy

 

What about a GTIR

Dont know about price though ??

Personally i'd have a clio 172 and count the change

 

Bought mine a MX5
Great fun to drive. I tend to pinch it fairly often & the Mrs drives the Volvo sounds fair to me.

 

Just moved on my 1999 V-Reg Civic VTi... Practical, reliable, extremely well built and quick.

Only group 15 insurance too, whereas the ITR is group 18!!

Mine had a couple of mods, and ran its one and only 1/4 mile in 15.1secs and was rolling roaded at 175bhp.

Great on petrol if not being constantly driven in VTEC.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Dont think you'll get away with a stealth scoob, you can hear that lovely flat four rumbling away.

 

Bought my Mrs a Fabia vRS...trouble is I'm always borrowing it as its a lot more fun around town than my Scoob

 

Forester turbo ?

no-one takes a second look. Practical as you like. Handling can be sorted for peanuts. JDM is 240 or 250 ps ( depends on MY ), UK 177ps . Insurance lower than scoob and you know what problems to look for already.

2 seconds on autotrader has a uk 99 T s-turbo with leather / heated seats - 61k on the clock for 6 grand trade.

My missus loves driving mine ...


Steve

 

Japanese/German:
Nissan Almera GTI
Toyota Celica GT
BMW 323i
Audi A3 1.8T
Honda Civic TypeR (EK9)
Lexus Soarer
Toyota Altezza RS200

Other:
Clio172
Seat Leon Cupra
Seat Ibiza 1.8T
Octavia vRS
Astra/Vectra GSI/SRI
Focus ST170
MG ZS 180
Alfa 156 V6