lanky_mos

Hi Guys,

God knows why im posting this on here, I think its cos you guys have a good range of knowlegde of all models and makes etc...!

Basically im looking at getting a new car in about £3-£5K(absolute max) region.

Criteria, is that it needs to be fairly quick, no higher insurance than group 16, and reliable (having owned a renault - i think it needs to be japenese or german)

SO I have narrowed it down to these few, please tell me what you think:

GOLF MK3 VR6 - stonker of a engine, classy, well built, mint one for about £3.5K,
-Thirsty, tad on heavy side,

Seat ibiza cupra - note cupra not cupra r, so 156bhp 1.8t, not 180bhp. again great engine, easily tuneable,

- still quite expensive, at the very roof of my limit, so wouldnt be able to get a mint one...


Civic vti - 1.6 vti screamer, bullet proof.

- not many good ones for sale, bit of a image.

Any other ideas... thanks

LMS

corradoboy

Inspired by your Golf choice how about a VW Corrado VR6. Superb chassis (better than my Scoob) and very good performance (much better than the VR6 Golf) with the 2.9 V6 24V. A very well respected sports coupe with that rare unique image that you won't get with any other affordable sports car from that era. Two sub £5k ones on the Trader website with 48 & 51k miles right now. Have to question the reliability of all VW's of that era though

There are 3 or 4 turbo Scoobs with below 40k miles also on the Trader. With low miles and good service history, combined with limited modifying they should be reliable and obviously quick.

...or...

99 Nissan 200SX, turbocharged RWD fun

97-99 BMW 3 series coupe

'98-ish Toyota Celica

SupaMiniCupa

Suzuki Ignis Sport (VERY top of your budget)

Mazda MX5

Honda Del Sol Vti (rather than the hatch).

Although I'm guessing you're after a hatch, from your initial choices? Oh, and my choices are 'warm' rather than quick..

sulli

The Cupra is a nice car, well specced up for a hot-hatch (air con, leather etc), and £400-£500 at Jabba/Revo/AMD etc will get you 200+bhp.
German build quality, engines are excellent - very revy and will handle big power - only thing that lets the standard Cupra down is poor braking capability at high speed, and slightly dubious handling (all easily sorted with a few quid again).