turboman786

I am after a cheap runabout as my 530i guzzles fuel like its free around town, and also a few scratches have been added to the otherwise pristine body by the local chavioso....

So I am thinking of using the BM for longer trips only, and getting a chepao car for doing my daily local running around.

I am looking for something cheap, reliable, and maybe even a bit fun/cool

I love loads of cars from the early 90s , especially BMs,mercs and all manner of jap stuff...basically all the cars I lusted after back in the day, but could not afford...

It has to do 30mpg at least, which excludes most of the more desirable sub £1k cars, I was thinking MR2 etc, but I dont even think these will do 30mpg in crappy stop start driving from cold....

Going 4 400bhp

iTrader: (2)

Add just a little more money and get yourself a PEUGEOT 306 2.0 16V GTi-6 .

I have had to of these and they are great! May even do 30mpg

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

There is only one car for you, MK2 Golf GTI 8 valve.

Cool Yes
30 MPG Yes


Ok, 112 bhp might not rate as much these days but they are faster than the figures suggest and in the past have given a 530i a run for its money from a standstill with minor mods. They handle well and the steering is fantastic. there are pitfalls but I have commented at length amongst others so do a quick search.

You wont lose any money on one nowadays if you buy a nice one and look after it.

Going 4 400bhp

iTrader: (2)

Had one of these too!

Great car but mine had a VR6 2.9 in it from a corrado!!!

I heard the guy i sold it to then added a superchager!!!! NUTS

Adidas

Agree with almost everything above as I've currently got a 1990 Big Bumper 5 dr. However, got to disagree with the steering, nowhere as light and direct as the 205 GTi I had before. All IMHO though

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Adidas, its fantastic compared to modern cars, also, my last one didnt have PAS, heavy for the missus but a very statisfying drive.

Adidas

Mine hasn't got PAS either. I do sympathise with the Mrs as the steering is heavy without it. My other half isn't interested in driving it either and refuses to drive the Scoob ("It's too fast" ). Therefore she's quite happy to drive the 1.25 Fiesta around

Blueblaster

How about this for left field. A Fiat Seicento Sporting. We have one for zooming around town. You can park anywhere, the engine loves to be revved and you can chuck it around at low speeds. Should be able to get a 5 yr old one for about a grand. Oh, and 45mpg doing short runs around town.

jayoz

IVE just bought a e30 318is for £250 need to spend bout £200 on it but will be a fun little second car!!!!!!

djmisio85

Mate, get a citroen ax, or saxo or pug 106, all basically the same car, great fuel economy, even if your ragging it. Great handling, probably the best handling hot hatch (if you can call it that) of its time, compared to clios, fiestas, metros etc.

Easy to fix if it does break.

Get a diesel one if you can, looked after these cars can be cheap, fun and reliable, theres a lot of high mileage ones around, meaning they can take a lil bit of abuse....

If not, then my real favourite would be an audi 100 2.5 tdi. These can be bought for under £1000, have a lot of punch, 5cyl turbo and great economy and reliability on long trips, a lil on the big side, but bullet proof.

SPEN555

Just a thought.

If your gonna save the 530i for the long journeys and get a car that does 30mpg+ is the BM gonna be not used as on a long journey you will be debating why take the BM when I can get 30mpg+ on the other car.

Andy M3

I am in exactly the same boat. I fancy something with cheap tax [under 1.4], with PAS, half decent fuel etc. Believe it or not, ‘98/’99 Corsa Sport fit the bill nicely. Cheap to buy/run, 90hp, 38mpg, PAS, electric windows and AIR CON!!!!

Finding a standard car is quite though, I missed out on one on ebay last week that was a minter.

Not the most obvious, but more reliable than those old Golf's [I have had one] cheaper to run, and has mod con's.

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/img...a?id=6804355723 Doors, Manual, 93,000 miles, Metalic blue,private plate,5 speed manual,central locking,full electrics,pas,air bag, air conditioning,body coloured bumpers and mirrors,mot and tax,good condition,p/x car. £890.

wolfie28

I agree with blueblaster, thats what I'm looking at getting when the Scooby gets SORN'ed for 6 months.

Note: Not a yellow one though .

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

you'd be spending more like £2k to get a good early model, but agreed they're a cracking car, had both a phase 1 GTi-6 and a Rallye

could get 37mpg on a long run too


going for an S16 or XSi will be more in line with your budget though, still good cars

what would scooby do

I used a rover 200 VI (145BHP) as a cheap fast run around..

Cheap - yup
Economical - yup 30+ mpg
cool - err nope.. but deffo good fun.

marv wrx

iTrader: (1)

pug 306 s16...155 brake out the box...with a few cheap mods you'll see 180brake & good around corners & a lot of fun plus will see off any gti 6 or any gti,vts or vtr you can think of

paulwrxboro

I was at the car sales today there was an L reg civic v-tec for a grand and a 306 gti for 1100
some random things at the sales

i got a punto a rover an audi and an astra total spend 6k and one of them is on an 05 plate

RAJ27

Rover 200 vi, or a 218 vvc coupe...with uprated brakes and koni suspension..... should be good fun.

Here's a few...

Rover : 218 VVC COUPE

Rover : rover 200 vi 1.8 vvc 143 bhp engine

Rover : Rover 200 vi 1.8

Rover : 1.8vvc very low miles with 3 months warrenty

mit

iTrader: (10)

205 1.9 GTi every Time. Eats the fat golf alive.£1000 will get you a fairly nice one. Fit a set of 45's and it'll be mental!

Mit

mit

iTrader: (10)

Oh, and if your interested in the 218 vvc rover,i'd not bother and get yourself the turbo.
I had the 218 vvc,the turbo's quicker and easy to tune. Only problem will be finding a good one.

Mit

turboman786

Thanks for all the rpelies so far....

Ive bene scouring ebay and the local rag, and it seems like £1k can get a lot of car these days...especially juicer varities like big BMs and mercs, audis etc etc....

I may go for the munter option and sell the 530 as if £1k gets a good car, whats the point in having £000s tied up in a car....besides soon the credit crunch will hit and there will be plenty of nice motors to spend the money on!

philbr

306 td can be tuned from 90bhp to 115bhp in an hour with spanners and no money, still do 45mpg (55-60 untuned) great little chassis, bulletproof engine if you look after it and only group 5 insurance.

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Ah the old, turn the fuel pump up and increase the boost trick, I love it!

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Diesel Saxo fun, compared to what, a cheese grater to you **** ?

The VVC Rovers are fun, but very fragile.

I have had the Pug 205 GTI, and its slightly quicker than a MK2 Golf, handles slightly better but the Golf lasts better and is less likely to aim you into a field/Lampost/oncoming traffic, expecially when considering the age of these car.

nik52wrx

How about a mk1 mr2.
I owned one many many moons ago and it was economical, fun and very reliable.
Nik.

mit

iTrader: (10)

Oh dear

nik52wrx

I shall ignore that as you admit to having owned a Rover

EvoBarry

Almera Gti/Sunny Gti.

Strong 2litre 16v, tidy handling, reliable, and cheap as.

Nissan : NISSAN ALMERA 2.0 GTI PHASE 2

Nissan : Nissan Sunny GTi 2L 16V

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Suzuki swift gti, easily do 30mpg and quite nippy to boot.

Banny