Derek M

I have a MY99 Scoob and am thinking of selling it (only thinking about it at moment) but I dont wanna sell it cause I love it, but need the money to buy a house.

Anyway I need some views on what what I should down grade to. I want something resonably quick but cheaper to run than the scoob.

Saxo Boy give me your views on the VTS is it cheap to run and insure?

Any one else got any good ideas.

I know anything else a bit cheaper will not be like the scoob for sheer enjoyment and pleasure but life sucks.

LG John

The VTS is much cheaper to run than the scooby!! I'd say my servicing costs and tyres, pads, etc for the VTS for 30k miles were the same as just one of the bigger subaru services!! Then there is fuel 35mpg in a booted VTS...<20mpg in a booted scooby!!! Insurance is a little cheaper but I suppose this is age dependant as they take a dim view of young un's in hot-hatches

If your looking to get one saxovts2000 still has his little red number up for sale I think

Performance wise in a straight-line its pretty close to an MY99...BUT....it doesn't feel fast in so much as you don't get a nice big torquey turbo shove just nice revy acceleration. Great fun to chuck around as easily as well built as the scooby, if not better in some respects. Given how cheap they can be bought new there isn't a hot-hatch to touch the VTS in the bangs for bucks stakes but a lot of peeps really hate the interior, etc. I personally found I could live with it easily and had 30k very enjoyable miles

I only made the change to the scooby for the wet weather handling and the 'feeling' of acceleration. Even at that I only made the change to an MY99 safe in the knowledge I'd budgeted extra to modify it to about 270bhp. By the laws of seriously diminishing returns its probably not worth the upgrade from a standard VTS to a standard MY99 for sheer performance terms....unless its raining all the time.

One thing to warn you is that if you were to buy on new you'll obviously be able to get a great deal and maybe even the free insurance but the depreciation over the first year is just mental!!!

Feel free to ask any further questions

Derek M

Chears for that Saxo Boy

What is the clutch life like on them and what are the service intervals, cam belt etc.

Is there much difference between the new shape and old shape apart for cosmetic?

LG John

Don't know when the cam-belt get done as I never went of 30k in mines. The clutch shouldn't really ever be a problem IMO. Clutches on cars aren't supposed to be a consumable its just us scooby drivers get into that mindset because of the abuse ours take The service intervals were 12.5k so I had two services in my time at about £100 and £140. Servicing for a scoobs first 30k would be over a grand!!!

The MKII new shape one is far better looking IMO and has the nicer and larger alloys that improves the handling a little. My MKII had the side airbags as well which was a good bit of piece of mind. As with all cars it slowly evolved over the years with small changes here and there. Its believed that some of the MKII ones around the X and Y reg time had 130bhp but that it was put back to 120 after. Mines defo had more than 120 given its performance at Crail and against cars such as the 172, scoobs, etc and when I played with a MKI once I was having to back off a tad (was behind him) I'd defo go for a MKII if you can and given the depreciation of them you should get one of those for reasonable money.

One thing you MUST check is the gearbox syncro's. A lot of these are gash and crunch on high rev changes. Mines would do it between 1st and 2nd above 6.5k rpm and it really affected perfomance and enjoyment. I argued with Citroen for ages and finally got it changed and it was much better after. If your test driving make sure you redline it in every gear and conduct a fast change to be sure they ain't fooked. For politeness ideas it might be an idea to tell the person who's car it is what your trying to achieve before screaming the a$$ off it

Also, if you drive one don't drive it like a nanny, it needs reved hard!! The guy that bought mine didn't venture above 5k rpm as was still impressed somehow!?!?! I tried to explain she hadn't woken up yet but he offered to buy it so I wasn't complaining!!

Derek M

What about the Peu 306 GTI6 has anyone owned one of these?

Is it much cheaper than a Scooby to run?

RichieB

But can you fit in a Saxo? No good if you're over 5ft apparently

Derek M

I used to drive a modded mini so saxo should not present a prob.

ScoobyJawa

GTi-6 is a quality bit of kit - I had one before.

Yes - much cheaper to run than a scoob. I never spent close to the amount in servicing and parts I've paid in 1.5 years of MY99 ownership, in 2.5 years of GTi-6 ownership.

If I had to sell the scoob - thats what I'd go back too

There's been a few threads in the last few months about them in Other Marques so I won't repeat whats been said in them - have a look back or try a search.

One particular thread sticks out about someone trying to decide between a Golf VR6 and GTi-6. Think it went about 85% in favour of the pug........and some good views on there too!

ScoobyJawa

In fact - its friday and I'm bored - so I dug them out for you

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...threadid=74316

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...threadid=88187

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadid=100076

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadid=123176

Derek M

Cheers everyone.

Any more views welcome.

Dream Weaver

MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2, MR2.

Fantastic vehicles - great fun, very quick (Nov 94 on), superbly reliable, and averages 45mpg motorway, 30mpg country roads (giving it some). Major service - £100 ish from an independant, rear tyres, £80 ish each.

Love mine to bits, and wont swap it

Dream Weaver

Derek M

Yeah I considered an MR2 and I have drove one and liked it but not so keen on only two seats and no space but it is an option.

Dream Weaver

Reliability is amazing as well - its done 101k miles now, uses no oil, and still drives like new There is one in the NW trader in red, late spec like mine, with 71k miles on it - £4650

Scoobs_4ever

Had a look at a SEAT Ibiza 16V Cupra.

VW/Audi running gear and mechanicals. 150bhp, 7.5s to 60mph.

Good spec.

Insurance cost me 350 Fully comp compared to 600 for the Scoob.

Servicing was cheap. £75 got you an oil, filters and plus service.
Andy.

LG John

If I went back to hot-hatchdom I'd consider one of only three cars:

Saxo VTS/106 GTI - brilliant bur reservations about going back to the same girl....been stung by that one before in the other regard!!

Pug 306GTI-6 - similar performance but a bit more spacious, etc

Civic Type-R - way more expensive to buy and run but it really is the daddy

Dream Weaver

Stick to Jap is my advice - i ran Pug GTi's in the past and they were great, but they dont half break down

Jap all the way now for me

ScoobyJawa

DW, my previous 306GTi-6 and 205 1.9GTi before that never broke down once..... same with all makes, some do, some don't IMHO

TYPE RA

Why not try a Toyota Starlet Turbo 92-95 cheap tax not bad insurance and a lot more fun than a Saxo.

LG John

That's a fairly sweeping statement and on the basis that for 'fun' i.e chucking it around, feeback, etc the saxo was better than the scooby I guess your saying a Toyota Starlet Turbo is more fun than your RA??

Andy W

Civic type R, Coopers S, Clio 172, Ford racing Puma?

All should be cheaper to run and insure.
All appear to be entertaining if the motoring press are to be believed, cheapest to buy would probably be the FRP( Evo 046 has a buying guide on these) or 172

Hotpants

Had an old shape clio 16valve before the Scoob , loved it & was tempted by the Williams but the Scoob won me over !! Always said that if I needed to sell the Scoob , I would try & hunt out a Good Clio Williams. Seen some down to the 5k mark.

MGJohn

DEREK M Wrote:

>>>>> I want something resonably quick but cheaper to run than the scoob. <<<<

There is such a car ..... available for relatively loose back pocket change .... cheap to insure and a doddle to maintain ..... but your street cred will be lowered somewhat ... still interested? .....

Gonna keep it a secret or you'll all want one ... ;-)

Derek M

Come on then tell us what it is?

GCollier

Nissan 200SX (94 on) - one of the most seriously underrated cars out there, and an absolute bargain second-hand. Go for a touring (has full leather, CD changer). They're not quite as quick as a scoob, but much better cruiser, better interior, serious fun (tail out pretty much on demand, and extremely well balanced, very easy to catch), reliable, and cost very little to service.

Of the 3 Jap cars I've owned (MY99 scoob, Nissan 200SX, Evo 6), I have greatest affection for the Nissan, and it's the only one I would seriously consider buying again.

Gary.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Civic Type-R !! Haven't stopped grinning all weekend

Dream Weaver

Just not as fast as a 94 on MR2, even though the BHP figures state otherwise.

From personal experience - driving and challenging.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Derek,
Have owned 2 306 GTi-6's, both were excellent cars but you need a 98 onwards really as these had 20k service intervals (or 2 yrs) but if you wanted a service at 10k peugeot did it for free!
The only down side to this car is a large turning circle but the gearbox, brakes and equipment that came as standard are all above what others were offering (and still are offering) and for a car you can pick up for 8-9k for a 99 model its good value too

Tony

kinky

and not forgetting:

The Rover 220 Turbo Coupe 200bhp, 0-60 6.2 secs (although alledged suspect handling)

And my fave:
The Honda Civic 1.6 VTi ('91-'95) 160 bhp, 0-60 7.4 secs (3 & 4 door).

[Edited by kinky - 10/14/2002 6:06:33 PM]

stevenuk300

I have a mint condition 306 XSI for sale if your interested.
1996 N Reg with just under 35k miles.
Alloys, lowered, K+N induction kit, Super chipped, Ecosse grill.
Chip and lowering springs were only on the car for 3 mths before I took it off the road. Was rolling roaded at 135 bhp before the chip was put in. Passive rear wheel steer provides excellent handling, even in the wet.
If your interested e-mail me on steven@giliberti.freeserve.co.uk and I'll send you the full spec and pics.
I've kept all the original bits (chip, springs, wheels etc)so every thing can be changed back if you want.