[DanTheManc]

I'm seriously considering selling my M135i and buying something outright to run around in for 12 month while I'm saving for a house move. This would free up around £350 a month.

I know I should buy a 1.6 diesel or 1.2 petrol but there's not a chance I could do that, so my criteria is.

1) Must be pretty quick (sub 7 seconds to 60).
2) Must have rear seats.
3) Nothing too expensive to run. Think hot hatch.
4) £4,000 max.
5) Something fun to drive.

[singh21]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-32...item2a4dde3f40

[DanTheManc]

Very nice but I'm not after a rag top.

[CraigUK]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-3...item3cf532b07b

[E92Dan]

How about something other than a BMW?!

You could look at a Honda Civic type r

[DanTheManc]

Originally Posted by E92Dan

How about something other than a BMW?!

You could look at a Honda Civic type r

That's what I was thinking. I could probably run a type R for 12 months and not lose money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01503201913074

[DanTheManc]

Originally Posted by CraigUK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-3...item3cf532b07b

To personalised for me. Prefer subtle mods.

[E92Dan]

You might even be able to get a 2.0 Renault clio

[CraigUK]

Originally Posted by DanTheManc

To personalised for me. Prefer subtle mods.

It's possibly not as modified as you think. The rear spoiler is oem BMW for the club sport model. Agreed that wheels grille and splitters are aftermarket.

[Mattfox89]

Renault Megane 225 or a seat Leon cupra r or mk1 audi s3. All turbo charged so all you need is a remap for decent gains and a Propper nippy motor

[essex_lad]

can get a focus st for around that price now, Scooby, r33, m5, astra vxr, supra.

[DanTheManc]

A friend had a Megane (the big arse model) and he had no end of electrical problems so that puts me off.

S3 and Cupra R are good shouts.

Anybody know if the Celica T sport (1.8 190bhp version) is any good?


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01501310588966

[Shafz325]

The celica T sport wasn't turbocharged, it was an N/A 1.8 VVTL-i (like VTEC) with 189bhp, T sport is just toyotas performance trim level. Driven one back to back with my civic type R winter car and prefer the civic all day long, good looking cars though.

[Ess]

Love the two BMWs posted in the links above, particularly the first one!

[essex_lad]

I had a celica t sport, it was quick and comfy but I done a bottom end and a head gasket. Not a very strong engine but is a good car. celica gt4 is an option but it looks old now.

[old grey steve]

Celica T Sport's been mentiond but the Corolla T Sport might be a little more affodable looks OK in Thunder Grey(T Sport colour)but the engine as stated can have issue in later life the stepped VVTI's can give problems if regular oil services/correct oil isn't used so I was told.

Other than that I had a Peugeot 306 GTI 6 that was a riot handling was awesome loved to rev but finding a good one might be hard work oh and the build quality not exactly premier but they are a hoot to drive steering is sublime I was forced in to the car said I'd hate a Peugeot but I loved it.

Renault Clio's Sports again a pre face lift series 2 Clio 172 isn't a bad place to be pin point handling really they got this one just about right thing is like the Peugeot finding a good one is going to be part of the problem, these handle really well again love to rev. Seen half decent ones for around £2500 leaves a bit of cash to ensure it rides handles and goes OK best bet 100% unmodified. Later 182's can be had for the same sort of money, I used to sell these back from 2005/11 loved them really only thing I'd say is they are feeling their age a little. If you could stretch a few hundred punds more the first Clio 197's can be had for around £4500 these do drive handle well and they are comfortable too.

However again Renault you could put your eggs in the Megane 225 market these can be had for just over £4k there are quite practical the turbocharged engine is eager too I had 2 of these before having a Megane RS 250 and one thing I'd say with RenaultSport is build aside they got rhe ride/handling for the money nigh on spot on

[Dann]

E36 328i
Way less than 4k. 200bhp Rwd with a great sounding engine and is great fun to drive.
£225 tax and insurance is cheap as chips.
Will do mix 20s round town and low to mid 30s on a long run

[JulesM]

I loved my E36 328 saloon as a runaround!

[Jase 320d]

I had a corolla tsport in Alsace Grey

Vvtli with 189bhp

Was the single best car i have ever owned. I had a peach with extremely rare half leather and alcantara seats

Was a bit of a weapon too. K+n typhoon, helix organic clutch and fidanza flywheel with a TTE short shift it blew civic type r's out of the water.

Changeover to lift cam is much more raw than a vtec and feels pretty awesome. The sound with a k+n typhoon also trumps the old civic type r. But on the bends it was pretty shoddy

[jrp73]

on the toyota front you really can't go wrong with a celica with the 190 engine, they are pretty much bomb proof. Avoid the pre-facelift 140 engines as these are the ones that suffered from oil usage and eventual bottom end death.

The corolla shares the same engine but not as pretty, although they did do a T Sport compressor which was supercharged.

not quite as good as the type r's though unfortunately

[Jase 320d]

Originally Posted by jamespheely

on the toyota front you really can't go wrong with a celica with the 190 engine, they are pretty much bomb proof. Avoid the pre-facelift 140 engines as these are the ones that suffered from oil usage and eventual bottom end death.

The corolla shares the same engine but not as pretty, although they did do a T Sport compressor which was supercharged.

not quite as good as the type r's though unfortunately

I would disagree i personally think the celica is a god aweful looking car. A facelift corolla is miles better looking.

One of the greatest secrets of the hot hatch world

[jrp73]

Originally Posted by Jase 320d

I would disagree i personally think the celica is a god aweful looking car. A facelift corolla is miles better looking.

One of the greatest secrets of the hot hatch world

Yeah the celica has always been a love or hate car looks wise but we probably shouldn't really compare the 2. For me the celica was always a great option when I was looking for my first coupe - cheap, well built and with a decent engine and for a car produced in 1999 they can still look great today.

On the other hand if I wanted a hatchback I'd struggle to choose a corolla over an EP3

either way they both have great engines and fun to drive, you really can't go wrong with either.