1.4L cheap, sporty,small car suggestions please

izit · 29 Mar 2013 at 15:16

Hopefully this isn't asking too much but would appreciate some suggestions for me to look at.

•Cheap insurance (so 1.4 seems most suitable)
•<£2000
•Preferable 3 door or even 2 seaters considered.

I'm thinking a Mg ZR 1.4, or if I could afford the insurance masda mx5, mg mgf.

Logsi · 29 Mar 2013 at 15:33

How old are you and how many years have you been driving?

I ask because a 1.6 Fiesta is more expensive to insure for me than a DC2/DC5 Integra Type R for example.

Any years NCB?

OpenToSuggestions · 29 Mar 2013 at 16:48

A ZR will be poor to insure.
It has got to be up there as the teenage chav's turdbox of choice.

A 1.6 Focus will be better built, last longer and probably be cheaper to insure.

rodenal · 29 Mar 2013 at 16:58

Could you insure something like a lupo gti?

Addicted · 29 Mar 2013 at 16:59

rodenal said:
Could you insure something like a lupo gti?

And that comes under cheap insurance how?

Sporty + Cheap Insurance just don't go together.

Logsi · 29 Mar 2013 at 17:01

Addicted said:
And that comes under cheap insurance how?

Sporty + Cheap Insurance just don't go together.

You just have to look for the right car.

My Fiesta Metal is £380 to insure and a DC5 Integra Type R is cheaper.

233 · 29 Mar 2013 at 17:02

lupo sport, 1.4l 100 horses and chuckable.

rodenal · 29 Mar 2013 at 17:20

Addicted said:
And that comes under cheap insurance how?

Sporty + Cheap Insurance just don't go together.

They're hardly quick - hence why I asked if he could insure it, tends to be a little bit random with some "quicker" cars being vastly more affordabke for you ger drivers than others .The 1.4 is a good shout too - both could be hard to find in reasonable nick these days though

Darryl_1983 · 29 Mar 2013 at 17:35

Fiat mk2b punto sporting, the 1.4 version with 6 speed box.

Bromhead · 29 Mar 2013 at 22:01

As soon as I read op title, my first thoughts were MG ZR 1.4. I've been looking at these recently and you can get a nice example for not a lot of money.

skippy2421 · 30 Mar 2013 at 01:11

Mg ZR's will NOT be cheap to insure. I had one before I switched to my MiTo and the insurance was £200 cheaper on the MiTo despite being substantially quicker and more expensive (ZR was £800 for me with 3 yr ncb). I'd be surprised if an mx5 doesn't work out similar on insurance, it did for me if memory serves (a little while ago admittedly). So as others have pointed out don't base your decision on engine size, you might get some surprising quotes for cars you thought were going to be expensive to insure.

As for the car itself. You can get a lot of car for the money going for a zr. Partly due to the rover reputation (deserved in some ways yes, but often blown out of proportion). Aim for one with head gasket already done and replaced with the improved version. No guarantee it wont go again though. Other than that you're generally going to be looking for the usual stuff you'd be looking for with an old used car. If this is for a first car get something else.

K1LLSW1TCH · 30 Mar 2013 at 01:18

I remember reading somewhere that if the head gasket has already been repaired then there's a good chance it will go again. Is there much truth in that?

robnut · 30 Mar 2013 at 01:24

Suzuki Ignis sport, Cheap to insure and run, no cam belt, 40mpg, epic fun!

Matt82 · 30 Mar 2013 at 02:21

Mk2 golf gti

2ZR-FE · 30 Mar 2013 at 08:04

Yaris tsport

[TW]Fox · 30 Mar 2013 at 08:59

Logsi said:
You just have to look for the right car.

My Fiesta Metal is £380 to insure and a DC5 Integra Type R is cheaper.

This I somewhat doubt. Perhaps with certain insurers but shopping around the cheapest quote will be the Fiesta.

adam cool dude · 30 Mar 2013 at 09:12

As been previously mentioned Yaris T-Sport or Suzuki Ignis Sport. Both 1.5 with a little over 100bhp and <1000kg's.

The Yaris is the better looker but you get more for your money with a Ignis.

ci_newman · 30 Mar 2013 at 09:16

[TW]Fox;24031163 said:
This I somewhat doubt. Perhaps with certain insurers but shopping around the cheapest quote will be the Fiesta.

I too doubt this claim. I've had my DC5 for 4 years (8 years NCD) and fall into the cheapest insurance categories possible and I still can't get F/C insurance for under £600/year.

Logsi · 30 Mar 2013 at 09:48

This is when using compare the market. I've always used comparison sites for my insurance as its always been cheapest for me. The DC5 is slightly cheaper than my Fiesta when running quotes.

Admiral is always cheapest for me by quite some margin. Often a quarter cheaper than the next quote.

ci_newman · 30 Mar 2013 at 10:02

Logsi said:
This is when using compare the market. I've always used comparison sites for my insurance as its always been cheapest for me. The DC5 is slightly cheaper than my Fiesta when running quotes.

Admiral is always cheapest for me by quite some margin. Often a quarter cheaper than the next quote.

I'm surprised that comparison sites recognise the DC5. Most insurers databases assume that they are just a late-plate DC2 as there is only one type of Integra officially ever sold in the UK. Even the specialists sometimes struggle!