After a sporty a car around £2k... what not to get? What to get :D

[juno_first]

Okay my first spec me a car was a diesel Mondeo, although seeing as I only do 4000 combined miles/year, already used to 25mpg & insurance is no issue then a mid-life crisis car is allowed

My quick car history: Fiesta 1.1 van (1982), Fiest 1.3 ghia (omg it has a centre console), Orion 1.6i ghia (darn high compression engine), Calibra 2.0L 8v (kinda slow), Fiesta 1.1 (not again), Saxo VTS (omg its a rocket propelled go-kart), Mondeo 1.8 (I thought it was broke but its just slow tho v-reliable).

After something that looks nice, no less than 22mpg urban, not Mondeo big, sporty, 0-60 at most 9sec, could plonk a mountain bike somewhere on or in it & dont care about insurance being as going from a grp8 Mondeo to Focus ST170 grp15 only costs an extra £50/yr. I think the only good things going for me here are mpg & insurance, lol.

Ive had my heart set on a Focus ST170 but its hard to find one within 30 miles that does not seem a bit dodgy; like ads saying sold as seen with 1 key, looking lower than normal, big exhaust etc.
Also, people keep moaning about mpg, inlet manifolds & other things coming loose.

Ive just noticed that for £2k I could also get a Celica, which look nice but I dont know anything about them. Although you seem to get more bang for buck regarding price.
Is the Celica a demon car? The 1.8 does not seem that fast. Do they blow up after 80k miles?

Any guidance or tips would be greatly appreciated as i'll be shopping in 3 weeks after being paid will bump up my savings since like forever to the magical £2k ooooh lol

Thanks guys

 

[juno_first]

I swore after my Saxo VTS fell apart id never go French again but I'll look at the GTI-6.
Thought of an MX5 but the older ones are a bit feminine & £2k would probably get me an older W reg in good condition. The canoe looks funny on that MX5 ha ha, bike on it looks a mess tho.

 

[juno_first]

Learning about the Celica & apparently the 140 as a major oil burning issue until late 03. Although covered by an extended warranty up2 106k miles if properly serviced etc. but its still a risk
The 190 would be amazing but more expensive.

 

[juno_first]

I was gonna say a Saxo VT* with change, until I read you'd already had one!

Yeah the VTS was lots of fun to drive until the block cracked & dumped its oil into the water.
It was very quick up2 70mph too & would leave a VTR for dust.
Although im 40 now & a sporty Saxo wont look right either

I'm liking the Celica 190 but its a bit over my price, unless my old Mondeo is worth anything with 5 weeks MOT/tax (prob scrap then).
The Celica 140 is risky because of their oil probs pre 03. Plus they're a bit slow.

 

[juno_first]

Wow, looks good SoundGood.
Aftermarket alloys nice too & apparently a must as stock alloys seem to corrode out.

 

[juno_first]

Wow thanks to the replies, plenty of ideas thrown up in the air now

I thought the Celica 190 didnt suffer from oil burning issues as it was a different engine?

Thought about an Alpha but worried about running costs & the 156 v6 sportwagon maybe too thirsty.
Same with a Mk4 golf V6, although kinda tempting to take the hit as even though they're not that sporty looking as everything else is good, although for £2k I dunno.

Shame about the ST170 being a bit high maintenance & thirsty + hard to find a good example within 40 miles of ST3.

I think the Honda Prelude looks a bit dated, same as with the GTI-6 which ive never heard of but always gets lots of praise on here ive noticed... A pity Ford could not do as good an engine?

Actually 2 seats is fine if I could chuck the bike somewhere (tho not imperative), though not an MX5.

A BMW E36 is a little dated for my money & id be worried about running costs & finding a good example. Out of my league?

Cleo Sport, welll I know they're meant to be well rapid although I was after something a bit more sophisticated like a bigger coup + I think they're out of my price.

A Toyota Starlet is not the look im after & so far I like the look of the Focus ST170, Celica 99-06 & maybe a nice Hyundai Coup although I went for a ride in a 2.0L & thought is was not that quick & very plastic inside.

 

[juno_first]

From your comments i think a mr2 mk2 rev3 or later 2.0 na fits the bill
Sounds like you want that level of performance, economy, realiability and looks and shape.
Maybe one that looks like this beauty.
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/4065400.htm

I think the mk1 MR2 looked amazing but not what im after now, if there are any left.
Yeah something nice to look at & I was actually looking at getting an mk1 or mk2 MR2 7 years but could not find a good example & ended up with a white Calibra instead & remember the first time I drove it I felt really swish like it was a Ferrari or something lol. Well my previous car was an Orion ahmm.
A mk2 MR2 now I think is would be a bit dated & below the cash I have available. Also I heard the turbo goes sideways around a roundabout?

Worried about the Celica 190 now as reading reports of tensioner belts going & costing £1k to fix & lots of expensive repairs etc. Plus the 190 is quite rare for around £2k.

Looking at the Hyundai Coupe now which seem to get you a newer car for the money but ive yet to read up on them. Maybe a V6 as my work journey is half carriageway so maybe the fuel wont be so bad.

 

[juno_first]

Just done the math & i'll have £2266 in 3 weeks + whatever the Mondeo is worth? £160 scrap at least but taxed/mot to end Sep huh, so £2426 with part-ex or scrap afterwords possible?

Clio Sport is nice & fast/mpg good in comparisons but tacky dash, small & not nice looking like a proper coupé.

SEAT Leon Cupra T is fast/mpg ok but not best looker.

How come the Corrado will always need fixing?

 

[juno_first]

Corrado is nice but sounds like trouble, even if I could find one.
I used to like the Prelude/MR2 but they're a bit old now I think. Plus every lass ive asked about an MR2 about has pulled a face like they have a bad image? Or is it the lack of rear seats lol.
306 GTI-6, after a bad experience with the Saxo VTS im very weary of French cars + they look dated, which is a shame as lots of people rave about them too. Pity the engine is not in something newer?

The Hyundai Coupe 2.7 appears to be tempting as they seem quite cheap for the year & look ok but are they cheaper for a reason? I'll have to some reading up on them.
I'm reading lots of bad engine stories about the Celica, kinda a shame as they look the business inside & out.

Hmm Civic type R maybe a bit out of my price but I may be able fix that if they're really worth it...
Whats with that acidic looking gear-stick sticking out the dashboard? They're well prized though, hmmm

 

[juno_first]

Wow, 5 posts for the time it took to write my previous post.

Peugeot 406 Coupe, I remember a 2 door a few years ago that looked real nice. Will have to check them out, hmm but French.

Ford Cougar. Hmm theres something about their image which dont sit too well with me.

Hey Paul. W join in dude if you're sailing the same boat, just so long as we dont go look at the same car heh heh. Knock some ideas around?

 

[juno_first]

Honest question.
Do you want a car that is genuinely good or just a all show no substance car?
Because you list contains both a civic type r and a hyundai coupe which is a bit meh... and mismatchdd
One is like a little dog that keeps peeing on your settee and running around like a lunatic.
The other is a boring lazy midly podgy labrador

Good question.
Like the analogy

I guess im sick of being in a car im a bit ashamed of getting out of & people seeing. A bit vein I know but ive had quite a few sheds & now theres a chance to get something ok.
Also I like the visuals such as the elegant lines of a coupé & a sculpted interior.
Performance would be nice but not at the top of the list & perhaps under 8sec to 60 would be amazing but I think a Celica 140 would annoy me.
Then theres maintenance, especially as its required every day & im not rich, so something not too exotic?

Hmm these requirements seem a bit adventurous for the price, D'oh!

 

[juno_first]

Okay, think I should be sensible here & its been mentioned before as being better than a ST170...
Seat Leon Cupra.
It may just be within my reach, especially if a garage will pt-ex/scrap my Mondeo.
The performance (omg the torque) & styling that wont attract the wrong attention (lots of smack heads/drug dealers around here) & hopefully reliability with being a bit VW clinched it.
I know I wanted something pretty, but I think the image of a Cupra trumps the prettiness of a Celica.
Now I need learn about them & start loving beans on toast.
How do you fit 20 valves around 4 pots for instance... this sounds like a lot going on in a 1.8L.

 

[juno_first]

SAET Leon Cupra is the winner!

Yeah im reading about coil packs going & cost £30. Although I only do 4000 miles/year.
Maybe the turbo would be the thing to worry about going?
Its quite heavy too so maybe it wont rattle so much as my Mondeo with having a VW influence?
Reading up on them now, but think it will be tough to get an ok one for £2300, maybe i'll wait another month so have £2700.
MPG is ok & similar to my current Mondeo as it is atm lol.
If someone asks what car you have do you say Cupra? that sounds awesome

 

[juno_first]

SAET Leon Cupra is the winner!

Ok, if during the next 3 weeks I see one within my reach i'll post the link on here, see what you guys think.
I'm trying to convince my mechanically knowledgeable friend to come along when I go look at one so hopefully he'll be able make it.

Is a £3 text HPI check ok or would you blow £20 on a fully loaded check with this type of car? Or is a £3 check ok from a garage? ta

 

[juno_first]

SAET Leon Cupra is the winner!

Its proving difficult to find a tidy Cupra R which I presume is the 210hp or 225hp version?
Some have 18" alloys, bigger exhaust & the dash jerry rigged to fit a large stereo & all this puts me off, instead preferring something more stock, even if it includes the original cassette player.

The normal 180hp is certainly more common & some have been remapped to 210hp.
Does this mean they're all the same engine anyway & its just the ECU thats different?
Trying Google all this now lol

 

[juno_first]

Also really not sure you will get a Cupra R for £2k?

Yeah its looking that way, may have to wait another month but cant see any for £2600 yet anyway.

May settle for a 180 at £2200 + a scrap Mondeo if a garage will pt-ex it, see how the landscape is in 3 weeks but getting a feel for the prices & knowledge now I think is invaluable.

 

[juno_first]

Yes you're right, there is only one Cupra R at £2300 & it looks a bit ragged.
There are lots of nice 180 examples on an 02 plate. Actually Im pleasantly surprised at how many look in mint condition for the year & am wondering where they start to rust first.
Looking for one in original & tidy condition with history should not be too difficult I think
Will start to get serious about looking in a couple of weeks, getting excited lol.

 

[juno_first]

SEAT Leon Cupra is the winner!

Cant believe myself or anyone else didnt notice I spelt SEAT wrong above in the winner bit before, ha.

Ok, ive been scouring Cupra's up2 60miles from st3 & this is what has caught my eye so far:

I like the black & this 03 plate looks in real good condition, although no engine-bay pic so dont know if its been tarted up with car magazine addons. Limited service history though.
Cupra 180

This Y plate R looks too good to be true at £1750 as its ironically its the only one I can find with a full service history. Looks tempting but something tells me to stay clear + its older & has black pre face-lift dials.
Cupra R

 

[juno_first]

I know I know. I should be satisfied with a 180. Maybe next year i'll save some more & get an R if I like the Leon.
I put xxxx is the winner for the benefit of someone looking at this thread for the first time & seeing post 1 rabbit on about a ST170.

 

[juno_first]

After scouring Autotrader for a week ive just discovered the mk1 Cupra (00-05) had a facelift in 02, which gave bigger wheels (ditching the multi spokes that are hard to clean), bigger bumper & white dials as far as I can tell.
The facelift makes it look a lot better & more modern I think & not really more expensive.

Pre facelift

Post facelift