hi
Having trouble deciding on a new car, hoping some of you might be able to help.
Budget is around £5000 cash or around £400p.m. if financed. I'm looking for something reliable and solid but still fun and cool enough to have a friend or two riding with. I'm more interested in economy/efficiency and acceleration/handling than top speed. Basically, imagine a go-kart on the road, that's what I want.
I was mulling over the following:
-Cooper S '04 or Cooper S '06 (financed, just for the sport button)
-Smart Roadster Coupe
-Ford Focus (1.6/1.8)
The problem I'm having with these three is the roadster is ridiculously overpriced for what it is, a fun but silly car like that should be no more than a couple of thousand in my opinion but they're all priced 5k+ which is dumb seeing as it's built like a carton of milk and smaller than a matchbox. But the MPG is attractive and it's kind of nippy.
The Cooper S is ok, but second hand ones seem to rattle a lot and it's kinda hard finding one that doesn't look like it was selected by Boy George. I mean some of the colours/options people have selected on them is just fugly.
Focus - very solid car but a bit grandpa'ish. Plus im not sure if they come in a turbo.
Anyway, so I guess I'm curious if I've missed a very obvious 'best in its class' 1.6 or 1.8 that I should be looking at instead of these.
I'm also 24 so I don't really want to go for anything too powerful, too expensive (insurance wise) till I hit 25. I mean I can't go for things like a Lotus exige or Elise which is probably what some of you were thinking when i said i wanted a go-kart on the road. That's why I'm thinking a nice cheap 1.6 / 1.8 that's nippy and nice but doesn't need to go 150mph would be good enough.
Any suggestions?
Thank you
Having trouble deciding on a new car, hoping some of you might be able to help.
Budget is around £5000 cash or around £400p.m. if financed. I'm looking for something reliable and solid but still fun and cool enough to have a friend or two riding with. I'm more interested in economy/efficiency and acceleration/handling than top speed. Basically, imagine a go-kart on the road, that's what I want.
I was mulling over the following:
-Cooper S '04 or Cooper S '06 (financed, just for the sport button)
-Smart Roadster Coupe
-Ford Focus (1.6/1.8)
The problem I'm having with these three is the roadster is ridiculously overpriced for what it is, a fun but silly car like that should be no more than a couple of thousand in my opinion but they're all priced 5k+ which is dumb seeing as it's built like a carton of milk and smaller than a matchbox. But the MPG is attractive and it's kind of nippy.
The Cooper S is ok, but second hand ones seem to rattle a lot and it's kinda hard finding one that doesn't look like it was selected by Boy George. I mean some of the colours/options people have selected on them is just fugly.
Focus - very solid car but a bit grandpa'ish. Plus im not sure if they come in a turbo.
Anyway, so I guess I'm curious if I've missed a very obvious 'best in its class' 1.6 or 1.8 that I should be looking at instead of these.
I'm also 24 so I don't really want to go for anything too powerful, too expensive (insurance wise) till I hit 25. I mean I can't go for things like a Lotus exige or Elise which is probably what some of you were thinking when i said i wanted a go-kart on the road. That's why I'm thinking a nice cheap 1.6 / 1.8 that's nippy and nice but doesn't need to go 150mph would be good enough.
Any suggestions?
Thank you