Hey gang,
I've had my current motor since new - a Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 Sporting. Three years on, I'm considering something a bit beefier now that my premiums are dropping significantly.
Currently, the model is fetching around £7-8k on Auto Trader which seems like a fair price for a fairly exclusive warm hatch (4 comparable models spec and age wise listed, though ALL have significantly higher mileage). Fiat only fitted their 1.9 turbo diesel for a year (the same power plant as Astra CDTI etc) before limiting themselves to a 1.6 maximum. The car is immaculate inside and out, so my guess is that the absolute maximum I'd be looking at in terms of p/x value is about £5k.
I've been nosing around at some pretty hatches, the Civic Type R has me hooked at the minute. The Honda dealership down the road from me has some lovely examples going for between £11-13k which is pushing my budget to its absolute limit. I've seen a couple of nice Type Rs (pre 2006 model) going for roughly £8k in my area with <20k miles on the clock. Makes me wary of clocking and/or mad gearbox/clutch wear though when mileage is that low.
Another one that has caught my eye the past couple of years is the Abarth Grande Punto, though sourcing them is a royal pain and next to none have the EsseEsse kit, which without the car is an overpriced version of what I already have with scorpion badges.
I've got 4 years NCD and currently pay £550 p/a for fully comp insurance, so nothing too mental in that department. CTR is group 17 IIRC which is coming out at about £900 p/a fully comp, which I can stomach (just about).
TL;DR
Nice sporty hatch, nothing too mental.
£12-13k absolute max (will likely go down finance route & p/x)
Reasonable to insure for 21 y/o with 3 years NCD
Cheaper to service/run the better (main dealer/indies only - 6k miles p/a)
Alternative route, stick with my current motor, given that it is a beaut and drives better and better every day. The depreciation on it has bottomed out and I've already lost the brunt of what I will lose on it if I keep it for another 12-24 months.
I've had my current motor since new - a Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 Sporting. Three years on, I'm considering something a bit beefier now that my premiums are dropping significantly.
Currently, the model is fetching around £7-8k on Auto Trader which seems like a fair price for a fairly exclusive warm hatch (4 comparable models spec and age wise listed, though ALL have significantly higher mileage). Fiat only fitted their 1.9 turbo diesel for a year (the same power plant as Astra CDTI etc) before limiting themselves to a 1.6 maximum. The car is immaculate inside and out, so my guess is that the absolute maximum I'd be looking at in terms of p/x value is about £5k.
I've been nosing around at some pretty hatches, the Civic Type R has me hooked at the minute. The Honda dealership down the road from me has some lovely examples going for between £11-13k which is pushing my budget to its absolute limit. I've seen a couple of nice Type Rs (pre 2006 model) going for roughly £8k in my area with <20k miles on the clock. Makes me wary of clocking and/or mad gearbox/clutch wear though when mileage is that low.
Another one that has caught my eye the past couple of years is the Abarth Grande Punto, though sourcing them is a royal pain and next to none have the EsseEsse kit, which without the car is an overpriced version of what I already have with scorpion badges.
I've got 4 years NCD and currently pay £550 p/a for fully comp insurance, so nothing too mental in that department. CTR is group 17 IIRC which is coming out at about £900 p/a fully comp, which I can stomach (just about).
TL;DR
Nice sporty hatch, nothing too mental.
£12-13k absolute max (will likely go down finance route & p/x)
Reasonable to insure for 21 y/o with 3 years NCD
Cheaper to service/run the better (main dealer/indies only - 6k miles p/a)
Alternative route, stick with my current motor, given that it is a beaut and drives better and better every day. The depreciation on it has bottomed out and I've already lost the brunt of what I will lose on it if I keep it for another 12-24 months.
.