Semi fast reliable car for £3K?

[Spamalot]

Back ground- Ive had a 306 DT P reg for 18 months now and am getting a little board with it now. Its done me very well as a first car and I will miss it just want summin with a little ore luxury and go. I'm 21 (22 this month) but have no NCP as have been on my dads as I will be with this car (no lectures please, that’s the way it is, lol), but that’s means insurance should be too much. I currently pay C. £300.

I hope to sell the 306 for around £1k-£1.5. Then put in another £2k on top at the most.

What I'm looking for is-

Semi fast, 0-60 sub 10 maybe 8's.

Not to shabby, comfortable and nice insides would be good.

And reliable, don’t really want high running costs while still a student.

Pushing it now, but a little economy wouldn't go a miss.

Not really looked into anything yet but like the Clio 172 as it seems to fill most requirements, just the price maybe be a problem?

Not fussed on size ect, I open to suggestions.....

Thanks people for any help you can be.

Edit- if I am asking the imposable then please tell me, lol

 

[ci_newman]

You've but the performance specs down, but as far as practicality goes then you haven't mentioned any.

Does it have to be 4 door, 2 seater, large boot, no boot space needed etc? £3k opens up a lot of doors but without knowing what direction to go into it's a little bit vague.

 

[DaveyD]

Honda Prelude 2.2 VTEC maybe? Though insurance may be a little high depending upon your area.

 

[Confused]

Honda Prelude 2.2 VTEC.

~200hp, 0-60 ~7s, 2.2 litre engine, VTEC y0!, comfortable cruiser but competent around B-roads

A 92-96 model will set you back between £1000 and £2500 (depending on age, mileage, condition, modifications).

A 97-02 model will start from about £2500.

 

[jpmonkey69]

Get a Rover 620SDi/SLDi/GSDi on a late P reg or later. These have the reliable Rover L series Turbodiesel engines, and IIRC put out 100BHP although the 0-60 time is more like 11 seconds, its a good cruiser and well comfortable.


Good for starship milage, very economical.

For something a little more raw, how about a Rover 620Ti (2l Turbo Rover "T" series engine) 197bhp at stock, comfortable, reliable if you maintain it properly.

For even less you can get a late rover 800 Vitesse coupe, which IIRC has the same 197BHP engine but looks more gangsta and is cheaper oin the insurance.

 

[Spamalot]

Does it have to be 4 door, 2 seater, large boot, no boot space needed etc? £3k opens up a lot of doors but without knowing what direction to go into it's a little bit vague.

Not sure I could deal with a 2 seeter and a little boot at least would be nice. I have to get my stuff from home (cambridge) to uni (swansea). Any better?

 

[Spamalot]

Honda Prelude 2.2 VTEC.

~200hp, 0-60 ~7s, 2.2 litre engine, VTEC y0!, comfortable cruiser but competent around B-roads

A 92-96 model will set you back between £1000 and £2500 (depending on age, mileage, condition, modifications).

A 97-02 model will start from about £2500.

Will look into this but has been said insurance maybe be a little high, good shout though. what reliablility like?

 

[Confused]

Will look into this but has been said insurance maybe be a little high, good shout though. what reliablility like?

UK model Prelude is IG17, import (JDM) model is IG19. UK models are 187bhp, don't have climate control, and have a few less options available.

Reliability is top-class, in fact, Parkers rated it the most reliable car in their listing for January 2006. Mine's on 175,000 miles without any major problems, only needing scheduled work

 

[Spamalot]

UK model Prelude is IG17, import (JDM) model is IG19. UK models are 187bhp, don't have climate control, and have a few less options available.

Reliability is top-class, in fact, Parkers rated it the most reliable car in their listing for January 2006. Mine's on 175,000 miles without any major problems, only needing scheduled work

175K thats rartther a lot, lol. IG might be a problem.

Any other sugestions people?

 

[jpmonkey69]

My suggestions! ^^

 

[ci_newman]

Not sure I could deal with a 2 seeter and a little boot at least would be nice. I have to get my stuff from home (cambridge) to uni (swansea). Any better?

Well, along the same lines as the Prelude a Mk2 MR2 falls into category depending on how much boot space you need to carry stuff around in.

I'll do the same pimping (p.s. I miss Chrimbo smilies )

Uk N/A-

2.0i N/A @ 168 BHP
0 - 60 ~ 7.5s
MPG ~ 35MPG (I've had low 40s on a long run)

Bonus of RWD!! It doesn't have the glorious VTEC but I think it might be slightly lighter on insurance (Grp 16) and not a whole lot slower 0-60 (~ 0.5 seconds depending on model)

Although if you were after something with a little more room then my money would be on the 'lude!

 

[Confused]

175K thats rartther a lot, lol. IG might be a problem.

Mileage isn't a problem at all, it's just about run in In fact at JAE last year, with cheap ebay-special filter/exhaust manifold, it was 7bhp *up* on it's factory-figure

Insurance group isn't the be-all-and-end-all - try a quote, you may be very surprised at what costs what Don't dismiss it until you've actually had a quote! Elephant/Bell have been good for me on the Prelude, so worth a try (and add an older female to the quote, too!)


I found the Parkers January 2006 Top 10 Cars list

 

[Spamalot]

Mileage isn't a problem at all, it's just about run in In fact at JAE last year, with cheap ebay-special filter/exhaust manifold, it was 7bhp *up* on it's factory-figure

Insurance group isn't the be-all-and-end-all - try a quote, you may be very surprised at what costs what Don't dismiss it until you've actually had a quote! Elephant/Bell have been good for me on the Prelude, so worth a try (and add an older female to the quote, too!)


I found the Parkers January 2006 Top 10 Cars list

Is it rude to say I'm not keen on the look of the car? Will have to look at one in the flesh I guess though.

 

[Confused]

Is it rude to say I'm not keen on the look of the car? Will have to look at one in the flesh I guess though.

No, it's not rude at all Everyone has different tastes

Have a look on PreludeUK, there's plenty of photos there of member's cars


Garry

 

[JTrickle]

Is it rude to say I'm not keen on the look of the car? Will have to look at one in the flesh I guess though.

Each to their own. Keeps the price down at least. Most would say they are prettier than a 200sx.

If you dont mind, put your post code up and we can play on autotrader for you. (or 'hide' it in a posted autotrader search link if you like)

Edit: I've posted this on the wrong ruddy thread havent I? 2x £3000 fast car threads on the go at once :/

 

[L0rdMike]

Well, along the same lines as the Prelude a Mk2 MR2 falls into category depending on how much boot space you need to carry stuff around in.

I'll do the same pimping (p.s. I miss Chrimbo smilies )

Uk N/A-

2.0i N/A @ 168 BHP
0 - 60 ~ 7.5s
MPG ~ 35MPG (I've had low 40s on a long run)

Depends on Revision

Rev1-2 154bhp
0-60 7.3 ish secs

Rev3 173bhp
0-60 7.7 ish secs

 

[Spamalot]

No opinions on the Clio idea?

 

[ci_newman]

Depends on Revision

Rev1-2 154bhp
0-60 7.3 ish secs

Rev3 173bhp
0-60 7.7 ish secs

Sod off you

 

[Serj]

No opinions on the Clio idea?

Doubt you'd get one for £3k tbh.

My personal opinion is get an MR2 if you don't need the space, Prelude if you do

 

[Enfield]

Get a Rover 620SDi/SLDi/GSDi on a late P reg or later. These have the reliable Rover L series Turbodiesel engines, and IIRC put out 100BHP although the 0-60 time is more like 11 seconds, its a good cruiser and well comfortable.

Why would he want something worse than what he's got lol.