What car for £3.5K

[Clio_novice]

Im looking into the possibility of getting a faster car in the nearish future. I always intended to get a valver as they look sooo good, but after reading all of the stories about how much they cost to run then i am changing my mind.

I want something that does 0-60 in about 8.5 or less, about the same as the valver. But its got to look good aswell. Insurance needs to be the same or less than a valver.

So what are the options out there that you would recommend for about £3.5K??

Cheers Phil

 

[McBunny]

nissan 200sx nuff said rwd and very fast

 

[Ben j]

seems to me like u want a valver

 

[McBunny]

yeah but its front wheel drive and dont have a turbo !!!!

 

[mikeherts]

I sold my Punto GT for £3.5k before getting my 172 and thats a lot of car for the money. Not far off my 172s pace (certainly up to 70/80) and a quarter of the price. I would say an Uno Turbo or R5 GTT but they are getting on a bit more, whereas you can get a late Punto GT, and get turbo performance with a bit more reliability. The looks of them are a bit of a personal thing, but I think that they arent bad looking cars - just not as nice as a Clio!

 

[Clio_novice]

yeah i have looked at the Punto GT, but im not sure onthe looks tho, but you cant really tell that well from just pics on the net. Might look different in the flesh.

 

[Jonto]

Get a punto gt, run a bleed valve at 19psi and you will be laughing !

 

[Paul16V]

Punto GTs are sh*te on fuel. TURBO! and if they go wrong they cost sh*t loads I bet.

 

[Daz]

There aint many about like that.

I would say Pug 106 GTi.. but they are more than 3.5k.. as are Saxo VTSs..

Could always look at Fiesta RSTs.. but then, insurance is higher.

Going back to a Valver.. aaroncs is £3.5k.. could be an option!

Or, Engine Conversion on your car..

Daz.

 

[mikeherts]

Quote: Originally posted by Paul16V on 05 May 2003

Punto GTs are sh*te on fuel. TURBO! and if they go wrong they cost sh*t loads I bet.

They arent that bad - I used to get 28-32mpg on average. Obviously if you drive it on boost the whole time, its gonna be crap, but if you cane any car all the time, its gonna be crap. You dont buy a "fast" car for the fuel consumption usually!!

 

[RobFenn]

You could buy awesome gtis VW Golf GTI mk1. Its for sale in EVO for £2450 i think. 160bhp street legal racer..

-Rob

 

[Tom_16v]

Get a valver, you know you want one.

Just make sure you check it out properly before you buy it and youll be alright.

Ive had my valver since september and spent almost 2.5K, but most of that is for the mods.

What Ive had to pay for for normal mantainence;

48K service - £181.23
Bent n/s rear shock absorber - standard shocks are about £30
Faulty Oxygen Sensor fixed by Renault - £122.20
Aerial base - £4.34
Sunroof re-sealed twice - £22
2x new tyres - 88.83 balanced & fitted
51K interim service - £58.52
MOT - £30 (flew through - no problems!)

Total - £537.12

Over £500 in 8months sounds exspensive but I doubt that its that much more than other hot hatches!

 

[BenS_172]

Tom,

Where did you get your sunroof sealed? Renault?

Ben

 

[Tom_16v]

A local sunroof specalist.

I could have done it myself but didnt know what to do first time.

Water was leaking in from inbetween the sunroof frame and the roof. They just put some silicone inbetween to stop the water getting in.

Why? Is your leaking?

 

[BenS_172]

Yeah,

Mine leaks also.. Only when it really pisses down, but its somewhat annoying! Guess I should find a sunroof specialist too!

Ben

 

[OutKa5t]

Buy my 16v for £3k and keep £500 for toys

 

[Tom_16v]

Ben,

It sounds as it is the sunroof frame if it only leaks when pissing it down. Just get some silicone and do it yourself. £3 and 10 minutes. Just make sure you do it when its nice and dry.

Hope this helps,

Tom

 

[Jonto]

Quote: Originally posted by Paul16V on 05 May 2003



Punto GTs are sh*te on fuel. TURBO! and if they go wrong they cost sh*t loads I bet.

You Fool !
My scoob was sh*t on fuel and cost sh*t loads when it went wrong, i dare say a 911 are sh*t and fuel and go wrong ! But would you want one ? cause you would !

Ever driven a punto GT ? i did 25k in one and it was a dam sight cheaper to run than my scoob and nothing went wrong with the punto !

 

[Clio_novice]

yeah i like the sound of either a Punto GT or a Valver. mmmmmmmm

Now to go and look for some info in them and for some pics.

 

[Daz]

With a GT, they are rare - even more so than Valvers I think.. Ive seen 1 of them, ever.

 

[Sipha]

200 SX m8.

Ud get a nice S14 for that money, thats a healthy 200BHP of Rear wheel drive Turbocharged fun!

Full Leather interior 2! u cant loose.

Nissan 200sx S14.

Si

 

[bouncy tigger]

My Almera GTi 2.0 to you £3.5K. excellent fun lowered and 17s all ready to go ill even drop the price from what im asking (£3.750)

 

[Ben H]

Get a Valver - I doubt that youll get much else that does 7s to 60 at Group12 insurance! Or looks as good!

But if not, then try a Punto GT, GT Turbo, 205 1.9 GTi or Golf Mk2 GTi 16v...

Thing is, all old hatches need a bit of care. Do your homework and then take your pick.

 

[James20VT]

get a R5 GTT... pick a minter up for 3.5K which will more than likely be tuned nicely

 

[SoLow]

why buy an S14 200? buy a cheap S13 and you have money for a rebuild and new turbo, along with some coilovers. Bargain. My next car is gonna be an S13, unless I can afford an S14a, ie the one with the really nice headlights!

Dont think u can get a Clio to catch a 200?

 

[Illusion]

One of my mates has a Punto GT, and the thing shifts mate.

Hes just dropped it by 50mm and put Morette head lights on it, and the car looks phat...

I got some pics on my website at http://www.dj-illusion.co.uk/Html_Site/Boys_Toys.htmhttp://www.dj-illusion.co.uk/Html_Site/Boys_Toys.htm if u wanna see wot they look like, these pics are before the headlight conversion and before he dropped it tho, but its still looks nice tho.

 

[Clio_novice]

Looks nice but not as nice as a valver. I think i will look out for a minter, in a few months to give me time to save up a bit more cash to make sure its mint and wont go BANG the week after i buy it. Anyone fancy a partX with an RT?

 

[Mikey16vClio]

Well 4k will get u 1 of the best examples looking at Autotrader. U need to know how to tell if it needs a new clutch & gearbox as well, when u test drive 1. Good luck.

 

[billabong]

DO NOT GET A PUNTO!!!!!!!! It will fall to bits on you, if you think a valvers expensive get a Fiat everything that can go wrong, will! It may be quick but it needs to work to be quick! If you want to see how cheap Puntos are to run and the reliability look at the latest JD Powers survey they came LAST! My previous car was a Punto Sporting, nice looking and quick, but what a load of sh*te build wise!!!

 

[billabong]

Oh yeah and Puntos are worse for leaks. The bulkheads need completely resealing every 2 years!!! Its an inherent fault with them! It costs a lot to fix as well as both front wings need to come off!

 

[Sipha]

or an S13 then!.....its what im gettin

Pick em up for £1300 !!

That leaves u loadsa money get some serious power.

Si

 

[Hollywood Hogan]

i was lookin for a 200sx but in my 5 i destroyed one off the lights till about 65 mph then he went flyin past me

 

[Scudetto]

how about an Alfa 164 3.0 V6 QV? 220bhp, torque steer-tastic but a complete hoot. Havent got a clue what its faster than, but its no slouch. You wont find a nicer honey of an engine for the money, either.

g

 

[McBunny]

you can see who the people who know abit more about more cars are



how about m1/2 escort even a 1300cc ones is fun to drive not that fast but so so so much fun

 

[Sipha]

S13 = 0-60 6.5 seconds , 170Bhp standard + Rear Wheel Drive Traction.

U must have a quick 5!

Also use Jap tuning Parts like HKS or Blitz and u can easily push em past 230BHP.

Si

 

[McBunny]

s14 looks like a small skyline and that can only be a good thing

 

[McBunny]

i almost got a s14 as a loan car when my primera went in to get fixed but it went to the bloke infront so i got a 1.3 micra