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Having owned previously a 200bhp+ machine averaging 26mpg and costing a fair bit on insurance.....and now owning a 70bhp run a around averaging 48mpg and costing a third on insurance I'm realising ive gone considerably from one end of the scale to the other. Now, I obviously did this to save money because in all fairness I did buy a car that cost me personally far too much to run, even tho it put a ;D on my face and never let me down! So that brings me to the topic title....Compromise Cars? Is there such a car Pre 00 ish that youv'e owned or would consider a solid purchase that would tick some of the compromise boxes such as.... -Fast (ish) -Generally fun to drive -Comfortable to be in day to day -Reliable the majority of the time -Reasonable MPG 35+ -Low/Medium Insurance band/group -In most cases available to purchase under £1000 Any suggestions or ideas? (Just to note, i'm not after another car at the moment, this is just for knowledge purposes/future reference ) Pre thanks to all that post!
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That's really all a matter of personal preference. As they say, "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" The obvious answer for a quick-ish, practical and fun car would be a hot hatch of any description. Golf GTI, Peugeot GTi or any of their competitors. I've never driven one though, so can't offer personal experience.
How fast is fast enough? In my mind it's more about the driving experience. For example, I had a 1990 Nissan Pintara TR.X, which was a sporty version of a front-wheel-drive family sedan. It went well enough, was nice to drive but didn't have a raw edge to it. My VW Beetles were more fun to drive, despite being slower, because there is more noise, more vibration, more feel through the un-assisted steering and brakes. Similarly, you might find a classic Mini more fun to drive than a Mk IV Golf GTI, even though it's not as fast.
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If you can cope with the size, an MX5 can meet all your criteria pretty well. I bought one for the same reason. An early 1.8 will match a 325i to 60. Mk2s are quicker, but don't have pop up lights Oh, and I've put 10 thousand miles on mine in 8 months (now on 120k) and it has only needed servicing.
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I've got Rovers.
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Saxo VTS, 206 GTI or Rover 25GTI bargain basement cars that offer a nice balance of chassis fun and enough power to play with.
Most of the other hot hatches even more so the pre 2000's are going up in price.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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How about a Saab 9000? Cheap, big power is reasonably easy to get to, insurance is ok and they are very comfy. Not sure on fuel costs though as I've never owned one!
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How about a Pug 306 D-Turbo? they do about 50mpg and are apparently reasonably fast. dirt cheap too! I don't own one, but will probably get one next. Easy to up the boost too!
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tomti
Part of things
Posts: 937
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Alfa gtv twin spark? I had a 146ti with the same engine. Handled like it was on rails, good economy and went well enough
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fieldy
Part of things
Posts: 474
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I bought a 2000 (Border line year wise!) Mondeo as a work run about.
2.0 petrol, Zetec-S.
Having never owned a car for more than a year previous, including Camaros, Nissan Navaras and Mitsubishi Colts, I thought this had no hope of winning me over, but nearly 3 years later, the thing is sat on my drive still, having taken non stop batterings and is covered in mud and still keeps being brilliant.
2.0 petrol, 33mpg roughly without worrying about how to drive. Insurance is cheap, running costs are next to nothing and my BMX fits in the boot.
I have aways had two cars, but I still find myself picking this over most for a 'Blast' to work.
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pug 106 GTI, pug 306 D Turbo or a 306 GTI-6 as said up there /\ D Turbos are pretty quick, I have mine tuned to about 150bhp so has speed when I need, I run it on veg oil so its only £1 a litre and still gets a happy 45ishMPG oh and its for sale if you want
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nofrills
Posted a lot
my wings are made of Steeeeeeeel!!!
Posts: 1,243
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Aug 20, 2012 10:01:39 GMT
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fiat marea 2.0 20v hlx, awesome car, on a run it will average 33mpg, the sound is awesome, i have had 3 over 7 years and never had a probelm with any of them, very comfy, and looks pretty nice
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Aug 20, 2012 10:49:11 GMT
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budget? conditions of compromise? how many seats etc. what era?
I'm really quite taken by Stefan's BMW 520D as a compromise vehicle, and theres a 530D as well - compromising more towards BHP and losing a little MPG but still a killer deal. Not at all retro though. But your best compromise will come in a modern, thats what they are good at
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Aug 20, 2012 11:00:04 GMT
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If size isn't an issue the a Cinquecento Sporting might be worth a look. Ridiculously cheap, even for absolute minters, good MPG, cheap insurance and although not outright fast they're nippy and light and there isn't many more fun things than throwing one around some back lanes.
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Aug 20, 2012 11:05:12 GMT
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we've got an old 1.9tdi A4 which is mid 50's mpg wise reasonable power ish.
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1965 Mk1 Mini 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport 2004 Audi A2 TDi 2007 Lotus Exige S 2011 Mini Cooper SD
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PhoenixCapri
West Midlands
Posts: 2,684
Club RR Member Number: 91
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Compromise Cars...PhoenixCapri
@phoenixescort
Club Retro Rides Member 91
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Aug 20, 2012 12:21:34 GMT
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If you push the budget to it's £1000 limit, a 88-91 Honda CRX (non Vtec) ticks every box with ease. Mine is super reliable (45,000 miles and nothing more than servicing) is the best fun FWD car I've ever driven (including the latest Mini's, Abarth 500's etc) and does 40-45mpg depending on useage (it's never returned less than 40). Plus with the rear seats down it's amazing how much you can fit inside it. ;D The only downsides are they're getting rare at that price (though if someone put £1500 (ONO) under my nose they could have mine, lol) and are prone to rust (I had to do a lot of welding and put in new rear arches just to make it solid, and cosmetically it's already starting to go again
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Aug 20, 2012 12:22:37 GMT
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How fast is fast enough? In my mind it's more about the driving experience. For example, I had a 1990 Nissan Pintara TR.X, which was a sporty version of a front-wheel-drive family sedan. It went well enough, was nice to drive but didn't have a raw edge to it. My VW Beetles were more fun to drive, despite being slower, because there is more noise, more vibration, more feel through the un-assisted steering and brakes. Similarly, you might find a classic Mini more fun to drive than a Mk IV Golf GTI, even though it's not as fast. Very much this. My Imp is, by most standard horrifically slow - 16 secs 0-60, flat out at ~90 - but it's an absolute hoot to drive and despite the slowness you rarely feel that you actually need to go faster. The exception is some motorway sliproads - uphill ones especially - but once you've got it up to speed it'll sit at 75 all day and return more than 40mpg. Personally I'd be looking at light RWD vehicles - I simply prefer driving RWD to FWD. I suspect that the MX5 will slightly compromise on fuel consumption - the low compression engine isn't very efficient. - but otherwise ticks all the boxes. Perhaps an MGF?
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Aug 20, 2012 12:31:31 GMT
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I've had all manner of fast cars but whats floating my boat at the moment is my 1.1 Peugeot 106. Cheap as chips to run and insure, 450 miles to £45, I think its fastest low cc size car of its class...mines certainly faster than similar Corsa's and Clios etc
Never had so much fun razzing round in a car that costs nothing to buy and run!
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80mojo
Part of things
Posts: 753
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Aug 20, 2012 12:41:26 GMT
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Not a rear driver, but fitting the bill and a hoot to drive is my Mk2 Astra.
1800 SXi is a shade over 110 bhp and its a lightweight, pretty handy motor. It's virtually the only FWD car I've enjoyed driving at all. Returns 35mpg comfortably and is a pleasant place to be.
If you go for a non GTE then you'll get plenty of change from a grand and plenty of miles.
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'71 Opel GT '72 Manta A '79 Dodge Autosleeper '83 Monza & a half '86 Manta GT/E V6 '91 Astra SXi '94 Carlton Diamond Estate 24v
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ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,117
Club RR Member Number: 134
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Compromise Cars...ToolsnTrack
@overdrive
Club Retro Rides Member 134
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Aug 20, 2012 12:41:58 GMT
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Buy 2 cars. Sounds glib, but try it!
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Aug 20, 2012 12:44:57 GMT
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Merc W124 24v six cylinder. Won't quite hit 35mpg (at least mine won't but it's the KE-Jet 3.0- later FI ones are supposed to be better)but a very comfortable place to be. Most should qualify for classic car insurance as well. Tatty estates and coupes can be had for under £1 K, but you can get a good saloon for the same price.
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1995 Range Rover 4.0 1995 BMW 320i Saloon 1989 BMW 325i Touring 1991 Mercedes 300TE-24 1991 Mercedes 190e 1970 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1966 Valiant 200 Custom 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Station Wagon
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Aug 20, 2012 15:57:55 GMT
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Sorry, missed the part about budget....
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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