With £3/3.5k to spend, what would you buy!

[shire350Z]

Girlfriends cars finally died so weve got around three to three and a half grand to spend, wanting something economical to run and not that old to save on the wear and tear.

 

Any ideas to help us out ??? Its hard finding inspiration with such a limited amount of money to spend

 

Many thanks

[Ekona]

Does it need to be fun? If so then a Clio 182, and if not then a Focus.

[shire350Z]

shes not a big fan of the clio's everyone seems to have them

[Ekona]

You'll get very close to £3.5K with a bit of a haggle, for another £200 on top it's so worth it.

[nixy]

For a normal daily runabout I would say focus every time.

[Tay]

how about a little yaris?

[Ricey]

Depending on weather you trust Alpha's or not...........the 147.

 

£3500 will get you a fairly sweet spec'd one...............weather it will get you home or not is another question but I can't see it being any less reliable than going French.

[mbs]

I picked up a mint 54 plate Punto with 16k on the the clock last year for £3500, great little car.

[Ian]

Mx5

[Ricey]

Mx5

 

+1 specifically a nice Red one...........in fact I know where one is going cheap

[buster]

mx5 or better still an mr2 roadster......had both and i rate em.

 

i d say imo that the roadster is more fun to drive

[rtbiscuit]

does it need to be practical?

 

Mr2 Roadster is a great drive

[kevlo]

we have the same issue and we are getting an mr2 roadster

[shire350Z]

One problem there guys we have a boxer and he definatley isn't getting in the zed

 

Going with a alfa think we'd be jumping out the frying pan into the fire

[AK350Z]

I'm still looking for my new work runabout, but i'm heading to Leeds this weekend to look at some more Focii! Also on the list is 1.4Tdi Fiesta, Polo etc.

 

Theres's nothing decent for low money round here at the minute, so i've had to either spend more, or go further afield.

[rtbiscuit]

my next car needs more seats and a decent boot, i've been looking at the golfs, might be worth a look, not sure what would be in your price range golf wise?

[LRF4N]

if i was getting a hatch id be thinking golf, a3 or civic. something a bit bigger then 3 series, c class or lexus is200. depends how old u wanna go etc

 

german or jap for me tho (maybe one day italian lol)

[TADDY]

Fiesta ST if you can push to 4 for a nice one failing that then an older civic type R

[Arkwright]

with a big dog factored in I'd go for a Ford Fusion TDi plenty of room inside, good fuel economy, cheap tax.

[Stew]

An estate or a spacey hatch to get the Mut in! Focus is always a good shout.

[Leeroy]

If economy is an issue but you still want a decent drive, I'd recommend a MKIV Golf GT TDi 150. I had one before the Zed and it was a cracking car (for a diseasel). Loads of poke (230 odd torks iirc) as standard and a stage 1 chip would take it to 190bhp - I always felt it had no right to be as quick as it was. Evo rated it too and the Anniversary models are quite smart.

I'd say any of the VAG cars with this engine would fit the bill

[Vik54]

Quick glance at PH...

 

BMW 5 series M SPORT pack

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2195336.htm

 

CLIO172

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2252181.htm

 

AUDI A4 Quattro

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2044578.htm

[Dom187]

Another car for the mix - Skoda Fabia Diesel? My sisters got one cracking little machine.

[Dblock]

172 with decat and remap can give you up to 45 mpg. Don't get a cup though. 172 is suprisingly comfy.

[M13KYF]

something different, 147