Help me to choose a car

[Ferraridriver27]

Hello everybody,
After having spent almost 1 year driving a 2002 1200cc Fiat Punto thanks to the stupid Italian laws I'm now looking for something more fun and interesting to drive.

While searching the web I came to the conclusion that it doesn't have to be a new car and not even rwd.

Edit: a few limitations I give myself:

Here in Italy every car over 250 PS has to pay additional taxes to the normal one. So I'd like to stay below that.

Another thing is the big changes in temperature where I live, right now there are ca. 30 ℃ and in winter it can drop below -25 ℃ easily.

The car should also be a daily driver and good for me and 3 other people.

A few of my favourites would be the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6, the Fiat Ritmo Abarth (because it is sort of an underdog) and last but not least the Nissan Pulsar/Sunny GTi-R. ( either hit or miss on that one)


I recently found one of them on the internet not really far from where I live and the owner improved it already. He moved the intercooler up front and changed the clutch (Os Giken Super Single), some other modifications:
-Denso spark plugs
-4 piston Brembo brakes up front
-new turbo.
He sells the car with all the original parts included + 3 sets of wheels ( OZ, Speedline and the original ones)
The only strange thing is the price he is asking: 7000€ seems not enough for all of those things.

I hope you can help me with this.
Thanks in advance

 

[synchromesh]

Well, the first question would be what you'd like to spend.

 

[Ferraridriver27]

Well, the first question would be what you'd like to spend.

Oops, totally forgot about that.
If possibe not more than 8000 €.

 

[Akwaaba]

Is your choice limited in any other ways?
Engine size, number of seats, fuel economy.

If not, how about a Porsche Boxster?
I bought a 3.2S for less than £5,000 not so long ago.

 

[Ferraridriver27]

Is your choice limited in any other ways?
Engine size, number of seats, fuel economy.

If not, how about a Porsche Boxster?
I bought a 3.2S for less than £5,000 not so long ago.

Well here in Italy every car over 250 PS has to pay additional taxes to the normal one. So I'd like to stay below that,
Another thing is the big changes in temperature where I live, right now there are ca. 30 ℃ and in winter it can drop below -25 ℃ easily.
The car should also be a daily driver ( I should have specified that in the OP) and good for me and 3 other people.
As much as I'd like a mid engined car it sadly won't happen

 

[Akwaaba]

Well here in Italy every car over 250 PS has to pay additional taxes to the normal one. So I'd like to stay below that,
Another thing is the big changes in temperature where I live, right now there are ca. 30 ℃ and in winter it can drop below -25 ℃ easily.
The car should also be a daily driver ( I should have specified that in the OP) and good for me and 3 other people.
As much as I'd like a mid engined car it sadly won't happen

So you are looking for a 4 seater, that is either fwd or maybe 4wd. I'm guessing that rwd is ruled out because they can be dreadful in icy conditions?

Lancia Delta Integrale and Audi Quattro will be out of your (and my) budget. However, I'd be tempted with a Subaru Impreza or a Mitsubishi Evo!

 

[Ferraridriver27]

So you are looking for a 4 seater, that is either fwd or maybe 4wd. I'm guessing that rwd is ruled out because they can be dreadful in icy conditions?

Lancia Delta Integrale and Audi Quattro will be out of your (and my) budget. However, I'd be tempted with a Subaru Impreza or a Mitsubishi Evo!

Rwd is a treat in the summer, but it can easily bite back in the snowy months, the fact that I have no experience with it (except for GT ) doesn't help either.

Most Imprezas here are diesel hatchbacks and the STi models get wrecked by unexperienced drivers.

Evos start at ca. 9500€ and suffer the same destiny as their rivals.

Here are the pictures the seller of the GTi-R has on his page:

 

[eight6er]

Gti-R with upgraded turbo is over 250 ps for sure. I was going to buy a 300bhp one years ago that was in great condition with loads of nice mods for 7000 euro, so I think that price is a bit high. They also handle much nicer than any subaru WRX in my opinion.

 

[Ferraridriver27]

Gti-R with upgraded turbo is over 250 ps for sure. I was going to buy a 300bhp one years ago that was in great condition with loads of nice mods for 7000 euro, so I think that price is a bit high. They also handle much nicer than any subaru WRX in my opinion.

Well, the turbo isn't upgraded, just new. The model I found was actually the cheapest one, others are 15.000 and above. And he also has all the original parts, so if there is something wrong for the MOT, it can be changed back to stock (even if that would make it worse).

 

[eight6er]

Well, the turbo isn't upgraded, just new. The model I found was actually the cheapest one, others are 15.000 and above. And he also has all the original parts, so if there is something wrong for the MOT, it can be changed back to stock (even if that would make it worse).

Maybe you should come to Ireland then, you can buy them between 2k and 6k euro. http://car.donkiz-ie.com/used-cars/nissan-pulsar_gtir.htm Most of those advs are a few years old, but that's around the price of them. You Pay about 7000 for really good ones with lots of bits done. http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-pulsar-gt-ir/9636841?offset=29

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I second the vote for GTi-R! As well as 205 GTi.. But how about BMW E30 325ix?

 

[Murcie_LP640]

RenaultSport Clio 182 👍

 

[Thomas__633]

Get a Panda or something. Or a Subaru Forester.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I vote for the 205 GTI. It's not as fast as the others but it will be a bit more analog and mechanical, and should get decent economy. Additionally, 205 GTIs are appreciating in value at a very rapid rate. Buy one for 4-5 grand now and I wouldn't be surprised if you could sell it for 10 in 2-3 years time.

 

[Ferraridriver27]

Sorry if I only reply now. I exchanged some informations about the GTi-R and the car is in England currently. As @eight6er said, they are much cheaper there and part of the deal to get it back in Italy is to pay 50% of the price to a company I couldn't find on the internet and they would send it to me to try it. Sounds a bit iffy to me.
So I searched again for the cars @Akwaaba , @Leonidae@MFT, @Murcie_LP640 & @Thomas 633 suggested and these are my choises:
-1988 BMW 325 iX with 240k km for 6.500€
-1997 Subaru Ipreza 2.0 WRX with 105k km for 6.900€
-1990 Peugeot 205 1.6 GTi with 200k km for 4.500€
-1993 Renault Clio Williams with 86k km for 7.200 €
-as a crazy suicidal machine: Renault Clio 3.0 24V for 6.500€ ( because who needs friends anyways )
-1982 Fiat Ritmo 125 TC, but 500€ above my limit

 

[Akwaaba]

Interesting selection of choices.

However, the 3 most important rules when buying used performance cars are: Condition, Condition and Condition.
Service history is very important.

Assuming all in equal condition, and that they have a comprehensive service history with lots of bills, invoices and receipts. Here are my thoughts:

However, a genuine first generation Clio Williams, with 86,000 seems an interesting buy.
I would guess that its value would appreciate? Even if a series 2 or 3 (I don't know the years that these were sold, then I'd still be interested). Maybe my first choice.

Appreciating value probably also true with the Ritmo and maybe the BMW and 205 GTi. The mileage of these scare me a bit.

My second choice would be the Subaru, but I am biased as I think they are awesome cars. Should have plenty of life left in it as well? I would read thoroughly before purchasing though.

Nice problem to have. Enjoy doing your research, driving and checking them.
If you buy well, the worst that can happen is that you sell on in a few months and go onto enjoy another car.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

-as a crazy suicidal machine: Renault Clio 3.0 24V for 6.500€ ( because who needs friends anyways )

 

[Ferraridriver27]

Interesting selection of choices.

However, the 3 most important rules when buying used performance cars are: Condition, Condition and Condition.
Service history is very important.

Assuming all in equal condition, and that they have a comprehensive service history with lots of bills, invoices and receipts. Here are my thoughts:

However, a genuine first generation Clio Williams, with 86,000 seems an interesting buy.
I would guess that its value would appreciate? Even if a series 2 or 3 (I don't know the years that these were sold, then I'd still be interested). Maybe my first choice.

Appreciating value probably also true with the Ritmo and maybe the BMW and 205 GTi. The mileage of these scare me a bit.

My second choice would be the Subaru, but I am biased as I think they are awesome cars. Should have plenty of life left in it as well? I would read thoroughly before purchasing though.

Nice problem to have. Enjoy doing your research, driving and checking them.
If you buy well, the worst that can happen is that you sell on in a few months and go onto enjoy another car.

I'm sure that I will be on the phone and keyboard for quite a time to find out all the nasty things that will scare me to buy one of them

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Go for the 205, Clio Williams, or Clio V6. Odds are that you'll be very unlikely to be able to get ahold of one of those later in your life for any kind of reasonable price.

 

[eight6er]

Of the french hatchbacks I would recommend the 205 gti 1.6, I owned one and they are really good fun to drive. I found it more fun than the 1.9 gti and clio too. The 205 will also most likely be way more reliable than the clio, just going from my experience of owning a 205 while my friend had a clio 1.8 16v. They're both really badly built cars though, the 205 can get dented just looking at it and clio will probably have a new mechanical problem every week.

Of the other cars I would get the subaru, it's a proper performance car, less mileage and most likely will give least problems.