Slick Rick's new car :D (Post 59)

[Slick Rick]

I always thought looking for a car would be easy and I wouldn't need any help but Im really having trouble finding a decent car. Not really sure where to look or what to look for.

The time has come for me to get a new car, Ive been looking on the ebay and autotrader sites but Im not really finding anything better than my Almera for around the same price. Didnt realise how hard it would be looking for a good car.
Maybe I have too many requirements but the last thing I want to do is downgrade.

Requirements:
£1000 - £2000 maybe 2500 if its really good.
Cant trade.
Preferably Less than 80000 miles.
Dont really want to go older than an R reg (1998) but Ill consider if its a really nice car
1.4 - 1.6 litre engine(preferably 1.4)
Must look at least a little bit sporty or have potential
Has to be a 3 door hatchback.
Preferably a light car (so it would be quick and good on fuel)
Not a Diesel

Ive been thinking about:
Honda Civic EK (My top choice. Id be very pleased if I get one just cant find a nice one)
Citoren Saxo VTR (not too sure, maybe high on insurance and I had a friend who had problems with his VTR)
Seat Ibiza (Also not too sure because I heard their unreliable and they have 8v engines) but they do look good imo
Mitsubishi Colt
Ford Focus
Mazda MX3
Fiat Stilo (3dr ONLY! 5dr looks pants)
Peugeot 206
Toyota Yaris
urm... thats it?!

I dont really want a Golf, Polo or Clio because their too common round this area.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I always thought looking for a car would be easy and I wouldn't need any help but Im really having trouble finding a decent car. Not really sure where to look or what to look for.

The time has come for me to get a new car, Ive been looking on the ebay and autotrader sites but Im not really finding anything better than my Almera for around the same price. Didnt realise how hard it would be looking for a good car.
Maybe I have too many requirements but the last thing I want to do is downgrade.

Requirements:
£1000 - £2000 maybe 2500 if its really good.
Cant trade.
Preferably Less than 80000 miles.
Dont really want to go older than an R reg (1998) but Ill consider if its a really nice car
1.4 - 1.6 litre engine(preferably 1.4)
Must look at least a little bit sporty or have potential
Has to be a 3 door hatchback.
Preferably a light car (so it would be quick and good on fuel)
Not a Diesel

Ive been thinking about:
Honda Civic EK (My top choice. Id be very pleased if I get one just cant find a nice one)
Citoren Saxo VTR (not too sure, maybe high on insurance and I had a friend who had problems with his VTR)
Seat Ibiza (Also not too sure because I heard their unreliable and they have 8v engines) but they do look good imo
Mitsubishi Colt
urm... thats it?!

I dont really want a Golf, Polo or Clio because their too common round this area.

You guys over there get the better engines, so I'd say keep looking until you find one you like, they are nice cars.

 

[Roo]

I'd be suprised if there isn't a Focus that fits your requirements.

 

[Slick Rick]

Yaa ive also been looking for a Focus, forgot to put that in. A lot of the 1.4's ive seen are 5dr so far. Only the sportier are 3dr it seems.
Ive always really wanted a Honda CRX but I suppose thats a bit too old for a second car now.
Id love to get an E36 beemer but insurance would probably kill me. Fuel consumption wouldnt help either.

 

[Famine]

How old are you and what's your driving experience?

 

[YSSMAN]

My immediate thoughts were of the Ford Focus, as I do like the first-gen models a fair bit.

Other interesting models that I know I'd consider:

- Ford Puma: It has the smaller engine sizes, I hear its fun to drive, and I think they're quite good looking. I have no idea if its a car thats easy to find in the UK, however.

- Toyota Celica: I've often said that its one of the few Toyotas I'd ever buy with the exception of the decidedly old school Celica-Supra. I like the look, the performance isn't too bad, and I know they're pretty cheap (at least in the US anyway).

 

[socomplayer2]

My cousin has a 2000(ish?) focus sedan and she seems to be happy with it. Mind you she isn't a car person and doesn't care about performance. But from my view it seems not to bad for a commuter car.

 

[Dave A]

There'll be a green 306 on sale soon with matching dents on the front wings if your interested.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

What if we find a millimeter difference in depth or size in them?

Then you lied.

Just kidding.

Anyways, I'd say a Focus or even a Mondeo (A bit big, but dirt cheap over there, from what I've heard).

 

[TheCracker]

- Ford Puma: It has the smaller engine sizes, I hear its fun to drive, and I think they're quite good looking. I have no idea if its a car thats easy to find in the UK, however.

Good call 👍 - i'd almost forgotten about the Puma. He could get one, even the better/quicker 1.7ltr version well within his price and mileage range.

Autotrader has 800+ available too.

They're a great handling little car 👍

 

[Slick Rick]

Im 19 and have about 1.5yrs driving experience.

The Ford Puma is a very good idea cheers. But do you know if they come in anything smaller than a 1.7ltr though?

I cant find a Toyota Celica with a smaller engine than a 2ltr atm. Id be better off buying an Almera GTi.

Ford Mondeo's a bit big and the price only fits if its one of the older, uglier models.

 

[Famine]

Ford Pumas come in 1.4, 1.6 and 1.7 guises.

But if you're 19, forget it. The insurers will bend you over and insert the sharp end of a premium up you.

 

[TheCracker]

The Ford Puma is a very good idea cheers. But do you know if they come in anything smaller than a 1.7ltr though?

They also did a 1.4ltr, which is still a good car and probably a little more insurance friendly.

 

[ExigeEvan]

From someone that was scoruing the market 'till only very recentley....


Honda Civic You'll really struggle to find a decent age and condition one for less that 2 grand.
Ford Focus 3 doors are unusally hard to find, unless it's a zetec.
Saxo's are common as hell, though an un-fiddled VTR may be a problem, Plus, the image!?
Ibiza. I like the look, but haven't driven one or know anyone that has so I'm not so sure.

Now the Almera idea, personally, if you've got £2k to spend you could probably get something better, purely on teh looks department. I'll be the first to admit that I don't think the Almera's looks do me any favours.

Final thing, don't get a matiz.

 

[G.T]

I would also suggest a Focus, even if they're terribly common.

Ford Puma is a great idea, but 99% of people I see driving them are women!

 

[TheCracker]

Ford Puma is a great idea, but 99% of people I see driving them are women!

....so the Ford Puma Owners Club is likely to be 99% women

 

[Famine]

They also did a 1.4ltr, which is still a good car and probably a little more insurance friendly.

It's more ferocious to insure than a 1.4 Fiesta which, because he's young and it's a small hatchback (more likely to be favoured by young drivers and thus more likely to be involved in a more serious crash), will be quite the eye-waterer when it comes to stumping up the premium.


Get an old 3-series BMW (E30).

 

[Robin]

I would recommend a 1.4 or 1.6 Corsa C....SXi post 2003 facelift but I suppose they are extremely common. There will be good deals now that the new ones out.

They are quite large, look sporty and have alot of character (especially the high back smoked lights). Very Very fuel efficient and have great reliable 16 valve Ecotech engines.

The only problem I find is the suspension as it its rock hard... great for driving, not so good for speed bumps!

Robin

 

[Famine]

And the gearbox.

And the fact it's a Vauxhall.

Plus it's a hatchback and he's 19.

 

[YSSMAN]

What about that crazy Vauxhall thingamagiger that was supposed to compete with the Puma? Was it the Tigra? I've never actually read much about them other than a few words on Wiki, so I've got no idea of how good/bad they are. They look nice, but not nearly as nice as the Puma.

Puma FTW, but unfortunately as you have pointed out, doesn't seem like an easy car to own in the UK.

...Can't say its much better in the US anyway...

 

[Famine]

The Tigra is awful.

 

[YSSMAN]

I wouldn't have known... So, uh, yeah... Sorry for suggesting it.

 

[Famine]

The Tigra and Puma were basically coupe versions of existing models in the line up - the Corsa and the Fiesta (and, to an extent, the 100NX/Sunny, MX-3/323, Corrado/Golf, Probe & MX-6/626 and Calibra/Cavalier were too - there was a bit of a spate of it in the 1990s).

Problem is, the Fiesta was a good car, with pretty good handling, which Ford tweaked and improved and added new engines (including the Yamaha-designed 1.7 VCT). The Corsa was an abominable car, with naff, soulless handling, which Vauxhall plonked a new body shell onto and used two existing engines in the Corsa line-up.

The Tigra was a competitor to the Puma only for its shape and size. On every measurable level, the Puma was the better car. Which isn't hard, since the Tigra was worse than the Corsa - a shopping hatchback without the practicality and a sporty coupe without the sporty. And it was heavier, with the same engines.

 

[Robin]

And the gearbox.

Gearbox is fine on mine, cars in this price range have a similar feel of gearbox.

And the fact it's a Vauxhall.

Which is made out of German parts (Opel).

Plus it's a hatchback and he's 19.

He asked in the requirements that he wanted a hatchback and I'm 21... I got my Corsa when I was 17, point being?

The Tigra is an amazing car, a convertible Corsa! Its so well styled and has got that hardtop roof, its basically what the new Corsa should have looked like! A must if your banking on having only 2 people in the car!..... oh and also they are not super common which helps..

Robin

 

[Danny]

Final thing, don't get a matiz.

I would disagree with this advice, on the grounds that the Matiz is a fine car.

Out of the ones you have selected, I'd plump for the Focus, but only if you can't find the Civic.

Alternatively, have you considered a new Megane or Xsara? It is delicious automobiles!

 

[Famine]

Gearbox is fine on mine, cars in this price range have a similar feel of gearbox.

I have never driven anything - and I've driven a £700 Mk3 Fiesta - which has a gearbox as uncooperative and lifeless as a Corsa.

Even the old 911 I drove, which had no detectable 5th gear and no centring spring (so the gear lever, when placed into neutral, settles between 3rd and 4th).

Which is made out of German parts (Opel).

Then disassembled and rebuilt to be RHD. In Spain.

He asked in the requirements that he wanted a hatchback and I'm 21... I got my Corsa when I was 17, point being?

I'm advising against buying a hatchback if you're a teenager.

Teenagers buy hatchbacks - they don't cost much.
Teenagers crash a lot - they're inexperienced.
Teenagers show off a lot - they're young. Their crashes are bigger.
Hatchbacks are, therefore, crashed more than any other group of car, with much more expensive consequences.
Teenagers are an insurance risk. Hatchbacks are an insurance risk. Teenagers with hatchbacks are the biggest possible insurance risk and attract premiums which reflect this.

It's relatively easy to get better performance at a cheaper premium than buying a hatchback, but youngsters get locked into "I can only afford to insure a small car", when it's the reverse that's true.

The Tigra is an amazing car, a convertible Corsa! Its so well styled and has got that hardtop roof, its basically what the new Corsa should have looked like! A must if your banking on having only 2 people in the car!..... oh and also they are not super common which helps..

Robin

The new Tigra? His budget was £1,500-£2,000, making it waaaaaay beyond reachable. The old Tigra was, and is, a dog of epic proportions.

 

[Slick Rick]

I'm advising against buying a hatchback if you're a teenager.

Teenagers crash a lot - they're inexperienced.
Teenagers show off a lot - they're young. Their crashes are bigger.
Hatchbacks are, therefore, crashed more than any other group of car, with much more expensive consequences.
Teenagers are an insurance risk. Hatchbacks are an insurance risk. Teenagers with hatchbacks are the biggest possible insurance risk

Funny you should say that because....

 

[ExigeEvan]

[EDIT]

Just re-read the first post....


Um, unlucky?

 

[Famine]

Oooooh. Bummed.

Do tell.

 

[ExigeEvan]

While we're at it, how much for the alloys?