I haven’t bought a car in years. I’ve been driving Land Rovers for 20 years now, but someone gave me a 2001 Toyota Yaris 1.0 last year, and once I got it fixed up I enjoyed driving it. It came in handy when the Landy needed some repairs, and I’ve put a few thousand miles on the Yaris and enjoyed the comfy ride, the cassette player, and the spongy seats! I also think the Mk1 Yaris looks really cute. I’ve just splashed out on 4 winter tyres and had the tracking adjusted. My Yaris seems okay mechanically, and it passed its MOT and garage checks, but it has a hole in the roof where once it had an aerial, and the engine bay looks rusty.

Anyway, in an idle moment I came across an advertisement for a Mk1 Yaris T-Sport, which looks to be in nice condition. However, it’s at the other end of the country, and it’s probably very expensive at £2500. I mean, it’s 15 years old! The T-Sport isn’t supposed to that sporty, but then it’s also less economical and more expensive to tax and insure than the 1 litre.

I wasn’t looking to buy a car, but if you had £2500 burning a hole in your pocket, what would you go for?

Civic Type R

I test drove a Civic *handwave* eight years ago. It was one of the harshest rides I’ve ever known, and that was just a regular one rather than a sporty model. I wouldn’t.

Skoda fabia

The Type R is probably a great car, but I’ve always had the impression they’re a bit of a boy racers’ car, and might attract too much police attention.

Berlingo. Just bought one and wish I’d bought one sooner.

Or a tidy mk1 focus

I’d get the T Sport as they are great fun. You need to ring the neck out of them to get the lift but this also means that they are fairly economical if driven carefully.

I’ve had a string of Japanese Barges, they’re great, bulletproof etc etc etc.

If i had £2500 that had to be spent on a car though, i’d have something liek this and call it a runabout (£2200)…

If you’re thinking of a T Sport go for the Celica

Something like?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710039929077

£500 left over for tax and fuel!

Mk iv Golf

Plenty about, cheap, bombproof – still looks modern

Probably get two for 2.5k

Mk iv Golf

Bit shit though

Oh yeah, and a Yaris is the pinnacle of automotive lust

You loved the cassette player, what year is this??

Another volvo v70. Boring old mans car that’s awesome for bike road trips and crossing continents in utter comfort.
love ours.