m_f yes I am talking about mk1 TT’s, I haven’t driven the mk2 but have heard that they are a vast improvement, but for the OP’s £5k budget he won’t be getting a mk2.

hmm, any opinions on the later (e46) 3 series compact? I know the early ones were a bit terrible..

Is a compact going to give you enough boot space?

I can get three adults, one toddler and one push chair in my Puma 8)

It’ll be going soon as I’ve got the itch again however its in great condition mechanically. Just needs the driverside ABS sensor replacing (common Puma fault) but I’ve not gotten round to it yet (2months ago).

As for its the same as the Fiesta? Mines got a 1.7 engine and its brilliant for £ to

Stunning little engine. I’m at a loss to what to get next but it’d probably be a TypeR (that I keep thinking of and just avoiding).

My mate had, at one time, several Sierra Cosworths, an Escort Cosworth, a Ferrari, and a Puma on his drive.

He said that he enjoyed driving the Puma.

I’d agree with that. It also feels lower and more squat on the road than what it actually physically is if that makes sense?

I drove over Snake pass late Sat night with mrshora in ours and arriving atthe party she said to Pook ‘I feel really sick after that’ 😆

s’not much good to me if you can’t get a bike with rear wheel on in the boot, though 😛

I think I’d prefer a ‘teg to a puma. Similar cars (basically a hot hatch in drag), the integra is closer to the racing puma, but quicker (and according to reviews, better steering). The thing is, either of those is a 5k car, not a 1k car (which is what makes the puma so good).

turns out the 3 series compact only has 170ish bhp, which whilst coming from a silky smooth v6 isn’t as good as I’d hoped..

Sure you’re not comparing the Calibra to the Probe which was also availale with a 2.5 V6??

I am comparing the Calibre/a to the Cougar as those are the two cars I have driven. I honestly don’t know the manufacturing dates though, but my brother and mate did own their cars at the same time and I had assumed they were about the same age.

My brother’s solution to this problem was an M3 but that’s beyond the budget! Not considering any hot hatches? I find they do the bike transport and other functional things brilliantly whilst also being fun to drive.

How can you consider comparing a ‘teg’ to a Puma?

Price v insurance alone puts them into different brackets unless ‘tegs’ are 1k and cheap to insure now

Fiat Coupe…?

Lovely 5cyl sound – still look good, even today

For practicality though – diesel Alfa GT. V6 petrol version if fuel efficiency isn’t an issue

how is an m3 good as a bike carrier? e36 m3s are in my budget so if there’s something I’m missing let me know 🙂

Sadly the fiat coupe has a tiny boot entrance, so getting bikes in would be a mission (probably a both wheels off job). I love the 20v turbo though, properly quick car..

Hora – I can consider comparing them as they’re both affordable to me. obviously everything is a tradoff between price and advantage, but, for me, something like this

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3114191.htm

is worth the grand more than a cheap puma costs. Running costs (other than maybe insurance) are going to be comparible between the two

I see where you are coming from but a decent ‘teg’ would be three times the price at least. I looked at insurance and it was double mine (although I do live in a dodgy City).

Saying that Pumas and ‘Tegs’ are starting to get tired and weary.

Look at the E36’s 328 stats- that’s another option but again you’d need to see evidence of suspension refresh, coolant and brakelines etc.

Personally if I was you I’d look at a 02-04 Civic Type-R with 1-2 owners and a FHSH. You’d pay 3-5.5k. Yes insurance is high but not as old/getting on and although it looks abit in your face it doesn’t shout Basildon Chav like a white ‘teg’ does IMO.

Another choice would be a black 182 Cup IMO.

Mmmmmm, I love the Fiat Coupe – the interior is as special as the exterior. Will get one one day when I have a garage to store it in.

turns out the 3 series compact only has 170ish bhp, which whilst coming from a silky smooth v6 isn’t as good as I’d hoped..

Strange, I didn’t think any BMW had a V6…

Have we time warped 10 years? Corrado and puma? Im not a new car snob, just saying 🙂

yep. typod that. Still isn’t enough from a silky smooth straight 6…

Which seems to be a problem with cars of the ilk. Theres a lot of 6’s which don’t put that much power out (hyundai coupe, cougar, 325ti, etc) all seem to put out significantly short of 200bhp which is a shame when 4 pots of a similar era are putting out 200bhp and mid-90s jap 6 pots (supra, 300sx etc) see 280bhp without breaking a sweat..

I’ve got an E36 M3 which has a much gruffer and more aggressive straight 6 than in a 328, but it only gets used in the summer at the weekends so I can’t comment much on practicality. I wouldn’t recomend one if you’re on a budget as there can be some major expense if they go wrong and alot have changed hands a number of times and been neglected by people that can afford to buy the car but can’t afford to keep up with the mantainance. They might cost the same as a 5 year Ford Focus, but they cost £40k new so parts prices can be high. The newest E36 is now twelve years old, so there’s a good chance that a least the rear arches will have started rusting.

i can afford to run an m3 (I just don’t *like* spending money on a car) – but I get the impression that with one, or a 328ci, you’d struggle to get a bike in?

What about an Audi S3, it’s not a coupe, but I’ve always liked the look of them and the interiors are very nice. It might be a bit boring to drive being 4wd and you might get stereotyped as a w*nker thanks to super rep in his A4 with its sparkly lights up your a*se on the motorway.

Another option could be a 2wd Nissan Skyline, something like an R33 or R34 GTS.

I was going to say an S15 Nissan Sylvia, but they’re still around £10k, which is the sma eprice they were about 4 years ago when I last looked at them!

I gather the key with M3s is to get the coupe which has folding rear seats as standard rather than the saloon (they’re a cost option so secondhand ones rarely have them). His is the current shape, so it’s a pretty big car, but all 6’5″ of him and his road bike fit in it. Personally I’d get a Civic Type-R but I’m biased!

My 3 series coupe has folding seats and I can get a Zesty in with just the front wheel off

What about an Audi S3,

i have the A3 tdi quattro sport which is pretty much the same drivetrain/chassis without the fuel bills.

great car but you can’t fit a bike in with the rear wheel on even with the seats down. I run a towbar rack.

How about a Saab 9.3 Coupe… Viggen or Hot?

If you want to scratch the E36 or Corrado itch you’d better do it now or never. Most will be naturally leggy and if you sometimes drive a fair distance I’d personally buy Japanese.

I KNOW they aren’t even slightly fast but what about the old Toyota Celica (with the trusty 1.8 engine)

There is a DC-5 on ebay for £5k. Not mine by the way.

Persoanlly I go TypeR Civic, but if you reckon you’d have a 3 door hatch with a family well fair enough.

If you only have ‘one’ I don’t see why you’d need a MPV etc. Unless of course you buy those mother of all prams or you have fruitious balls like Mastif Fanny’ 😆

Amid all of these glowing reviews about the Puma it seems only right to mention that someone is selling one over on the classifieds board: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ot-fs-ford-puma-17

I really like the look of the Fiat coupe too, I would like to own one at some point. I think my next car will be a Puma, there are some bargain price hot Clios but running and insurance puts me off. Lots of desirable cars listed here.

Gordon Bennett, pumas (1.7) can be had for almost pennies on eBay.. Ohhh tempted!!
Ford running gear, jap engine.. *sucks air through teeth!*

They can be pennies for a reason. The 1.7 engine really (should I put that in huge caps?) needs the correct engine oil and semi-synthetic. Alot of Ford owners down the line/as the cars get older become lax with servicing let alone putting the right stuff in.

the celica isn’t that slow (190bhp) and is cheap/great steering, but from what I hear the engine has nothing below a certain rpm (6500 afaik) but due to poorly selected gear ratios you can’t keep the revs above that. Its definately on the list though

Keep the Pistonheads style cliches comming:

Itch to scratch
Shortening car names – Integra to Teg, Corrado to Rado…

Don’t think I’ve seen ‘it’s a good steer’ ‘or nice place to sit yet’

After all the crap I had pointed at me a few years ago on here for having a Puma (hairdressers’ car and all that) now everyone wants one it seems!

I am currently trying to convince a Puma will be enough for our second car needs – she still thinks we should get something with 5 doors and a bigger boot for the occasions we may need the space. 🙁

the celica isn’t that slow (190bhp) and is cheap/great steering, but from what I hear the engine has nothing below a certain rpm (6500 afaik) but due to poorly selected gear ratios you can’t keep the revs above that. Its definately on the list though

I once had a bit of a *ahem* race with a Celica in my Clio RSi (not even a Williams!) and I beat it all hands up – I assume it was the 140bhp version though.

5lab – Member
the celica isn’t that slow (190bhp) and is cheap/great steering, but from what I hear the engine has nothing below a certain rpm (6500 afaik) but due to poorly selected gear ratios you can’t keep the revs above that. Its definately on the list though

Mate of mine has got the Corolla T-Sport, which has the same engine as far as I know – the 1.8 with the high lift cams.
It certainly motors if you let it rev, and doesn’t seem to mind driving at normal speeds either, although the performance is all at the top end.
Fun car, but quite intrusive on the motorway as it’s revving quite high at 70mph. Might be different in the Celica, but I doubt it.

I think if he drives it sensibly he can squeeze 40mpg out of it too.

I once had a bit of a *ahem* race with a Celica in my Clio RSi (not even a Williams!) and I beat it all hands up – I assume it was the 140bhp version though.

I was once beaten by a Z3 (M) and I was in a STI Impreza. It was a combination of I didnt want to have a massive accident/jail and he caught me unawares 😆

The good thing about the Puma which also reminds me of the MX5 is the engine has just enough power for the chassis- a really lovely balance.

They both steer very very well as well. Steering feel is key to me.

After all the crap I had pointed at me a few years ago on here for having a Puma (hairdressers’ car and all that) now everyone wants one it seems!

I am currently trying to convince a Puma will be enough for our second car needs – she still thinks we should get something with 5 doors and a bigger boot for the occasions we may need the space.

It’s because no hairdresser would be seen dead in a rusty old ford these days, they’ve moved onto Tigra convertibles. Seriously alot of Pumas I see are starting to rust on the rear arches and sills and if my experience of Mk5 and 6 Escorts is anything to go by, there is likely to be some major structural rot setting in underneath.

A Mk1 Octavia VRS has a big boot and 5 doors and is probably quite a good car to drive and can be picked up from around £2k these days.

Tigra convertibles? My local hairdresser drives a SLK.

I think ‘hairdressers car’ is driven by men saying ‘it looks ghey’ rather than what hairdressers actually drive.

The Tigra convertible comment was meant as tongue in cheek, have you ever seen a man driving one of those?

I think the term hairdressers car was brough to my attention by my dad in about 1986 when we saw a white Escort XR3i convertible with a white roof.