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I don’t know about the fn2 but my ep3 was bombproof, I think I had it for around 11 years with no big problems and sold it nearing 200k on the clock. Rust definitely wasn’t an issue.
Well you could pass a tennis ball through the holes on parts of the undercarriage of my EP3 when I let it go.
You have to tell her though, nothing (other than another vtec'd car) will replace it for her. My Golf GTI is nice, but it doesn't go batshit at 6k rpm and it's all the worse for it!
Started looking at 208GTis and came across this website - they have some sexy, sexy cars...
Another Abarth 595 owner here....Best fun car I've ever had....and my last car was a Jag E pace r dynamic...imo the Abarth is way better....in all ways
Except Comfort
I had a Fiesta ST3 Mk7.5- amazing car! Super engaging handling, breaks and all the kit you need. Enough power to have fun without losing your licence.
The ride was very firm (something improved on MY16 onward cars) in town and slow speeds, but get onto a nice back road and it's lovely.
We need another car and am looking at the ST again. I still miss it! Might be out of budget, but they did a small run of 5 door STs too which helps with practicality and roof racks.
I had a Mini Cooper S, fun car to drive. I’ve had also sorts of fast cars and the Cooper S was one of the most fun I’ve had. But it had reliability issues, engine light was constantly coming on, going off again etc. BMW or a Mini indie couldn’t find out what was causing it. I forget the name of the part now, but the engine kept saying it was a fault with some sensor or another, replaced the main part of the sensor twice and the rear part once. Engine warning light came back on again and with it the reduction in power.
Those R56 MINIs CS with the N14 and N18 engines were awful for reliability.
The current F56 is the exact opposite with the 2.0 from the 1 series.
I have a JCW and it's really good fun despite the car having grown a bit yet again.
Nissan Juke Nismos (bleurgh!).
Why are they even a thing, or is NISMO pretty much just a trim level now, (big wheels (expensive tyres), uncomfortable seats and rock hard suspension) and not much performance uplift... like S-line audi and M-sport bimmers?
Fiesta ST might be worth looking at... remember to consider service, tyre and parts costs along side the usual purchace price and insurance cost.
Id go for a Fiesta ST, they handle great for a fwd hot hatch, have some poke and look good
Im currently running a 2016 Focus ST ( mapped to 280 BHP) which is great fun and also works as a family car, also have had a S1 RS Turbo, a couple of S2 RS Turbos, RS16I's XR3's etc...
Always liked the look of the Abarth 500's they look like they would be good fun to drive
Ive owned Vauxhals (Mk1 Astra GTE & a Nova GSI) which were fun and the Corsa is a modern Nova so should be good fun to drive
Id stay well away from a Pug, had a few 306's (GTI & D Turbo's) not worth the hassle imo
As for the Mini cooper, if im correct they actually have an engine built by the Peugeot/Citreon group and going by my neighbour and his friends ones they constantly need work done to them
As for the Mini cooper, if im correct they actually have an engine built by the Peugeot/Citreon group and going by my neighbour and his friends ones they constantly need work done to them
No that's the previous generation R56 up to 2013. The current one (to be replaced next year) uses the 2.0 B48 from the 1-series for the S and the JCW.
The Cooper uses the BMW 1.5 triple.
Both very reliable.
320bhp, 0-60mph 5.1 secs. BMW M135i.
That BMW straight six engine is the equivalent power of 2 x Abarth engines! ;-D
Possibly, but it’s got two more cylinders, and has a larger capacity, plus it’s a bigger car.
Go for an Abarth 696, and you’ve got a 1.4 four-cylinder delivering 185 bhp, in a car the size of a skate shoe. Plus the Abarth won’t end up a driveway princess at the first sign of a few snowflakes…
An Abarth 696 Competizione is well specced, but might need some additional budgeting… 😉
Id stay well away from a Pug, had a few 306’s (GTI & D Turbo’s) not worth the hassle imo
As for the Mini cooper, if im correct they actually have an engine built by the Peugeot/Citreon group and going by my neighbour and his friends ones they constantly need work done to them
Where I was working recently, we had loads of Pugs in as driving school cars, mostly 208’s, but 308’s and 2008/3008’s as well, and they were constantly causing problems with battery warnings when the cars were started up if they’d been sat for a while. Nearly always required a charger attached and left charging overnight. Brand new cars as well, they’d just been sat around waiting to be picked for a driving instructor. Occasionally had the same issue with Corsas, which are a 208 underneath, but rarely, if ever, had issues like that with Fiestas, Focus or Pumas, and some of those were sat around for so long the plates had to be updated!
I have a really soft spot for Civics (although my wife has pretty much refused to get into the last two I've had and one of my sons doesn't like being picked up from school in it) but for £10k ish, I think I'd be buying a Mini.
I had an 18 plate JCW for a while which I really, really liked. Minis feel a bit special inside, they are a nice place to be, and they drive nicely too without needing daft amounts of power to make you smile.
stay well away from a Pug, had a few 306’s (GTI & D Turbo’s) not worth the hassle imo
Heretic I loved my 306gti and it was mostly worth the hassle but it was also a royal pain in the wallet at times. My only hot hatch as I've spent most of my adult life clocking up too many miles to not appreciate/prioritise long journey comfort and decent fuel economy! Not of any use to the OP but that couldn't go completely unchallenged 🙂.