Any ideas?
Ta

Ford Focus

Apart from a Ford Focus.
Would prefer something German or Japanese.

at that price I wouldnt get fixed on anything in particular or rule anything out. buy on condition.

Maybe leave out the ‘Fun to drive’ bit, then.

I’ll do you my old 2006 Volvo S60 T5 SE with an Autotech stage 1 tune (320 bhp / 400nM) and some roof bars for a grand. I’ll even chuck in some oil to keep it topped up 😉

something that works, what exactly is fun to drive?

Corolla T-Sport can be had for around £1k now I think.

A mate of mine had one – it’s got a 1.8 with variable cams, like V-TEC. Goes well enough if you keep stirring the gearbox to keep the revs up, seemed to handle OK and was reliable.
As with any older cheap car though, there are probably a lot of ragged old heaps out there, in amongst the good ones.

Is the previous shape Civic Type-R not down to about £1k prices yet? Although again – shed-tastic springs to mind!

Not

German or Japanese

but Alfa 156s are virtually being given away these days. Look for a decent independent specialist service history (main dealer SH on an Alfa tells the previous owner was a mug, albeit one with deep pockets) and recent belt change – they need doing surprisingly often and aren’t cheap.

Fun to drive, reasonable space, and cheap. Reliable? Well, any car at £1,000 is going to be a gamble tbf…

I just got a Mark 4, Golf GTi 1.8t for 800 quid. Its ace! 😀

To quote a mate, who knows a thing or two about cars: “they’re built like Panzers, and they go like stink! Whats not to like?”

but Alfa 156s are virtually being given away these days.

Theres a reason for that….

😀

MX5

binners – Member
I just got a Mark 4, Golf GTi 1.8t for 800 quid. Its ace!

Hi mate, couple of questions if I may. Is it an early or late model MK 4, what mileage did it have on it and was it bought privately or from a dealer?

Cheers

funkrodent – Its an early model mark 4. 130,000 on the clock (so just about run in). I bought it from a garage (some haggling was involved). Its had 4 owners from new, full service history. Got the bigger 18″ Monza alloys from the later model GTi’s.

It’d been garaged for ages. It was one of the mechanics projects to tart it up cosmetically. He never got round to it, and they needed the space. I had it serviced and apprently its in tip top condition where it counts. Flew through an MOT with no issues. Yes, its a bit tatty in places (who cares?), needed a new set of front tyres for the MOT (something I suspect may be a recuriring issue – they eat them).

Its not missed a beat. The engine pulls like a train. Its a right old laugh to drive on a nice twisty B road, doesn’t drink fuel too badly, you can chuck loads of stuff in the back of it, and I stll think I got an absolute steal with it. It wormed its way into my affections very quickly. I love it! 😀

To quote a mate, who knows a thing or two about cars: “they’re built like Panzers, and they go like stink! Whats not to like?”

I think, post Mkl and MKII, most Golf GTI’s are more “built like panzers*, go like tanks”.

*Germany’s engineering reputation is mostly based on their behaviour post EU, applying n+1 to all international standards so that they could export their own goods but nothing could be imported. I’ve no idea how reliable Panzers were.

Hate to say it, but Focus is the correct answer. It was miles ahead when new and there’s not really been any problems with the sigma or duratec engines (and 100k/8year cambelts too). A 1.6 fiesta is a whole heap more fun than it has any right to be too, and no one wants one so they’re cheap.

You’re advising a standard Ford Focus over a Golf GTi? Seriously? 😆

I’ve had two 1.8 zetec focuses prior to the Golf, so with the greatest of respect, everything you’ve just stated is utter and complete cobblers! They’re totally meh, dog-slow rust-buckets in comparison too the Golf, and nowhere near as good to drive. The build quality isn’t even remotely comparible. Not even in the same league, I’m afraid.

Its the Golf every time. Focuses at that age are just disposable. My clutch exploded on the last one. You can sit and watch the door sills rust underneath you. They’ve had the Golf up on the ramps when they put the tyres on and theres not a spot of rust on the chassis or bodywork!

Also the missus has an Polo 1.6 GTi about the same age which is an absolute scream to drive, and also about the grand mark (they’ve started to creep up in value for good’uns)

binners – Member

You’re advising a standard Ford Focus over a Golf GTi? Seriously?

Nah he’s comparing it to a mkIV GTi, and probably a 150bhp one, or even better a 2.0 horror! 😉

Having owned a 1.8T GTi (mk 4) then a 2.0 Focus (mk 2), the Focus was definitely a better, sharper piece of kit in the handling dept (and those 2 were within a few bhp of each other too). The sound of the fly-wheel on the Golf failing was a joy to behold too.

Anyway, back to the tradition of recommending things that aren’t really suitable – Clio 172 FTW

my Mk II Golf was more prone to rust TBF, but then again (TBF) it did spend an inordinate amount of its early life in Aberdeen (practically in the sea and certainly sea drenched) and/or driven around in very salted winter roads..

It never had a problem started, when I sadly sold it to a colleague at 115k he later reported the oil feed pipe had corroded through, spraying oil over the engine, and went on fire. He got it repaired and continued to run it..

B 301 XTS, no idea at what mileage it finally shuffled off this motor coil ..

Back to the original question; something made by Mazda.

MrsIHN has a Mazda2 which is now prbbaly worth a grand, it’s great. Nippy, revvy little engine, nice handling, not a thing has gone wrong with it.

Thanks for all the replies.

I’m planning on selling everything I own (not much!) and migrating to the South of France to avoid another miserable British winter and would like to be able to enjoy the roads down there.
(The roads from Cap D’agde to Peyrepeteuse to Carcasonne are twisty heaven for hours!)

I’ve had a lot of luck with all the VWs I’ve had. I drove a MK1 Golf Gti around Spain for 4000 miles, brilliant fun in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It hit 200,000 miles while we were there and got us back home too 🙂

A newer Golf Gti might be a good option.
There seem to be some decent looking Mercedes for £1200 too. Can anyone recommend one?

Mazda could be another option, currently driving a cheap Mazda Demio It’s well built, reliable and is a brilliant little biking car.

Not as nice as a Golf, but I had an old Nissan Almera for a bit….if you don’t mind looking a bit of a John Shuttleworth in it, they have a chain cam 1.5 and last for decades if looked after. Go for a 2003-2010 model, should only set you back £700.

Main advantage: can throw a 29er straight in the boot with the seats down!

I’ll back up what Binners says about a Golf. Mine is a MK4 estate. 2ltr petrol. It looks very old man compared to the hatchback, but it’s MAHOOOSIVE in the back with the seats down. Brilliant biking car. Will carry 4 blokes, bikes and kit no problem.

Mines 15 years old with 128k on the clock. It failed it’s first MOT this year on a track rod end. It’s not diesel MPG but it blasted home from work today on A & B roads with the air con blowing hard and the trip computer reckons 44MPG.

I promised myself a newer car about 4 years ago when this one dies, I’ve been expecting it anytime, but it refuses to go gracefully.

For £1k it got to be a Nippon or a Deutschland made car. 😛

Including Skoda … 😆

+1 Mazda.

Only I’m going to commit heresy and warn against an MX5 – the cars you’ll get at that price will be the Mk2 and, unless it’s an import from Japan, likely has a hidden terminal rust issue with the chassis legs (that form part of the crumple zone).

I’m planning on selling everything I own (not much!) and migrating to the South of France to avoid another miserable British winter and would like to be able to enjoy the roads down there.

When in Rome……. wait till you get there and buy French

Another vote for a Corola T-Sport if you can find one, for that sort of money you need to avoid anything overtly ‘desirable’ because you’ll get a lot less for your money – better to get something more leftfield and largely forgotten – you still find those diamonds in the rough sometimes, crap ad and you turn up to be greated by an old chap and a old, but looks brand new, never missed a service, Japanese hatchback that’s not a BWM, VW or Merc so has depreciated to nothing and not a Ford or Vauxhall so falling to bits.

Toyota Celica 190 can be had for around £1250

MX5 if you’re short.

A 6 cylinder Beemer.

Ford Puma. You can get a bike in

Nissan Almera GTI – Japanese reliability mixed with European road manners; one of the best hot hatches of the time; a real “drivers car.” THe best bit about them is the price though; since most “hot hatch” owners can’t drive for toffee, and instead pick a car based on brand & looks, you’ll get one for a steal.

Another vote for celica 190.

I loved mine, needed nothing in 50k. Very sad it’s gone

Which reliable, fun to drive, reasonable amount of space, car for £1000?

It’s not going to happen for £1000. Lower your expectations, or increase your budget, a lot.

End of thread. lol

This panzer, a bit like alfa, much complicated, v. unreliable.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9U5mU2c-k4[/video]

I’d buy left hand drive if I was moving to France. Drove my uk car for 2 winters in the alps and always wanted to be sitting on the other side.

Honda Jazz, loads of space, reliable, 50mpg and surprisingly fun to drive and corner well.

Most have been owned by old people so well looked after and not thrashed.

The only downside is lack of refined high speed motorway cruising. Any over 80 feels a bit noisy.

Another vote for celica 190.

I loved mine, needed nothing in 50k. Very sad it’s gone

s’funny, a mate of mine who works in the industry praises those things to the high heavens. reckons toyota sell them practically at a loss (he had reasons, can’t remember them now, was a bit drunk)

his ma got one in about 1999. It’s now got about 150K on the clock and is still going strong. she’s the coolest granny on the block 😆

X reg 2 litre vtec Accord cost me 400 quid one owner and a service history and is quite quick

2.0 litre Mazda 3 Sport – ours still drives really nicely at 8 years old. And it’s based on the same floor pan as the Focus.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506174405958/sort/atcustom/postcode/hg29jg/radius/1501/make/MAZDA/model/mazda3/page/1/usedcars

I’d say Focus. Was following one the other day was very impressed by its speed and handling, it was going round corners in a way that would have a Golf under steering in to oblivion

Oh or a MX5 or better still a Suzuki Cappuccino

Gen 7 Celica all the way! I’ve got a 140 and it’s brilliant, the 190 must be a real hoot!