What Car (part deux)

[radddogg]

After the doggies spouted in the original What Car thread I've come back for more stellar advice

I love the Smart but it is showing its age; engine needs a rebuild (all 600/700cc models do after 50k), needs a new roof, wheel bearing (after BJ Respect replaced the wrong one ), interior tired, radio fcuked, speakers fcuked, etc. I'm in a position where I can replace it but haven't made my mind up what with yet. That's where you 'horrible lot come in!

It has to be unusual and I'd like it to be punchy, ideally soft top but also toying with idea of a modern classic. I love the practicality of the Smart for parking and running costs so I need to consider this.

1 Brabus Smart Cabrio
2 Lotus Elise/VX220
3 Toyota IQ
4 Fiesta XR2 mk1 or mk2
5 Lancia Delta

Please add to the list as well as feeding back on this list.

Cheers

[greenfli]

Hmm thats a mixed bag already, dont see the delta being much good on the mpg front but that said its the one id pick if I had enough money to fix it every time it broke down

[Deckz]

I assume it has to be a smaller car?

[Deckz]

Also what's the budget ?

[mg55]

4 Fiesta XR2 mk1 or mk2
5 Lancia Delta

[radddogg]

That's the thing. I would compromise on size or economy for the right car.

Budget i suppose £7k but could stretch a bit more. Car will be financed by smart car sale/trade (£1-1.5k) plus finance for the difference. Ideally up to £100 per month but could stretch to £150 per month. May also be able to add in £1k cash to the deal.

Also don't need to spend all £7k, if there is a car for £2k tell me

[peteT16]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-FORD-FIE ... 1e87fe66e4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk1-Ford-Fies ... 20e0e6b7a0

[radddogg]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-FORD-FIE ... 1e87fe66e4

Yeah i saw that on auto trader. A bit pricey?

[peteT16]

Yeah, nice car, but very strong money.

[radddogg]

Motors.co.uk search is throwing up Audi TT 1.8t

[martinsli]

what about an rs1600i.
i had a mk 1 xr2 same colour as the ebay link, back in 1990. i then swapped it for a mint rs1600i, what a great car that was. i still miss it now and still have the autotrader with both cars in it.

[carl747]

number 5

[Stevo135+]

Assuming your talking about an old 1990's Lancia delta? And are you talking an Integrale Evo1/Evo2?

Very pricey for the age of the car, and lots of issues with bodywork, corrosion and shell cracking around the A-pillars etc. I'd buy a mint one for new Golf money and still treat it as a project. but to all intents and purposes it's a non starter for a useable daily car IMO.

The K-series powered Elise's are a bit cheaper now, and they handle well and are fairly simple in terms of electrics and equipment. the K-series will give better than MGF fuel economy in the Elise too, so if it's comfy enough and big enough it could be a fairly practical option maybe?

The Brabus roadster can't be too much different from your existing car, and surely you will have the same issues with it being a rhubarb to work on. I like small car's but the Smart has never struck me as DIY friendly at all?

I'd scrap the IQ and look at the Aygo instead. They are small cheap and quite fun to throw around. They are also quite moddable and have a fairly good aftermarket parts market catering for them. They also go well when supercharged to 130bhp too! This would be my preffered option by a long way TBH!

Mk1/2 XR2? surely there's none left that aren't full of holes and rusting to bits, and if you did see a mint one, a performance Ford collector would probably pay way over the odds for it, making them not worth the cash IMO.

[radddogg]

Assuming your talking about an old 1990's Lancia delta? And are you talking an Integrale Evo1/Evo2?

Very pricey for the age of the car, and lots of issues with bodywork, corrosion and shell cracking around the A-pillars etc. I'd buy a mint one for new Golf money and still treat it as a project. but to all intents and purposes it's a non starter for a useable daily car IMO.

The K-series powered Elise's are a bit cheaper now, and they handle well and are fairly simple in terms of electrics and equipment. the K-series will give better than MGF fuel economy in the Elise too, so if it's comfy enough and big enough it could be a fairly practical option maybe?

The Brabus roadster can't be too much different from your existing car, and surely you will have the same issues with it being a rhubarb to work on. I like small car's but the Smart has never struck me as DIY friendly at all?

I'd scrap the IQ and look at the Aygo instead. They are small cheap and quite fun to throw around. They are also quite moddable and have a fairly good aftermarket parts market catering for them. They also go well when supercharged to 130bhp too! This would be my preffered option by a long way TBH!

Mk1/2 XR2? surely there's none left that aren't full of holes and rusting to bits, and if you did see a mint one, a performance Ford collector would probably pay way over the odds for it, making them not worth the cash IMO.

Thanks Steve, some great points tbh. I can't get my head around the Aygo though. As a car it just doesn't appeal to me I'm afraid.

You're right with the smart though, its a real pig to work on and they really aren't great quality (mild steel torx bolts rust away to nothing). So I'd need to break the bank to buy a newer one and they just aren't great value.

I'm really liking the look of this. It looks a lot of car for the money and its close to me.

[Sheaf]

Surely the obvious choice here is an MX5.

£7k gets you an 08 plate with under 30k miles.

Fun, light, quick enough, soft top, not expensive to maintain, reliable, modern classic. RWD.

And you're old/sensible enough not to worry about the whole hairdresser thing and buy a car for what it does.

Personally I'd probably be looking at an S2000 for that additional performance and fun, but most people would say the MX5 is as fast as you would ever need and better value. And tbh, they're probably right.

Ok, neither are massively unusual, however there's probably a good reason as to why you don't see many of the cars that you've listed....

Oh and the MX5 is so well documented, there's a silly amount of info out there about it. None of this rubbish about not being able to get parts that you're probably going to get with a few of the others.

[Smilerbaker]

I've had the brabus roadster, has all the same issues as a normal smart, and apart from nice wheels and bodykit is the same as a normal smart (depending on which version you have now) loved the smart to bits, a real hoot to drive, but working on them just forget it, try changing a headlight bulb for a start!! this replaced our 1st smart whose engine went pop at about 60k (a cabrio) also a very nice car.

if you're after a fun car you could get a very good TF for your budget

[radddogg]

Ok, so in the end I ignored all suggestions and went with an Audi TT Quattro Roadster 180.

I have to say I'm blown away so far. It's an absolute joy to drive. Not just the power but also the road holding, spec and how refined it is. Just cruising along at the speed limit is enjoyable but going round corners it's like it's on rails.

It's properly loaded as well. Climate, leather, Bose sound system with CD changer, on board computer, heated seats, electric everything.

It has a couple of niggles, the main one being the roof closure sensor at the top of the screen is dodgy and requires a sharp bash to turn the"roof open" light off and complete the roof closure process. I'm planning to strip the panel off and check the wiring and switch but I'm sure it's something of nothing.

To be honest I've come out of the deal feeling sorry for the dealer lol. I paid just £1200 plus my smart car.

I know it's early days but so far id put it up there with the GTO overall. Annoyingly, everyone seems to want to ruin it for me by calling it a hairdresser's car but it is clear that the designers intended this to be a drivers car.