Yet another ‘what car?’ thread ... Now NCD!!

cm01

There seem to have been a few of these lately - hopefully this one won’t turn into something of Emp Fab proportions!

I’m looking to get a new car - I’ve currently got a bog standard old Fiesta which is approaching the end of its days.  I’m in no rush to buy, so can take my time to find a well looked after car.

I don’t do many miles a year - my daily commute is only 20 mins, so I’m after something that will put a smile on my face every time I drive it ... I had a Mini Cooper S about 10 years ago and it did exactly that, so that’s a front runner... what I’m after:

Budget £5000 - £6000 (I’m in Australia but prices seem fairly comparable)

Fun to drive, fairly nippy 

4 seats min 

Reliable / decent build 

Reasonable running / servicing costs 

I’ve got a shortlist going, but need advice on variants / specs - the Mini’s are straightforward in that respect ... so far its:

Hyundai Velostar

Mini Cooper S (I’d also have a Countryman S)

BMW 1 25i coupe

Audi A3 / A4

Audi TT

Focus Sport 

Subaru WRX

So, your thoughts please gentlemen... 

DiscoStu

Yay! Another Veloster thread!

Emp_Fab

Are you taking the piss sonny ? 

cm01

Emp_Fab said:

Are you taking the piss sonny ? 

Hah! Not at all ... I actually quite like the Velostars and there are a few in budget locally 

cm01

Even though I’ve spelt it wrongly 

crunchman

As long as you don't need to fit a big amp in the boot, an MX5.

stickyfiddle

Golf. The answer is always Golf, except when you don't absolutely need 4 seats, in which case the answer is MX5. But quite seriously, it's the obvious comparable that's not on your list

sweepy

Don’t rule out a Toyota Yaris, I had  one as a courtesy car whilst my C-HR was being serviced, great little car 

cm01

I forgot to put the Golf on there ... I also like the Scirocco’s as well ... I’d have an MX5 in a heartbeat but I need 4 seats because I occasionally do the school run / pickup 

ronnyb

cm01 said:

Emp_Fab said:

Are you taking the piss sonny ? 

Hah! Not at all ... I actually quite like the Velostars and there are a few in budget locally 

Just make sure if you buy one its all the same colour.

Hattigol

Cooper S - great fun. The SD is cracking performance and economy.

Countryman - the only Mini that definitely isn't fun to drive. Rotten, lumbering things.

Focus - buy this if you are 17 and have acne.

BMW 1 Series - buy this if you like cars with desperately drab and outdated interiors.

Audi TT - buy this if you are female/cabin crew.

A3/4 - not bad.

strtdv

Cooper S sounds like a good option, not much else on the list will be as much fun to drive.
Fiesta ST is a great little car too.

I'd avoid the 125i, it's not quick enough to justify the price increase over a 120i and the running costs aren't far off the much better 130i/135i

cm01

Hattigol said:

Cooper S - great fun. The SD is cracking performance and economy.

The Cooper S is the front runner - I just remember having so much fun in my old one ... good to hear the SD’s are good too 

strtdv

Are diesels a thing in Oz (other than huge Cummins powered pickups/Utes)?

zedhex

If you want to have fun round corners, get the BMW. It's the only one on your list that has rearwheel drive. Front wheel drive is for grocery getters only.

SteveRobinson

zedhex said:

If you want to have fun round corners, get the BMW. It's the only one on your list that has rearwheel drive. Front wheel drive is for grocery getters only.

Minis are great round corners

Emp_Fab

Get an MX5

an MX5

Don't forget now......


Mazda....


MX5



not 6

not 4

5

Mazda MX5

zedhex

SteveRobinson said:

zedhex said:

If you want to have fun round corners, get the BMW. It's the only one on your list that has rearwheel drive. Front wheel drive is for grocery getters only.

Minis are great round corners

Not in my experience - I've never really had fun driving in a front wheel drive car, they just feel weird to me. Powering out of a decent corner with the rear wheels just on the edge of grip is a feeling like no other - and you cannot get that from front wheel drive. 

strtdv

There are plenty of FWD cars that are great to drive, the obvious ones are pretty much any generation of Civic Type R, the Integra Type R, the i30 N Performance, Clio 172/182, MK1 and MK2 Focus RS, the list is a long one.

I'd far rather be on the limit in one of those than in a 1 series, which is a great car at 6-7 tenths but well out of its comfort zone at 9-10 tenths (I say this as someone who owned a 125d, it was a lovely car with a great driving position, but a serious hot hatch contender it wasn't)

The 1 (and indeed the vast majority of non M/AMG/whatever performance division cars) has an open diff anyway so it's not as if you're getting the full advantage of a RWD car in the first place.
It's also hobbled by awful run-flat tyres.

SteveRobinson

zedhex said:

Powering out of a decent corner with the rear wheels just on the edge of grip is a feeling like no other - and you cannot get that from front wheel drive. 

With respect (and maybe I'm an old guy) you shoudln't be driving at (or near) the limit of traction on public roads.

JerkMoans

cm01 said:

I’ve got a shortlist going, ... so far its:

Hyundai Velostar

Fucking SO MUCH OF YES!