What Car? (1.5-3k)

[Adam]

I need some help here
Cannot decide what to buy at all, and ive really got to shift my mk4 astra, sick of getting 29mpg for what isnt a performance car

1-Narrowed it down to a Vag 1.9TDI
Golf/A3/A4/Bora
Would need be 115/130 version.

Good=MPG, bit of poke for when needed, low tax/insurance
Bad points=They are selling for a lot, for what they are tbh

2-Bmw 320, maybe 330d

Good=Mpg again, decent power for a diesel
Bad=Few people ive known with BMs aint had that much good luck with them

3-Ph2 Clio 172/182, or PH2 Seat Leon Cupra 1.8 T
Good=Nice bit of power, very cheap these days for what you get, doesn't sound like a transit. Pretty fun to drive.
Bad=Low 40mpg at a push, more like 30, insurance and mental tax cost for 2001/2 onwards cars


I want a Cliosport or the Cupra, but my head says forget about them and get a sensible 50mpg, low running cost diesel.
Or any other options?

[DAFTJOHN]

Many miles do you do and what kind of roads do you drive?

[John]

Go for the cupra, watch expensive rfl and poor mpg round town though. Diesel cupra? Ibiza cupra? Skoda Fabia vrs?

[John]

If you go vag diesel, make sure it's a pd. Dont go for anything Audi, a3/4 are overpriced for what they are.

[Southie]

I also going to say Skoda VRS, tuneable and fun

[Mike]

Out of everything mentioned Id say VRS. As with most things VAG though they all have 130k & still up for £3k

In a wider spectrum if its performance you do decide on then jap is definetly your friend. £2.5~3k will easily pick up a Pulsar GTiR/Impreza turbo/Evo3/R33/RX7 (albeit a rough one!) or even a DC2 Teg.

[Lee H]

EP3 Civic Type R.

Ultra reliable, fairly tuneable, ok mpg, excellent gearbox. Only downside is insurance is a bit pricey!

[Adam]

Dont do loads of miles, probably around 10k.
Mostly town driving, no motorway driving unless im going away for a weekend or whatever.

John-Diesel Cupras seem to go for 3.5k+, i could probably live with 30-40mpg at a push (with Cupra turbo or Clio) TBH 180bhp, practical, and 30-40mpg isnt bad.

How do i know if its a vag pd engine? Are they not all pd engines? Ive been looking at VW's around 2000-2002 plate, although most seem to be 160k miles and 2 grand , which is a bit steep.
Not looked at Fabia's atm

Dont think id be interested in a Impreza/evo etc, running/repair/insurance costs put me off.

Dont seem to find many "ok" Type R's around for under 3k either.

[Mike]

Dont think id be interested in a Impreza/evo etc, running/repair/insurance costs put me off.

Dont seem to find many "ok" Type R's around for under 3k either.

Clio 182 it is then

[Adam]

I just want something not mentally expensive to run, and easy/cheap enough to maintain.