Cheap, fun car for under a grand... can it be done?

[xaero1]

Can anyone suggest a cheap, fast car for under a grand?

In my pursuit of cheap motoring I was previously considering just buying a 500 quid diesel of some sort but know that it would bore me to tears. I've started looking at things like Saxo VTSs and Pug 205 GTIs but good ones are 1500 plus.

I've seen some Fiesta XR2i 1.8 16v cars coming in around the 800 and 900 quid mark and these seem fairly decent. Can anybody comment? (and no I won't be wearing any baseball caps)

I had a 1.1 Fiesta as my first car (1993) and it was bloody brilliant. Boring to drive, powerless, but ultra-reliable. I'm told these 1.8 16v XR2is have the first generation zetec engine so it sounds like they could be pretty good.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for small fast cars?

Cheers

[Thrust]

Have you ever tried a 3 series Soarer? You get an awful lot of engineering for your money (bags of luxury and looks, and surprising Jag-beating big-car speed) and it came in various different gradations of spec. A flood of cheap imports has pulled down the price to where you can pick up really nice examples for well under a grand. Gotta be able to recognize the abused examples, though.

[Trev]

3 words....Toyota Starlet Turbo.

POCKET ROCKET.

[Jim27]

Mitsubishi Colt 1.6 16v GLXi CA0

Marginally slower than a VTS but huge fun, really revvy engines, Mitsi reliability and got quite a little cult following.

If they've been looked after they'll do mega-mileages too

The CA0 is faster than the later CJ0 although a little harder to find as they weren't made for that long before the CJo was introduced. If you can find a 1.8 GTi they're HUUUUGE fun but they're pretty few and far between - the 1.6 GLXi is just as much fun though as a daily dodgem

This one went on PH for £500 recently:



White ones are the best though

There's a white GTI on PH at the mo too for £1,800 but I reckon you'd get it for £1,000




...and if you fall in love with it and want to spend some pennies at a later date, it has the same front-end chassis as the Evos 1,2 and 3 so you can easily do an engine transplant and make a monster sleeper

[steve_GTR]

For pure fun it has to be the r5 turbo but these are not the most reliable cars and are getting old now.

[SteveN]

Why on earth has people mentioned Starlet Turbo and R5GTT for under a grand?! Not a chance unless they shagged.

Be lucky to get a decent one for twice that.

Both fantastic cars though.

XR2i's, 8v and 16v, suck IMO, tho once stripped bare are ok, same as most cars.

I can think of a fair few, but petrol money will be big.

[Cris]

Under a grand and fun, only one option really - 180/200SX S13.

RWD with a turbo. A billion tuning goodies and spares floating about as required.

205 GTI would be great but for under a grand is likely to be knackered.

Clio 16v same as above but likely to be less knackered but still.

Maybe an early MX5 but I would guess that the thing would be leaking like a sieve at that price.

[G40tee]

205 gti? i dont know how much they go for though!

you can pick up a decent vts for under a grand!

we bought one for 750, it had no history bear in mind but the car is mechanically sound (bar the horn and indicators not working) but that is a minor fault easily fixed. Citroens arent exactly known for their reliability though!

Fun cars to drive though.

golf mk2 gti 16v? good luck getting a decent running one for that price though i spose.

nova, stick a 2.0 lump in from a bigger vaux then all's fair in love and ragging it

[Trev]

Originally Posted by SteveN

Why on earth has people mentioned Starlet Turbo and R5GTT for under a grand?! Not a chance unless they shagged.

I knew someone that had a H Reg one imported (Starlet Turbo) and there was NOTHING wrong with it.

£800 all in too.

[SB Performance]

Originally Posted by Trev

I knew someone that had a H Reg one imported (Starlet Turbo) and there was NOTHING wrong with it.

£800 all in too.

If that is what he said, I doubt he is telling the truth.

[TREG]

Originally Posted by Trev

I knew someone that had a H Reg one imported (Starlet Turbo) and there was NOTHING wrong with it.

£800 all in too.

And there seem to be a few on Ebay with service history for under £1k too

[xaero1]

Those Starlets on ebay are not turbo models, they're the 1.3 16v.

In light of what SteveN said about the Fiestas, I'm looking more at the Saxo VTS. I want something small and nimble that I can bomb around the local country roads in.

G40tee, how would you rate the VTS performance-wise? I've been in a VTR and it certainly felt punchy. Is the VTS much better?

[SteveN]

A VTS is a million times better than a 2i 16v, different class.

An S13 for under a grand will generally be an utter shed too, but you can get lucky.

Originally Posted by TREG

And there seem to be a few on Ebay with service history for under £1k too

Can you not tell the difference between turbos and non turbos mate?

Show me a Starlet TURBO for 1k or less in good condition and ill buy it.

[GouldyGTR]

in my experience of hot hatches i could recommend

a Civic 1.6-16iVT

150odd BHP standard with bags of tuning potential, you can pick up a tatty one for under a grand

if not then a Charade GTti if your lucky, ive had one and the sound/performance is great fun!

golfs and 205's are overrated IMO, 106 Gti's are nice but more than likely out of the budget

[shade]

Primera eGT!