You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I love my Smart Roadster but its impracticality is restricting my riding etc.
Looking for something more practical, cheap and moderately fun. My favourite characteristics in a car are light weight, "enough" power (for me ~100bhp/tonne), ability to live outdoors*, and simple enough for me to work on them (with OBD, forum help etc).
I'd love a 205gti or maybe MK3 Escort but *rules them out I guess. I like left field and am eyeing up a Mitsubishi Colt Cleartec (95bhp, ~ 1 tonne, £30 VED).
Any ideas?
Isn't the Colt a Smart ForFour wearing a different dress?
They are related I believe.
Pug 106 Rallye. I suspect they hold their value very well though and may be out of budget. But what is your budget, Al?
Well @Rickos the Colt is £2-3K I could certainly spend more if I found something I really wanted (205gti seems to start £6K)
I do like cheap VED / mpg and compatibility with life on a Scottish Street
Fiat Panda 100bhp, good fun, get bikes in back and cheap to run and work on.
panda 100 or twingo 133. you won't easily get a bike in either though
gt86?
Cheers, have heard the Panda is a harsh ride, I did try a Twingo 100 and liked it - small tho.
What you want is a Silver MX5 soft top with chrome parcel rack and several bungess. Worked fine that time we did it...
How about the original Ford Puma? Plenty of 1.7L ones on eBay for between £2-4k. Supposed to be a hoot to drive, and ticks all your boxes.
FN2 Civic Type R - some nice ones in the £3k to £4k area.
Boot is cavernous with the seats down - I got 4 pallets in mine last week!...
[img] 
[/img]
Thanks guys. Really don't like Civic and @TheFlyingOx aren't all Pumas thrashed and rusty?
...yeah - but VTEC and revving to 8000rpm is addictive! 🤣
Clio 172/182
Suzuki Swift Sport
Corsa VXR (image aside they’re alright)
MINI Cooper / S R53 (again, image aside)
Not much that’s low VED but still fun and older though.
A mate in Glasgow has a Pug 205 XS with a 1.6 16v in it, might be selling. I imagine that would be fun but not really compatible with outside living like you say.
No idea on the lightweight side of things, but....
Yaris SR
Corolla T-Sport
Focus ST170
Ibiza FR of some description. We've got a 12 Plate 2 litre diesel with 140bhp but can't imagine you'd want diesel
Ibiza Cupra/Fabia vRS but not sure how cheap they are.
Older Mini Cooper (first of the new ones)
With those criteria I’d be getting a Panda 100hp, cheap, fairly practical and a bunch of fun. Drive one and see how you get on, I don’t think they’re harsh but depends what you’re used to. I’m very tempted by one as school run/bike transport/winter hack.
Mx5, obviously....
Don't know about the legality of that set up, but we were never stopped on our way from Munich to Finale...
Was a fun trip. Saris bike rack.
Suzuki Ignis Sport.
Small, ugly, but fun.
As is the car.
Merc estate (as long as it’s got the sunglasses holder)
@Rustyspanner I think you've suggested that before? Does look fun.
@alpin had one for 9 years! Prefer the Smart
@the-muffin-man that does look good - fast and efficient.
Thanks for all the suggestions, seems a warm or hot hatch is a good choice, I'll do some more research (was checking out E30s earlier!)
Lupo GTi?
Bought a broken one earlier this year to fix and sell. So much fun at sensible speeds we kept it longer than planned, then regretted selling it.
Very simple mechanically if you're into DIY maintenance and (some) aluminium panels should make it fairly weather proof.
Oh and I've had an E30 for 6 years. My favourite car ever. Love, love, love it, but they've got very expensive for a good one and do now require a bit of TLC to keep them in good condition.
Another vote for the ST170.
Can fit a 29er FS in with the seats down, feels like a normal car around town, is ace fun in the right conditions and driven properly (high revs the key, they have very long legs) and as long as you get a good 'un and look after it will happily sit outside.
For your budget you could get one of the very best about, with sub 70k miles, 3 door, all the toys (Leather Recaro, premium stereo, zenons, climate, etc) and in the most desirable colour, imperial blue. Going up in value too so you shouldn't lose money.
Thanks all, costs/kg carbon are a key for me and I see there are various small cars with 8-9s 0-60 and £30 VED, if I can find one that handles well and swallows a dissembled 29er that will do it.
A research project for the Xmas break, I'll update you all.
Suzuki Ignis Sport.
Small, ugly, but fun.As is the car.
Mate had one, brilliant little car! Reminded me of Saxo VTS's ect that I loved not too long back. Great seats too Recaro fishnets IIRC
Get a m54 engine BMW 3.0i , the induction noise will charm you no need for music
The road tax might put you off a wee bit