Safe Speed Forums

Honoured as I am to rub virtual shoulders with such knowledgeable drivers here, I thought I would share my car-choice dilemma with you all.

My father has decided he wants to buy my Puma off me, despite knowing its driving history It's a long story as to why; suffice to say I am agreeable to the idea.

Having not considered its replacement up to now, I am suddenly having to decide what to buy next. The car will used mainly on country roads at the weekend. The criteria are as follows:

1. No more than 4150mm long (dictated by garage)

2. 4 seater or 2+2 (dictated by need to carry dog)

3. Substantially faster than a 1.7 Puma, let's say 0-60 in under 7 secs (dictated by need to not regret selling Puma)

4. Budget of £10,000

5. Less than 5 years old

So far, I've come up with either a Honda Civic Type R (very tight fit in garage mind you), or a Renault Clio 182 (Cup?)

I welcome your (sensible) suggestions. Actually I welcome your stupid ones too!

Not driven the Type R but have driven the Type S, which is more grown up and it was top. My 8 year old Honda has yet to let me down too. What about a modern diesel? They don't meet your 0-60 specs but would blow the puma into the weeds on mid range. Or get a bum basic car and get a sports bike with the change. Depending on how big the hound is he/she could come too. Saw a wire haired terrier of some sort hop ino a sports bag on the pavement at last years Southend Shake Down and was then whisked off on a BMW R1150 GS ears flapping!

Skoda Fabia VRS. Beat a mini cooper round TG's test track, small too.

Thank you Adam for your input. I should have pointed out that I drive a very nice pair of diesel vans for work (a 104hp VW Caddy and a 137hp Transit), so even though I am a convert to the joys of diesel, the weekend car has to be sufficiently different to stop me feeling like I'm at work....

Almsot every trip this car does will involve carrying stuff, including the dog, and I can't see myself getting him on a bike:

My TT may be for sale soon....not quite sub 7sec but......its only a number!! yours for £10k

whats a mazda rx8 going for now?

MGTF 160.

Looks great (IMHO), rag top so you can get the roof down on sunny days. Mid-engined and rear-wheel drive (as God intended) so you can chuck it through the twisties and they have a 0-60 of 6.9 secs, so it would make your Puma feel like the slow, bodykitted Fiesta that it indeed is

Engine is a revvy wonder (as seen in an Elise near you!) - pulls like a train at higher revs and has a nice burbly exhaust note at lower. AND you can fit 2 bags of Golf clubs in the boot! (as opposed to the MR2 etc. in which you can barely fit a golf ball).

Best bit is that since MG went tits up you can pick them up for next to nothing. Stay well clear of the 02 platers (head gaskets have a tendancy to go pop at 20k on 02 plates) and you can't go far wrong.

Still regret the day I sold mine and got the Jag (needed a bigger car for new dad related reasons - meant to buy a Focus but i got a bit carried away!)

Edit: just read the bit about the dog, making all this a bit pointless. Sod it, shoot the dog and get a sports car - you know it makes sens

Alfa 147 2.0 T spark 0-60 9 sec But will be fun on the corners

Or if you can get one a 147 GTA 3.2 V6
edit 0-60 6.3 sec

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I think he's bullet-proof

Not sure what calibre of Type R your going to get for 10K, but better get that one. Don't know how your dog will fare if it has leather seats, he might get a bit more purchase off cloth seats for the furious cornering that a Type R would encourage

(No dogs were harmed during the making of this thread)

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Just read a bunch of reviews of the Clio Trophy (which in my blissful ignorance I wasn't aware of up til now ), which paint a fairly glowing picture:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/FirstDrive_Summary.asp?RT=216093

http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/4Car-fleet/renault-clio-trophy/index.html

Think I might get one of these and spare Bosley the dog's life.

Thanks guys.

Looking at dog, don't you think he'd be happier in a PUG

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Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Anyone got any thoughts on Audi TT's? Specifically 225 coupes?

The impression I get is they look great, are well built and fast, but aren't great driver's cars.

or with

Not a TT fan myself. Looks like half an easter egg on wheels. Look for the red lights to figure out which way round to sit.

Definately a bad image too. Screams "fashion accessory".

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Nissan Pulsar GTi-R.

Pros:

4wd
2.0 turbo
small
fast
4 seats
basically a Nissan Sunny

Cons:
Japanese Import
Modify it for more power and there goes your gearbox
Seriously ugly

As someone else said, get a year or two old Fabia vRS, and get it remapped. They use the 1.9 VAG PD TDi motor and can put out anything up to 210 bhp and 288lb/ft of torque with some very minor messing about.

0-60 time in standard guise is about 8.8 seconds, going down to around 7 dead with the remap. The great thing is, they'll still return 50+ mpg combined

I was going to suggest the Cupra R -well within budget, but it might be too long for the garage.

Here's a few suggestions (boring):

-seat 'beezer' cupra -(180hp 1.8t I think? or even 160hp diesel -bet that's got some shove, although I understand the desire to get away from the clatter of derv at the weekend)

-Mk 4 Golf 2.8 4motion should fit.

-Audi S3 would in be in budget & might squeeze in...

Fun:

-Fiat Coupe 20v turbo -might be able to squeeze that in the garage and lots of change left over (save some for the cambelt swap & insurance... )

-You could pick up a fairly minty Lancia Delta Integrale EVO within budget...

As ree.t suggested Alfa 147, but pick a low miles 2.0 twin spark with the best spec possible (£6k ish) and spend the rest at Autodelta (225bhp turbo conversion is well regarded) Now that would be even cooler. (IMHO)

Love driving my wife's Alfa 156 at the weekend, its a fit squeaky/flaky compared to my work Mk 5 golf tdi but its sooo much creamier and characterful to drive. The steering was better and more tactile than our old MR2 roadster, and that was quite a tool in the bends. Avanti!

Edit...just seen the 5yrs old restriction...Doh!

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Girly????

'Half an Easter Egg'!!!!!!!!!!

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