What car to buy? (cutie and sporty)

[WyWyWyWy]

Hi all,

Next year I (more specifically, MY GF) will be 24, have 1 year NCB and 3 years license, so my insurance would drop dramatically (i.e. 1/2 of current).

So I decided to say byebye to this 1.1 Fiesta "learner's car" and buy a sports car. I was thinking 200SX S14 or MR2 SW20, both are not too expensive (around 3k to 4k GBP for a 95 model) and the insurance is reasonable, comparing to Escort RS Turbo, Saxo VTS, Impreza, etc.

However, my gf disagree with me, she wants a cutie "kei" car... okay fine, she pays 1/2 of it and financing me the half of it afterall.

So, any sporty cutie cars that you guys recommend?

I am now thinking...

1. Daihatsu Cuore Avanzato TR-XX



This car is only 700cc, but it is AWD, long wheel base, turbo-charged, and it has nice sporty bodykit/alloys on it too 0-60 around 8 sec, very lightweight, cheap and low insurance.

The thing, they are very rare.

2. VolksWagon Lupo GTi



For this one, the engine is bigger (1.6 IIRC), also long wheel base and turbo charged. Looks very cutie and modern. Slightly more expensive than Daihatsu and slightly higher insurance. 0-60 also around 8 sec. This is more popular, easier to get tuning/modding parts and service is going to be cheaper.

So what do you guys think about these two cars and are there any alternatives?

Thanks.

(only cars available to the United Kingdom please...)

[GNEP]

Buy a tractor. Much more useful.




(If you're a farmer, that is)

[K6-III]

Get the Lupo diesel instead...(my favorite car, which is unfortunately not available over here)

[agallag]

It might be a little above your price range, but have you seen the new Mazda3? It's available over there with a 1.6L diesel (which we can't get in Canada), along with a collection of gasoline engines. Over here it'll have a nice 2.3L 160HP engine, but I don't know if you'll get that one over there. It's very reasonably priced, and has quite a lot of nice features available. I thinks it's due for release next month.

[UtwigMU]

Just stay away from Peugeot, as manufacturing is terrible.

Don't know how that applies to Citroen as they're the same company now.

[WyWyWyWy]

I stay away from any French cars
I'd even go for British cars (Ford, Vauxhall) than any French.

As for Mazda3... I read some reviews about it, and I kind of like it. But... it is not cutie enough for me need

[Elie]

Never buy Deisel and don't even think about Daihatsu!!!

You will be ok with the Lupo!

I personally would get any Subaru, especially the WRX

Cheers,
Elie

[Wulfman]

Originally posted by Elie
Never buy Deisel and don't even think about Daihatsu!!!

no diesel? why?

mfg
wulfman

[DukeP]

The Lupo 3L is actually a great car - if somewhat small.

AND it runs more than 33 kilometers on one liter of diesel (I have tried this in real life, on highway, doing 140kmh.

~~DukeP~~

[VJ]

Elie: Diesel has advantages in Europe. The fuel is (much) cheaper, but you do have an additional dieseltax. However, if you drive a sufficiant number of kilometers (depending on the tax, it is around 20.000 km /year), it is cheaper. Also, you can drive further with a full tank.


Jörg

[Brian Ellis]

Ford model T

[GuchiGuh]

get the lupo, because you can do this to it:

[GuchiGuh]

or get a second hand polo, year 1998 or so. because when u chuck a turbo in that thing... oh momma!!!

[Gurm]

I am continuously amazed at this bizarre class of vehicle that is only available in Europe.

I'm not making fun, I'm expressing true automotive delight in a compact car that ISN'T built like dog shit. Any car this size in America is guaranteed to only run properly for about 5 yeas.

- Gurm

[az]

They're quite sensible cars for the city, if all you do is drive to work and go shopping with it, and maybe give the kids a lift (is "giving a lift" correct in this context, when it's your own kids you drive to/from school/friends?) - more sensible than an SUV (though I'd love to own an XC90...) in any case

But they're a little too small for a family car. As a second car, they're great, though.

AZ