New car for around £5,000

Associate
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Following on from my last thread I bought a cheap run around in order to save up for a better car towards the end of the year. Due to a change in circumstances I might be getting one in the next couple of months.

It needs to be fairly reliable and usable on a day to day basis. I don't commute too far so MPG isn't a huge problem. Ive picked a few I like and so far the short list is made up of a Leon Cupra R or an Integra DC5.

Tbh im leaning towards the Cupra due to the fact that with a remap you can squeeze quite a few more horses out of it without spending a fortune.

Can anyone comment on them or suggest any alternatives?

Cheers
 
Associate
OP
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I am willing to stretch the budget a grand for the right one. Granted the DC5 was just an after thought but I did see a couple for under 6k. As for the Cupra there is quite a few for around 5k, it will be the 210bhp one not the 225 but that doesnt bother me too much.
 
Soldato
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Thats a standard Cupra, the standard Cupra is 180BHP not sure about 210 unless its been remapped or i'm getting confused, my mate had one, you'll get a good example of a Leon Cupra for £5k with change but not a Cupra-R, there are better cars out there for this money
 
Soldato
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Look on Piston Heads theres plenty of Cupra R's for around 5k. Any there were two versions of the Cupra R, a 210 and a 225. The 210 being the older one with a couple of differences like bigger wing mirrors and minor details

Ah yeah like the S3. Fair enough, I still wouldnt want to buy a £5k example of either
 
Don
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£5000 is the right amount for a DC2.

But being 10+ years old, you'll need to find out that either has no rear arch rust, or has already had this problem sorted.

Also, the suspension bushes will need doing, this costs ~£300-900 ish (depending if you do it yourself or not)

I've spent around £1200 in 1 year of ownership on general servicing, £240 of that was a new alarm mind.

In that ~£950, I've had this done..

4x oil & filter changes (I do them myself)
New tyres on all corners
New rear brake pad and discs
New upper control arms -was cheaper to buy the whole thing, than get the bushes/ball joints
Front right wheel bearing (the old one just died)
Magnetic gearbox & sump plugs
Air filter cleaned
Gearbox oil change
and an MOT

Getting a new clutch, replica mugen airbox & filter, and valve clearances done soon, will be ~ £600 ish, oh and new engine mounts as stock ones will be dead by now


Compared to other performance cars, it's reasonably cheap to maintain, but I like to keep on top of the maintenance side as I plan to keep it
 
Soldato
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£5000 is the right amount for a DC2.

He said DC5 not DC2, yes you can get a DC2 for £5k but at ten years old with a high revving engine and a body that rots would you want to pay that kind of money for one?

Theres one near me for £5.5k one owner from new with full main dealer history, thats the kind of DC2 i'd be after if I was to part with that kind of money for a ten year old plus car
 
Don
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He said DC5 not DC2

I know, I was bouncing off your reply :)


Relentless81 said:
yes you can get a DC2 for £5k but at ten years old with a high revving engine and a body that rots would you want to pay that kind of money for one?

Theres one near me for £5.5k one owner from new with full main dealer history, thats the kind of DC2 i'd be after if I was to part with that kind of money for a ten year old plus car

That's how much I paid for mine

Edd, it's great down this way, there are no pot holes, and the main road that I use has recently been relaid.

It was terrible to drive around Newport, I had to visit 9 sites in a day last year, and used almost half a tank from Cardiff to Newport, 9 sites and back to Cardiff.

The roads in Cardiff and Newport are shocking though



Was trying to point out that it wouldn't be super cheap to run.
 
Soldato
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DC5 is double that moleh. Anything near £6-7k arnt worth considering.

Best car for you in this budget = EP3. Again, you'll be pushing it to find a nice one though. But worth it.
 
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