£5K (give or take) something quicker than a Focus but just as reliable
- Thread starter ShiWarrior
- Start date
Soldato
Do you need rear seats? If not why are convertibles out? Boot space concerns? You may wish to check out a pre-facelift E85 Z4 3.0. They're pretty reliable, will do 30 mpg, have a great engine (at 231bhp they meet your fast requirements) and there's plenty of choice around £5k. The boot is surprisingly big (two sets of golf clubs fit). The only thing it won't meet is your 2007 criteria, but they're not much older and have aged pretty well.
Associate
Shame, you could get a good Megane R26 for that budget.
Caporegime
They aren't really in the same league as each other. Cooper S is miles quicker.
And also very below 30MPG, my 5 year average in my ST225 was around 24MPG
Soldato
I think you may have to compromise on a couple of your criteria If you want a car that's proper hot hatch level, else drop down to a "regular" sort of quick car, though I'm sure there are plenty quicker than your focus still
Edit, maybe a Saab 9-3 If that's not too big? Seriously quick with just an off the shelf remap
Edit, maybe a Saab 9-3 If that's not too big? Seriously quick with just an off the shelf remap
2.0T even if you try, you're still nowhere near 30mpg.
Soldato
2.0T even if you try, you're still nowhere near 30mpg.
Ah Yeah, the mpg thing, forgot about that lol. Probably a bitch on tax too
I actually used to be able to hit the official figure without to much effort in my MP260 tuned one
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I think it's £280, can't remember now.
Caporegime
have done 15k miles now in my Volvo T5, average just north of 30mpg. Tax is just over £300 a year. Car has been flawless really, can't complain, nothing has broken but of course I bought it at 16k miles and 5 years old at the time, but a 5k example which will most likely have much higher mileage but for me, no complaints at all on the reliability side of things.
I guess it is a Focus underneath the platform is shared also with the Mazda 3 as well, it is however not exactly the same car. I really love mine, it is quiet, it is smooth (I have the auto), it is fast enough, I get nice comments from random strangers (when it is clean).
Just remember the boot is laughing small, barely enough for a weekly shop for a family, you can't even fit a suitcase in there if you have the hardtop cover on, which is the best cover to get because the "curtain" cover is ugly as sin.
A facelift version would be a bit over budget but the original one could be had for £5k.
Mine has
Heated rear windows (no heated mirrors)
Heated front seats
Electric memory seats
Rear parking sensors
Dual Zones Climate control
Follow me home headlights
Auto dimming mirror
Cruise control
Auto folding mirrors
R-Design pack
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Soldato
an s40 with the t5 shares a lot in common with a focus st right?
I was sorely tempted by one a year ago or so. Something put me off, but I cant remember what....
I was sorely tempted by one a year ago or so. Something put me off, but I cant remember what....
Caporegime
Its the same P1 Platform as the Focus, and Mazda 3.
Soldato
Same engine too?
Caporegime
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
They are but it's going to be 15 years old and a constant game of what part shall we replace today.
