A Question of Moderns

[LessThanEqual]

I've come to the conclusion that my Polo is just too small for someone who is 6'3. I'd like something that's one size up and a bit more modern, as I'm not the most mechanically gifted. I quite like the look of these 3 door Civics, many get slammed within an inch of their life so it'd be nice to save at least one.

 

 

Headroom is great in these too as my mate has one and I've spent some time in it. I want to know what my choices for other cards are at a budget of say £1500 (this is where you all scream "YOU CULD AV 10 LAGUNAZ"). I won't get rid of my current car until about February due to recently spending money on maintenance and needing some extra funds.

[garethj]

How is legroom for the driver in those? Have you considered something bigger, maybe an Accord?

[FakeConcern]

The Citroen C4 Coupe is a bit different both inside & out, lots of headroom, Seat & wheel adjustment. This is the VTS like I have, now to be had for about £1500 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-05-Citroen-C4-2-0i-16v-VTS-Coupe-/281883288173?hash=item41a18da26d:g:fj0AAOSwfZ1WbD3V

[artdjones]

An E12 Corolla Hatch.Nicer with a 1.6 than a 1.4-not very exciting but excellent quality.They can use oil and also gearbox bearings can go but are very noticeable when they do.No timing belt on these.Or Mk1 Focus,but definitely a 1.6 here as the Focus is really heavy for its size and a 1.4 is sluggish.

[Cavcraft]

Vectra C 2.0DTi saloon.

[EssDeeWon]

This is Autoshite!!

 

May we recommend the Morris Marina, or the MK2 Cavalier or perhaps something more modern, a Rover 214?

 

Sorry can't help further.

[eddyramrod]

If legroom is the issue, you want a mk2 or 3 Capri.  What you'll get in budget though, is another matter.  Probably a Scalextric one!

[chaseracer]

Vectra C 2.0DTi saloon.

 

Just curious, Billy, but what have you got for sale at the mo?

 

[Ghosty]

Those Civics also come in 1.7 coupé for cheap.

Aldi A3s can be had in that price bracket too, as can early A4s. Our quattro was £1150! 

[UltraWomble]

Im 6' tall and 5' wide.

Almera N16 - with room to spare.

[Split_Pin]

I reckon those Civic 3 doors still look tidy today. An ex had one when it was fairly new and the build quality was excellent and it felt very sporty for a 1.6.

[gordonbennet]

My daughter is on her second 2.0 litre S type 5 door versions of this model, and they are the dogs bollocks, when this one dies she wants me to find her another (fuck nose am i supposed to be the wizard of bleedin oz), they really are that good.

 

She drives the poor sod like she stole it, it bloody thrives on it, she's never had a single breakdown with either despite her 20 to 30k annual mileage.

 

To be honest if i can't find another one for her when this bugger dies i really do not know what car to suggest, thought about a Corolla T Sport Compressor but they're as rare as hens tits, she doesn't like the later ugly as fuck space age Civic any more than i do, quandry indeed.

[Honey Badger]

I had the 5 door type-S Civic like Mr Bennets daughter and that had loads of headroom, we hammered 40k on it in 18 months and it was bullet proof, I'd highly recommend a civic that age. Captain 70swould be ableto give you more info as hes driving one now.

 

Then again im an unapologetic Honda fanboi so i am slighly biased, buy the shitroen and live a life of excitement* and uncertainty.

[Mr A Lawrence]

You could just wait until vw bring the next generation polo out, it's guaranteed to be 25% bigger than the last model.

[twosmoke300]

If you buy a civic allow some money for caipers etc . Lucas rubbish that loves to seize up .

Not immune to rust either - suspension arms , fuel filler necks and brake pipes mainly .The previous generation was a better built and better handling car imo .( double wishbone upfront )

[Tamworthbay]

9 lagunaz and a year's RAC?

[Taff]

MGF

[Sloth in a bowl]

Infinite Lagunas of which 10 will work, for a while.

[vulgalour]

Define 'modern'.

 

Plenty of 20+ year old cars do just as well as brand new ones for a fraction of month's finance.  As long as you don't expect to be crashing everywhere, anything in the 10-20 year bracket is going to be ideal because you can spend £500 on a good un, £1000 on a REALLY good un and still have enough left over to buy exotic beer and cheap thrills.

[LessThanEqual]

Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate this isn't the most shite thread out there. I think I'll stick to looking at Civics for now as they seem to be decent for the money. Probably a 1.4 or 1.6 to avoid being raped by tax, insurance, and EMPEEGEES.

 

 

Define 'modern'.

 

Plenty of 20+ year old cars do just as well as brand new ones for a fraction of month's finance.  As long as you don't expect to be crashing everywhere, anything in the 10-20 year bracket is going to be ideal because you can spend £500 on a good un, £1000 on a REALLY good un and still have enough left over to buy exotic beer and cheap thrills.

I don't care about crash safety, if I did I wouldn't be driving a 1996 Polo.   Ideally I'd want something from this century, just to have luxuries* like remote central locking and a working alarm. I'd probably consider something older if it was dead reliable and cheap to run.

[Cavcraft]

chaseracer, on 20 Dec 2015 - 11:02 PM, said:

Just curious, Billy, but what have you got for sale at the mo?

 

 

 

RENAULT CLIO 1.6 PETROL

[vulgalour]

I don't care about crash safety, if I did I wouldn't be driving a 1996 Polo.   Ideally I'd want something from this century, just to have luxuries* like remote central locking and a working alarm. I'd probably consider something older if it was dead reliable and cheap to run.

 

Current forum favourite the Rover R8 is ideal here!  Mine has power steering, remote central locking (that only works on one side, shhhh), a working alarm, a working immobiliser, remote boot and fuel flap release, electric front windows, electric sunroof.... it's practically modern!  Cost?  Ã‚£275.  I bought a mechanically rough one but even a new clutch, radiator, front brakes, gearbox oil, coolant and some pretty things have made it a perfectly reliable, comfortable modern car for well under a grand.  I'm probably £500-600 in on it, tops.  You can get sporty ones for very little and Honda engined ones if you're scared of the K series.  They are ASTONISHINGLY good, and I don't say that lightly.

 

Fork out about £600 for a low mileage one-owner example in rude mechanical health and you won't go far wrong at all.  Insurance is buttons, fuel economy is ridiculously good, tuning options aplenty and a very versatile 4x100 pcd.

 

Or buy Billy's Clio.

[Lacquer Peel]

Is a Polo unreliable and expensive to run? I have what amounts to a Polo van and it fits my bulky frame ok.

[captain_70s]

Captain 70s would be able to give you more info as hes driving one now.

They are fairly uninspiring but feel very solid and nicely built. It's one of the highest mileage moderns (70kish) I've owned and wears it's years the best by miles.

 

Mine is a 1.6 which seems quite content to either make leisurely progress (and 43mpg) with me changing gear at 3.5k, although I can confirm it will happily go all the way up to 6k for OMG JDM EUROBEAT INITIAL-D ACTION. You can throw it around corners with a surprising amount of confidence and the gear change is very pleasant (compared to my old Corsa D/Yaris at least) I'm actually really very pleased with the way it drives and rides (tiny alloys + proper tyres ftw), this is the first modern motor I've owned which feels like it could be a long termer. If it went bang I'd probably buy another...

 

 

I do prefer the looks of the previous gen (OMG 90S OLDSKOOL) but finding one that isn't barried, JDM'd, ragged to shit or rusty is getting harder.

[LessThanEqual]

Current forum favourite the Rover R8 is ideal here!  Mine has power steering, remote central locking (that only works on one side, shhhh), a working alarm, a working immobiliser, remote boot and fuel flap release, electric front windows, electric sunroof.... it's practically modern!  Cost?  Ã‚£275.  I bought a mechanically rough one but even a new clutch, radiator, front brakes, gearbox oil, coolant and some pretty things have made it a perfectly reliable, comfortable modern car for well under a grand.  I'm probably £500-600 in on it, tops.  You can get sporty ones for very little and Honda engined ones if you're scared of the K series.  They are ASTONISHINGLY good, and I don't say that lightly.

 

Fork out about £600 for a low mileage one-owner example in rude mechanical health and you won't go far wrong at all.  Insurance is buttons, fuel economy is ridiculously good, tuning options aplenty and a very versatile 4x100 pcd.

 

Or buy Billy's Clio.

 

Rovers are just not my thing unfortunately, I'd maybe have a 200 coupé but that's it. Now the Clio is a sound proposition but I don't have room for 2 cars and there's a super clean, low mileage one near to me for £500 with no bids. Again though, no room for 2 cars.

 

Is a Polo unreliable and expensive to run? I have what amounts to a Polo van and it fits my bulky frame ok.

 

Not really, parts for my 6N are super cheap from carparts4less and I've had 2 issues with it, it struggled to start in damp weather due to a loose ht lead and worn out distributor cap and rotor arm, also the thermostat was knackered.

 

They are fairly uninspiring but feel very solid and nicely built. It's one of the highest mileage moderns (70kish) I've owned and wears it's years the best by miles.

 

Mine is a 1.6 which seems quite content to either make leisurely progress (and 43mpg) with me changing gear at 3.5k, although I can confirm it will happily go all the way up to 6k for OMG JDM EUROBEAT INITIAL-D ACTION. You can throw it around corners with a surprising amount of confidence and the gear change is very pleasant (compared to my old Corsa D/Yaris at least) I'm actually really very pleased with the way it drives and rides (tiny alloys + proper tyres ftw), this is the first modern motor I've owned which feels like it could be a long termer. If it went bang I'd probably buy another...

 

 

 

I do prefer the looks of the previous gen (OMG 90S OLDSKOOL) but finding one that isn't barried, JDM'd, ragged to shit or rusty is getting harder.

Nothing but praise for these everywhere. Might genuinely get one soon, unless something else catches my eye.

[beko1987]

ZX Volcane is pretty damn sporty when poked.

[sierraman]

My sage advice for anything made after 2000... Avoid the diesel and look for the warning signs with the owner - teeth missing, inability to write properly. Follow this and you shouldn't go far wrong.

[SiC]

I've had one of these. 3 door 1.7 Diesel. Owned it from 2 years old for 5 years (got me through uni) and put over 80k on the clock. I ragged the hell out of it pretty much the whole way but always returned 45+ mpg. In that time only 2 problems, MAF sensor (Bosch) and Coolant hose sprang a leak. Unfortunately as not many 3 door diesels were sold, even Honda had to get the part specifically made and sent to me from Poland with a 3 week delay.

 

My parents also owned the face lifted version but with a 1.6 petrol and 5 door. They owned it for 3.5 years from new, put a good 70k on it and only needed new back springs (common problem on all modernish stuff). 

 

A friend has her old dads one (facelifted 1.6, 5 door), thats now currently on 170k odd and never needed anything.

 

Plenty of high milers around, so must be pretty strong.

 

Things to watch out for:

 - The diesels are actually a Isuzu lump (same block to what is used on the Vauxhall crap). Honda only made their own diesels on the newer starship version (2.2 CTDI). Actually a very strong lump. I believe the first version of the 1.7 design to have common rail. Reading around that seems to be reliable. The only big gotcha is the turbo. Its a variable vane turbo (like all modern diesels) so little turbo lag. Unfortunately Honda massively over specced this part (reports that it can safely handle enough boost for 200bhp), but the consequences of that mean that the exhaust duct is quite tight. So over time, carbon builds up and jams the vanes requiring a replacement. However I think because I hammered mine every where, it didn't give it a chance for soot to build up. The Diesel engine was added later and shoe-horned in as Honda was massively loosing out in the fleet markets not having a diesel. Personally if I was buying s/h example of one now, I'd go petrol.

 - Petrols are proper Honda lumps and very well built. The 1.6 VTEC is geared for economy (unlike the 2.0 type-r). The type-r engine only came in 3 door. However the 5 door did have a Warm 2.0 called the type-s. Possibly worth keeping an eye out for. My parents regularly got 42mpg+ in theirs.

 - Gearboxes on the 1.6 are probably the only really weak point. However despite there being reports I've been told that actually its pretty rare and generally confined to those that don't have FSH.

 - Gear stick is on the dash. Seems wierd to being with, but then you quickly realise as you put your hand out to it everytime, that it makes utter sense.

 - Not particularly advanced cars in terms of electrics - i.e. they're nice and simple. But then jap cars never really are. If you push the brake pedal, it releases a brake switch, which directly lights up the rear lights. Very unlike a lot of modern European stuff that goes through a couple of computers first!

 - Being Jap (ok its made in Swindon, but still), the biggy is always rust.

 - The 16" alloys have a habit of loosing their centre caps!

 

Good cars imo. 

 

Si.

[DVee8]

I don't know why no one has mentioned this.

A Vauxhall Astra.

[Bren]

Bi fuel focii?