Good RWD?

Burtchaell

Just wondering can anyone recommend a good, fun, cheap (0-3000), 2nd hand RWD car thats not to heft from an insurance point of view? Also that wont break down every 2 weeks! I like basically all 316's and 318's.haha Can anyone make a comprehensive list?

Thanks!:rolleyes:

VolvoMan

Daihatsu Charmant or Volvo 300 Series?

Seweryn

Burtchaell wrote: »

Just wondering can anyone recommend a good, fun, cheap (0-3000), 2nd hand RWD car thats not to heft from an insurance point of view? Also that wont break down every 2 weeks! I like basically all 316's and 318's.haha Can anyone make a comprehensive list?

Thanks!:rolleyes:

My choice would be the Mazda MX5.

CharlieCroker

the answer to this question is ALWAYS the Mazda Mx-5!!!!

Ferris

A UK or Irish (for insurance) Nissan 200sx. Mx-5 is great but the 200 just has more grunt. Both cars are potential rust buckets

I'm like a broken record at this stage...

Burtchaell

This is frequently asked then. That charmant and the 340's look fairly cool! Fairly rare id bet none on carzone or irish google searches! Aren't mazdas considered fancy hair dresser cars? haha Thats thinking outside the box never would of thought of those older cars!

JHMEG

Mk2 MR2... non-targa are easy enough to insure.

Ferris

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/200-SX/TOURING/200946195865565/advert?channel=CARS

RWD, 200hp, Leather, reliable and change to spend on a couple of nice mods.

Why anyone would pic 316 or 318's over one of these is unbelievable, the Datsun is about a million times better.

Owen

My neighbour just got a 94 MX5, with leather, for free. I got to take it for a spin, and it's fantastic. Great little machine!

Ferris

Ferris wrote: »

A UK or Irish (for insurance) Nissan 200sx.

I'm like a broken record at this stage...

+1 for the 200sx. They are fun, reliable and lots of scope for mods if you want more power down the line.

thethedev

Lada Niva

Captain Slow IRL

Don't bother with a 316 or 318 - you want a 318is if you're going down that route! I'm getting about 40mpg out of mine, insurance is 500 fully comp and it's never failed to start!

Lexus is200 would be just out of your grasp now, financially, but would be one to watch out for - you're bound to get a high mileage one!

Marlow

If you want something for fun: MGF.

Shouldn't be too bad to insure either, if you get a hardtop.

/M

aristo

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Don't bother with a 316 or 318 - you want a 318is if you're going down that route! I'm getting about 40mpg out of mine, insurance is 500 fully comp and it's never failed to start!

Lexus is200 would be just out of your grasp now, financially, but would be one to watch out for - you're bound to get a high mileage one!

My last car was an is200, they are way underpowered, too heavy and terribly thirsty, just not fun at all really even with traction control, have a 200sx now, its the business for the money they are going for at the mo there is nothing that could touch them in terms of reliability

Captain Slow IRL

aristo wrote: »

My last car was an is200, they are way underpowered, too heavy and terribly thirsty, just not fun at all really even with traction control...............

Was it really that bad? I was considering one as my next purchase.

Fishtits

520i? if you're patient you'll pick up a 523i or even a later 525i for that money.

beachlife

e 200,auto

EPM

beachlife wrote: »

e 200,auto

For fun? You're having a laugh!

beachlife

Have you ever owned one? I think there a great car!!!!! they can hold the road and are big and comfy what more could you possibly want????

EPM

The OP wants fun though! Drive one regularly (did 1k last week in one) and a nice comfy cruiser but they are not fun

beachlife

I think they are... but you are right not what the op is after. More fun in the I can get into this and drive the length of the country and still feel fresh when I get out at the other end.....The way you can flick on the cruise control....

watch the triangle flashing when you pull away from the lights...

just stand on the brakes and wait for the excellent abs to stop you(fast)checking behind you before you test the brakes of course..

It's all fun to me...

abceire

Marlow wrote: »

If you want something for fun: MGF.

Shouldn't be too bad to insure either, if you get a hardtop.

/M

aint ment to be good at working properly

abceire

i ve had 200sx s one was **** and engine blew up, other did more trackday etc before i got it but was looked after way better and i still have it and its been grand,so dont always think cheapest one is best one to get ,i made that mistake alot of times,if you could afford the tax, an omega mv6 has 200 odd bhp,rwd, wont get lots of attention from police,cheap as chips and some have lsd as standard
they are 3litre v6 nice bit of grunt

Marlow

abceire wrote: »

aint ment to be good at working properly

Mate of mine has a '99. No problems, if you look after them. And if you get a VVC (similar to vanos, vtec, vvt-i, just better) you'll have one with the best variable valve system on the market. Same engine (obviously modified) sits in the Lotus Elise.

/M

sleepysniper

Marlow wrote: »

VVC (similar to vanos, vtec, vvt-i, just better)

I somehow doubt if this unknown VVC is a better system than v-tec seen as how you had to explain what it was, whereas v-tec is a well known variable valvle timing system.

HashSlinging

Friend of mine got a free MX5 and is going to track it.. cant wait for that.

Marlow

sleepysniper wrote: »

I somehow doubt if this unknown VVC is a better system than v-tec seen as how you had to explain what it was, whereas v-tec is a well known variable valvle timing system.

It is, from a technical perspective, the best variable valve system out there, but it's applications are limited. You can't use it for example on a straight 5, straight 6, V10 or V12.

If you want to know more about the different systems, read this: http://www.austincc.edu/wkibbe/vvt.htm

Just because you don't know it and just because it's not widely known, doesn't mean it's better or worse than the other systems. It's not always the best solution, that becomes the market dominator !!

/M

abceire

HashSlinging wrote: »

Friend of mine got a free MX5 and is going to track it.. cant wait for that.

i remember being the paasenger seat of one in mondello,it was so much fun ,better then even driving some cars on track,then i drove it,it was a heap,like every nut and bolt was unscrewing slowly,top down motoring though still great,just like to try a good one,a friend bought a second one there few months ago,always a good sign when people buy same car more then once
cheap motoring too,200sx is a bit heavy on petrol if you driving in dublin and have bit or work done to it

Atomic Pineapple

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Was it really that bad? I was considering one as my next purchase.

Yes, there in no way fun cars at all, there heavy, seriously underpowered, drink petrol and are simply dull, even the more powerful Altezza isn't much better.

I'd go with a unmodified 200sx or an Mx-5 OP

abceire

draffodx wrote: »

Yes, there in no way fun cars at all, there heavy, seriously underpowered, drink petrol and are simply dull, even the more powerful Altezza isn't much better.

I'd go with a unmodified 200sx or an Mx-5 OP

it will feel a bit sloppy standard,(200sx)

Atomic Pineapple

abceire wrote: »

it will feel a bit sloppy standard,(200sx)

True but the OP can then modify it to whatever suits there needs and be sure of quality mods and installation, its bad mods and maintenance that leads to troublesome 200sx's a standard one wont be troublesome

abceire

draffodx wrote: »

True but the OP can then modify it to whatever suits there needs and be sure of quality mods and installation, its bad mods and maintenance that leads to troublesome 200sx's a standard one wont be troublesome

its good if you know the history of the car too,i knew mine had done couple of drift days and trackdays,but car was well ble for them once its been looked after,and i ve done same kinda stuff wth the car,but looked after it and its really suprised me how reliable its been

B00MSTICK

Another vote for the '5 here.

I'd go for the NA (89-97) model, you can always turbo if you feel the need, there's lots of kits out there now.

ShadowHearth

B00MSTICK wrote: »

Another vote for the '5 here.

I'd go for the NA (89-97) model, you can always turbo if you feel the need, there's lots of kits out there now.

I voete for bouth 200sx and mx5, even if i own mx5 .

Not only NA can be turbo'ed. NB can be turbo'ed aswell, just will need an extra fuel pump. the only downside is, that you can push out a bit more power out of NA, then NB with stock internals. The way OP is buying a car, i see that he wount even get to turbo... So NB would be easyer to live with...

Now 200sx will be easyer to insure then mx5, i can tell you that now.

Mx5 would be more reliable, as it is famous of its simplisity, but you will have to learn to live with 2 seats. Soft top is not that hard to live with in winter time, as heaters are really powerfull in all cabrios!

200sx is just epic machine, Sr20det is AMAZING engine, with huge potential. Nice car, but you will need alot more attention for it, as its a turbo car.

And yeah if you go for mx5, then go for import, as all imports got LSD. All uk/irish ones are non-lsd. Mine is thought, as its irish 10th anniverserry model :P.

And yeah, BMW with less then 2.5l = borring.... 316 and 318 shouldnt even exist...