A little present for myself...

Mr Benevolent

Well, I'm up for my driving test in late September and have started looking around for something fun to buy when I pass. The driving has improved significantly since an almost-unfortunate incident a few weeks ago and I've adopted a Zen-like approach to driving. Gentle acceleration, smooth gear changes, gentle braking and much improved observation. Long way to go yet though. Just bought the Roadcraft manual , hopefully it'll help a bit.

Anyway, cars. I'm going to have about €1200 (not a misprint) to spend and the criteria are:

No Civics, Imprezas or Lancers.
No daysuls.
Max 2L (insurance purposes, not tax)
Quickish
Smallish
Well specced
Handles well
Looks well

Oh yeah, and has anyone got any driving tips or a good site where I might find some? Not for the test but in general.

Thanks all.

Chris Hansen

Confab wrote: »

Well, I'm up for my driving test in late September and have started looking around for something fun to buy when I pass. The driving has improved significantly since an almost-unfortunate incident a few weeks ago and I've adopted a Zen-like approach to driving. Gentle acceleration, smooth gear changes, gentle braking and much improved observation. Long way to go yet though. Just bought the Roadcraft manual , hopefully it'll help a bit.

Anyway, cars. I'm going to have about €1200 (not a misprint) to spend and the criteria are:

No Civics, Imprezas or Lancers.
No daysuls.
Max 2L (insurance purposes, not tax)
Quickish
Smallish
Well specced
Handles well
Looks well

Oh yeah, and has anyone got any driving tips or a good site where I might find some? Not for the test but in general.

Thanks all.

Hmmm, 1200 would hardly get you a decent road bike yet alone a car? maybe rethink and save up? Quit the booze and put that money towards saving up for a car?

YBTurbo

Confab wrote: »

Well, I'm up for my driving test in late September and have started looking around for something fun to buy when I pass. The driving has improved significantly since an almost-unfortunate incident a few weeks ago and I've adopted a Zen-like approach to driving. Gentle acceleration, smooth gear changes, gentle braking and much improved observation. Long way to go yet though. Just bought the Roadcraft manual , hopefully it'll help a bit.

Anyway, cars. I'm going to have about €1200 (not a misprint) to spend and the criteria are:

No Civics, Imprezas or Lancers.
No daysuls.
Max 2L (insurance purposes, not tax)
Quickish
Smallish
Well specced
Handles well
Looks well

Oh yeah, and has anyone got any driving tips or a good site where I might find some? Not for the test but in general.

Thanks all.

Ford Puma.

Good handling, front wheel drive hot hatch.

1.4/1.6/1.7 although unlikely to get the 1.6 on your budget.

colm_mcm

MG ZR
Fiesta zetec s 1.6

bazz26

A litte outside budget but looks nice for the money:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201130203548004

johnos1984

MG ZR/S or Rover 75

Paparazzo

I hate when there's threads like this and people suggest stuff outside your budget. So I'm going to do it.
What about this:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/MR2/2.0-VERY/201030199017863/advert?channel=CARS

Dilbert75

Something like this - because you're worth it...

TestTransmission

I'd stick with the Opel for now if I was you,you've obviously still got a bit to learn about driving if you ask me.Don't want to be sounding harsh but it's the truth

ottostreet

Saab 9-3?

Alfa 147/156/166?

Eric Cartman

318is ?

eringobragh

Paparazzo wrote: »

I hate when there's threads like this and people suggest stuff outside your budget. So I'm going to do it.
What about this:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/MR2/2.0-VERY/201030199017863/advert?channel=CARS

Seriously MR2 Auto? :P Yuck!

This probably could be got for 1200 easily:
great craic to drive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2389209

unkel

Would you be able to get a Clio 172 within budget?

pippip

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2444818

This is listed in the bangernomics thread and i think its well worth it, alot of kit and mileage is nothing for a saab.

Mycroft H

Good luck getting reasonable insurance on a MR2 as a newly qualified driver.......

Celica with a 3SGE in it
Doubt you'd get a decent ZR for €1200, you should get a 1.8 early ZS though.

_Kaiser_

Paparazzo wrote: »

I hate when there's threads like this and people suggest stuff outside your budget. So I'm going to do it.
What about this:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/MR2/2.0-VERY/201030199017863/advert?channel=CARS

eringobragh wrote: »

Seriously MR2 Auto? :P Yuck!

Oh I dunno.. if I had the money for a weekend car I wouldn't mind that! (course I haven't driven a manual in years)

Mr Benevolent

I hate when there's threads like this and people suggest stuff outside your budget. So I'm going to do it.

If you ask for suggestions for a €10000 car do I suggest cars costing €18000? :pac:

Mr Benevolent

OSI wrote: »

What are you driving at the moment and is the €1200 to include insurance?

Corsa B 1L. Nope, it won't include insurance. I'm already got quotes on an MX-5 and Fiat Coupe Turbo 16V and the quotes are reasonable. I might have to up my budget a bit to include cars that run it seems.

neilthefunkeone

Nice 318is.. Msport of course..

rocky112

Paparazzo wrote: »

I hate when there's threads like this and people suggest stuff outside your budget. So I'm going to do it.
What about this:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/MR2/2.0-VERY/201030199017863/advert?channel=CARS

Toyota MR2 2.0 is really amazing car!!!...really good features.

Mr Benevolent

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Nice 318is.. Msport of course..

I'd rather eat sand.

Jimmy Bottlehead

eringobragh wrote: »

Seriously MR2 Auto? :P Yuck!

This probably could be got for 1200 easily:
great craic to drive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2389209

Well I'd assume it's safe to say he could get it for €1200... it's priced at €1000... :pac:

dharn

rocky112 wrote: »

Toyota MR2 2.0 is really amazing car!!!...really good features.

that mr2 is lovely looking but for myself i would hate an auto

Mr Benevolent

Those MR2s are something else.

eringobragh

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Well I'd assume it's safe to say he could get it for €1200... it's priced at €1000... :pac:

it was 1300 yesterday smartarse :cool:

eringobragh

Confab wrote: »

Those MR2s are something else.

Yes they are, great fun and loads of poke...speaking from someone who owned a Corsa B many moons ago...you'll certainly feel the difference!

mickdw

From your previous posts, whether you pass the test or not, I wouldnt be jumping into anything 'quickish' for a long while yet.

listermint

Confab wrote: »

I'd rather eat sand.

Strange response, any reason why ?

Mr Benevolent

listermint wrote: »

Strange response, any reason why ?

I hate the 3 series, always have. Badge but no substance below a 323/325.

mickdw wrote: »

From your previous posts, whether you pass the test or not, I wouldnt be jumping into anything 'quickish' for a long while yet.

It'll depend on what the brokers and my pocket says really. Probably won't be going much above 120 bhp. Any tearing around will be done in Mondello on a set of steelies.

Actually from my posts in here people probably get the impression I'm a looney on the road. In contrast, I obey all speed limits, don't drive in the bus lanes, give way to other drivers, indicate on roundabouts, stay in the left lane on dual carraigeways etc. I have made plenty of mistakes, I'll admit that, but I'm certainly not unique in that but I do understand that I might've given a slightly negative impression of my driving. I wouldn't call myself a good driver, merely a learning driver.

listermint

Confab wrote: »

I hate the 3 series, always have. Badge but no substance below a 323/325.



It'll depend on what the brokers and my pocket says really. Probably won't be going much above 120 bhp. Any tearing around will be done in Mondello on a set of steelies.

Actually from my posts in here people probably get the impression I'm a looney on the road. In contrast, I obey all speed limits, don't drive in the bus lanes, give way to other drivers, indicate on roundabouts, stay in the left lane on dual carraigeways etc. I have made plenty of mistakes, I'll admit that, but I'm certainly not unique in that but I do understand that I might've given a slightly negative impression of my driving. I wouldn't call myself a good driver, merely a learning driver.

TBH, I think thats too high a limit for a not yet qualified driver.....

'Tearing around'



You might want to stick to Mondello or Go Karts. Your coming into this driving milarky from a poor angle from the outset.

listermint

listermint wrote: »

TBH, I think thats too high a limit for a not yet qualified driver......

120bhp isn't too much in fairness, can do damage in a 60bhp car if you're so inclined.

Mr Benevolent

listermint wrote: »

TBH, I think thats too high a limit for a not yet qualified driver.....

That's the point, this car will be bought after I've passed my test and then I'll be quite entitled to tear around Mondello. Unless I've missed something and Mondello now has a speed limit of 60kph?

Mr. Manager

Confab wrote: »

Anyway, cars. I'm going to have about €1200 (not a misprint) to spend and the criteria are:

No Civics, Imprezas or Lancers.
No daysuls.
Max 2L (insurance purposes, not tax)
Quickish
Smallish
Well specced
Handles well
Looks well

Winner right here

Mr. Manager

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Wasnt that generation of GTI the worst of the lot? Slow, heavy and didnt handle that well.

I sold my MK IV GTI last year and had no issues with it throughout it's time with me. Possibly a bit sluggish, I'll admit, but was a big change from the 1.4 Almera I had before hand and not a patch on the A4 now.

Missus just picked up one of these a few weeks ago and no issues (except locking the keys in the car)

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Wasnt that generation of GTI the worst of the lot? Slow, heavy and didnt handle that well.

The 1.8T wasn't as bad as the 2.0, now the 2.0 were a crate of muck.

Mr. Manager

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Still at 1k it was still a good bargin!

Agreed! If I was in search of a fast car for around the €1,200 mark, that'd be right up my street (again)

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Maybe that was the one I was thinking of. The 1.8T was the same block used in that Generation Audi S3 wasnt it?

Yep, 150bhp in it's lowest state of tune, 225bhp in some applications iirc, probably more too.

Vicxas

Toyota corolla, quick and fairly cheap to run.

Mr Benevolent

Vicxas wrote: »

Toyota corolla, quick and fairly cheap to run.

Nooooo! The horror!

IrishZeus

I'm assuming that €1200 doesn't include your insurance also.....?

If it does, I'd suggest a bike. Of the pedal-bike variety.

Mr Benevolent

IrishZeus wrote: »

I'm assuming that €1200 doesn't include your insurance also.....?

If it does, I'd suggest a bike. Of the pedal-bike variety.

Thanks for your valuable input.

IrishZeus

Confab wrote: »

Thanks for your valuable input.

Glad to be of help. Seriously, have you budgeted for insurance? You'd be lucky to get insured at all on some of the cars above and if you do get it, its likely to be twice the price. Two years after I passed my test, I paid €1400 for insurance on a Celica.

Mr Benevolent

IrishZeus wrote: »

Glad to be of help. Seriously, have you budgeted for insurance? You'd be lucky to get insured at all on some of the cars above and if you do get it, its likely to be twice the price. Two years after I passed my test, I paid €1400 for insurance on a Celica.

Yep, I've budgeted for insurance, I mentioned that a few pages ago. I'm paying €1600 atm and expect it to be about the same for an MX-5 with a full licence. I'm 31 so insurance is not too bad.

Mr Benevolent

OSI wrote: »

Speaking of,

http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4535521

Ooh.

Esel

Confab wrote: »

Oh yeah, and has anyone got any driving tips or a good site where I might find some? Not for the test but in general.

Didn't read the thread, so maybe it has been said already... get the Roadcraft book.

unkel

Esel wrote: »

get the Roadcraft book.

He did

Got it myself a few years ago after many good words were said about it on here. Turned out I had been doing pretty much all that stuff already for the past few decades

Good advice all the same. A great book that will improve safe driving for at least 99% of Irish drivers who are willing to take it seriously!

johnos1984

Confab check that out for rust everywhere underneath.

They are a bitch for it. That is suspiciously cheap for an MX5.

Get an MGF btw if you want my real opinion

Mine is the most entertaining car I've ever had and there are lots available cheap that are in good condition. Given also that things tend to break every so often it gives you a good opportunity to get to know how to fix a car. It also makes a good track car too

Esel

johnos1984 wrote: »

Get an MGF btw if you want my real opinion

Did you source that window regulator yet?

Thought it wasn't the reg?

johnos1984

Esel wrote: »

Did you source that window regulator yet?

I'll have a whole new car stuck to the window reg by the time I'm finished. TBH I've already learned a lot from it and it hasn't been a disaster like I was expecting ..................yet

Just collected my very new looking leather interior this evening :cool:

I opened it up, picked up the new leather steering wheel and set in the drivers seat in the kitchen making brum brum noises to test it all out. It felt like a massive improvement so I'm expecting good things when I actually put it in the car.