Recommend a car thread yet again (But not for me)

Owen

Friend has a Ford Puma, it's let him down several times. Water pump's gone on it, it's leaking water into the cabin, it's starting to dissolve with rust, the heater only blows warm air (He's replaced the control unit twice and twice it's gone pop), brake lines are leaking, speakers have packed in in the rear, etc. He's also spend a fortune on it in recent times doing the timing belt, wheel bearings, etc.

Now I know these are all trivial problems that can be fixed fairly easily, but he's it in his head he wants another car. For some odd reason, he also has it in his head that he wants another Puma. Why is beyond me, they're based on old tech, old engines, old chassis, and if he's had all these problems with his own that has him mentally convinced to change, another one seems to be the maddest thing to chose in case it all happens again.

So he's asked me to suggest something relatively fun to drive, interesting to look at, up to 1.7 (He was looking at the 1.7 Pumas), with a maximum budget of 3k and he'll have 2 baby seats in the back regularly.

What do we think boardsies?

EPM

Focus ST170? A little over on engine size though but still a good lookin car IMO.

Owen

Great suggestion, hadn't considered it - but now that you mentioned it, I think he meant that by fun to drive that it'd have good handling, not power. Something thirsty isn't high on the agenda I think.

Owen

Bumpety Bump.

kerten

A toyota celica may be ?

edit: missed baby seat part

Owen

Celica might be a good option, it's a 2+2 like the Puma, I'll suggest it to him!

kerten

Owen wrote: »

Celica might be a good option, it's a 2+2 like the Puma, I'll suggest it to him!

You are right about seats but I still would check how hard to put babies in and out with lower roof and probably deeper seats.

I also recommend corolla t-sport if your friend is not after sporty look.

bazz26

Alfa Romeo 156:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2895513

af_thefragile

I will have to say in that price range the Puma is probably the most fun while being practical car you can get.

If not there's the Celica or the Hyundai Coupe or maybe an Audi TT though you'll struggle to fit baby seats in the back of the TT... A Golf GTI would be another sporty car you could consider if you can find a good one in that price range...

Owen

I just feel the Pumas are hideously overpriced when compared to what you can buy a 2012 fiesta for, and that the build quality isn't great either. I've been to view a few with him, and they haven't aged well.

The Alfa's a really good idea, especially the later ones with the bugs ironed out. Practicality, style and space!

af_thefragile

Well my Puma has been running rock solid for the past 2 years.
Like yeah I did a bit of work on it when I first got it but in hindsight it didn't really need it, i was just inexperienced with cars and wasted money where it didn't need to be spent. And it always starts on the first turn of the key every time as long as you don't let the battery go flat. Also I love the way it drives. It grips around corners like glue and you get tons of feel from the chassis and steering wheel. I find most other cars in its price range feel really soft and squidgy compared to it.

But maybe I just like my Puma so I'm a bit biased. It is a bit dated I'll agree but I got it fairly cheap so I can't complain.

Limbo123

kerten wrote: »

I also recommend corolla t-sport if your friend is not after sporty look.

I had a corolla t-sport and would never recommend. Bought an ex demo at 6 months old with 3k on clock and had it for 4 years. They drink more oil than petrol.

Had soooooooooo many issues with it. The car burnt a serious hole in my pocket.

kerten

Limbo123 wrote: »

I had a corolla t-sport and would never recommend. Bought an ex demo at 6 months old with 3k on clock and had it for 4 years. They drink more oil than petrol.

Had soooooooooo many issues with it. The car burnt a serious hole in my pocket.

I didn't know that 190 bhp engines have oil burning issue. I thought 140 bhp versions suffers only in 1.8s.

Tea 1000

af_thefragile wrote: »

I will have to say in that price range the Puma is probably the most fun while being practical car you can get.

If not there's the Celica or the Hyundai Coupe or maybe an Audi TT though you'll struggle to fit baby seats in the back of the TT... A Golf GTI would be another sporty car you could consider if you can find a good one in that price range...

For his budget he'll only get a Mk 4 Golf GTi, which is poo. He may not want to stretch to 2 litre, but he could get a clean 306 GTi-6 from the UK for that kind of money. The Celica is a good option though.

Owen

Some really good ideas here I wouldn't have had a hope of coming up with. Thanks guys, will pass them on to him!

MuppetCheck

Old diesel fabia vrs? Rare but getting cheaper.

Leonard Hofstadter

kerten wrote: »

I didn't know that 190 bhp engines have oil burning issue. I thought 140 bhp versions suffers only in 1.8s.

VVTLi engines can suffer from oil pump failure, but it's usually a result of someone bouncing off the rev limiter or downshifting too early and forcing the engine to go beyond the rev limiter.