something cute and fast

rowanh

Hi, my girlfriend is looking for a car, she wants something that is reliable, cute, fun type of thing. I want her to get something that is fast with good handling.

We are going to test drive a couple Audi TT's and a Mini Cooper S if i can find a dealership that has one. These were looking like the way to go but they both seem to have a lot of problems. I was thinking a Honda Civic type R would be better but she doesn't like it, too boy racery and not "cute" enough it seems..

Anyway, the budget is around five grand, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for something around 175bhp or higher that would be girly enough for her to like. Fuel economy needs to be around 30mpg+, year needs to be 2000+ and it needs to have back seats even if they are so small they are not really any use. Most importantly it needs to be reliable, her last two cars have been a complete nightmare.

Bigus

Mr2 convert able or mx5

dgt

rowanh wrote: »

Hi, my girlfriend is looking for a car, she wants something that is reliable, cute, fun type of thing. I want her to get something that is fast with good handling.

We are going to test drive a couple Audi TT's and a Mini Cooper S if i can find a dealership that has one. These were looking like the way to go but they both seem to have a lot of problems. I was thinking a Honda Civic type R would be better but she doesn't like it, too boy racery and not "cute" enough it seems..

Anyway, the budget is around five grand, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for something around 175bhp or higher that would be girly enough for her to like. Fuel economy needs to be around 30mpg+, year needs to be 2000+ and it needs to have back seats even if they are so small they are not really any use. Most importantly it needs to be reliable, her last two cars have been a complete nightmare.

Can be made uber gay cute

discombobulate

rowanh wrote: »

Hi, my girlfriend is looking for a car, she wants something that is reliable, cute, fun type of thing. I want her to get something that is fast with good handling.

We are going to test drive a couple Audi TT's and a Mini Cooper S if i can find a dealership that has one. These were looking like the way to go but they both seem to have a lot of problems. I was thinking a Honda Civic type R would be better but she doesn't like it, too boy racery and not "cute" enough it seems..

Anyway, the budget is around five grand, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for something around 175bhp or higher that would be girly enough for her to like. Fuel economy needs to be around 30mpg+, year needs to be 2000+ and it needs to have back seats even if they are so small they are not really any use. Most importantly it needs to be reliable, her last two cars have been a complete nightmare.

Alfa Romeo GT JTD? Around a 150 bhp standard but can be easily mapped to 175 or more. 40-45 mpg. Pick an 06 up for about 6k i'd say. Not exactly girly but not much with over 100 bhp is!

Neilw

210 bhp JCW Mini, they are a blast to drive. 30mpg would be tough to get.

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MINI/Cooper-S/COOPER-S/31513588958997360/

thecomedian

A pity about the back seats, as a mx5 would be a good option.

What about a S3?

Cungi

Cute and 175bhp dont really go together

how about a 206gti? or a Hyundai Coupe?

biko

Something cute and fast?
My girlfriend!


On topic, yeah MX5 or even a Suzuki Cappuccino would be good but no backseats.

How about a Nissan Figaro 4 seater? Built on Micra so parts available everywhere. Back seat is effing tiny though.

Stheno

dgt wrote: »

Can be made uber gay cute

My eyes :eek:

Supergurrier

A puppy on fire, oh you meant a car

Tbh Mini Cooper is probably the best bet, why does she need 175bhp anyway ? Or are you planning on getting insured on it too ?

CianRyan

If the back seats can be useless, why bother having them at all?
A Z3, Boxster or an S2000 would be sweet if you convince her she doesn't need the back seats.

CianRyan

Supergurrier wrote: »

A puppy on fire, oh you meant a car

Tbh Mini Cooper is probably the best bet, why does she need 175bhp anyway ? Or are you planning on getting insured on it too ?

She could like driving to be fair. :rolleyes:

Anyone who puts those eyelashes on their car should have their license revoked.

An RX8 would be worth considering

mickdw

A 180 bhp TT should be very reliable. Look for one that is looked after with proof of oil changes.
Any of the issues such as dash pod faults should be sorted by now anyway.

JHet

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone who puts those eyelashes on their car should have their license revoked.

An RX8 would be worth considering

Not for a girly girl dude. No way. Too many problems with em. You have to be a bit of a petrol head to accept the quirks of an RX8.

Cungi

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone who puts those eyelashes on their car should have their license revoked.

An RX8 would be worth considering

Fairly thirsty i believe. Plus theres a good chance any under 5k will be wrecked.
I was searchin a few days ago and a few under 5k had the engines replaced.

CianRyan

Cungi wrote: »

Fairly thirsty i believe. Plus theres a good chance any under 5k will be wrecked.
I was searchin a few days ago and a few under 5k had the engines replaced.

You mean rebuilt?

Cungi

CianRyan wrote: »

You mean rebuilt?

Possibly. The ads said "new engine" so maybe.

I'd agree with JHet not really a cute girly car. (Whoops has good taste though)

Supergurrier

Buy an Orange Focus ST facelift, i see lots of women driving them, actually saw one in galway and sound of her burbling by me cost me guts of 8 grand, oooof

rowanh

Im the one who wants 175bhp, she needs back seats for space to move things for work, something like an mx5 would not work.

Alfa Romeo GT JTD reliable?

Saw a 180bhp 206 gti for sale that looked like it was in mint condition, not sure about them though, french cars in general seem very dodgy.

An Rx8 would be sweet but the fuel economy is too bad.

Ive been reading about the TT a good bit, perhaps one with a good service history would be the way to go, there just seemed to be a lot of people who had new ish ones hating them due to constant problems. The mini cooper S also is appealing, she likes them a lot and people seem to think the handling/power is good for the type of car, id like to have a car with a supercharger also having had several turbo cars.


Thanks for the ideas, any more?

MadsL

Can't afford the one on the left (Brabus Merc) get the one on the right (Smart Brabus)

Cute & Fast(ish) 101bhp (weight matters remember) and 0-60 in 9 secs. will get you around 55 mpg.

MadsL

rowanh wrote: »

Im the one who wants 175bhp, she needs back seats for space to move things for work, something like an mx5 would not work.

Ah. Trailer?

Cungi

Probably too boyracerish for the missus but maybe a Focus ST170?

langdang

Supergurrier wrote: »

A puppy on fire, oh you meant a car

Tbh Mini Cooper is probably the best bet, why does she need 175bhp anyway ? Or are you planning on getting insured on it too ?

A cooper might be a good bet if 30mpg is essential. Supercharged cooper s won't, turbo charged might. Diesel (shudder) cooper "s" would I suppose.

Basically anything with 160plus hp and 30mpg is gonna be a tractor in disguise, and not girly.

For 5k, a TT or cooper or cooper s is what's coming to mind. You'll have to compromise on mpg or bhp though

Trollhättan

rowanh wrote: »

...... she wants something that is reliable, cute, fun type of thing. I want her to get something that is fast with good handling.
......

Couldn't resist.....

;


Sorry...... I'll get me coat!

JJJJNR

Lupo GTI

discombobulate

rowanh wrote: »

Alfa Romeo GT JTD reliable?

I've had mine 2 years now and its been relatively trouble free. Heres a bit of info on what to look out for on them if you decide to look: http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_gt_guide.shtml

Love the car myself and currently looking at upgrading to a Brera. Making sure the timing belt \ water pump has been done at 5 years or 60,000 miles is the main thing to look for. Services are slightly more expensive than a regular car and if something does go wrong it may cost a little more for parts but their great value for money when you consider the car you get for the price their going for.

rowanh

Im interested in the GT, i like the look of it, i would be nervous about the reliability, has it improved in general with Alfas since they got their name for being the worst cars around?

The Focus ST looks good too, she doesnt mind it actually, not many around though.

Lupo gti is a bit meh..

thecomedian

Actually go with the TT. Back seats fold down flat giving you more room for carrying things as you said. Interior still looks good. Get the 225 one for yourself

MetzgerMeister

JHet wrote: »

Not for a girly girl dude. No way. Too many problems with em. You have to be a bit of a petrol head to accept the quirks of an RX8.

I love RX-8's as everyone here knows but JHet is right. You're obviously looking for a car to drive, not to take care of :P Stay away from the RX8.

An MX-5 would be ideal. It's light, nimble, handles very well but go for one with a hardtop.

discombobulate

rowanh wrote: »

Im interested in the GT, i like the look of it, i would be nervous about the reliability, has it improved in general with Alfas since they got their name for being the worst cars around?

The Focus ST looks good too, she doesnt mind it actually, not many around though.

Lupo gti is a bit meh..

I did a lot of research before buying mine and the consensus seemed to be that they are now. Its older alfa's that had a reputation. Their built on the same chassis as the 156 which was regarded as quite reliable. The JTD is supposedly the most reliable of the engines in them

A good service history from a dealer or alfa specialist would also be a bit of assurance. If their well looked after and everything done at proper intervals they shouldn't be any less reliable than anything else.

niamhg13

rowanh wrote: »

Hi, my girlfriend is looking for a car, she wants something that is reliable, cute, fun type of thing. I want her to

niamhg13

vw golf!

porsche959

Mini Cooper S sounds a good choice, there are a few on carzone for not much more than her budget.

Stheno

CianRyan wrote: »

She could like driving to be fair. :rolleyes:

You sound surprised at such a concept Cian

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone who puts those eyelashes on their car should have their license revoked.

Banned for life I reckon

@ OP if you are not the sort of person to check oil/fluids weekly, and make sure you get the car serviced on time don't go for a GT, you do need to make sure they are taken care of imo.

CianRyan

Stheno wrote: »

You sound surprised at such a concept Cian

The opposit actually, seems SG didn't understand it was possible.

Edit: Not a stab at you, man. Just an observation.

kyote00

Mini and TT are bit common....

How about
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/Mito/1.4-TB-1/31113588725374010/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lotus/Elise/1.8-I-SP/713234187882250/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/3.2-SPOR/31413584470213890/advert?channel=CARS

rowanh

kyote00 wrote: »

Mini and TT are bit common....

How about
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/Mito/1.4-TB-1/31113588725374010/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Lotus/Elise/1.8-I-SP/713234187882250/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/3.2-SPOR/31413584470213890/advert?channel=CARS

Well they are all way out of budget, the Elise is her favorite car and if there was one that was viable it probably would actually be the thing to get even though it wouldnt be practical at all but again it needs to have back seats. She is a drama teacher and needs to be able to bring props around and boxes of costumes etc so a boxter, mx5 or anything similar is not happening. I wouldnt want an mx5 anyway, it was my last car, i liked it but they have a lack of power that made me constantly want something else.

rowanh

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/S3/1.8-Turb/201304212159721/advert?channel=CARS

A3 quattro any good?

Stheno

rowanh wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/S3/1.8-Turb/201304212159721/advert?channel=CARS

A3 quattro any good?

OP is it a case that your gf wants something cute and practical, and you want something fast?

Have you a car of your own?

If you take fast out of it, you'll get cute and practical fairly ok. Beetle?

rowanh

Basically yea thats it, im putting some money into the car, if i wasnt she would probably be getting something a lot more practical though she would like to get something like the tt or mini. She would be happy getting a regular mini rather than the S. I have suggested getting very practical things like an Octavia 1.9 tdi which she is not interested in. I dont have a car, we only have one parking space where we live, she needs a car for work and i dont.

CianRyan

Why not an Octavia VRS?

CianRyan

Not that I don't agree but, ooooh controversial. :pac:

langdang

CianRyan wrote: »

Not that I don't agree but, ooooh controversial. :pac:

Controversial? Hardly! A vrs's true calling is as a sleeper. An automotive jedi mind trick. These are not the badges you were looking for...

OP, let her get what she wants, mini cooper or mini one, Suzuki swift whatever. Get your own car if you want to be whizzing round the place...

Stheno

rowanh wrote: »

Basically yea thats it, im putting some money into the car, if i wasnt she would probably be getting something a lot more practical though she would like to get something like the tt or mini. She would be happy getting a regular mini rather than the S. I have suggested getting very practical things like an Octavia 1.9 tdi which she is not interested in. I dont have a car, we only have one parking space where we live, she needs a car for work and i dont.

Ok so why not take your chunk of the budget out, and let her get a cute and practical with her money, that she owns?

Why would you bother throwing money down the drain?
What does that reduce the budget too?

And wtf does cute actually mean?

The only cute cars I can think of are smart cars or kas which is exactly what she should be aiming for once your fast lust is eliminated.

CianRyan

Does she all for the usual Audi thing? You could get some sort of Avant?

I know what you mean about the VRS, it just gets a lot of live around here.

Ferris

Suzuki swift sport? Cute, quick, back seats and reliable.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4177205

jdmluder

E46 325ci or e46 vert ticks all the boxes I reckon.

testicle

I have a Cooper S Works for sale on adverts.ie - while it's not from a dealer, it's is great shape, just had an Inspection II and 4 new tyres, has a full Mini service history. Open to any inspection...

I do got about 28-30mpg from it on average, and 37 in the last week as I've been doing long runs with no city driving!

http://www.adverts.ie/car/mini/cooper-s/2003-mini-cooper-s-works-for-sale/2402353

rowanh

Thanks for the suggestions, just had a look at a couple TT's and mini's and looks like they are both out, not enough space it seems. Back to the drawing board..

M44B19

Save yourself €3.5k and pick up a 1.7 Ford Puma.

Only 125hp, But it's basically a Fiesta so goes well and handles brilliantly.