Sporty car smaller than renault fluence

FrankC21

Hi,

I want to change my renault fluence 2014 its my daily drive but I want more sportier than it. Has to be reliable, budget 2k-4k, no more french.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058274020/sporty-car-smaller-than-renault-fluence

Sporty and reliable for under 4k? You are looking at some old machinery at that budget, it will be a case of take your chances. Stuff that used to be bangernomics sub 1k before covid will be what you are looking at here.

FrankC21

Im looking for a better handling, the renault is economical and comfortable at long distance but the body roll is terrible and the engine bay is a mess, to work with, very small space to change the cabin filter - should be the easiest thing to do but no and the location of the air filter box why it is behind the battery.

Edit: im lookin at some honda civic.

johnny1x

If any interest i am about to sell my golf gti 07, 93000 on clock, just passed NCT in Oct.

Fits your 3 wants - in your price range, reliable and sporty

FrankC21

I dont like golf i have a mate work he spent 6 grand in the space of 4 months on his, repairs, I want japanese.

jodaw

Some basically you answered your own question.

Donedeal-honda-civic cannot think of any other japanese sportish small car under 4k

AMKC

Toyota MR2 if you can find one or a Celica.

Mazda MX-5 but that's a soft top so not very secure or practical. More like a second car.

Not much choice really.

The Civic might be your best option.

FrankC21

I see lots of mitsubishi lancer on donedeal.ie and Facebook 1.5 petrol, are they any good?

easygoing39

Thats a contradiction in terms,you want a sporty car and youre looking at one of the most boring bland car's that Japan has to offer.You could x10 the budget and get a nice EVO.

bazz26

Cannot see how a Lancer would be sportier than a Fluence to be honest unless it's an EVO.

I think the OP's idea of what's sporty is completely different to everyone elses.

FrankC21

Im just asking for your opinions, i admit i know less about cars

bazz26

Hefty enough money for the year but that's the state of the used car market at present:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2009-honda-civic-es/32746486

FrankC21

I guess ill hold off for a while, that civic is too much mileage for me.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119943866#Comment_119943866

No they have a terrible chassis. It's very old underneath. If you thought the Fluence was bad the lancer is worse. I know my sister and brother in law both had one and I can tell you on the motorway or even on a main national road it was terrible. A pity as it was not a bad looking saloon or hatchback for ìts time.

They were lucky they got a great deal on both of them.

A Mazda 3 is a good car if you are looking for a nice saloon or hatchback.

FrankC21

Ye, I also lookin at mazda 3 but has to be petrol their diesel is a mess, my father in law have the diesel and gave him trouble.

2011abc

Just be careful you don’t end up having to spend loads extra on insurance !

ba_barabus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119950952#Comment_119950952

Terrible in what way? I appreciate they're cheap inside but I found them great to drive with plenty of power.

FrankC21

I don't mind cheap interior,

*what positive things can you say about the lancer? Most of the things i have got so far is that its boring and bland in what way?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mitsubishi-lancer-2008/32283132

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/10-mitsubishi-lancer-v-low-km-servhist-warranty-nc/32806509

FrankC21

When I bought my wife's 2009 honda stream rsz, I only paid €78 extra, to transfer the policy from the jazz to the stream.

FrankC21

My mechanic drives a 2004 mitsubishi lancer 🤔

satnavadays

I drove an 2011 lancer petrol until recently and can’t say anything bad about them. Sure it could have done with a 6 gear for the motorway but it still got the job done and reliability was outstanding.

Henry Ford III

Lancers (with a notable exception) aren't remotely sporty.

FrankC21

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-2004-1-6-automatic/32796303

whatyou guys think is this worth buying? For that mileage what could go wrong?

bazz26

2k for a nearly 19 year old Civic, jesus weeps.

colm_mcm

How is an 1.6 automatic Civic remotely sporty?

FrankC21

What you guys think of this one, im going to check it tomorrow, did cartell check it is clean no write off or stolen but nct and tax is out, the owner seems genuine with his reasons why his selling it.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic/32685154

XsApollo

Change out the springs for a lowering set of springs in the fluence if you want less body roll, few hundred euro and job done.

FrankC21

Body roll is not the only reason now, it is hard starting bought new battery still the same i know could be the glow plugs or fuel filter but the way renault laid out everything is getting annoying, since I found out how hard it is to change the cabin filter and aircon not working more problem will come. I want to get rid of it.

Flinty997

Something like a Ford Focus or Fiesta will be nicer to drive and cheap. Won't be as reliable as a Honda or as expensive.

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120001110#Comment_120001110

Go to a mechanic instead of throwing parts at it. Whatever you buy for less money has as much chance of needing maintenance and minor repairs.

FrankC21

I stick with honda. We had a 2009 honda jazz before, both our 2014 renault and honda jazz 2009 went in for nct. The jazz passed the nct without anything done do it while the 2014 renault failed.

FrankC21

*For the aircondition I went to a mechanic and they charge me €50 for half an hour to tell me an error is preventing the air condition to kick in. But his not sure so he has to strip the entire dashboard, I said no more.

*engine ticking noise mechanic said could be valve lifter not sure he told me bring it to renault.

*the cabin filter you either need a small hand or remove the entire clutch pedal to put a new one in.

*now the hard starting

I know the honda will have bits of repairing to do but they are surely much reliable and much easier to maintain.

Edit: forgot to mention had to replace the bulb hoder on the left rear cause the bulb holder was burnt. It is Just kept piling up.

bazz26

There are no guarantees with a nearly 20 year old car irrespective of it being a Honda or not. Parts can fail due to age not just from wear. Most cars of that age and price tend to be close to end of life. The fact it doesn't have a current NCT would concern me that maybe the seller doesn't want to put any time or more money into it now. What if it needs say €500 spent on it to pass the NCT? That's 50% on top of what you paid for it which you have already committed to. So buying it for 1k without a NCT can go either way.

FrankC21

I bought the civic, the seller is a nice person he gave it to me for €900.

Car was covered in ice, doors, windows, the whole lot, and the car wasn't driven for long time since june.

As soon as he crank the key no hesitation the engine started like it was brand new could not believe it.

Gearbox was even better than the previous 2009 jazz we had and engine sounds good no rattles or bangs.

No leaks under the body but its too early to say.

Brakes and handbrakes is good

Age related rusts nothing significant.

Few scratches and dents on the body but still intact. No rattling.

Fan blowing nice hot air, it was defrosting good no trouble.

Suspension seems fine no leaks.

Exhaust sounds nice cat. Converter still there. He said alot of people ringing for the cat converter.

1.4 Engine very responsive, you know it is definitely a honda from the sound.

Driven it home no problem from clondalkin to drogheda. No engine light.

Cons -

Car is revving on idle at first, he said it was not driven for a long time so he said it needs a good run, spark plugs might need changing, air filter, oil change.

Rear right window not working.

No nct or tax.

Front tyres need changing.

Don't know when was the last time belt was change.

colm_mcm

Sure at least the cabin filter is easy to change.

JCN12

Should have kept the Fiesta Frank. 😋