Ecconomical "sporty" cars

PsiDOC

Depends on what you want. You say "Sporty" but is that saloon car sporty like a Golf R32 or 2 seater sporty like a MX5 / Ferrari / Lambo or something else completely different?
Define sporty for you exactly.

exup

pwllbwdr wrote: »

FWD. I suppose that depends on your definition of "sporty".

hmm FWD doesn't seem to bother the those with it in BTCC.

TVR2

MG TF will do close to 40 mpg with a 160 bhp engine if driven normally. Make sure you keep the coolant to max and turn on the heater in traffic jams, though...

Gene_Hunt_2

TVR2 wrote: »

MG TF will do close to 40 mpg with a 160 bhp engine if driven normally. Make sure you keep the coolant to max and turn on the heater in traffic jams, though...

Are you seriously recommending a Rover?:rotfl:

Inactive

TVR2 wrote: »

MG TF will do close to 40 mpg with a 160 bhp engine if driven normally. Make sure you keep the coolant to max and turn on the heater in traffic jams, though...

... and keep a mechanic in the boot.;)

Hammyman

Wife manages 33-35MPG in her 200BHP V6 Mitsubishi FTO. Quite good considering the only time my Mondeo goes below 50MPG is when she's been driving it

Road tax is £180 a year, costs her £300 fully comp to insure. Very good owners club and spares availability. Lots of mods available.

Here's a piccy of one if you don't know the car - other than the alloys, that car is standard:

davidjwest

I used to get over 40mpg in my 2002 MX5 if I drove it carefully, but unfortunately it makes you want to drive it fairly enthusiastically so 30-35mpg was more normal for me. It's not a quick car, but very good fun on the twisty bits! Too girly, what are you on about?

motorguy

Lifes_Grand_Plan wrote: »

Just wondering if there is such a thing as an ecconomical "sporty(ish)" car?

i would love something a bit more sporty looking (doesn't actually need to be massively fast) for my next car... but I would like something that is cheap to run.

Does such a car exist?

I know they make the Audi TT in diesel variant now that does 53mpg combined but I think that is only within the last year or three so too expensive for my budget....

I thought the Mazda RX8 might be decent having a small engine but apparently not.... and the MX5 (which I probably wouldn't have anyway as too girly) has a not too bad but not great 35 - 40 mpg.

So any options appreciated.

Given that depreciation is your single biggest motoring cost, i would be more inclined to look for a car that will depreciate only a little, and offers reasonable economy.

For example, if you bought a mid to late 90's MX5 for £1500-£2000, i would be fairly confident you could drive it a year and get your money back. A friend of mine bought a last-of-the-mk1's 1998 1.8 mx5, low miles, lady owner for £1450. He could easily run that a year and get what he paid for it.

If you've more money to spend, the earliest boxsters are now coming below the £6K mark, and again you could probably run one of those for a year and get out on it, if you did your homework and bought the right one.

Rossy.

davidjwest wrote: »

I used to get over 40mpg in my 2002 MX5 if I drove it carefully, but unfortunately it makes you want to drive it fairly enthusiastically so 30-35mpg was more normal for me. It's not a quick car, but very good fun on the twisty bits! Too girly, what are you on about?

it does look like a girl's car tbh

Agreed they aren't quick at all, Even in the twisties they arent brilliant.

I've handed many MX5 drivers their a$$es on a plate in my RenaultSport clio (197bhp) - Also my flat mate in his WRX STI Scooby was shocked that he couldn't leave me.

motorguy

Rossy. wrote: »

it does look like a girl's car tbh

Agreed they aren't quick at all, Even in the twisties they arent brilliant.

I've handed many MX5 drivers their a$$es on a plate in my RenaultSport clio (197bhp) - Also my flat mate in his WRX STI Scooby was shocked that he couldn't leave me.

And a clio is a real mans car is it?

Having driven a 197 i'd describe it as 'nippy'.

mx5 is one of the best sports cars out there. Check out on a motoring forum such as pistonheads and see what the perception of a one is by people who know their cars.

I would suggest your mate gets his STi checked out. By 60mph he should be heading towards 3 seconds clear of you, and the sheer torque of the thing should pull him away from you on the twisties too.

BUT, you're missing the point if you think an mx5 is just about speed.