Suggestions for temporary cheap high powered car

jaydeeuk1

My PCP is coming to an end in Sept for my little toyota IQ. I'm looking to pay off finance and sell now as I became a Dad 2 months ago, and whilst I can fit baby, pushchair and wife in the car (its a tardis ) if we were to go on holiday we wouldn't be able to take anything else! Wifes car is an even less practical MR2, but we agreed not to sell that as I'll probably drive it more.

Anyway, I need a temp car for over summer until I receive my xmas bonus, only looking to spend up to £2000 so if it blows up not too much damage done, although I've set aside another £500-£1000 for any issues. And for a change to all the threads on here I don't want it to be a diesel, or an MPV, I'd like a decent sized engine to zip about in. Must be 5 doors, have lots of toys to play with, and not a 'common' car, eg no fords, vauxhalls etc. Don't mind if its a bit crap, just not too common. I'd consider italian cars, I used to own a Fiat Tipo, and not knowing if you'd make it home made the drive all the more exciting. Also would like it less than 10 years old. Also don't mind if its worth nothing come xmas or impossible to sell as I'll probably give it to my brother.


Cars I've thought of so far...

Kia Magentis v6 2.5
Alfa Romeo 166 v6 (2.5 or 3.0)
Daewoo Nubira 2.0 CDX


Any other suggestions?

getmore4less

Quite a few Octavia 1.8/2.0 petrol, quick and a few toys in elegance/L&K spec

masive boots.

Superbs available big boot but saloon only at that budget.

Primera T-spec 2.0 seem to have a few toys reversing camera electric heated seats etc. a few around with lowish miles <£2k

jaydeeuk1

Primera's a good shout, forgot about those. Cheers

k3lvc

I set off with this a few years ogo with a mission for 'cheap speed'

Had a Volvo S40 T4 as a runaround for 8 months - zero costs except fuel and insurance and then sold it for a profit - entertaining and plenty of toys (but it was yellow). For more space a T5 will do the same and more.

Other options are Saab 9-3/9-5's - again plenty around and they go forever/Honda Accord 2.4 or Type R/Subaru Legacy

You mentioned Fiat - the Stilo 2.4 was a hoot and can be had for reasonable money

Wildcard for me was a Mitsubishi Galant V6 estate

RDG

Off the top of my head, one to consider if it has a good full service history will be a V6 156 easily get one for less than 2k. Although the 166 is a great car.

Others worth looking at V6 and V8 jags plenty around the 2k mark and again a decent history and should last a while yes you will have to get one over 10 years old thats irrelevant if history is good.

zeon999

I assume you have already considered how much this is going to cost you in running costs: fuel, tax, ect?

These days with fuel prices the way they are 2.5l petrol is going to drink a lot of money and the road tax is going to be crazy high.

jaydeeuk1

All good suggestions. I did see a fiat stilo 2.4 on autotrader last night whilst looking for ones with that panoramic screen. Price on them is excellent, although I reckon the 2.4 is pushing the budget slightly, and from experience being a fiat more of that cash set aside for maintenance will be used

Only reason I wanted under 10 years was mainly because I reckon safety systems are better on newer cars, although with a jag there would be a lot of metal between me and whatever I decide to hit.

verityboo

3 Litre Subaru Outback? - but they are so good you might end up keeping it!

jaydeeuk1

zeon999 wrote: »

I assume you have already considered how much this is going to cost you in running costs: fuel, tax, ect?

These days with fuel prices the way they are 2.5l petrol is going to drink a lot of money and the road tax is going to be crazy high.

Yeah, only do 8-10k a year, and probably only 5k from May to xmas. I've offset the fact the bigger engined cars will be much cheaper to buy in the first place compared to a diesel or a 1.4 as no one can afford to run them full time. I just plan on getting something with 12 months MOT, some tax if poss to keep me entertained. Popping to work and back which is 5 miles a day at most won't cost much.

zeon999

Ah right fair enough then yeah makes sense as diesels are costing a fortune now as everybody wants fuel economy, which if your doing low mileage wont make that much difference compared to the extra cost of buying.

verityboo

zeon999 wrote: »

These days with fuel prices the way they are 2.5l petrol is going to drink a lot of money and the road tax is going to be crazy high.

There are only 2 tax bands for cars registered before 1st March 2001, the higher one is £215 so not too crazy if you go for an older car

I fancy a change of car so I've been looking through the ads on Ebay and Autotrader lately and there seems to be a lot of cars high spec cars for sale with one of the warning lights on on the dash - airbag or ABS. The adverts state it doesn't matter as it was only advised on the MOT but the MOT changed on the 1st Jan which means a warning light on will now result in an MOT failure (and probably a big bill, the seller hasn't fixed it for a reason)