tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 10:47 PM |
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OT- Choosing a new tintop?
With all the knowledgable people on here I figure I might as well open this up to y'all.
I have a 1995 1.6 8V (75HP when new) polo which goes ok, but its getting tired and isnt quite 'pokey' enough..
I have about 6K max to spend on a new car does anyone have any ideas what the next logical step could be? (oh, im only 19 so insruance is a bit of a
bugger!)
I had thought about an old elise or a VW golf 1.8T but I dont think I would get insurance on either to be honest...
I want something that will corner and perform well and will be as reliable as my polo has been (touch wood/head)...
Anyone got any great ideas?
Sorry for the boring toppic!
Dunc
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ned
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 10:53 PM |
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for relative cost to run vs insurance dont under-estimate a diesel. i was in a similar position at your age and had got 306 dturbo, then a couple of
petrol gti's which i kept for short periods and now i'm a vw tdi convert. my bora is group 6 to insure, 50mpg (ok 35-40mpg when
you're thrashing it) and was well within your budget and has now done 145k and going strong. it's chipped as well so well torquey which
makes for easy driving which I prefer on the road, not high revs and frantic which is fun and fine on track. bora handles as well as a gold
(marginally heavier) mine is an 'se' but the 'sport' spec should be slightly stiffer.
Ned.
ps one on autotrader:
2002 02 Reg Volkswagen Bora 1.9 TDi 130 Sport Saloon 1896 cc 70k miles. £6k
then remap to 170bhp and 300lb/ft and it will be flying 
[Edited on 6/2/07 by ned]
beware, I've got yellow skin
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JoelP
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 10:55 PM |
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theres lots of choice in the vw fold, maybe a passat syncro, or a golf tdi etc. Or even a simple 2 litre bora. Nice cars. If you want to change away
from vw then there is just too much choice for anyones opinion to be relevant really.
My favourite cars at the min would include the new alfa off top gear, a nissan navara, and a pug 1007.
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 10:58 PM |
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At your age i'd say any cars like you'd mentioned where out of any credible insurance range..
I'm 22 and was in a similar position last year, although I do very little personal miles as I have a works van so I just couldn't justify
spending over £1k on insurance.
I was after a Honda Integra TypeR as there becoming reasonable money, but UK cars are like rocking horse poo and nobody would insure me on an Import
cos I was under 25.
I went the specialist insurance route for a custom car with limited mileage, but if it was for an every day car that feels fast to have some shove
i'd go for a Turbo diesel as mentioned above something like a Clio DCI
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:02 PM |
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Hmm..
Now you mention it, a few people have said that the VW TDI Golfs are quite good cars...I know they have a fair bit of power, but are they a bit
heavier than the petrol alternative?
Can you still give the TDI a good bollocking on country roads etc or is it sluggish and only has acceleration in a teeny part of the rev range?
I dont know much about diesel lol...appart from that its suposed to be cheaper to run and insurance seems to be less..
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shades
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:12 PM |
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stay small, front drive with a multivalve petrol engine. You have plenty of time to get into fast expensive to insure cars. Stick with boy racers,
and learn how to make them go faster and handle better. Lupo, Civic, Corsa, Nova, Saxo...
Thanks
Adrian
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:16 PM |
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I would imagine I can also get more quality for my money if I stick with the kiddies cars...
I am just fedup of the nackered suspension and slow cruise speed of the older polo....
I can get a 2000 VW Golf GT-TDI insured for £1500 if I have my mother as a named driver....not too bad, but it only has 115BHP
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shades
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:22 PM |
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19 year old neighbour, just got a 92 nova GTE, noisy exhaust, big fat alloys, bombs about everywhere at reasonble speed... For me If still 19, more
appealing than a slow heavy oil burner. My first was a mini 1275 GT, rebuilt the engine myself, had fun making it go faster...
Thanks
Adrian
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:28 PM |
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Im a dull and boring 19yo... I have my dads kit car to make go fast, I just want a comfy factory made car that will get me from A-B at a handy speed
without killing myself....
Whats the MGTF like? Plenty of cheap examples of that nocking about...
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shades
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:29 PM |
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"MGTF" ? .... Ho hum
Thanks
Adrian
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:32 PM |
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Hmm the slow cruise speed of the polo,
Maybe its just me but unless the red mist decends or i'm trying to prove a point I usually drive at about the same speed, it just depends how
much i'm ringing its neck!, in the more powerful you just use 1/2 or less throttle and change gear earlier and don't have to change down
as often, is more lazier driveing.
A lad at college had a 2L 8 Valve Seat Ibiza Gti, should be well built, was prob getting on 10 yro so should be cheep to insure and sticking with the
VW family ya have experience with.
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swood
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:36 PM |
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Face lift Focus TDCI
Make sure its the 115 bhp, will go well, economical - mine averaged 47mpg, handles like its on rails,reasonable insuance, and cheap.
Go for the face lift - Zetec if possible, sport has 1/2 leather but is no quicker and insurance is dearer I think.
3 Doors are cheaper, and better looking IMO and best of all for you prices are coming down, I know cos I've just traded mine and got f**k all
for it.
Now got new shape TDCi 4 door goes ok but its too big, and bland, I still prefer the old one, shape size and drive ability.
Try a couple out you may be pleasantly surprised.
When you're up to your ass in alligators you tend to forget the initial objective was to drain the swamp !.
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Chippy
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:38 PM |
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Saxo, car for all seasons. Cheap to insure, good mileage per £1. Plus there is a derth of tuning goodies available to make it go faster, ( should you
so desire). Plus they are a reasonable price to purchase. Ray
To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:42 PM |
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The only issue with the polo cuise speed is that, if you want to cruise at 80...which to be fair is just about keeping up with the traffic on the
motorway I have to be doing about 4200RPM....might not sound like much, but it screams its nuts off....Im worried about killing the engine off...
Maybe it would be worth just getting my current polo fiddled with....complete new suspension system...
Is it possible to replace the single point injection with MPI?....I know there was a 1.4 16V MPI engine available to fit the chassis...but would
rather have the larger engine...
(does anyone know if you can fit a more modern engine into the older polo?)
[Edited on 6/2/07 by tegwin]
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:46 PM |
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Engine power doesn't effect the cruise speed, thats down to the gearing I made that mistake, and I wish i'd have got a 6 speed box
now!.
My 2L 160 Bhp in a 1000kg car does about 4k revs at 80mph..... but it will pull all the way up to the red line in top so your still looking at the
wrong side of 140mph!.
The fiesta I had before was only a 1.1 but it was lowered 35mm and had Sierra Brakes on and 195 tyres and that went like it was on rails!. Maybe have
a look at some parts from other VW's that would fit.. Gti suspension and brakes maybe?
[Edited on 6/2/07 by MkIndy7]
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:50 PM |
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I had a look for other parts, the problem is that the bodyshell is the older style...if it was a couple of years younger there would be a lot more
that would just bolt on..
I dont know how much welding and hacking would be required to accomodate modern parts...
But as soon as I start altering the car, the insurance is going to be a hell of a lot more than if I started off with a better car in the first place
isnt it?
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 6/2/07 at 11:58 PM |
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*cough* insured 3rd party and with bits off cars that are in the same range or make they wouldn't look out of place.
The chances are there would be lots of bits even on the newer models that are interchangeable, often the brake calipers, stud patters and disk sizes
etc get carried onto the next model range as its not worth completely re-designing them if there still upto the job.
Maybe best looking on VW forums for what can be done in this way.
But as you say maybe just buying a faster car from the off would be better, just seems a shame if the body etc are all ok on the one you've got.
If its started rusting/rotting get rid cos nothing will cure it of that!.
As for insuring modified cars it seems to be all or nothing with them, you might as well go all out and have someting radical because as soon as its
modified you have to get specialist insurance anyway.
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tegwin
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 12:13 AM |
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Its starting to show some rust here and there...so that would need adressing...
I think its got to go....will have to figure out whats going to replace it....guess the only thing to do is go drive a few cars and see what I
like...
Dunc
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greggors84
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 02:04 AM |
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How about a 106 Gti? 306 Gti6?
Not sure about the insurance on the last one, but I was paying alot for my 106 Rallye (1.3) at 20. I would think you would struggle to pay less than
£1000 TPF&T on anything above 1.6.
The problem is the newer the car you go for the heavier its going to be and the more power you need, and the more the power the more the insurance.
I say get a 106 Gti for 3k stick the rest in the bank for a couple of years until you have 2 years no claims. That made a lot of difference for me. My
last new car doubled the power and torque of my 106 Rallye that it replaced!
[Edited on 7/2/2007 by greggors84]
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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pbs
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 09:34 AM |
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If your looking for a car that handles dont buy the Golf Tdi (MK4) unless it has sport suspension as the standard suspension is too soft and
underdamped. I have just returned my 53 plate Gt Tdi 130 company car and I was glad to see the back of it. The handling was terible and not a patch on
the Focus Tdci that I run for 84k and three years.
Build your own sports car for £250 my ar5e!!
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ned
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 10:34 AM |
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The 307 is one of the best handling new cars I've driven. small pugs are quick to, I've had 106, 205 and 306 myself.
Still recon vw tdi is the way to go. If you're nearby you're welcome to a ride in my bora - it's "only" 115bhp (well ok
that was before it was chipped) but you'd be suprised how quick the tdi's are.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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John.Taylor
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 12:30 PM |
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Do a search on ebay motors for cars between 1970-1989.
Classic car insurance will be dirt cheap, it won't depreciate and you'll learn loads doing little fixes here and there - saving you
getting ripped off by garages who rely on customers being ignorant to faults and fixes!
Wouldn't you rather be driving this than a Seat Ibiza or Ford Focus?:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1987-AUDI-COUPE-QUATTRO-GREEN_W0QQitemZ200076759805QQihZ010QQcategoryZ122143QQtcZphotoQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 7/2/07 at 12:31 PM |
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Another Focus diesel vote here, I'm truly converted, did loads of homework before we bought it but couldn't find a bad word said.
Highly recommended, I believe group 5 ins, great mpg, goes like stink too.
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