Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Civic (Type-R)

Yeah, same. I only liked the imported mr-s with their simple body kit, but this one kinda grew on me slowly.

It has got the standard 1zz-ge engine with a few mods bringing the car from 140 to 160, but because it is a SMT it doesn't feel that quick or responsive at all compared to a manual.

I had a MR2 before and all i did was slip the frame behind both seats and the wheels in the passenger seat. Worked every time.

But i do agree it's probably the most impractical car i know, but you only live once and it it was fun driving this car around London and Kent yesterday.

Have you consider an MX-5 or even a Z4? they're probably more fun and definitely more practical.

Also these early engines did suffer from an inherited factory problem where they burnt excessive oil. The Short Block was changed by Toyota main dealer under warranty in 2006.

Lol. So ugly. Just not my thing. I've heard they're nice to drive though.

Mini Countryman Cooper S (JCW if you're feeling spicy).
They're extremely overlooked imho and having owned and driven a few new Minis I've always found them to have great handling and with the right spec they're quite plush.
Available as a hybrid now also and they do a pretty neat OEM rear mounted bike rack that you can fold into the boot when not in use.

Certainly worth looking into though!

Yeah I know- whatever we get is going out the the window at that point. I've tried to make the 'fun car' case but this is as far as I have been able to move the window of conversation. Tbh I'd be really happy with a touring BMW or Merc now - can get more bikes in etc.

Interesting. I like minis but always found them a bit close to the floor for something I want to drive all the time. Also bit short on space. Does the countryman have more room?

I had an M135i.
Great fun, but 100% retarded. Novelty completely wore ff once I realised you can no where near use the car to its full potential on a public road without going to jail. Bought it at around a year old. I kept it for 18 months and sold it for £9k less than I paid for it (admittedly, I did part ex, but it was basically impossible to sell privately at a realistic price). It also makes most other road users think you are a total dick, and will annoy your neighbours when you start it up at 6:45 on cold winter mornings.

I picked up 6 points on my license in those 18 months purely because you can so easily drift up to 90mph+ in it on a quiet stretch of motorway without even noticing you’ve gone over 75.

If you have just passed you test I would imagine insurance costs for you be eye watering. I have been driving 19 years, and have 4 years NCB, and my insurance was circa £1k a year on a Bristol postcode.

It was bay far the comfiest car I’ve ever owned by a long way though! All the toys you get at the M spec level are great.

If I was in the market for something like that again i’d deffo be looking at a 118i with a high spec interior over any of the higher end performance models.

Make of that what you will.

Yep, a little bit higher off the ground, a little bit taller and a little bit longer. It's really only Mini by name, there's undoubtedly a dealership near enough to you to pop by on a spin and have a look I'd imagine?

Or if you’re a sensible man, focus ST, or if you’re racy then RS 😏

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F264474141709

Beat this for 9k. I’d fucking love one of these for cruising around in.

Honda Jazz

😆

Hard to say without knowing the budget. If i was in the market for a not performance car I'd prob buy an e-golf on pcp. Been using the zipcar e-golfs and they're wicked.

Don't know how far you'd plan to drive out of london and if you'd have access to charge points though.

oof. wish i had a fucking garage.

for fucking, obvs.

Some racer progress. Two-speed wiper conversion, dual circuit brake conversion, leccy tacho and a super rad mod that moved the handbrake from the drivers side to the passenger side of the tunnel using a midget handbrake lever. Exciting

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I must be tired after the weekend. First thing I thought when looking at the photos was 'the handbrake lever doesn't look that small to me'. Looks good though. Got a completion target time, or just as and when?

I’d like to be testing/track days/etc in the summer, then 2021 for the first season.

How long you had your license? Don't you wanna bang around in the old car for a bit longer? I'm really keen to get rid of my shitbox but getting used to driving in it is a great way to avoid wrecking a new car...

Good advice and pretty much validates my thinking. Cheers mate. Insurance is a thing but slightly less so because i would be on eb's insurance and she's been driving sensibly for years.

I've been driving on plates for ages. Fairly confident I'm not going to smash up a nice-ish car

Fully electric not really an option right now as car will be used for motorway journeys to Wales and lake district etc.

Budget wise I think around 10k - but was also looking at gte's which would mean spending more than that

Yeah i figured you'd be doing a few spins to Wales.

What about a seat leon st fr. I think they come in 1.4 turbo petrol dsg flavour. Look good, bigger than a hatch and not slow.

When I was doing some research trying to decide what to buy for my first car, it seems that there was a universal answer to the question of what the best used small car is. It's safe, reliable, cheap to run and insure, super cheap spare parts and easy and pretty fun to drive.

Every friend, mechanic and garage I spoke to had the same answer.

I'm not sure I have ever seen its name uttered on this thread when the subject of used small cars has come up.

What's the LFGSS beef with the Ford Fiesta?

No beef, I like them. But they're too small for what I'm looking for - basically same size as the Fabia we already have and I can't have a grown up or even a child in the seat behind me. All in all it's been a great car for the past 4 years, and still only has 34k on it. Just not very practical for the type of driving we do most.

I like the Focus's but honestly the inside of them is an absolute shit show (unless you get the new one- which is out of budget). Considering you spend more time looking at the inside of a car than the outside... and 10k is a lot of money, I'd like to own something I actually like.