Very reliable, partly fun ... suggestions?

[DaKid]

Thanks to far more hassle than I have time or motivation to write down here, I may shortly be rejecting my 6-week-old Saab 9-5. To pre-empt the possibility, I'm trying to work out in advance what car to look at to replace it with.

The ultimate priority is something that's reliable. Because of that I was thinking ideally something still with a year of dealer's warranty, and/or a very low mileage example. The car will still however have to have both manual gearbox and climate control though. Beyond that, all I'm after is something that will at least make an attempt at cornering, even if it's not an M3

My budget is £6k .... my badge snobbery is fairly low, but I don't really want something that looks completely minging (like the latest Vectra ... euch!)

Any suggestions? I figured Toyotas would be fairly reliable but couldn't think of any enjoyable models (Celica too expensive).

[eUphoria]

Is this 6k on top of the trade in value/return value of the saab? If so then definitely look at the new celica - ive heard good things about them. I doubt the saab could touch it for entertainment, wood finish and middle age respect yes, but fun - no!

[BenW]

I've been in my neighours celica (more powerful one with is about 190bhp iirc). It deffinatly shifts! Go along, down shift and the turbo sends you flying

Handles well too

[Butuz]

The new celica 145bhp or 190bhp does not have a turbo by the way ben...

Butuz

[DaKid]

Nope ... that's £6k purely from the full refund of the Saab's purchase price. I have no extra money besides that ...

[Tom Scott]

Toyota MR2 Turbo matey.... Won't have a warranty with it thought (seeing as they stopped making them 6 years ago and they're all imports).

250 odd BHP

You should be able to pick up a decent t-bat turbo for about £5k (like i did )

Theres is some pics of mine at: http://www.bluex.co.uk/MR2/

[Rave]

For £6k you can get something recent with a bit of warranty left, or you can get something fast and fun, but not both TBH.

406/Laguna maybe? Edit: or there are a few 2003 Mondeos under 6 grand now too.

[Butuz]

97-99 Honda Integra Type R. Roughly on budget, Fun fun fun, and reliable as an old army boot!

99-2001 Nisan 200sx S14 - Even more fun than the integra, still as reliable as an old army boot! (mines done 146k now and is still happy to be thrashed to within an inch of its life round castle coombe)

Theres plenty of fast reliable motors out there if you go jap. Warranty's dont interest me to be honest - how much is a rover warranty worth now?

Butuz

[loki]

I'd say go Jap. A decen't honda or a subaru or something will certainly be fun. You'd be able to pick up about a 4-5 year old one for that money.

[BenW]

The new celica 145bhp or 190bhp does not have a turbo by the way ben...

Butuz

Wow, feeld amazing for something without a turbo. I know i couldnt hear the turbo but the pull on it is amazing for something with 190bhp. My dad has a v6 mondeo with 170bhp and it doesnt pull anything like the celica does

[Tom Scott]

Wow, feeld amazing for something without a turbo. I know i couldnt hear the turbo but the pull on it is amazing for something with 190bhp. My dad has a v6 mondeo with 170bhp and it doesnt pull anything like the celica does

Wait till you step into a Celica GT4 or a MR2 Turbo then..... Its the same engine with a turbo to pull the horizon toward you at an alarming rate once you reach 3,250rpm.

[Russ]

go jap.

Teg Type-R, regarded as the best handling FWD car ever built, its vtec, so they forgot to teach them to break.

[herulach]

Wow, feeld amazing for something without a turbo. I know i couldnt hear the turbo but the pull on it is amazing for something with 190bhp. My dad has a v6 mondeo with 170bhp and it doesnt pull anything like the celica does

Tis because of the VVT, it makes a lot less power till it kicks in at fairly high revs.

[5lab]

an integra type R is a silly car to buy if you're thinking of pushing high milages - they may run until the cows come home, but they are SOOO NOISY inside, you cant hear yourself think - it would get very very tyring on a long journey.

how about a volvo c70? stylish, reasonable handing (its more of a cruiser than a sports car, but it corners pretty flat), and will eat the miles up.. i seem to remember you saying you wanted a motorway mile-eater..

[DaKid]

The car SEEMS to be running ok at the moment, so maybe I won't have to try and reject it. *crosses fingers*

I think, to be honest, I'd be looking at something like a Ford Mondo, but with the reliability of a Honda. Any suggestions? Maybe I could just afford an Accord or something ... not very exciting though, admittedly. Volvo is a little too expensive I think.

[Rave]

The latest Mondeo is a very well made car, I doubt whether over 100,000 miles the Honda would be noticeably more reliable.