Runabout Opinions? (NLC)

[StiflerMR2]

/ned hat on:

I used to have a wee saxo VTR and twas a great we run about - never had any of the mythical crappy french built quality issues either

Got 30-35mpg easily and handled surprisingly well - can be had for about 2-3K these days (if you can find an un-nedified version')

/ned hat off

[LittleMorvy]

Can def reccommende the fabia VRS, its a great wee car, and the mpg you will get will be much better than what skoda state it is, even yeaching learners I easily got high 50s out of it.

[ruadh08]

(Much as I'd love another S1 Elise, I need to keep my sensible head on for the next couple of years... )

Ross, you are only young once, take your sensible hat off for a change and get another Elise........you could get run down by a bus tomorrow.

[Neil72]

I would love to see a true sucessor to the classic mini; small, well packaged, light, safe & fun to drive. Some new cars come close, but don't have the same classic style or appeal.

Ford Ka ? I think that's the closest a modern car has come to emulating the original Mini.

As for the BMW Mini, think of it as a small BMW rather than a proper classic Mini replacement (as Woody says) and you'll be a bit closer to the mark. Maybe not to everyones taste but as an all round worry free ownership package, this is about as good as it gets. I've had 2 and over servoed brakes are my only real gripe.

But, they ain't cheap 2nd hand and you can certainly get more metal for your money if you look elsewhere.

[Rich H]

Semi seriously how about a Porker 924:- 35 mpg (on long runs), rear drive, 2+2, reasonable sized boot, electric stuff, comfy seats, £185 tax, cheap bits, upgrades from the VW/944/968 families, classic insurance and all for under £500 (mine was £450 taxed and tested for 6 months)

Mine is modified all over the place and is still my daily drive. Only ever let me down with a previous owner bodge falling apart (my fault and a pinched scrap yard plug fixed that) and the dizzy getting stuck at max advance (cost me £20 for another one) OK it had a big hole in one rear wing full of filler bit the repair was solid enough (I just couldn't leave it... ) from 1980 (ie jsut after my car) they were 100% galvanized too.

Rich

[Fluoxetine]

Ross, you are only young once, take your sensible hat off for a change and get another Elise........you could get run down by a bus tomorrow.

I took my sensible hat off about a year ago, and it cost me the equivalent price of a nice new 997 GT3 RS...

You live & learn...In 2 years time I can look at another fibreglass bathtub on wheels...

Semi seriously how about a Porker 924

Funny you should say that - I very, very nearly swapped my 156 for a 1990 944 S2 a few weeks ago...and when that fell through, I nearly swapped it for a 1990 Elan SE, till Robin & McKean made me see sense...

Alas, it'll need to be something still under warranty for a couple of years, 40 mpg + and cheap tax...

The more I look at the Swift, the more I'm liking it...

Cheers,

Ross.

[renmure]

I had a test drive of a little Fiat 500 a couple of weekends ago. Think the sales blurb promised 67mpg. It was fairly cute and retro(ish) but I prefer the Mini TBH.

[Rich H]

If you can work spanners there was a free 924S with a blow HG last week, HG is around £50...

[H8OAG]

Suzuki Swift would get my vote........Evo liked it as well on the IOM

Gordon Petrie of Gordon Motors in Crieff (Suzuki Dealer of the Year .....Est 1981)

Tell him I sent you....

[Dominic]

Semi seriously how about a Porker 924:-
Rich

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/661858.htm

Only needs a little tidying

[Mr Momo]

I drove a Swift courtesy car from MMC a couple of years ago - liked it. It felt bigger than the Panda and plainer inside - can't comment on economy or costs as it was a 'courtesy' car, therefore saw some exuberant driving.....

I'm beginning to enjoy the Panda more as it comes up to 1000 miles on the clock. I like the 5drs (Only Abarth 500 would be considered as an alternative, but its expensive), gearbox is a joy and grip from GY F1s is superb (corners are all above bravery against body roll !). Its a bit lacking in grunt, but I think the engine is loosening up a bit.

I'd test them back-to-back and decide what's most important. The Panda still makes me smile whenever I use it

[Corranga]

Semi seriously how about a Porker 924Rich

I'd love to be that brave

Chris

[Lazydonkey]

Either option looks pretty good.

I would go for the jap, with a view to getting a better built car.

Id defy anyone to drive the panda and say its not well built. The new polish built fiats are brilliantly made IMHO.

My wee panda has done 12k HARD miles and an autotest since Oct without a problem.

Family friend has a fiat, alfa and toyota dealership and reckons that he gets more warranty issues on corollas than pandas and bravos.

In saying all that Caleebra on here (pm him) has a swift and seems to like it

[campbell]

MINI cooper Ross.

One in Classifieds here at the mo I believe.

Or a tidy wee Polo 1.4 with leccy sunroof etc courtesy of JJ!

Failing that, the Swift or a Fabia vRS would be in my shortlist easily. Drove a couple of Fabias and they were seriously impressive and you will barely notice the running costs. All the more to leave in the bank for the next Elise or the Porsche Project.

[Victor Meldrew]

Vanquish is a top runabout

Yes but only if you need to run large breasted women about in it.

For a normal daily hack, you cant go far wrong with an old Landy...

(controversial but it will be more useful in the long run)