Help me buy a 2nd car

flimper

flimper

Veteran
 Hampshire
Looking to replace the Mini Cooper before it dies and I want something fun to use during the winter when the M is tucked up, something that I wouldn't be ashamed to go to a meet in :oops:

Must haves:

Max engine 1.6l
Petrol & Manual
Max 70k miles
Max Price £6k
Better power to weight than the Cooper (110+)
2008 or newer

On Shortlist so far:
Cooper S
Abarth 500
DS3
Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift Sport

Any thoughts or experiences with the above would be a massive help :thumbsup:
 
I owned a 2008 Twingo for a couple of years and it was nothing short of incredible. So simple, light and nippy. Great fun little car.

Also heard nothing but great reviews of the Swift
 
I had a swift a few years back, and it was good. But currently run a Twingo 133 as my second car - and it's often a strong debate whether to take the Z or Twingo for a drive, it's that good! Picked up the Gordini edition with leather seats, bluetooth, cruise and climate control to make it more bearable.

I even fitted some 15" wheels and sticky tyres for a track day at Snetterton, didn't miss a beat or burn a drop of oil and provided smiles and lift off oversteer all day :D
 
JDavis21 said:
I had a swift a few years back, and it was good. But currently run a Twingo 133 as my second car - and it's often a strong debate whether to take the Z or Twingo for a drive, it's that good! Picked up the Gordini edition with leather seats, bluetooth, cruise and climate control to make it more bearable.

I even fitted some 15" wheels and sticky tyres for a track day at Snetterton, didn't miss a beat or burn a drop of oil and provided smiles and lift off oversteer all day :D
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Have to admit to the Twingo being at the head of the list at the moment, are there any common faults to look out for/expensive jobs that should have been done at this sort of age?
 
flimper said:
Have to admit to the Twingo being at the head of the list at the moment, are there any common faults to look out for/expensive jobs that should have been done at this sort of age?
Click to expand...

Pretty much just looked for good service history and a recent cambelt and dephaser change for anything under 70k miles. Bought mine on 62k, for £3300, with main dealer service history and recent cambelt change (with proof) from an independent garage. Hasn't cost me a penny yet, 8 months later, 7k miles and 1 track day.

Most of the steering wheels have an issue with peeling, but £125 later at Royal Steering wheels and that's sorted.

With your budget a facelift might be nice, or a Silverstone edition for that extra Renault Sport rarity!
 
flimper said:
Looking to replace the Mini Cooper before it dies and I want something fun to use during the winter when the M is tucked up, something that I wouldn't be ashamed to go to a meet in :oops:

Must haves:

Max engine 1.6l
Petrol & Manual
Max 70k miles
Max Price £6k
Better power to weight than the Cooper (110+)
2008 or newer

On Shortlist so far:
Cooper S
Abarth 500
DS3
Twingo 133
Suzuki Swift Sport

Any thoughts or experiences with the above would be a massive help :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Strange but what about an mx5 2.0l and slap a turbo on 😂
 
Max engine 1.6 as want the missus to have a go in it, and to get insured if needs be (she can't drive currently)
 
I had a 2007 Swift Sport which was great on the backroads and pretty cheap to run.

Was hard work on the motorway though, really needed a 6th gear.
 
fits the criteria and with a remap will see 200bhp!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-116i-sport/233191300526?hash=item364b48ddae:g:hK4AAOSw8KRcjM-e
 
Having run several Mazda's along side my Weekender for the past 20 years. I can happily recommend the little Mazda2. Plenty quick and chuckerble enough for this ///M driver. :wink: Mine even has a tow bar on the back for added multi tasking ability. :D :thumbsup:
 
The cooper will break. Ironically I'd recommend the fiat over it. I have a mate who has an abarth 595 essesesesseeesessss and he's borderline obsessed with it.

I wouldn't mind a go in the Twingo. I've heard good things and Renault know how to make a decent hatch.

Until I read the last line I was resolutely going to push a low mileage 1.6 205 GTI.
 
Swift for me too, then. Did lots of research and nearly started going for test drives etc but ended up with a sensible Golf as the requirements changed a bit.
 
Of the cars on the original shortlist I think I'd go for a Swift - and it's naturally aspirated like your M! :thumbsup:
 
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