Due to a change in my workplace location, I no longer need to have a 50+ mpg diesel My C4 has been a fantastic car and I'm loathe to change it but, I'd like to have a 'sportier' commuting car.

No car is outstanding at the moment, but after a quick AT search I've come across these -

Mini Cooper

TiTty

Alfa GT (oil burner)

Scoob

Celica

Cupra

Look forward to your comments, ridicule and suggestions

Don't they do a slightly sportier Celica than that?
Out of Tue above I'd take the Toyota- mini isn't sporty, TT and cupra you'd want the 225 version and if you're looking at a Scooby then buy a plus :-)

What's your criteria?

Coupe, saloon?

Space? Insurance a concern?

How fast?

I'd go for the TT, high build quality, classic design, easy to re-map for more power if required.

The only real criteria it must meet is to have 4+ seats. Insurance not an issue.

Another trawl and I came across this Clio 182 Any thoughts?

I do fancy a TT, highish mileage on these doesn't appear to be a problem. They do a 190bhp Celica but none close to me at the moment look decent.

Unfortunately my wife want me to get a Mini

Shout for the 190bhp Celica (VVTLi model) comfortable, rev happy and economical motorway cruiser in 6th. Other half had one until she fell for the Figaro.

The alloys on that Alfa GT are 18 inch, not 16 as the advert says.

TT'S don't really have 4 seats.

Out of the above I'd still say Toyota.

I may have a 56 plate Mazda rx8 pz prodrive limited edition model coming in.
Only 24k miles, grey metallic with pz extras.


4 seats, 231bhp, only thing is it'll be 1500 over the £3k?

Jag X Type 3.0 V6 sport has around 230hp and will do 150mph and under 7 to 60?

How about the best of both worlds a Skoda Fabia VRS Mk1 ? Easy to remap TDI to170bhp and economical! £3k budget is possible

Nothing to see here, move on please.

He doesn't know it yet but he's getting a mini

I'd probably go for the celica out of that selection, the 190bhp model though.

Not sure that any of them would suit the 4 seat requirement, unless your kid have no legs and even then are only expecting to go for very short journies, the others would be OK. So first off you need to choose if you really need 4 seats.

The Scoob and Leon are good choices, but do you really want another Scoob, and an Alfa with 100k on the clock - good luck

I like Dans idea of an RX8, especially the prodrive version, thirsty on oil though and sound shite.

What about:

Alfa 147 2.0 petrol
Alfa GT 2.0 petrol, there are a few out there with low miles
Hyundai Coupe 2.0
Peugout 307 cc
Civic Type R

However, if it were me, I'd look at:

MG ZS V6
Accord Type R
Meg 225

Megane 225, I've looked at these, don't they suffer from a lot of electrical gremlins?

Yes, just like the coop rusts, always breakdown and costs a million pound to change the cambelt!!

Except Meganes DO suffer from electrical gremlins. Out of a 1.6 petrol, a 1.5d and a 1.9d and a scenic (these are people I know who have owned / own the cars) only 1 out of teh 4 has not had issues with windows, key cards and general Alfa-esque electrical issues. Just like the residual prices of the Coupe, they are dirt cheap for a reason.

The one that hasn't suffered has thousands of £££ worth of recipes for electrical work doing on it.

I am sure I can name four of the people I know who have Megs who have no electrical issues. 1 chap I know has a diesel with over 200k on the clock, his biggest issue was changing the light bulb.

And if someone else spent thousands of pounds on a megane to get electrical work completed, they'd have been better off spending thousands of pounds checking into the Priory and getting their own issues fixed

Also a 10 year old car for £3k is not really dirt cheap - seems about right to me...

Anyway, my point is no they don't really, there are no more horror stories on megs than there are on coops..

I am only quoting my experience with megs, I've never owned one but good friends and family have and I've seen the bills.
60k miles on a range topper is low at 10 year's, 2700 quid is cheap relative to its piers.
Did you have one from new jimo? Again in warranty from a dealer I'd have no issue owning one and I'm sure parts don't fail straight away.

I think the only car with more nightmare stories than the coupe is of the 1.8k series engined type or perhaps the small v rover which gets scrapped if the stat goes......