klankymen
BLT Master
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 3,298
- Location
- M?nchen, K?nigreich Bayern
- Car(s)
- plastic Japanese iPod dock on wheels
OK, here's the deal. Since I live in the city, I don't need a car. I can reach everything using bike, public transport & bumming a ride from other people. I've done so fine for quite some time now, and I could surely continue to do so. But I kind of want a car. Just for fun.
So here's my question. What cars are there that are really cheap and fun. Bear in mind I'm not looking for a 599GTB, just something I can chuck around a bit without worrying too much about it breaking.
So here's a short list of what I'm looking for:
I realize I may be looking for the "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" as we call it here - basically a car that's good at everything but bad at nothing - but I think it should be possible.
Since I don't need the car, practicality isn't really a concern. I'd like it to keep my dry in the rain/winter (so ariel atom is out), and it would be nice if it could transport me and two crates of beer (but even a Smart can do that). But I'm not really after a huge trunk/boot, or a many seats for my family, or something that saves baby seals. It doesn't need to have leather seats, it doesn't need sat-nav-crap, I'd be quite happy with a tape deck. I don't care how old or new it is, and I don't care what country it was built in. In fact, even speed and lightness isn't a criteria
As for the insurance/tax thing, I realize that's a very country specific thing, but as a general guideline, tax is based off displacement and emissions, and insurance seems to be utterly random - though somehow very vaguely dependent on how many people have crashed the type of car before, and how powerful it is.
I can change tires and change oil, and that's about the extent of what I've done on a car myself - but I'm a fairly technical person, and can learn that fixing stuff pretty well - assuming it's not a car loaded with computers. However I don't have a private garage - just a parking space in a shared garage.
And if I can't find any car that tickles my fancy, I just won't buy one - that's the beauty of being in the position where it's not you who needs something. Really I'm just looking for something kind of cheap that's not a shitty eurohatch like a VW Golf IV. For all I care it could be a pickup truck, a station wagon or a one-seater.
Basically what I'm looking for here is:
PS: I can think of exactly one car that fulfills my criteria - I'm hoping there are more.
PPS: I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I'll add it when it occurs to me.
So here's my question. What cars are there that are really cheap and fun. Bear in mind I'm not looking for a 599GTB, just something I can chuck around a bit without worrying too much about it breaking.
So here's a short list of what I'm looking for:
- Cheap to buy (less than ?3000)
- Cheap to insure (less than a Honda Jazz, ideally)
- Cheap registration tax (this doesn't factor into the running costs as much as insurance and fuel)
- Not a huge gas guzzler (10l/100km (24 mpg US) would be nice)
- Doesn't break too much / I can repair it myself
- Fun (maybe something light and nimble - maybe just something with some grunt - maybe just something really comfy - whatever ends up pushing my buttons)
I realize I may be looking for the "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" as we call it here - basically a car that's good at everything but bad at nothing - but I think it should be possible.
Since I don't need the car, practicality isn't really a concern. I'd like it to keep my dry in the rain/winter (so ariel atom is out), and it would be nice if it could transport me and two crates of beer (but even a Smart can do that). But I'm not really after a huge trunk/boot, or a many seats for my family, or something that saves baby seals. It doesn't need to have leather seats, it doesn't need sat-nav-crap, I'd be quite happy with a tape deck. I don't care how old or new it is, and I don't care what country it was built in. In fact, even speed and lightness isn't a criteria
As for the insurance/tax thing, I realize that's a very country specific thing, but as a general guideline, tax is based off displacement and emissions, and insurance seems to be utterly random - though somehow very vaguely dependent on how many people have crashed the type of car before, and how powerful it is.
I can change tires and change oil, and that's about the extent of what I've done on a car myself - but I'm a fairly technical person, and can learn that fixing stuff pretty well - assuming it's not a car loaded with computers. However I don't have a private garage - just a parking space in a shared garage.
And if I can't find any car that tickles my fancy, I just won't buy one - that's the beauty of being in the position where it's not you who needs something. Really I'm just looking for something kind of cheap that's not a shitty eurohatch like a VW Golf IV. For all I care it could be a pickup truck, a station wagon or a one-seater.
Basically what I'm looking for here is:
- Car suggestions
- Try to talk me out of it
- Thanks!
PS: I can think of exactly one car that fulfills my criteria - I'm hoping there are more.
PPS: I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I'll add it when it occurs to me.
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