Fun practical car for under £13k

[Snoopcousins]

Circumstances of a saving plan for a house for next 2 years have forced me to sell my M3 which I used as a weekend car with a Seat Altea tdi.

Will look to move back to a fast petrol M or S car after sorting a mortgage.

I’m now looking a practical ( 5 doors/ 5 seats) but fun car for under 13k

The higher the budget towards 13k the cheaper to run (prob diesel) I’d want and if something a lot cheaper I can do petrol...

Been all over the place with what cars I’m looking at, keeping the Altea for 2 years is an option if I can’t find something right but will kill me driving it everyday for 2 years...

Higher end of budget been lookkng at F30 330d’s which seem to tick all the boxes...

Audi 8P S3’s are still around £11k for a half decent miles one

Contemplated a Mk5 GTI for a cheap decent runabout but could see me needing to replace a load of things on it over 2 years?

Really looking a few more options...
@Lyons recommending the F30 330d has been a good shout as would never have even thought about it...

 

[Woodcutter]

E46 M3.

 

[pablo]

you could probably buy a leon cupra 280 for that now, if you liked it

 

[Snoopcousins]

E46 M3.

Crossed my mind but top of budget and wouldnt be cheap to run and maintain for 2 years

you could probably buy a leon cupra 280 for that now, if you liked it

Always liked Cupra’s have had 3 before but all Mk1..
The interior I don’t like ...would probably be reasonable to run for 2 years

 

[pablo]

Im on my second one now, love them.

 

[Snoopcousins]

Im on my second one now, love them.

Can only see 3 doors (for DSG) for under 13k

 

[Todd]

• M135i / M140i
• Golf R
• 330 / 335D
• Octavia VRS
• 3.0 Diesel A4 / A6

 

[Snoopcousins]

Only Golf R’s I see are the Mk6 with the R32 style rear centre exhausts ...don’t see as many of these on the roads?

 

[pablo]

nice S3 be hard to beat too

 

[Boabybooster]

E91 335i lci ,not horrendous on fuel did 50 miles a day in mine ? Also saying fun and diesel in the same thread.

 

[Boydie]

nice S3 be hard to beat too

2011/12 S3 sportback with DSG - very practical, can come with nice spec and with a few mods, a very capable car

Also a 135i would tick that price range as well

 

[Coog]

Is it for a 2nd car or your main car?

 

[Snoopcousins]

E91 335i lci ,not horrendous on fuel did 50 miles a day in mine ? Also saying fun and diesel in the same thread.

Haha yea I’m not a diesel fan - but an F30 330d would be a LOT more fun that a 1.9tdi Altea for 2 years!

Is it for a 2nd car or your main car?

This is for my main car ...
Would sell the Altea

nice S3 be hard to beat too

Is the 8V S3 a huge improvement over the 8p?

I do like the looks of the 8V a lot more

 

[KevM]

vRS Octavia or ST Focus. The chassis setup on an ST Focus is really good fun for a FWD car!

 

[Boabybooster]

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202010145008628

Bit left field but commuted 50 miles a day in one of these for over 2 years, not bad mpg at all and 256 bhp and lsd. Change from all the dull looking vag boxes.

 

[Sonny]

Subaru Impreza WRX STI TYPE UK | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Subaru Impreza WRX STI TYPE UK at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Lyons]

Didn’t know these existed, local too. SE, but well spec’d and cheap.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202010255421286?atmobcid=soc4

 

[Snoopcousins]

Subaru Impreza WRX STI TYPE UK | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Subaru Impreza WRX STI TYPE UK at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Love that, but can’t imagine it’s a cheap option to run with being at higher end of my budget..
Know nothing about them either!
Would have to be something easy enough sold on in a couple of years too...

 

[Lyons]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202009173855159?atmobcid=soc4

 

[veedubnoodle]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195167394?postcode=bt635we&maximum-badge-engine-size=2.0&make=AUDI&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&radius=1500&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&advertising-location=at_cars&quantity-of-doors=5&price-to=10000&maximum-mileage=80000&sort=relevance&model=S3&page=1

Save a bit of money and enjoy this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006110039573?include-delivery-option=on&quantity-of-doors=5&postcode=bt635we&price-to=13000&maximum-mileage=60000&fuel-type=Petrol&advertising-location=at_cars&make=FORD&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&radius=1500&zero-to-60=TO_8&sort=relevance&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&model=FOCUS&page=1

Or this if you want something fresher?

 

[Jbridges522]

Just buy this, skip the saving part and just tell urself there wont be any bills haha

Used Cars, Vans & Motorbikes for Sale | Gumtree

Find amazing local prices on used Cars, Vans & Motorbikes for sale ✅ Shop hassle-free with Gumtree, your local buying & selling community.

www.gumtree.com

 

[brendy]

Junk both cars in, buy one fun(ish) car and service it often then keep the rest for later would be my advice.

 

[Andy55]

Petrol: E90 335i
Diesel: E90 330d or E60 530d

 

[veedubnoodle]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035760022?onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=bt635we&zero-to-60=TO_8&fuel-type=Petrol&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1500&maximum-mileage=60000&include-delivery-option=on&quantity-of-doors=5&price-to=13000&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&sort=relevance&page=10

Right on your budget, fun, fresh, practical, though slightly above average miles but it will balance out over two years if you don't do many miles yourself.

 

[Lyons]

Perfect! Manual too!