Chuckable cars?

[Diamond Hell]

You're speaking sh*te

Mini 1130kg
Golf3 16V 1140kg
Golf4 1290kg

Bigger car, more weight.

You want a car that's 'chuckable' but will hold up in a crash.

At the budget you must have, if you have one, you're unlikely to get the other.

Earn more, or deal with it.

The other option is to strip back some of the soundproofing on your (presumably) Golf4, refresh all the suspension bushes and engine mounts and fit some proper replacement suspension and a rear ARB.

I don't think you have the money for that.

The MINI felt 'chuckable' because it had rear independent suspension (Z-axle).  Your Golf4 (I'm assuming that's what you have) has a torsion beam rear axle.  Never going to be as good.

Go get a Golf5 GTI.  That will be chuckable like the MINI.  Oh hang on, you're only 20 and skint.  You can't afford one.

So go get a Golf2.  That's chuckable, but you will need to spend money on the chassis to refresh and restore it and there's the budget issue (and probably the insurance issue) again.

You have found a lower level of living standard.  This probably sucks.

[tweed]

i drove a saxo vtr the other day 
pedals to closed together (size 10 shoes)
and build quality hmm

Your just used to a golf.
Close together is better for fast road and track driving.
 

[PenguinGTI]

If you want MINI handling and can't afford an S, why not just get a Cooper or a One? Particularly the R50 (earlier shape One) which has a detuned Cooper lump (maps up to Cooper levels of performance).

Can't believe no one has suggested this yet.

And you won't be losing out on too much performance. Sound yes, but in terms of sheer grunt a well driven Cooper (EDIT: and remapped ONE approx 130bhp.) will 9 times out of 10 be able to keep up with a standard supercharged S (163hp).

[bob23]

My old bubble shape 200, lowered with strut brace, stuck to the road like sh!t to a blanket.

MGZRs are meant to be as good in standard form. Apparently the 2.0TD ZR handles better with extra engine weight? There is always the MG/Rover reliability issues though; I had my fingers burnt and will not go back.

Head gasket?

MG ZR's are pretty reliable and the 170 is fairly rapid, my old 623 was reliable until the head gasket went, it was at the end of the block so pi55ed out oil, it was doing 25 mpg on petrol and 18 mpg on oil.

can't really complain, 170 bhp + heavy right foot + over 240,000 on the clock with no engine work ever done on it + ex mini cab = Death. most reliable car I've had while it was working, 10,000 miles in 3 months, didn't put a foot wrong, most comfortable car I've ever been in as well.

[bob23]

You're speaking sh*te

Mini 1130kg
Golf3 16V 1140kg
Golf4 1290kg

Bigger car, more weight.

You want a car that's 'chuckable' but will hold up in a crash.

At the budget you must have, if you have one, you're unlikely to get the other.

Earn more, or deal with it.

The other option is to strip back some of the soundproofing on your (presumably) Golf4, refresh all the suspension bushes and engine mounts and fit some proper replacement suspension and a rear ARB.

I don't think you have the money for that.

The MINI felt 'chuckable' because it had rear independent suspension (Z-axle).  Your Golf4 (I'm assuming that's what you have) has a torsion beam rear axle.  Never going to be as good.

Go get a Golf5 GTI.  That will be chuckable like the MINI.  Oh hang on, you're only 20 and skint.  You can't afford one.

So go get a Golf2.  That's chuckable, but you will need to spend money on the chassis to refresh and restore it and there's the budget issue (and probably the insurance issue) again.

You have found a lower level of living standard.  This probably sucks.

mk1 and mk2 gti's are cheap to insure, a mk3 gti for me at 23 with 3 years no claims is over £800, for my girlfriend as an 18 year old learner it's upwards of £2000. a mk2 gti for me £500, for my girlfriend £807. usually old cars are cheap to insure, capri 2.8i, 924, xr3, rover sd1, all around £500 1.1 fiesta mk3/mk4 £1200.

[danny_p]

mk2 escort

now go find

[dragongreengolfgti]

renault 19 16v or clio 16v one of the best cars i have owned for handling so far 

[Alan16ac]

If you want MINI handling and can't afford an S, why not just get a Cooper or a One? Particularly the R50 (earlier shape One) which has a detuned Cooper lump (maps up to Cooper levels of performance).

Can't believe no one has suggested this yet.

And you won't be losing out on too much performance. Sound yes, but in terms of sheer grunt a well driven Cooper (EDIT: and remapped ONE approx 130bhp.) will 9 times out of 10 be able to keep up with a standard supercharged S (163hp).

The other half has a Mini Cooper!
It's nothing like my S, my S was a facelift with 170 bhp as standard. Simple £200 mod and you've got 210 bhp with a reduced supercharger pully.
I just wish I'd have been able to keep it.
Having said that I drove to Germany in it and it was so uncomfortable, but the golf is great down the motorway.
I have a new job now so saving for some fun!
Don't know wether to mod the golf or buy another car and keep the golf as my daily.

[Alan16ac]

You're speaking sh*te

Mini 1130kg
Golf3 16V 1140kg
Golf4 1290kg

Bigger car, more weight.

You want a car that's 'chuckable' but will hold up in a crash.

At the budget you must have, if you have one, you're unlikely to get the other.

Earn more, or deal with it.

The other option is to strip back some of the soundproofing on your (presumably) Golf4, refresh all the suspension bushes and engine mounts and fit some proper replacement suspension and a rear ARB.

I don't think you have the money for that.

The MINI felt 'chuckable' because it had rear independent suspension (Z-axle).  Your Golf4 (I'm assuming that's what you have) has a torsion beam rear axle.  Never going to be as good.

Go get a Golf5 GTI.  That will be chuckable like the MINI.  Oh hang on, you're only 20 and skint.  You can't afford one.

So go get a Golf2.  That's chuckable, but you will need to spend money on the chassis to refresh and restore it and there's the budget issue (and probably the insurance issue) again.

You have found a lower level of living standard.  This probably sucks.

I don't have the money right now no, but as I'm in a new job I'm saving.
Yes I'm only 20 but insurance isn't too bad, it's come down a lot. I passed my test 7 weeks after my 17th.
I nearly have 3 years no claims and I've not got any convictions or had any accidents.

I'm aware the Golf 4 is never going to be my many but I blew all my money from my parents on my Cooper S when I was 18, spent around £3000 modding it and over £4000 insuring it.
Now I realise how f*****g stupid I was and utterly regret it!
I guess In have to suffer the consequences of being impatient!

My budget currently is around £1000. But I'm putting away 200 - 300 now to get my self a "fun" car again.

Not sure wether to throw it a the golf or just buy a second car to have fun with.
I'd like a stripped car that I could use for track days.
I've never done track days other than the Nurburgring in the Mini.

[tweed]

Get a kart  much more fun and cheaper.