*dodges usual stream of "keep the polo" stuff*
Yeah, well.. eh.. i seriously NEED a bit more power, and dragging myself kicking and screaming into the 1990s and getting a 5 speed box would probably be wise/a money saver as well. Plus there's this niggling front end wobble which people seem at a loss to diagnose, and to be honest.. even with the new seats.. i need something more supportive!
Right now my aunt is considering flogging off her P-reg Micra... 1.3, 5 door, a history that I could build a tower block on as i've known all the owners since new. Good car and insurance isn't totally insane. But, it's a CVT (= it goes like a rocket, but probably very thirsty) and who knows what crazy price she may be asking...
And today, trotting round a couple of random garages, seeing the usual stream of mid-1000s astras and escorts that would require a dice roll to choose between, the salesman mentioned something that he'd had in but a couple hours before for a very good price to himself, "if you're not bothered by the badge". The result did jump out a little...!
1.6 Skoda Felicia GLxi, 5 door, in what I suppose would be called Bimini Blue or something silly like that (very, very rich sky blue - nice), 46k miles, T-plate (custom plate shenanigans beckon..). He's thinking of putting it on the forecourt for £2495, but as he let slip how cheap it was, think he could be talked down quite easily. Even better, he looked at some little chart (parkers book?) and apparently it's only group 6 insurance - i.e. a 1.3 CL mk3 level...
Crazy sucka fool even let me go for a test drive with my travelling companion - but not himself! - and it seemed a quite impressive machine (up to 39mph, where the back seat driver started to squeak... on a 40mph road).
Well composed, plenty of thrust (took me by surprise at part throttle), good gears, nice seats. Only problem is it responded dodgily to gentle throttle and kept cutting out when coming off of it - not good, when it had power steering, and certainly a "do not buy" point. Probably an easy fix i'm thinking, having seen things on here? Clean out throttle body, change ignition leads, that sort of thing.
Hrm...
Ideal of course would be a GT, 16v/5 door 6n, or an Audi A3 (downsizing from an A4/80 as i just could not afford to run it)... but the money needed for the purchase and insurance is just out of hand.