Small capacity RWD cars....

[mistergixer]

....do such beasts exist?

With petrol prices around my way running at around £1.30+ per litre, i'm finding the MR2 a bit juicy to run.

My commute is around 60 miles per day, and even with (relatively) conservative driving, i struggle to get more than 250 miles from a full tank - therefore a considerable amount of my earnings is going just on the fuel to get there and back 5 days a week.

So, i'm considering downsizing, but, being a committed RWD snob, i don't really want to go back to safe, boring, predictable FWD.

Ideally (due to the constant nagging i receive from mrsgixer), i'd like something with 4 seats and a capacity of 1600cc max. I'd like something relatively modern, as i can't be arsed with the constant tinkering needed on older vehicles.

Is there such a machine?
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[MarJay]

[tatters]

I,ve got a 2010 BMW 118d remapped from 143bhp to 175bhp which does around 40-50mpg which is quite good for 2.0 TDI, nice car but a bit cramped if your over 6ft and the oringal run-flat tyres are awful.
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[Phoenix]

Ticks all your boxes... 96 were the last ones so not that old

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01534/Lada-Riva_1534781i.jpg

[G]

Yea, I'd look at a BMW diesel, but go for a more manly 3/5 series .

Also, consider a LPG conversion - or better a pre-converted one. Was looking at LPG vans, but ended up with a diesel as unfortunately LPG is becoming relatively less good economy wise - as it's a certain amount less than petrol, rather than a percentage.

See plenty of people doing fine with LPG kits on fairly fun cars.

[Shaft]

[Tiff]

https://www.japankcars.com/images/7561.png

Get one of these, remove front driveshafts.. sorted.
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[thegubner]

[bacon]

[MarJay]

[iCraig]

Whats your budget? As I can highly recommend a BMW 318TDS, has a 1.6 Turbo Diesel engine that does around 50mpg.
Engine is bullet proof.

And they're not expensive either.

[thegubner]

1300 MK1 escort. Rear wheel drive and plenty of fun.

1300 Cortina. Rear wheel drive, loads of fun.

Doesn't need to be a van, modern cars may be worse, cant say though as I've not driven any small capacity rear wheel drive modern cars.

But I honestly cant SEE them being worse, only better as power increases over the years. Of course, people with no sense of adventure wont find these vehicles mentioned fun or exciting, but for me its about making them fun and exciting.

[KevTM]

Honda Beat!

https://www.terra2imports.ca/ab-images/115861133846983.jpg

Always wanted one, you'd probably need to try really hard to get some sideways action though.

Only 2 seats though (I think) but maybe the cuteness factor will win the wife over.

[SpicyBlimp]

Smart Brabus Roadster?

Only 2 seats but light, very small engine, should be pretty good to drive

EDIT: has a mandatory shit auto gearbox

[mistergixer]

Sorry, should've added that I absolutely despise diseasels and will not consider one under any circumstances.

I'd rather have a petrol engined FWD shitbox than a diseasel anything.

Should also add that my budget is around £1500 max.

From the suggestions so far, looks like it's Eastern block FTW.

The only other car that springs to mind/fits the bill is the Sierra.
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[0l0dom0l0]

My Dad has a 535D tourer. Seen 45mpg on a long steady run before now. That's a 3litre twin turbo doing 45mpg.

Best thing you could probably buy is a Skoda Ocvtavia 2.0tdi. My grandpa boasts 70+mpg when driven right.

Not massivlely expensive either. I guess you were more after some small and sporty like the MR2. 1 series is a good choice too.
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[KevTM]

My first car was a Sierra, great fun Wrapped one 'round some armco on the way to the scrappy for parts for my mates Sierra once, ended up buying more parts for mine

Such a huge engine bay with loads of space, might spend a lot of time in there mind you... I'm surprised they never thought of sticking an ashtray in the engine bay, that would have been perfect.

[mistergixer]

[colin1]

I've not seen the honda beat before, but I have a thing for the suzuki cappucino which I suspect is very similar. I'd love one, but they are pricey to insure, and quite expensive for their age. Not very practical on anything approaching a long journey.

more sensible fun choices would be a mx5 or a z3
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[Al]

Can't you just forget the 4 seats and get another motorbike they are RWD, fun and pretty economical?

If you are getting 35mpg from your MR2 and you managed to find a car that did 50mpg. Roughly over 10,000miles with fuel at £1.30 you would only be saving about £500 per year. Its not to be sniffed at, but it depends if you think you are getting £500 worth of extra fun from the MR2.

With so many fun, sporty and fairly economical little FWD hatches about it seems a bit silly to get something like a shitty old Sierra or Lada just so you can be RWD cool. I can see the point when talking about sports cars, but when its a little runabout you're limiting yourself to a couple of crap saloons, just so you can correct a little oversteer on a wet roundabout every now and again.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Tend to agree with Al. Not sure you are going to save enough on fuel if you stick to a petrol engine to make it worthwhile (and a diesel just costs in other ways even if you were prepare to put up with one).

All the best

Keith
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Buy an MX5.
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[T0MMY]

I agree with AL's post to be honest, 35 mpg is good and anything that does significantly more is probably not going to be fun even if it is RWD.

With something extremely underpowered the RWD will be a bit pointless as it will be very hard to provoke anyway, you'd be better with a FWD that is very oversteery (i.e. most small sporty french hatches). I used to be a commited RWD man but had a Xsara VTS for a while that changed my opinion a bit as the LOOS was epic. Something like a peugeot 106 rallye would fit the bill for you though.

Anyhoo, as for RWD suggestions, an old E30 beemer is quite good fun (if you put shit tyres on the back) and quite cheap to run. An E30 318is would be excellent but hard to find whilst even the 8 valve E30 318i can be good fun. Alternativey the E36 318ti compacts have the older style suspension (not the Z link) so should be as slidey as the E30s maybe. None of these will do much more than the 35 mpg you're getting right now though to be honest and all are slow as shit.

If you could forget the 4 seats then an MX5 is the obvious choice or even a MK1 MR2 but again neither is going to be a lot more economical. The absolutely ideal car for you requirements but with only 2 seats would be a suzuki cappucino but they may be gash, I've never driven one. That really would be economical and RWD.

To be honest though, if I was doing 60 miles a day just for work I'd be getting a boring diesel or a GPZ500.

[garth]

Mk1 1600 MX5

Easily within your budget. I got 37mpg on a run too.
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