Hatch Backs

[Sparks!]

This is gonna sound a bit ghey, but I'm considering selling my 350Z and purchasing a small hatch back mostly for my girlfriends use. To be honest I hardly drive the 350 except for a bit of fun here and there when I get time etc. I currently have a van and next year I'll be getting a new Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian/Warrior also so not much point having two nice vehicles with one that I never use and my girlfriend can't/won't drive the 350, plus it's too expensive for her to run really.

It's still all contemplative as I do like my car and would rather not sell it, but seems a bit pointless keeping it at times!

Which leads me to my question, hatch backs.... what's good and fun for around £3000? I was considering a mini cooper but a decent one is more expensive than my Nissan (saw a cooper S for £18,000) normal coopers can be got for £5-6000 which isn't too bad but wouldn't leave much change from the Nissan, another idea of selling the car is it frees up some house deposit money so ideally want a "cheaper" hatch back.

Any ideas? The only hatchback I've ever owned was a Peugeot 306 which was suprisingly good but kinda want something a bit nicer than that. I do plan to get a newer 370Z once I've got a house sorted, so won't be "missing out" for tooo long hopefully.
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[P.]

Whats good and fun for around 3k?

Not alot considering... but working at Honda and Mazda...I get to "have a play" as such in cars.

Im being genuinely honest when I say the Mazda 3 is a fantastic car.
Unsure if 3k is enough budget for one... but they are fun, especially if you find the 2.3T MPS one

Honda hatches arent too fantastic, the Civics are fairly bog standard and dull, had one of the new 60 plate ones for 6 days... it was mind numbing.

If I had to buy a hatchback, and I had the cash, I'd be totally unbiased and buy a Mazda 3... I literally drive one every other day and they are great little cars, 2.0 sport petrol or 2.2 diesel... just like shit off a shovel but still pretty economical. Far more so than a bloody Supra

You'll miss the Z, you'll come back to it sooner or later

You could consider a trade in with a dealer...obviously saying that because I see cars in and out of here daily... but we just took two Porsches, cheapy boxster s's but they all traded in for mazda 3's and 6's

Good luck in whatever you choose

[Sparks!]

Mazda 3's all seem to be about £6000+ though...

I'm hoping for £8k for the 350, but judging by ebay etc maybe only going to get around £7k. Mines in excellent condition with relatively low mileage so it shouldn't be /too/ hard to sell on but either way I don't want to blow it all on another car. Problem is I find anything other than a sports car or truck to be a bit dull and boring and don't want to splash out too much on anything else. (mini cooper S being an exception though)

But you're right, good and fun for £3k is probably impossible
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[D O G]

My car cost me £312 and is great fun.

Depends on one's definition of fun.

Just bought the missus a 52 plate 1.4 Fiesta, that is good fun too, tho far too much grip really.

All cars are fun, small hatchbacks are even moreso.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Slightly different way of looking at it. You are having to buy something that will be of pretty much no interest to you and mainly for your better half to drive. Take her to a large used car supermarket and wander round for an hour or 2 and see what she likes.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Chalky.]

EP3 Type Rs have dropped to around that mark, may be a bit rough though.

Otherwise I'd go for one of the renault sport range, 172 or 182.

[P.]

Just go buy an auto NA supra, you'll get beaten by 106 GTi's but still, can be had for £2k, get a manual for £3k

Then for £1400, single turbo it.

Sports car, economy pricing

Then with the change, buy other half a clio/fiesta/barried up Nova.