Second hand hatches

Ah! Apologies REMUS. I wouldn't mind doing the job myself, if I knew how it rated on the complexity scale 1-5 (where 1 is changing the oil and 5 is anything with head removal)!

Shouldnt think so. The engine bay cant be that small.

You're looking at asking prices, and yes, Auto Trader is not a good place. For example, my 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5 is 'worth' £5000+ according to prices there (or was a couple of months ago); trade is £2,375 for it, most traders won't offer more than £1800, I want £2,500 for it.

Not counting cars I've bought to resell, I've owned 115 cars in 12 years. That's where I get my prices ;) And even then, I'm shocked by how cheap things are, from a taxed and tested Proton for £40, to no-one wanting my 1989 Supra (£1,500 in May last year) for £600.

I've seen a 16v F-plate for £600. I walked away because I don't like the

Neither do I. The 8v does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, 120mph or so, handles like, well, a Golf GTI, and returns 45mpg even when being caned at 90 up an A-road. The 16v is worse on fuel, has much less low-down torque (at least in feel, if not on paper), is much thirstier, costs more to insure, and breaks down more often - for relatively minor improvements in performance.

I sold my mint (and I do mean, mint) Mk II in September a couple of years ago. H plate, 105,000 miles - swapped it for a Sera after getting no interest at £700. For a mint, red Mk II GTI with working MFA, no rust, big bumpers etc...

Richard

Widen the search options. Do a nationwide search. Useful especially if you're in the south-east, which it sounds like you are. Then see a true range of prices, and decide for yourself how far it's worth travelling to save a few hundred quid.

The 8v is, in a lot of people's opinion a much more relaxing an enjoyable drive than the 16v, due to the wider spread of torque lower down the rev range. And probably more enjoyable around London too.

How much driving do you do other than mundane urban driving? Might be worth going for a diesel, or a smaller engined petrol (1.1/1.2) - I'd recommend a

Suppose it also accepts the big Diesel engine as well. I was thinking along the lines of Fiats and Alfas :)

Also: Have you considered a Toyota Sera? 1.5, 16v, 120mph, 0-60 in

Whilst prices are generally >£2K, there are more and more below that, and some for £1K or less, like one of mine (I just got a black Phase III Manual, so my Phase 1 Auto is for sale ;) ).

Insurance groups are, also, only a guideline. The Golf GTI is not that crippling to insure now.

Richard

Personally, I always leave a cambelt to someone that knows what they're doing. The way that I look at it, it's only an expense to bear once every

That's a modern Ford trade - sort the handling, keep the power low for insurance - so maybe he's sticking to Uncle Henry's roots?

I'd love a mark one XR2!

Quite - but back to back with many peers, the XR2i is sadly flawed. The car has a lurch when you punt it into a corner, the ride is slightly too stiff for the amount of body roll. I'm led to believe that these can be easily resolved though.

I know what I'd buy if it were me (and it would be the Fiesta) but I tried not to venture my jaundiced opinion of French small cars ;) too much.

The best colour.

Correct. All the more reason to buy one.

I'll explain. Buy XR2i. Sell engine and loom to Ka-owning Muppet, there are loads of them in the Ka Klub. Just put an induction kit on, they'll bite. :)

Then you put something more modern into the XR2i. Like the 1.7 Zetec-SE. Or the Zetec-E. Or whatever. But not a CVH.

As I recall the RSi is the 1.8 eight valve, 110 bhp, the only valver was in the 16v and Williams.

As I recall the Clio RT had a 1.8 option but it wasn't quite the same donk in some way.

Alternatively, buy an RS1800i - cheaper and less hassle.

I might have to think about one of those low insurance group cars at some point in the near future.

You're probably right :)

They have an extra pot stuck on the end.

Insurance groupings in my experience make f*ck all difference to the cost of insurance, too many other factors are involved. I insured 2 group 14 cars back to back, one of them cost £80 more per year with the same insurance company.

Both cost less fully comp than I paid for my first year's insurance TPO on a (IIRC) group 8 Peugeot 205 Diesel. I have 3 or 4 more years driving experience since then however.

Sadly, any hot hatch is going to be relatively expensive.

Douglas

Good price buying or selling? I know someone who picked up an almost mint one for £200 not long ago but I'm never lucky enough to find deals that good.

Whereabouts are you, prices fluctuate depending where you are in the country. Autotrader is a good place to look, but I bet you're looking at the prices asked for and are confusing them with the prices people are getting ;)

Don't worry about it :)

I'm getting quite thick skinned now after regularly posting on this newsgroup for just over a year now!