Alfa dilemma. The dreaded curse?

[Dantera22B]

Well i'm having serious thoughts as to whether or not I should keep the Alfa. Its due for tax and MOT this month; £115 for six months tax + £40ish for MOT (if it passes). It failed to start twice this week due to the awkward positioning of the fuel pump. The handbrake is sticking and on top of that it needs it's 96,000 mile service. The insurance is costing me £125 a month and I hardly use it. So it needs to go once all the ailments are sorted.

This is where you, the good people of UCP help me choose my next car. Several criteria that it needs to meet, it must:
Be available in Europe (so no Yank metal)
Cost less than £2000
Have an insurance group rating of 10 or less
Be able to fit me (6'6", size 15 feet) in it
And just as important as the others, be fun to drive.

All fairly vague I know, but i'm leaving my options open

Lets hear your suggestions.

[Jack_Bauer]

Do you need space for lugging stuff around, or will something of a hatchback type of size be enough?

[henk4]

can you specify your "insurance group clause". It will be probably make sense in the UK, but elsewhere in Europe things might be different.
Probably a 2CV meets your conditions, it IS fun to drive.

[Waugh-terfall]

Mazda 323F 2.0V6

[LeonOfTheDead]

Buy a new (used) Alfa.
a 147 perhaps?

[Dantera22B]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Do you need space for lugging stuff around, or will something of a hatchback type of size be enough?

Yeah I have no problems with having a hatchback. The only size requirements are me.

Originally Posted by henk4

can you specify your "insurance group clause". It will be probably make sense in the UK, but elsewhere in Europe things might be different.
Probably a 2CV meets your conditions, it IS fun to drive.

Well basically, i'm a liablility when it comes to cars. Written two off ya see. Don't know if I could fit in a 2CV, unless of course I stick my head out of the top.

Originally Posted by Waugh-terfall

Mazda 323F 2.0V6

Too large an engine mate.

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

Buy a new (used) Alfa.
a 147 perhaps?

I'm not keen on the looks of the 147, that and the costs would be identical to my 156.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by Dantera22B

I'm not keen on the looks of the 147, that and the costs would be identical to my 156.

what is the engine of your 156?

[Jack_Bauer]

What about a Ford Puma 1.7? Dunno if you'd be able to fit in it, but I reckon you could probably get one for around £2000 and they're a hoot to drive. There's always plenty of them around on the used car market as they produced loads of them.

IIRC last year EVO magazine voted it in the top 5 of greatest FWD cars they'd ever driven.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

What about a Ford Puma 1.7? Dunno if you'd be able to fit in it, but I reckon you could probably get one for around £2000 and they're a hoot to drive. There's always plenty of them around on the used car market as they produced loads of them.

IIRC last year EVO magazine voted it in the top 5 of greatest FWD cars they'd ever driven.

What I was about to suggest.

8 years ago we bought one. Brilliant little car.

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

What I was about to suggest.

Great minds....

Would a 6'6" bloke be able to fit in it comfortably though? That'd be my only worry, as they aren't exactly palatial inside.

[Dantera22B]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

what is the engine of your 156?

1.6, I can't afford insurance on the more powerful versions.

Actually my mate in work who, coincidentally also has a 156, had a 1.7 Puma and he loved it. Unfortunately I never had a ride or drive in it. I've been thinking about the Fiesta Zetec S too as they apparantly handle quite well, but i've found it hard to find any unmolested ones as they've all been modded.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Great minds....

Would a 6'6" bloke be able to fit in it comfortably though? That'd be my only worry, as they aren't exactly palatial inside.

It is a bit cramped, that's true.

In the back forget it, one of the most claustrophobic cars I've ever been in. But in the front maybe, who knows. He can try...

If it proves too small maybe an old Focus Mk I? We bought one too (10 years ago) and it was good too.

[Quiggs]

GTR.

/thread

[NSXType-R]

I would recommend anything from Honda or Acura (maybe not the S2000 or the NSX), but I don't know about fitting your frame. It should be reasonably cheap and easy to maintain, but still fun to drive. Just don't go for the Honda City or whatever the smallest offering it is. Maybe Accord (it is our TSX)?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

I would recommend anything from Honda or Acura (maybe not the S2000 or the NSX), but I don't know about fitting your frame. It should be reasonably cheap and easy to maintain, but still fun to drive. Just don't go for the Honda City or whatever the smallest offering it is. Maybe Accord (it is our TSX)?

I doubt a decent Accord will be available for £2000.