Kill my inner child - sub $10k daily beater

[Sharkie]

Higher mileage early 9n3GTIs now round $10k, pretty reliable good in fuel and more fun than anything mentioned so far ...... They are awesome little cars

[QBDentFree]

Suzuki Swift were a decent throw about in that price and size...
I'd also say a Renault Sport Clio, but that might not fit the reliable bill. But it will bring a smile to your face every time it does go.

I almost suggested a Swift too, but I thought they were still worth a bit much. If you can get a decent one in your budget then go for it. I bought one for my partner a year or so ago and it hasn't missed a beat

[mikinoz]

Buy a 2.0 MK3 and then when it dies, buy another (you can do this 3 times for $10K)

[gldgti]

People keep recommending the honda Jazz..... I'm not sure how much time any of the reccommenders have spent in one. The Jazz has some of the worst seats I've ever sat in. My workmate has one and he literally staggers around for 5 minutes after he arrives at work. Plus gutless much.

Get a mk3 golf, 2.0L, or a mk4 golf 2.0L, or a Ibiza GTI 2.0L 8V... that would be my pick for ticking the boxes.

[Loopa]

Might be an evil word, but what about a Missingbitzi lancer? My wife had one for 7 years, and I can't think of a single thing that went wrong with it.

[BluChris]

My wife has a base model manual 07 Yaris. Sure it's no Euro to drive but it just plain goes. Never any drama, nothing breaks, very economical, versatile and practical, servicing is every 6 months but not partiularly exxy, parts are no issue, because it never seems to need any. Easy to resell down the track when you're over it.

If you're getting a daily driver plus another for fun this is really the kind of set and forget thing you need. That way you spend your $ on the fun car not on propping up the ageing Euro you bought for 'hassle free' motoring.

[Water Boy]

Id get a VW Up as daily. But maybe bit expensive

[Buller_Scott]

Hi guys, thank you very much for your rapid responses - i'm loving the diversity in your advice, it's helping me cast my net even further! I just want to say that there are some interesting suggestions in here, and i thank you for them - Domel, you talk about ''bias'', but that is just what i'm looking for - experience! in this case, i respect the e30 too much to want to mindlessly rip the isht out of it upon startup. thanks though!

Clay: I'm thinking along your lines, that something from Mazda/ Honda might just be the ticket.

Greg: I'm not sure if you ever saw my pog in proper spec - the konis, mounts, advanced cam (on top of the aggressive cuk map), poly bushes (hard), gsl brake setup, FED 595 RSR's on the front - i've wowed peeps at another multi-make drivers club that had evo ~9, r33 gtr, e46 m3... i hung with gerard's stg2+ audi s3 over reefton, ahead of everyone else. i loved my polo, i say it's a pce of isht cordially, but i loved that car, i respect it, and i absolutely know what it's capable of.... i could never get into another one, and show it the kind of disrespect that i want to be able to view my next daily drive with... i'm too fond of the polo tdi. i need a car i can hack.

to the mk3 protagonists: i hear you for real, but i feel that a nicer daily interior (with lighter steering and slightly better features can be had from a japanese make, within my budget, but thank you - it absolutely makes sense to suggest a mk3 - totally viable.

bmw protags: i hear you, and i'm thinking of something a little less... "i care about you". legit suggestion though. thank you.

gldgti: thanks for your input... i'm leaning the way of the small japs, but i appreciate your experience. cheers!

james: i totally hear you - i reckon i could r7pe a VW dealership on the up, given the recent bad media vibes. i'll add that to my list.

Thanks gents! list so far: jazz, yaris, cube (because im thick headed), up (well, down... on price).

keep them good vibes coming!!!

[Buller_Scott]

oops, SHARKIE - i have huge respect for the pog GTI. at this point i'm not looking at something playful - i don't mean to insult anyone anywhere, but when the time is right, i wont be spurting $$$ into a polo - it'll either be a suzuki swift sport, rent4ring stg 4 spec (8:15 lap times around the 'Ring), or a clio 197/200 with, well, AST's, clutch.... maybe something else cheeky.

thanks though!

[kaanage]

Greg: I'm not sure if you ever saw my pog in proper spec - the konis, mounts, advanced cam (on top of the aggressive cuk map), poly bushes (hard), gsl brake setup, FED 595 RSR's on the front - i've wowed peeps at another multi-make drivers club that had evo ~9, r33 gtr, e46 m3... i hung with gerard's stg2+ audi s3 over reefton, ahead of everyone else. i loved my polo, i say it's a pce of isht cordially, but i loved that car, i respect it, and i absolutely know what it's capable of.... i could never get into another one, and show it the kind of disrespect that i want to be able to view my next daily drive with... i'm too fond of the polo tdi. i need a car i can hack.

Scotty, I remember your car well, right up until the 4WD wrote it off but what I'm saying is that you went so hard core on it that you found it an unpleasant place to spend time in when daily driving. Mine hasn't been taken so far and I reckon it is terrific as a daily drive as well as respectable in the tight stuff.

The PoD can hack anything you'll throw at it - your old one did.

It's all very well saying you'll have a fun toy and just use your the daily drive as an appliance to get around but think of how much time you'll spend in it.