Car advice!

After a bit of advice and a few opinions really.
After 5 years owning an MG ZR (yes, the head-gaskets been done!), the girlfriend is now looking to change cars.
As we now live together, she knows that whatever we choose - ill be using the car as well.

I currently drive a B6 A4 2.5TDi Avant which I love and will be keeping hold of for a few years yet - I used to have a Fiesta Zetec-S and an Ibiza Cupra R which were great cars in my opinion, the Zetec-S for handling and the Ibiza Cupra for the unrefined power (was running around 240bhp).

I kind of fancy the same again; a small'ish hot hatch which is fun to drive.
So far on the list I have;

Clio 182
Mk1 Leon Cupra R
EP3 Civic Type R

On the other hand, as she doesn't drive many miles - I quite fancy some older RWD exotics;

E36 328i
E39 5 Series

I honestly cant make my mind up, we've been giving it some thought for the past few months but cant seem to come to any conclusions!
We have around £4,000 to spend - opinions please!

jojo said:

EP3 Civic Type R you mean?

Click to expand...

Yep - oops!

Thanks for all the advice so far, great info for the CTR - thanks Matt.

Spending more time on the thought, It would probably make sense to go for something newer - the appeal of an old bimmer as a toy would probably turn into a nightmare (I have heard they want a lot for parts, bushes.etc), probably impractical for an everyday driver.

We will probably be keeping the car for 3-4 years, im leaning more in favor of the Leon Cupra R now, even though the 8L S3 sounds appealing too being AWD - think I would prefer the FWD pace though as opposed to losing a little through the transmission.
The 260Bhp from just a remap on the LCR 225 is making it more appealing than the Civic Type R at the moment.

I "think" were getting a little closer! - Since the..ahem, Rover seems to be working well at the minute im going to bide a little more time and set a target of Feb/March next year to start looking, we will be able to save a little more too.

As for the Rover, im estimating around £400 return if I break it - I don't really want to sell as a whole as its been involved in a smash before (unbeknown to us when we bought it!), I've taken half the interior is out at the moment due to a leak as-well.