~£6k to play with. What you buying?

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Saturday 4th May

Hi all. I'll keep it simple.

Sold one of my motorbikes. I have ~£6k to play with and I'm looking for something fun to drive.

Some thoughts I had:
BMW Z3 (2.8 ideally?) - or Z4?
Pug 106 Rallye.
Land Rover Series II/III,
'classic' mini (pre BMW)
Porsche Boxster.
Go older - MGB etc

Thoughts? What have I overlooked? What should I look out for?

Context - it'll just be me in the car and all it needs to do is put a smile on my face. I have other options for practical / long distance / high speed requirements! My most regular fun drive is to the gym and back (20 mins), and I love driving around the New Forest in the evening rather than endlessly watching Netflix...

Thank you in advance!

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Saturday 4th May

jds32 said:

Panda 100hp

That's interesting. I realised I left off things like Suzuki Swift Sport and other little hatches

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Saturday 4th May

MattsCar said:

" I have other options for practical / long distance / high speed requirements! My most regular fun drive is to the gym and back (20 mins), and I love driving around the New Forest in the evening rather than endlessly watching Netflix..."

Forget hot hatches. Open top 2 seater RWD.

Z4 might be a good call.

Hmm yeah I did recently trade in a convertible Ftype too and it's replacement is a coupe - so I was leaning convertible to get one of those back on the driveway

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Saturday 4th May

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Saturday 4th May

MattsCar said:

Jos

travels said:

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

You aren't going to get a 106 Rallye for £6k that isn't rotten/needs work.

I sold one 2 years ago with no MOT in need of welding for more than £6k.

Great car though.

With regards mention of the Swift Sport. It is a slightly different car to an EP3 civic and quite a different car to an FN2 Civic. It is smaller and is probably the closest to a modern day 106/205 that you can get, despite being much bigger. They are brilliant. You will have to row the gears, but, very rewarding and you would struggle to get a speeding ticket. Same as a 106 Rallye really.

Edited by MattsCar on Saturday 4th May 22:47

Hmmmmmm!

Thoughts on this one? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256479993714?mkcid=16&a...

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Sunday 5th May

MattsCar said:

So, your 106 Rallye dreams have been shattered.

But do you really want to be welding up sills and refurbishing rear beams?

This cropped up today on the Swift Sport owner club. Might be some food for thought. Looks a nice example and will make for fun and frugal motoring. Literally fill up with petrol and drive.

I know it is not rear wheel drive and not a convertible. But...

Oh wow. Good spot! Thank you! I'll take a closer look. Not a million miles from me either

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Monday 6th May

Silvanus said:

Abarth 500, not the best car in the world, but somehow it just works and is loads of fun. Would be great buzzing around the new forest.

See... this was the original plan. I spent the tail end of last year overseas and for some reason was fantasising about having a yellow Abarth 595 Comp for fun... but when you look at the price of them compared to what you could buy? Hmmmmmmm

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Monday 6th May

Giantt said:

Well it is mostly going to be used to go to the gym n back?
Just cycle,get your warm up/ down enough route?
Or get some dumb ..bells at home?

Well the gym being the destination is just a justification for leaving the house to drive for fun... that isn't aimless. - the main point being it doesn't need to be especially practical or comfortable for long distance / motorway etc

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Monday 6th May

I'm loving all these suggestions people. Massively appreciated.

Buuuuut. The pull to a series Land Rover is strong. A 88' in blue with the windscreen down and roof off? Channel a bit of Bond in Jamaica... hahaha

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Monday 6th May

smn159 said:

If you're only doing short trips these things are brilliant. I've had mine since 2008 and can't quite bring myself to sell it as it's so useful. It's been a mobile skip during house renovations, dog transport for our Lab and a general local runaround.

I fitted a 200tdi to it when the engine died just after I got it and last week the noisy gearbox cried enough and it's now languishing while I decide whether I want to fit an LT77 or fix what's in there. If you're happy to work on one and don't want to go far they're highly recommended

Brilliant, that's what I've been told - a bit of mechanical sympathy and spannering here and there. An ongoing project as it were. Yeah I'm really keen for it.

Are they commercial vehicles on the v5? Wondering if the odd tip-run in the summer will be doable

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months

Sunday 12th May

ZX10R NIN said:

You're a legend

Original Poster

13 posts

10 months