Sub £20k Sports Car

[PH5121]

I know that you don't want a modern sports car, is a Porsche 944 convertible too new?

I had a coupe and it was a cracking car.

[John_S4x4]

How about a Sunbeam Alpine http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C732108
or a 3.0ltr V6 Marcos http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C574110
or a Lotus Elan http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C736589

[T6 vanman]

Maybe it's a shade over budget but
BMW Z1

[iSore]

15k for a really decent 300SL R107. They're steadily increasing in value. The 129 looks a bit too too council estate medallion man nowadays (particularly the facelift one) but a nice 107 on correct wheels is a really nice thing. They don't immediately impress on a first test drive and need half a day to appreciate.

Failing that a good, well sorted sixties B roadster - with just a few tweaks (telescopic dampers etc) they drive fine. A nice TR7 convertible wouldn't even be 10 grand but a sorted one is a decent drive.

But the Merc is the one to have and the 12 valve 3.0 engine is an excellent unit.

[lowdrag]

Most of the options have been covered, but in no sense could a R107 be called a sports car. Cruiser or boulevardier yes,but show it a tight bend and you,ll soon find out different. I think I'd go for a bit modern and buy an S2000. Reasonably rare and a lot of fun. That engine is a jewel.

[Tazio1]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

This would be fun for the summer, also a nice low milegae black one in the classifieds if you do not mind lhd.

[dinkel]

Furyblade_Lee said:

ParanoidAndroid said:

What about an Alfa Spider, may just get an early boat tail for your budget but certainly a mid 70's series 2 kamm tail with spare change for some nice Alfaholics goodies!

Alfa Spyder a great choice! The noise, the interior, if you can find a good early one it's surely got to be a good investment too.

A good Spider is 10K and a reasonable 105 Bertone is about 20K. A Spider is hardly a sportscar though.

[dinkel]

An R107 isn't a sports car either.

S2000, MGF, MX5 all great fun. Much overlooked are the SLKs: 230 Kompressor has 190 brake and more of a sportscar than the R107.

[lowdrag]

I had the first 230 SLK in Leicestershire and again it wasn't a sports car. The gearbox just wasn't sporty enough for me though the handling was streets ahead of a 107. I didn't keep it long because it was so anodyne.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 11th May 06:56

[dinkel]

Can the box be reworked to 'quick enough'? The engine is torquey.

[lowdrag]

No idea about the box, but it wasn't just that. The engine and supercharger sounded like a sewing machine, no exhaust note worth a mention, and it didn't hit the nerve. Maybe it was just me though.

[gibbon]

John_S4x4 said:

or a Lotus Elan http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C736589

I doubt the Elan will go for the 20k budget. I would think mid 20s more likely.

[medieval]

Porsche 914 - a little left field I grant you

[dinkel]

gibbon said:

John_S4x4 said:

or a Lotus Elan http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C736589

I doubt the Elan will go for the 20k budget. I would think mid 20s more likely.

The FWD Elan with the Isuzu engine.

[gibbon]

dinkel said:

The FWD Elan with the Isuzu engine.

Thats not a bad a shout, but the linked s3 elan wont be within budget i wouldnt have thought, unless its a bit of a dog.

[Tazio1]

another left field thought http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C736119 I think this would be a lot of fun.

[Cerberaherts]

Mercky said:

Best suggestion yet. Forget the R107, You will get a mint R129 500 or even 600 for that sort of money.

How are any of those lethargic old buses sports cars???

[gibbon]

Lancia Fulvia. Something like this, though this seems a little expensive.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231927920140?clk_rv...

[dinkel]

They do almost fetch 105 Bertone money these days. The Zagato Coupes are less desirable but offer equal fun.

[jdw1234]

Cerberaherts said:

Mercky said:

Best suggestion yet. Forget the R107, You will get a mint R129 500 or even 600 for that sort of money.

How are any of those lethargic old buses sports cars???

I can tell you are not a fan!

They are fab though. I love them enough to recommend the OP gives them a go.

He might like swanning around or cruising long motorway distances. They do that well.

Probably not for a track day though!!