What are your cheap fun cars?
Discussion
eesbad said:
Suzuki Ignis Sport 110bhp, 900(ish)kg, 0-60 in the 8s, sweet little 1.5VVTi engine, handles well and still gives you 40mpg! Real old school 'hot' hatch feel too. Makes me 
Damn! Beat me to it!but its 8.9 secs to 60
Its a car which I'd call a slightly more modern take on 80's-90's hot hatch, light and fun. 40MPG is only available when driving quite sensibly in my experience. Standard recaro's which are the similar style you find in old Escorts. Revs very happily and doesnt mind the twisties, if needed a little lift off would correct your line.
Its a car which you just love when you own one, I know I do.
Been toying with the idea of selling it, but every time I look at it I just cant bring myself round to it, there's nothing for the same money I could get which would provide the same amount of smiles. Very decent on insurance, its costing me £600 to insure for a year, 3 yrs NCB and at 21.My mechanic loves my car, and he's driven some nice metal. He was toying with the idea of one for Track days and hillclimbs.
Its something different from the sea of french hatches out there.
alsem said:
w201 all the time
Lol, you've seen what I'm selling/have just sold right...? The 190e Valver is going in a house-related sacrifice and this will be a replacement. Hopefully the new house will have a garage to stash a toy in.Suzuki Ignis Sport would be good as an only car but I'm after something for high days and holidays. That's not to detract from it, merely that I have the opportunity to get something totally impractical which it would be a shame to waste. Same with the E36, I've had an E30 and an E28 already and the E36 is quite sensible almost.
I've been offered a Mk2 Golf GTi which I'm tempted by. It's only an 8v but as I said, speed isn't really the main objective here, it's that 'chuckling like a madman' factor that some cars seem to be able to deliver.
Definitely think I under-estimated the kit care prices!!
Speaking of 105 GTI's I just had put this in:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2953177.htm
Well written advert too
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2953177.htm
Well written advert too
I'd recommend the MX5 as a cheap bit of fun. Mine was certainly a hoot and cheap too. Not a great everyday car because they lack refinement and feel very raw to drive. They're not comfortable, particularly economical and the wind and engine noise is outrageous. But their ability to trill is undeniable.
Jayho said:
eesbad said:
Suzuki Ignis Sport 110bhp, 900(ish)kg, 0-60 in the 8s, sweet little 1.5VVTi engine, handles well and still gives you 40mpg! Real old school 'hot' hatch feel too. Makes me
Damn! Beat me to it!but its 8.9 secs to 60
Its a car which I'd call a slightly more modern take on 80's-90's hot hatch, light and fun. 40MPG is only available when driving quite sensibly in my experience. Standard recaro's which are the similar style you find in old Escorts. Revs very happily and doesnt mind the twisties, if needed a little lift off would correct your line.
Its a car which you just love when you own one, I know I do.
Been toying with the idea of selling it, but every time I look at it I just cant bring myself round to it, there's nothing for the same money I could get which would provide the same amount of smiles. Very decent on insurance, its costing me £600 to insure for a year, 3 yrs NCB and at 21.My mechanic loves my car, and he's driven some nice metal. He was toying with the idea of one for Track days and hillclimbs.
Its something different from the sea of french hatches out there.
alsem said:
Mr Scruff said:
Lol, you've seen what I'm selling/have just sold right...? The 190e Valver is going in a house-related sacrifice and this will be a replacement. Hopefully the new house will have a garage to stash a toy in.
The 190e Valver is going in a house-related sacrifice and this will be a replacement. Hopefully the new house will have a garage to stash a toy in.
I am interested to buy your 16v, where's the advert?
Baryonyx said:
I'd recommend the MX5 as a cheap bit of fun. Mine was certainly a hoot and cheap too. Not a great everyday car because they lack refinement and feel very raw to drive. They're not comfortable, particularly economical and the wind and engine noise is outrageous. But their ability to trill is undeniable.
In a way I disagree. Don't get me wrong, an MX5 would be right at the top of my list of cars to buy if I had £2k burning a hole in my pocket, but a big part of their appeal is that they are quite usable. You don't have to spend that much more than the price of a mint mk1 MX5 to get something far more racuous from TVR or one of the kit car manufacturers. What sets the Mazda apart is the vast investment in detail engineering that the small firms can't manage. The '5s roof will seal, the boot will be water tight, the engine will be good for a quarter of a million miles and it will start every morning. It's all these things, combined with excellent dynamics, that make it such an appealing all-round prospect. But if you just want to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end then there are more exciting cars. That's why I'd always be reluctant to have an MX5 as a weekend toy. They're one of the best all-round sports cars ever made, but if you're only going to use it on sunny Sunday afternoons there's the option of going for something a bit more extreme. It's a lot harder at £2k, admittedly, but still possible.
Chris71 said:
In a way I disagree. Don't get me wrong, an MX5 would be right at the top of my list of cars to buy if I had £2k burning a hole in my pocket, but a big part of their appeal is that they are quite usable. You don't have to spend that much more than the price of a mint mk1 MX5 to get something far more racuous from TVR or one of the kit car manufacturers.
What sets the Mazda apart is the vast investment in detail engineering that the small firms can't manage. The '5s roof will seal, the boot will be water tight, the engine will be good for a quarter of a million miles and it will start every morning. It's all these things, combined with excellent dynamics, that make it such an appealing all-round prospect. But if you just want to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end then there are more exciting cars. That's why I'd always be reluctant to have an MX5 as a weekend toy. They're one of the best all-round sports cars ever made, but if you're only going to use it on sunny Sunday afternoons there's the option of going for something a bit more extreme. It's a lot harder at £2k, admittedly, but still possible.
I feel exactly the same as this. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a decent turbo/supercharged one can be quite thrilling. But they are still quite normal cars overall.What sets the Mazda apart is the vast investment in detail engineering that the small firms can't manage. The '5s roof will seal, the boot will be water tight, the engine will be good for a quarter of a million miles and it will start every morning. It's all these things, combined with excellent dynamics, that make it such an appealing all-round prospect. But if you just want to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end then there are more exciting cars. That's why I'd always be reluctant to have an MX5 as a weekend toy. They're one of the best all-round sports cars ever made, but if you're only going to use it on sunny Sunday afternoons there's the option of going for something a bit more extreme. It's a lot harder at £2k, admittedly, but still possible.
In stock trim they are fully in the daily driver camp rather than the weekend toy (unless it's track prepped or used for competitions).
For shear smiles and huge grins a TVR S or Wedge is leagues ahead IMO.
This is the line of thought I'm now subscribing to. It's actually quite a thing to change my way of thinking - this is a 'fun' car, and part of that means that it does need to have some character - thinking Spitfire or old Alfa Spider. It doesn't need to be fast and I almost don't want it to be too reliable (is that perverse?) as I want something to play with.
'Course, this is all assuming Mrs. Scruff doesn't go and spend the spare cash on a new sofa or something!
'Course, this is all assuming Mrs. Scruff doesn't go and spend the spare cash on a new sofa or something!
Mr Scruff said:
This is the line of thought I'm now subscribing to. It's actually quite a thing to change my way of thinking - this is a 'fun' car, and part of that means that it does need to have some character - thinking Spitfire or old Alfa Spider. It doesn't need to be fast and I almost don't want it to be too reliable (is that perverse?) as I want something to play with.
'Course, this is all assuming Mrs. Scruff doesn't go and spend the spare cash on a new sofa or something!
Better get out car shopping quickish then 'Course, this is all assuming Mrs. Scruff doesn't go and spend the spare cash on a new sofa or something!
We the freedom of it being a fun car, I think you need to head to some shows and for some test drives. Go and see what really makes you smile the most.
Let us know how you get on though!
danposs86 said:
Just got myself a 306 GTi-6 and I am always smiling while driving it. Decent amount of power (167bhp) and great handling, plus change from £2k for maybe a few upgrades.
Great gearbox too, and I think its a good looker.
Was going to say the same thing.Great gearbox too, and I think its a good looker.
In order to release some cash for a house extension, I went from a very tidy e46 330ci to my shed-budget 306 GTI-6 and until I first drove it I was a bit depressed with the prospect. However I can't help but giggle when I drive the 306. It's fun in a way that I would not expect from a hatchback.
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