£5K sports coupe?

[ManOpener]

Audi S2? They were under £5k last time I looked but they might have risen in price recently. One of the best sounding engines in the world IMO.

[3ananaPie]

How about an R33 Skyline? You should be able to pick up an RB25, ok the interior isn't exactly great but the rest of the car is. LSD, easy to tune to 400hp+, fantastic sound.

Otherwise the Zed probably sounds like a good shot unless you can consider a 4cyl.

[R1 Indy]

Cheers, I'm now swaying towards a convertible/2 sweater.

So thinking the 350Z look a good choice, or maybe the 3L Z4.

My worry with the Z4 is it may be a bit slow?

The same for the S2000, I know it's a 4 pot, but will the vetch make up for it?

Or possible be very brave and a 3.2 boxter?

I now have too many choices to choose between

[Pebbles167]

schmalex said:

Pebbles167 said:

B6 Audi S4 Convertible?

Not a bad handler, and with a 340 bhp V8 and a manual gearbox its pretty interesting!

Correction. With the manual gearbox it's absolutely shocking. The auto is much, much better suited to the car. Sadly, the manual just ruins it due horribly mis-matched gear ratio's (1st is close to pointless and 6th will see you doing 4.3k rpm at 80 on the motorway) and the most awful gear change in any car I've driven.

I've owned a B6 S4 Avant auto and B7 S4 Cab manual, so have direct experience of both

Whilst I agree that the ratios are questionable (pointlessly high rpm at motorway speeds) there is nothing wrong with the gearbox. As slick as any other Audi. Its a rare thing to be able to get a cheap V8 manual, and there is a lot of fun to be had in that.

The automatic box might be the sensible choice, but I'm sure it is as dull as hell. It was in the 1.8t I drove.

[AndrewCrown]

although I do hesitate to say it...
Boxster.. you might just be able to find a well looked after one...

[mini1380cc]

R1 Indy said:

Have just sold my bike engined kitcar, now thinking of selling the CLK55 AMG, and getting something that handles/ a bit more predictable!

I'm interested to hear why the clk55 doesn't tick this box. I ask as would like one next but I was expecting it to be quite involving. No?

[J4CKO]

R1 Indy said:

Cheers, I'm now swaying towards a convertible/2 sweater.

So thinking the 350Z look a good choice, or maybe the 3L Z4.

My worry with the Z4 is it may be a bit slow?

The same for the S2000, I know it's a 4 pot, but will the vetch make up for it?

Or possible be very brave and a 3.2 boxter?

I now have too many choices to choose between

Performance wise, not much in it between the Nissan and the BMW, depends on which year you get of each, BMW better on fuel, 350Z a bit more lairy, and much rarer.

[R1 Indy]

mini1380cc said:

I'm interested to hear why the clk55 doesn't tick this box. I ask as would like one next but I was expecting it to be quite involving. No?

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely car to cruise around in, I drove it all the way down to Monaco, then back up through Germany earlier in the year and it was fantastic.

But as a fun car, yes it is hugely fast in a straight line, bit give it a corner and touch the throttle and either traction control tells you off, or turn it off and it is a complete uncontrollable animal! (Or maybe I don't know how to drive!)


I just want something fun to throw around the welsh country roads on the weekends etc.

[chadwick828]

It'd be a struggle to get one at 5k but it can be done! BMW 645Ci

[smithyithy]

> No ticking time bombs
> Mitsubishi GTO

Pick one

[daveofedinburgh]

OP covered every suggestion I was about to make!

-350Z, convertibles available, £5K might be a push for a good un

-Z4, plenty 6 cylinders available, £5K will be easier, have read some stuff recently on here that's put me off tho

-Boxster 2.7 or S, £5Kish, it's a Porsche, same scary as a 996 911, albeit with less money invested

-S2000, yes it's a 4, but probably my pick of the bunch

-Maybe a big engined E46 3 series, tempting but not as 'pure' as the others

£5K buys alot of goodness these days imho. I'd be sorely tempted by the Boxster as Ive yet to own a Porsche, but the bork factor would keep me awake. 350Z runs a close 2nd to the S2000 for me, it's a mans car, big engine, it's got that 'barn-door' engineering thing going for it, bet its pretty chuckable. S2000 has to be #1, best package if a little cramped inside, screaming VTec lump is good, I'd sleep easy with a Honda on the drive. E46 could work, still looks handsome in facelift form, not going to excite like a Boxster, 350Z or S2000.

Also have to +1 the MR2 suggestions, especially given that 4 cyl is no longer a deal-breaker for OP. Less badge than all the others, but I don't give a sh*t about that and you'd have so much fun.

[R1 Indy]

Well i decided the S2000 may be the best compromise.

I have been let loose on ebay, and taken a punt on this, which I've won for £4K

Im a little worried from the quality of the pics, but surely for £4K, it can't be too bad?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261637418934?_trksid=p20...

[GreatGranny]

Looks ok.
Not sure of the wheels but maybe nicer in the flesh.
And a hardtop as well :-) They must be worth £500 on their own.
Interesting to see what the exhaust sounds like.

[RacingBlue]

Racing Puma. £5K will get you one of the best.

[nitrodave]

that looks like a lot of car for the money!

only thing I would do is put stock wheels back on it.

Let us know what it's like when you get it

[Shaoxter]

It's the type of advert which doesn't inspire much confidence for me - blurry low quality camera phone pics in the rain, no mention of service history or how it is mechanically and going on about bling alloys and a big exhaust.

But if it turns out to be straight then it looks like you've got a nice motor. Good luck!

[anonymous-user]

R1 Indy said:

Well i decided the S2000 may be the best compromise.

I have been let loose on ebay, and taken a punt on this, which I've won for £4K

Im a little worried from the quality of the pics, but surely for £4K, it can't be too bad?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261637418934?_trksid=p20...

Scary ad, uprated alloys?

Anyway it's a bit late but check that the alignment has been done in the last 12 months, if it is seized you are in for some fun. Theres a ton of info on the s2 forums about common issues....

Good luck!

[Clivey]

Shaoxter said:

It's the type of advert which doesn't inspire much confidence for me - blurry low quality camera phone pics in the rain, no mention of service history or how it is mechanically and going on about bling alloys and a big exhaust.

But if it turns out to be straight then it looks like you've got a nice motor. Good luck!

I'll second this and wish you luck.

[R1 Indy]

Yea the mechanical bits are what worry me, but will give it a good look over drive to make sure all is well.

The alloys will be going as well as the hard top(why buy a convertible and fit a hard top!)

Just spoken the the guy, and he seemed genuine, as well as pissed at the price it finished at!

It's even got a dateless plate to hide the age.


Just got to wait till Saturday now to pick her up

Oh, just done a HPI, it says it's an import, am I right in thinking this makes things more difficult to insure etc?

Also it's not taxed, how do I go about taxing it before the V5 is sent off? He did offer to tax it for me, but surely then it will get refunded to him after he sent the V5 back, and I will end up paying twice?

[R1 Indy]

We'll insurance and tax now sorted, and now going to pick her up tomorrow afternoon.

Will come back via some welsh B roads to test her out.

Will report back with how she performs