Low budget fun second car
Discussion
Good evening gents!
I've got a company car as my daily driver which is dull, boring, reasonably economical and does its job well for getting from A to B.
Previously to the company car I had a Ford Focus mk1 which in comparison was much more fun to drive whilst still being practical. Father has a Mk2 MR2 T-Bar import which has lots of toys, in good nick and is also good fun to drive.
I want something small, "low budget" (circa up to £3k) and fun to drive. Please can you add to this list if I have missed anything obvious?
MR2 Mk2
Clio 172/182
MX-5 1.8
What else is there which has sensible low-budget maintenance costs like those listed above? Or is that it and nothing similarly priced in purchase and running costs exists at the moment?
I've got a company car as my daily driver which is dull, boring, reasonably economical and does its job well for getting from A to B.
Previously to the company car I had a Ford Focus mk1 which in comparison was much more fun to drive whilst still being practical. Father has a Mk2 MR2 T-Bar import which has lots of toys, in good nick and is also good fun to drive.
I want something small, "low budget" (circa up to £3k) and fun to drive. Please can you add to this list if I have missed anything obvious?
MR2 Mk2
Clio 172/182
MX-5 1.8
What else is there which has sensible low-budget maintenance costs like those listed above? Or is that it and nothing similarly priced in purchase and running costs exists at the moment?
I had more fun in my 172 than in my mx5. More speed, livelier handling and a proper angry little attitude.
Mx5 was fun for open top cruising, posing or very committed arse out behaviour - non lunatic progress making was a lot more rewarding in the Clio.
I had both on the drive for a few months and only took the mx5 out when I wanted to go topless
Mx5 was fun for open top cruising, posing or very committed arse out behaviour - non lunatic progress making was a lot more rewarding in the Clio.
I had both on the drive for a few months and only took the mx5 out when I wanted to go topless
kambites said:
You should get a mk3 MR2 in budget; it's a vastly better car than the mk2, IMO.
I will be accused of being biased, but you're wrong.A Mk2 is a proper machine. The Mk3 will leave you cold and unsatisfied.
It's also a great time of year to buy a Mk2. You'll get it cheap, and you won't lost a penny on it. You may even make a profit if you look after it and sell at the right time.
I ended up with an MX5 as my second car fun on a budget
My shortlist ended up like this
MR2 : mk3 : not enough luggage space
S2000 : on a budget there's too many potential electrical gremlins
Boxster : on a budget there were risks of encountering porous cylinder linings
I chose the MX5 (Mk2.5, 1.8 Sport) as it was new enough to have modern running gear and old enough I could tinker with it and work on it without having to worry about a laptop and diagnostics, but it also had enough space in the boot that a weekend away isn't limited to a pair of pants and a credit card
My shortlist ended up like this
MR2 : mk3 : not enough luggage space
S2000 : on a budget there's too many potential electrical gremlins
Boxster : on a budget there were risks of encountering porous cylinder linings
I chose the MX5 (Mk2.5, 1.8 Sport) as it was new enough to have modern running gear and old enough I could tinker with it and work on it without having to worry about a laptop and diagnostics, but it also had enough space in the boot that a weekend away isn't limited to a pair of pants and a credit card
DickP said:
kambites said:
You should get a mk3 MR2 in budget; it's a vastly better car than the mk2, IMO.
Is it? I've never been in one but was led to believe they are heavier and less fun??
I started off with a "a quarter of a tonne" and decided that was an exaggeration then didn't get my edit right. Out of the choices in the OP, I'd definitely take either the MX5 or MR2 over the Clio.
I had two RS Clios and would not describe them as cheap to run on account of their fragility, poor build quality and iffy reliability. I also don't think they're as good to drive as people make out. They feel very nose heavy, and the engine whilst punchy is a harsh, rough old lump to use with a uninspiring noise. The driving position is terrible and and the steering wheel is a joke, looks like it belongs in a bus and melts in the sun. Overall despite what it's fans say, it really is just a hotted up shopping trolley and would not consider one as a second car, it's really more meant as a daily driver that can be hustled a bit.
The MX5 wont be as fast, but its more reliable, cheaper and easier to service, is rear wheel drive and handles FAR better, and you can put the roof down which is a definite plus. On the downside, the engine is fairly limp wristed as standard, although the car is just about fast enough to be fun, but it doesn't make a good noise either. It's also very thirsty considering its modest output.
The MR2 would likely be my choice of this trio though. I used to own a Turbo, and it was an utterly absorbing, visceral experience and for me is in a different league to the other choices. Although the handling isn't the best, the steering and overall feel of driving the car is just superb and feels really exotic. Nothing like nailing the throttle coming out of a bend, and feeling the back end squat down and the car grip and launch towards the next corner. The noise the engine made was exciting and the car itself very reliable and quite reasonable to run. It will definitely feel more special than the others. Fuel economy is not the best, but its an old-school 240 bhp turbo so what do you expect. In fairness, even if the budget couldn't stretch to a Turbo, I'd still take the N/A model over the others, it's still 170 bhp and will easily match the Clio in a straight line, even if it did struggle a little in the corners (although in the hands of a good driver, might be a different story).
I did have a brief drive of a Mk3 and it feels nice to drive, but the engine sounds very tame as standard, like the MX5 it's only just quick enough, and I can't really seem to warm to the looks of the thing, but it's definitely worth having a go of one.
I had two RS Clios and would not describe them as cheap to run on account of their fragility, poor build quality and iffy reliability. I also don't think they're as good to drive as people make out. They feel very nose heavy, and the engine whilst punchy is a harsh, rough old lump to use with a uninspiring noise. The driving position is terrible and and the steering wheel is a joke, looks like it belongs in a bus and melts in the sun. Overall despite what it's fans say, it really is just a hotted up shopping trolley and would not consider one as a second car, it's really more meant as a daily driver that can be hustled a bit.
The MX5 wont be as fast, but its more reliable, cheaper and easier to service, is rear wheel drive and handles FAR better, and you can put the roof down which is a definite plus. On the downside, the engine is fairly limp wristed as standard, although the car is just about fast enough to be fun, but it doesn't make a good noise either. It's also very thirsty considering its modest output.
The MR2 would likely be my choice of this trio though. I used to own a Turbo, and it was an utterly absorbing, visceral experience and for me is in a different league to the other choices. Although the handling isn't the best, the steering and overall feel of driving the car is just superb and feels really exotic. Nothing like nailing the throttle coming out of a bend, and feeling the back end squat down and the car grip and launch towards the next corner. The noise the engine made was exciting and the car itself very reliable and quite reasonable to run. It will definitely feel more special than the others. Fuel economy is not the best, but its an old-school 240 bhp turbo so what do you expect. In fairness, even if the budget couldn't stretch to a Turbo, I'd still take the N/A model over the others, it's still 170 bhp and will easily match the Clio in a straight line, even if it did struggle a little in the corners (although in the hands of a good driver, might be a different story).
I did have a brief drive of a Mk3 and it feels nice to drive, but the engine sounds very tame as standard, like the MX5 it's only just quick enough, and I can't really seem to warm to the looks of the thing, but it's definitely worth having a go of one.
TameRacingDriver said:
The MX5 wont be as fast, but its more reliable, cheaper and easier to service, is rear wheel drive and handles FAR better, and you can put the roof down which is a definite plus. On the downside, the engine is fairly limp wristed as standard, although the car is just about fast enough to be fun, but it doesn't make a good noise either. It's also very thirsty considering its modest output.
There is also the option of forced induction on the MX5 once you get bored of it's modest performanceI love mine and am still getting used to it's 225bhp now
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