Cheap fun for the twistys?
Discussion
Fwd is definately very easy to drive particularly on corner exit where you just need to not pin the throttle too much and overshoot. Rwd you just need to not pin the throttle too much at corner exit as to avoid a bit of oversteer and I find the fwd option is just so much easier meaning I'm probably much faster but then it is my main driving experience so far.
Hmm each to their own, but if you aren't bound by practicalities, then I think RWD is the way to go personally. I would choose the likes of the MX5 and MR2 over any hot hatch even if the latter was quicker. It just feels better, pretty much all of the time. Even my old Mk2 MR2 Turbo, not a car renowned for handling, was still more fun than the FWD cars.
I'd go for a cheap RWD car. For pure fun, I'd get either an MX-5 or MR2, they cost next to nowt, and if you get attached, you can tune them all up easily for even more fun. I can't think of much that will be more fun than a blown one of those. The standard ones are good but lack overtaking power. Overtaking power increases potential for fun, and there's a perverse pleasure to still hooning but short shifting in a car with loads of grunt! You could get a decent one of either for £2k-3k. You can get a supercharger or turbo fitted to an MX5 for about £2k.
For a bit more, you could be in a Boxster, Z4 3.0 or 350Z for £5k, these are all properly good cars. Proper NA engines with a great soundtrack. Not many cars left like this now, and they are dying out. Look at the Box, gone to a blown 4-pot now.
I'd go for a cheap RWD car. For pure fun, I'd get either an MX-5 or MR2, they cost next to nowt, and if you get attached, you can tune them all up easily for even more fun. I can't think of much that will be more fun than a blown one of those. The standard ones are good but lack overtaking power. Overtaking power increases potential for fun, and there's a perverse pleasure to still hooning but short shifting in a car with loads of grunt! You could get a decent one of either for £2k-3k. You can get a supercharger or turbo fitted to an MX5 for about £2k.
For a bit more, you could be in a Boxster, Z4 3.0 or 350Z for £5k, these are all properly good cars. Proper NA engines with a great soundtrack. Not many cars left like this now, and they are dying out. Look at the Box, gone to a blown 4-pot now.
TameRacingDriver said:
Hmm each to their own, but if you aren't bound by practicalities, then I think RWD is the way to go personally. I would choose the likes of the MX5 and MR2 over any hot hatch even if the latter was quicker. It just feels better, pretty much all of the time. Even my old Mk2 MR2 Turbo, not a car renowned for handling, was still more fun than the FWD cars.
I'd go for a cheap RWD car. For pure fun, I'd get either an MX-5 or MR2, they cost next to nowt, and if you get attached, you can tune them all up easily for even more fun. I can't think of much that will be more fun than a blown one of those. The standard ones are good but lack overtaking power. Overtaking power increases potential for fun, and there's a perverse pleasure to still hooning but short shifting in a car with loads of grunt! You could get a decent one of either for £2k-3k. You can get a supercharger or turbo fitted to an MX5 for about £2k.
For a bit more, you could be in a Boxster, Z4 3.0 or 350Z for £5k, these are all properly good cars. Proper NA engines with a great soundtrack. Not many cars left like this now, and they are dying out. Look at the Box, gone to a blown 4-pot now.
I hear what your saying, and whilst there isn't much of a leap from £3k to £5-6k in outright cost ( I actually have £12k to play with if I wished), owning and running something like a Boxster is a whole other league of costs from owning and running a FWD tin can. If I had a drive or garage then I'd probably look at a Boxster, as it is our street is pure bedlam, I'd literally have to dump it in some right shady places because everyone has 2-3 cars and parks them anywhere.I'd go for a cheap RWD car. For pure fun, I'd get either an MX-5 or MR2, they cost next to nowt, and if you get attached, you can tune them all up easily for even more fun. I can't think of much that will be more fun than a blown one of those. The standard ones are good but lack overtaking power. Overtaking power increases potential for fun, and there's a perverse pleasure to still hooning but short shifting in a car with loads of grunt! You could get a decent one of either for £2k-3k. You can get a supercharger or turbo fitted to an MX5 for about £2k.
For a bit more, you could be in a Boxster, Z4 3.0 or 350Z for £5k, these are all properly good cars. Proper NA engines with a great soundtrack. Not many cars left like this now, and they are dying out. Look at the Box, gone to a blown 4-pot now.
Am I a heretic if I say that my mum owned a mk2.5 1.8 MX-5 for 7 years and I didn't like it?
Telecaster_ said:
I hear what your saying, and whilst there isn't much of a leap from £3k to £5-6k in outright cost ( I actually have £12k to play with if I wished), owning and running something like a Boxster is a whole other league of costs from owning and running a FWD tin can. If I had a drive or garage then I'd probably look at a Boxster, as it is our street is pure bedlam, I'd literally have to dump it in some right shady places because everyone has 2-3 cars and parks them anywhere.
Am I a heretic if I say that my mum owned a mk2.5 1.8 MX-5 for 7 years and I didn't like it?
I feel your pain mate, I live in a flat at the moment, luckily its in a fairly nice street, but I have to keep my Z4C parked on the pavement. I think if I had to live somewhere dodgier, I would not have it, as I'd probably be paranoid about what would happen.Am I a heretic if I say that my mum owned a mk2.5 1.8 MX-5 for 7 years and I didn't like it?
I'd definitely go for something older and sheddier. You said you don't like the Mk2.5 1.8 but I drove one and was underwhelmed. The Mk1 seemed a lot more fun, though probably not a fair comparison, as the later car was not even a Sport, while the older one was a fully specced up RS-Ltd. That said, a chap in our estate has a Mk1 MX5, with a cheap paint job. It looks proper rat-spec, and although I've never met him to have a chat, I suspect he's got something good going on under the bonnet. I actually really like it, and yet its something you'd happily leave anywhere because it looks so "rough"
It probably looks a little like this, without the hard top and not at all shiny!
Just an update for anyone who cares - Having decided I definitely wanted forced induction again I've gone for an R53 cooper S JCW. Added bonus is it's local so I haven't go too much faffing around to pick it up this weekend.
Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
Telecaster_ said:
Just an update for anyone who cares - Having decided I definitely wanted forced induction again I've gone for an R53 cooper S JCW. Added bonus is it's local so I haven't go too much faffing around to pick it up this weekend.
Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
Looks very nice - did it come in on budget?Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
I had loads of great drives in mine ( although mine was a normal Cooper S with the Works air box )
Telecaster_ said:
Just an update for anyone who cares - Having decided I definitely wanted forced induction again I've gone for an R53 cooper S JCW. Added bonus is it's local so I haven't go too much faffing around to pick it up this weekend.
Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
Lovely!Not everyone's cup of tea, granted, but should be fun none the less.
I had a regular R53 cooper, was still a hoot and a half around the twisties, dont think ive driven anything since that cornered as well
s m said:
Looks very nice - did it come in on budget?
I had loads of great drives in mine ( although mine was a normal Cooper S with the Works air box )
Nice pic.I had loads of great drives in mine ( although mine was a normal Cooper S with the Works air box )
Paid £3500. So well in budget. It's the 200- 210bhp JCW spec with full history, perhaps a tad higher mileage than I'd have liked at 96k but it's a one family owner car and looks well looked after so we'll see how it goes.
we'll see, it's a long time since I've owned anything remotely performance orientated, since I got given a company van included with personal use I've not owned my own car, rather been a named driver on my old man's fleet.
Looking forward to having something quick, sharp and fun to drive of an evening/weekend again.
Looking forward to having something quick, sharp and fun to drive of an evening/weekend again.
greenarrow said:
supercharged MX-5 will answer your question! There was one for sale recently on ebay, £3500...about 166 BHP in a sub 1 ton car, that's all you need!
This. In fact £3500 would tempt me to sell my mk2 supercharged. 
ETA: too late, see you bought a mini. Good call, enjoy that charger
Matt UK said:
Good choice. I was going to suggest an R53.
I sold my grey facelift LSD R53 last month for less than £3k.
Brilliant little car, especially with the LSD, really made it a joy on the b-roads.
Ah mine was a facelift too, 55 plate, in grey with LSD I sold my grey facelift LSD R53 last month for less than £3k.
Brilliant little car, especially with the LSD, really made it a joy on the b-roads.
Definitely echo the 'ditch the runflats' comment above too
I haggled the price a bit due to issues that need sorting. It has run flats on the back which will be swapped as it needs two fronts anyway. Tyre suggestions?
First impressions are that it's quicker than I expected! Even not pushing it fully, handling wise I can already tell it's going to be fun. It's really hard not to drive it like a complete tit absolutely everywhere
The ride is quite crashy, not sure if it's because I'm not used to low profile tyres and a "sporty" car or whether there's a suspension issue that needs looking at, the rear run flats probably don't help.
For the money I'm impressed. Not sure I'd pay full whack for a new one though, but used they're decent VFM.
First impressions are that it's quicker than I expected! Even not pushing it fully, handling wise I can already tell it's going to be fun. It's really hard not to drive it like a complete tit absolutely everywhere
The ride is quite crashy, not sure if it's because I'm not used to low profile tyres and a "sporty" car or whether there's a suspension issue that needs looking at, the rear run flats probably don't help.
For the money I'm impressed. Not sure I'd pay full whack for a new one though, but used they're decent VFM.
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