Cheap fun for the twistys?
Discussion
I live on the edge of the Peak District so I'm looking for something reasonably cheap ( I actually have a decent budget but I'm loathe to spend it on a nice car without a drive, garage or even parking anywhere near the house) for some weekend fun. Won't be used for any form of commuting or other rubbish, purely for when I fancy a drive.
Things I would like - roads are mainly short squirts between tight bends and hairpins, I was thinking of something blown for that surge of torque between corners, would also like something small as they're all narrow lanes. I was thinking Clio 182 but I've no idea what the engine is like, is it a typical peaky 16v motor or a bit more torquey? Good handling and brakes a must, I've cooked the brakes on various things going over the peaks, if not standard then an easy upgrade from a bigger model in the family for instance, I don't want to be forking out for aftermarket Brembos.
Budget is less than £3k ideally, as I said, it will sit outside away from the house in all weathers so anything nice is just a waste of money.
Things I would like - roads are mainly short squirts between tight bends and hairpins, I was thinking of something blown for that surge of torque between corners, would also like something small as they're all narrow lanes. I was thinking Clio 182 but I've no idea what the engine is like, is it a typical peaky 16v motor or a bit more torquey? Good handling and brakes a must, I've cooked the brakes on various things going over the peaks, if not standard then an easy upgrade from a bigger model in the family for instance, I don't want to be forking out for aftermarket Brembos.
Budget is less than £3k ideally, as I said, it will sit outside away from the house in all weathers so anything nice is just a waste of money.
wow 10 replies already.
Yes I could stretch to a DC2, but they're all over priced snotters and I'd only make it worse by leaving it out in all weathers. Plus I'm not actually that keen on them, nor VTEC.
I did wonder about a MCS, there's a modified R53 for sale not too far from me with about 200bhp at around £2300, but it's a high miler. But then that sort of money buys quite a nice lower mile 172 cup or something.
Not interested in MX5s and RX8 is too big.
Yes I could stretch to a DC2, but they're all over priced snotters and I'd only make it worse by leaving it out in all weathers. Plus I'm not actually that keen on them, nor VTEC.
I did wonder about a MCS, there's a modified R53 for sale not too far from me with about 200bhp at around £2300, but it's a high miler. But then that sort of money buys quite a nice lower mile 172 cup or something.
Not interested in MX5s and RX8 is too big.
Poopipe said:
The 1*2 engine is pretty flexible - you won't suffer from a lack of torque if you just want to mooch about. Peak torque comes at about 3.3k rpm and then at about 5k hilarity ensues as everything else picks up.
If most of your fun driving is likely to be twisty and sub 100mph a 1*2 would be a wonderful choice.
For torque I was thinking of coming out of a lot of low speed bends and hairpins and wanting a nice amount of acceleration before the next one, TBH I've never had much luck with N/A motors, it always feels like your waiting for something to happen and it never does.If most of your fun driving is likely to be twisty and sub 100mph a 1*2 would be a wonderful choice.
Krikkit said:
The 172/182 engine is a peach. Decently torquey and pulls well, but steps up nicely beyond about 4k with the variable timing.
I must admit, for fun/££ they look about the best option, £2k-2.5k gets you a fairly decent one as well, where as that money on most other things just gets you a complete snotter.
tters around now thoughI've just always been a fan of small FWD hatches that handle like they're on rails. One of the most fun cars out of the tens and tens I've owned was a little 106 1.1xn, just pin the throttle everywhere and if you find a corner you cant hit flat out just back off and bring the rear around a little to turn it in more, never a boring journey in that car!
Going back to Clios, is the Trophy worth the premium? I could easily up the budget to cover it but I'm wondering if the standard 182/cup offers about 99% of the performance for three grand less.
Going back to Clios, is the Trophy worth the premium? I could easily up the budget to cover it but I'm wondering if the standard 182/cup offers about 99% of the performance for three grand less.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Better prices than I expected, are things like the Michelins etc worth almost double the price of those Uniroyals?
I know you get what you pay for with tyres but when does the law of diminishing returns kick in? How much better are those Uniroyals over the cheap 'Nakang Ditch finders' you usually see ?
I know you get what you pay for with tyres but when does the law of diminishing returns kick in? How much better are those Uniroyals over the cheap 'Nakang Ditch finders' you usually see ?
Itsallicanafford said:
...Ahem
edited to add...Ah, he has bought a Mini, fait play, nice motor...
Funny you should mention one of those, I always wanted one, but the few that come up have often had the engine swapped or are complete dogs, I'd want it with the standard 1.3/100hp screamer, but you're bang on with what I want(ed).edited to add...Ah, he has bought a Mini, fait play, nice motor...
Edited by Itsallicanafford on Tuesday 21st June 15:03
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