Cheap fun car that requires minimal maintenance

[Jakestar]

Im looking at somepoint to sell the MR2 as I had a spin, had to claim to sort the bodywork out and when the insurance comes up for renewal I'm fairly sure Im going to be absolutely screwed. I paid £880 this year for a group 20 import parked on the street in London which I thought that was good value for money.

Looking at the comparison websites, even for a clio 172 at group 16 insurance and a UK car, im getting quotes in the thousands from everywhere else, I havnt even tried the MR2 as I dont think I'd get quotes.

I have 5 years ncb, this will stay, but it seems the fact I have claimed is making me uninsurable.

So hopefully I'll sell the MR2 and get something easier on the insurance, thing is I don't want something old that will require more mainteance than the standard yearly oil / filter change (i do max 7000 miles a year) as I'd prefer to concentrate on building a deposit for a house.

The MX5 came to mind, but with a budget of £2000 - £3000 will the car most likely need quite abit of maintenance/odd repair jobs? (e.g. rust proofing etc..)?

Im not too bothered about speed now, got that out of my system (for now, which will return when Im a home owner), I just want something fun that will keep my interest in all thing automotive rather than something dull which will annoy the hell out of me!

Any suggestions?

Cheers

[browna]

if you really need to save on the insurance you could try a ford ka for a year or so.
they are quite fun to rag around town. and then you will appreciate a nice fast car when you can afford one next! worked for me, my mk2 gti seemed like a supercar after it lol.

[G_T]

If you know what you're looking for MX5s for 2000-3000 will most likely be very solid, they do tend to rust on the sills however and there is tendancy for garages to weld over the drainage holes (so it happens again!).

For a reliable MR2 I would always go for most late 1994 when the third revision engine came in. Stronger HG and none of the "hose from hell" issues.

For £2000-£3000 either should be in very good nick.

A well maintained golf mk2 should be relatively trouble free but they're becoming old cars now.

As another suggestion what about a Nissan 200sx?

[Jakestar]

SportKA could be an option, although it almost seems a downgrade from the car I had prior to the MR2, Saxo vtr (but the KA would be newer).

Im swaying towards small, nimble hatch rather than the tourer that the 200 is, Im sure that would also be more to insure than a clio 172 aswell?

Not sure I want to take the gamble with the sills rusting on the MX5, I presume it would be a relatively expensive fix if they do start going?

[G_T]

It costs about £50-£100 to repair in my experience but you should be able to avoid it entirely on your budget by just having a good look.

Only an absolute fool would rule out an Mx5 as unreliable though mate, they're absolutely solid beasts.

I wonder if there actually has ever been a more reliable two seater.

[edo]

£3k is plenty for a decent Mx5.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[kambites]

What about the mk3 MR2? They're not especially quick in a straight line so I think they're a reasonable insurance group but they're great fun to drive.

[OllieWinchester]

Jakestar said:

The MX5 came to mind, but with a budget of £2000 - £3000 will the car most likely need quite abit of maintenance/odd repair jobs? (e.g. rust proofing etc..)?

£3k is huge money for an MX5, I reckon you could probably get a half decent FI one for that! My first Mk1 was £650 with 10ths T+T and got mercilessly beaten for 2yrs with minimal servicing. It was absolutely faultless and I sold it for more than I paid for it...

[NoNeed]

Ibiza cupra, not alot to go wrong except elecric window regulators. Solid cars great fun.




I used to change my cars every couple of months but had the ibiza since last november, even though it was only bought as a stop gap.

[Colonial]

I know MX5 is a bit of a joke answer.

But really, it is MX5 in this instance.

[Jeffmaniac]

I had the same problem after owning a mr2 and mx5 and i got a 2001 reg polo gti. 5 doors, climate control, xenons and 125 bhp so a warm hatch speed. My insurance is £350 a year

[S3_Graham]

E36 328 sport. £3000 will buy you a decent useable one. They are fairly cheap to insure.

[irodger]

I wouldn't like to guess at your neighbourhood, but even in the nicest places I'd be weary of leaving a soft-top parked on the street. And at the budget you speak of I don't think a decent example of a hard-top equipped convertible would be available. I'm willing to be proved wrong on this of course.

I've been looking at buying a slightly banger-ish (sub £1k) Puma for the winter months, these are only group 12, are great fun to peddle and are fairly reliable (apart from the dreaded rust). This may be an option for you?

As a side topic, are you saying that you have protected no claims discount @ 5 years, but as you've made a claim this is, in effect, null and void? A friend of mine has claimed not recently on his S3. He was under the impression, as was I, that his insurance may increase very slightly due to an increased risk (for claiming) but the protected NCD would stay and he wouldn't pay 'much' extra.

Is Protected NCD a waste of money?

[LuS1fer]

VW GTI of some sort, Lupo, Corrado etc. I wouldn't say my Mk III GTI "shed" was the greatest car in the world but parts are pretty cheap and most jobs you can do yourself.

[carmadgaz]

Colonial said:

I know MX5 is a bit of a joke answer.

But really, it is MX5 in this instance.

What he said. I paid just over £3k for min but low mileage and in great nick (a few scuffs aside). 2-3k should get you a fine example