What car: £1,500 summer soft-top fun

[Gruber]

I have an almost unbearable itch to buy a cheap summer toy. Essential criteria:

• soft-top,
• max £1.5k,
• will have to live outside,
• needs to have lots of MOT,
• must qualify for cheap (i.e. classic) insurance
• ready to drive away and enjoy - no projects
• for sale within (say) 50 miles of Battersea SW11
• immediately available - I want to buy it tomorrow while the sun's still shining.

Thoughts so far are MX5 / Golf Mk 1 oriented. Doesn't have to be overtly "sporty" - I just want something to ponse around in. Obscure suggestions welcomed, provided they meet the criteria above.

So... what do you suggest? If it's not breaking PH protocol, real life available-to-buy-tomorrow examples would be marvellous.

[denniswise9]

MK1 MX5 is the obvious choice, although finding a water tight one for this budget may be harder if your buying it in the sun - but then this goes for all convertibles. Nothing worse than driving along getting cold water dripping on your knee/shoulder.

Have you considered an MG TF? If you can find one with a replaced HG could be ok, although not as crisp or fun to drive as an MX5 but they are dirt cheap now. Avoid the MGF as it has an awful hydragas suspension.

Or for something really different -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-Cappuccino-Sports-con...

650cc turbo!!

[Lets Torque]

Go with the Mazda MX-5 MK1 w/ pop-up headlights. Or how about a really left-field choice, a Fiat Punto Convertible



MG TF is a good shout aswell.

[5harp3y]

Having owned both a mk1 golf gti convertible and an mk1 mx5

the mx5 is better, hands down.

£1500 will get you a great little car plenty to choose from at this time of the year.

[5lab]

mx5\barchetta would be my choice. You don't have to spend that much though - my mx5 was only £700 and its probably now worth about £500. bit tatty but its great for zipping around in. can get it on classic car insurance if you've got a garage

[W00DY]

Got tot agree with the MX-5 suggestion.


Always liked these too:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2701382.htm

[205jsy]

[Risotto]

Late(ish) Mk1 with hardtop (got to be worth three or four hundred come winter, surely) and 15" BBS wheels. Should also have a proper Torsen diff too:



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Early Mk2 with leather (actually one of the 100 Jasper Conran limited editions, which mostly involved cosmetic stuff but it will have an LSD too):



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Both within 30 miles of the postcode you gave.

Edited by Risotto on Thursday 21st April 14:58

[grumbledoak]

You won't get a good classic for that. And a bad one will be a pain in every respect. And probably a deathtrap to boot.

Mk1 MX-5.

Edited by grumbledoak on Thursday 21st April 13:08

[300bhp/ton]

denniswise9 said:

MK1 MX5 is the obvious choice, although finding a water tight one for this budget may be harder if your buying it in the sun - but then this goes for all convertibles. Nothing worse than driving along getting cold water dripping on your knee/shoulder.

Have you considered an MG TF? If you can find one with a replaced HG could be ok, although not as crisp or fun to drive as an MX5 but they are dirt cheap now. Avoid the MGF as it has an awful hydragas suspension.

Or for something really different -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-Cappuccino-Sports-con...

650cc turbo!!

How is hydrogas suspension awful???

[300bhp/ton]

Series III Land Rover?

[briSk]

i'd have an mx5 or at a push an mgf.

but in the spirit of next weeks events what about this:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2728597.htm

[briSk]

similar sort of thing. cooler:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2701382.htm

[Risotto]

briSk said:

similar sort of thing. cooler:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2701382.htm

Good suggestion, just watch out for gearbox issues.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

How about a BMW E30? You wont get one in top condition but there's definitely a market for them at £1,500.

[trackerjack]

doogz said:

A Triumph TR something, or maybe a Spitfire?

Have you got something against the OP?
Maybe a just usable TR7 for this money, however get ready to double it for getting the car reliable..........ish.

There is only one choice, and the car to have is an MX5 Mk1.

[HVAC MATT]

MX - gay

[vixen1700]

£1500 won't get you much really. Cheapest Midgets & Spitfires are around the £2800 mark.

Best bet on this thread is that Saab.

[Disco You]

59 months of membership and you need to ask?

[mk1salami]

MX5 is even in your critera.

Max 1.5k.