What car: £1,500 summer soft-top fun

[Riknos]

HVAC MATT said:

MX - gay

Troll much?

MK1 MX-5 all day long.

/end thread.

[JFReturns]

Saabs, Pug 205's - really?

It has to be a Mk1 Mx5, preferably in red. Mine in fact

[benjfrst]

19 16v?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2667490.htm

[Risotto]

vixen1700 said:

Best bet on this thread is that Saab.

Trouble is, £1500 only buys a poor condition Saab rather than a good condition MX-5.

[vixen1700]

Risotto said:

Trouble is, £1500 only buys a poor condition Saab rather than a good condition MX-5.

OK fair enough, yeah go for the MX5.

[JFReturns]

Risotto said:

vixen1700 said:

Best bet on this thread is that Saab.

Trouble is, £1500 only buys a poor condition Saab rather than a good condition MX-5.

And even a good one is, well, crap.

[joe_90]

Alfa spider?

[briSk]

JFReturns said:

Saabs, Pug 205's - really?

It has to be a Mk1 Mx5, preferably in red. Mine in fact

Gruber said:

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.

if he'd take a mk1 golf cab (indeed any golf cab) then a saab 900 is an awesome option.

i think most relevant to OP. but that audi i posted has potential.

for me, where i live, i;d take the mx5.

[JFReturns]

joe_90 said:

Alfa spider?

Actually, that is a bloody good shout.

[ally_f]

denniswise9 said:

Avoid the MGF as it has an awful hydragas suspension.

Disagree with this aswell, if you're after soemthing a bit more comfortable then it's a great set-up; my Mk1 MX5 is far better if you're out for a blast but it does rattles your fillings. The MGF is great car for not a lot of money and far more reliable than the naysayers will have you believe (headgasket failure generalising etc).

[jonnydm]

I think that this is exactly what you are looking for:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2704133.htm

Alternatively, one of these:

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


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

[denniswise9]

300bhp/ton said:

How is hydrogas suspension awful???

I heard on the owners club it leaks badly on old ones and is a pain adjusting it to get the car sitting at the correct height.

I'm not saying its bad as ride quality goes, just more hassle than springs for maintainance - and apparently the TF is a better drive in general.

[Gruber]

You lot are brilliant! I wander off to a meeting for an hour and come back to all this. Brilliant!

The MX5 is the obvious choice, but I'm keen to explore the options. Thanks for those examples. Much prefer the Mk1 with pop-ups to the Mk2. And my best mate used to own one, which I drove a few times, so I know how much fun they are.

MGF - hmmmm. Worth a test drive I guess, but not really floating my boat.

Saab - now I like that very much indeed. Excellent suggestion! Although I see the price on their website is £100 more than on PH. Sunshine inflation perhaps? Probably puts it out of budget, but worth a look.

BMW - I've got two already. GF doesn't think I should own three at the same time. She thinks three starts to look like "a collection". Which is bad. Somehow. Would consider an E30 but don't like the E36 cab shape.

Landy Series III - I would love one of these!!! I've wanted one since I was 3. But can I find one with a years MOT and a soft-top within budget???

Keep 'em coming. Great work so far!

[denniswise9]

and what about the superlight Cappuccino?

[Gruber]

denniswise9 said:

and what about the superlight Cappuccino?

[Gruber]

Also just realised I missed the Alfa Spider. Again - good shout! Will take a look.

[Marf]

HVAC MATT said:

MX - gay

So your name is HVAC Matt, you live in Mexico, and you're gay? Thanks for the info.

[alfa pint]

joe_90 said:

Alfa spider?

At £1500, chances are it'll be knackered. Tread very carefully at that price - rear suspension / cam belt / brakes inc servo / radiators all wear prematurely, before we even start on the electrics.

If the budget was £2500 upwards, then I'd recommend a spider. At this price, I'd go with a Mk1 MX5 or a well sorted MG F. I also own an MG B and wouldn't recommend a classic softtop at this price unless you were prepared to throw it away at the end of the year. At least with an MX5, you could still sell it in October for a grand.

[vixen1700]

alfa pint said:

At £1500, chances are it'll be knackered. Tread very carefully at that price - rear suspension / cam belt / brakes inc servo / radiators all wear prematurely, before we even start on the electrics.

Was just gonna suggest this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2651958.htm

[denniswise9]

The only other random things I could find on flea-bay...not to my taste but someone else might like them:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-5-GT-TURBO-convertib...

Renault 5 GT Turbo - no MOT or Tax but it does get driven round a yard occasionally so must be good to go!!

Not really a proper convertible, but kind of:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-HONDA-CRX-VXI-Vetec-1-5...

and finally:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-MEGANE-2-0-CABRIOLET...

I dont like any of them really to be honest. Although an unmolested R5 turbo is a cracker of a car IMHO before everyone kicks off.

Edited by denniswise9 on Thursday 21st April 15:03

Edited by denniswise9 on Thursday 21st April 15:03

Edited by denniswise9 on Thursday 21st April 15:04