Whats the most fun i can have for a grand?
Discussion
Of the motoring variety of course 
So currently got a MK1 MX5 and its great, really is.. but i get bored pretty quickly and looking to maybe move it on, probably worth about £1k.
So whats the most fun I can have with that sort of money? When I initially asked this, the result was of course an MX5! But having done that where can I go from here?
Any definitions of 'fun' accepted, but I'm personally not that into:
Off roading, so no Landies or green laneing suggestions
Anything too bargey (this is a second car / toy, i have a daily drive)
So, what can I get thats 'fun' for roughly a grand?
So currently got a MK1 MX5 and its great, really is.. but i get bored pretty quickly and looking to maybe move it on, probably worth about £1k.
So whats the most fun I can have with that sort of money? When I initially asked this, the result was of course an MX5! But having done that where can I go from here?
Any definitions of 'fun' accepted, but I'm personally not that into:
Off roading, so no Landies or green laneing suggestions
Anything too bargey (this is a second car / toy, i have a daily drive)
So, what can I get thats 'fun' for roughly a grand?
Plenty of choice tbh.
BMW e36 325i (cheaper than a 2.8 and with 95% of the performance)
Toyota mr2 (mk1 or mk2. Mid engined and IMO just as fun as the mx5 maybe more so)
Peugeot 106 rallye or GTI (the former a very lightweight warm hatch the latter still a quick car even today)
There's three suggestions. There are many more but can't be bothered to type them all on a smart phone.
BMW e36 325i (cheaper than a 2.8 and with 95% of the performance)
Toyota mr2 (mk1 or mk2. Mid engined and IMO just as fun as the mx5 maybe more so)
Peugeot 106 rallye or GTI (the former a very lightweight warm hatch the latter still a quick car even today)
There's three suggestions. There are many more but can't be bothered to type them all on a smart phone.
This may sound silly but I think Saxo Vtr's are quite fun. Chuckable little cars, 8v engine pulls well from low revs, nice exhaust tone (when standard) and quite frugle.
If you want something quite fast as apposed to fun I'd recommend a 106Gti. Plenty around for under 1k with modifications taking them to ~155hp.
If you want something quite fast as apposed to fun I'd recommend a 106Gti. Plenty around for under 1k with modifications taking them to ~155hp.
Going to have to say a Saxo VTS for the money.
I picked up one for £750 - it was a bit crap but great fun, I think its dying now so going to get rid of it for spares. I drove it around the other day just to move it off the drive for abit and it really is good fun to drive but I couldnt live with the bloody thing breaking!
But fun, it does by the bucket load
I picked up one for £750 - it was a bit crap but great fun, I think its dying now so going to get rid of it for spares. I drove it around the other day just to move it off the drive for abit and it really is good fun to drive but I couldnt live with the bloody thing breaking!
But fun, it does by the bucket load
What would you like to get, that the Mazda doesn't have, which would increase the fun, and what are you willing to sacrifice? If you want something quicker and can live with front wheel drive, you should be able to find a hot hatch to suit you.
Looking at AutoTrader, lots of MK3 Golf GTis and the odd Alfa 147 2.0, 206GTi, 306 XSi, but they're no quicker than a 1.8 MX-5. Leggy MGZS? SAAB 900/9-3 turbo? Plenty of those. Ancient Celica? Mondeo ST-24? Ex-plod 3.2 Vectra for exceptional third lane clearing ability?
3.0 V6 Alfa GTV??
A few curiosities; Weird and basically undesirable yet still somehow intriguing five cylinder 2.4 litre selespeed FIAT Stilo Abarth. Another five cylinder FIAT hatch, a Bravo HGT. Slow, thirsty but nice sounding and cheap V6 323.
Or go bargetastic - lots of V8 five series, XJ6s, S-type Jags, three litre Omegas, Lexus GSs. Not really fun though, I guess. SAAB 9-5 estate with the three litre turbocharged V6 - could be amusingly, incongruously rapid, especially if you chipped it.
To be honest, I think "MX-5" is probably the right answer.
Looking at AutoTrader, lots of MK3 Golf GTis and the odd Alfa 147 2.0, 206GTi, 306 XSi, but they're no quicker than a 1.8 MX-5. Leggy MGZS? SAAB 900/9-3 turbo? Plenty of those. Ancient Celica? Mondeo ST-24? Ex-plod 3.2 Vectra for exceptional third lane clearing ability?
3.0 V6 Alfa GTV??
A few curiosities; Weird and basically undesirable yet still somehow intriguing five cylinder 2.4 litre selespeed FIAT Stilo Abarth. Another five cylinder FIAT hatch, a Bravo HGT. Slow, thirsty but nice sounding and cheap V6 323.
Or go bargetastic - lots of V8 five series, XJ6s, S-type Jags, three litre Omegas, Lexus GSs. Not really fun though, I guess. SAAB 9-5 estate with the three litre turbocharged V6 - could be amusingly, incongruously rapid, especially if you chipped it.
To be honest, I think "MX-5" is probably the right answer.
otolith said:
What would you like to get, that the Mazda doesn't have, which would increase the fun, and what are you willing to sacrifice? If you want something quicker and can live with front wheel drive, you should be able to find a hot hatch to suit you.
Looking at AutoTrader, lots of MK3 Golf GTis and the odd Alfa 147 2.0, 206GTi, 306 XSi, but they're no quicker than a 1.8 MX-5. Leggy MGZS? SAAB 900/9-3 turbo? Plenty of those. Ancient Celica? Mondeo ST-24? Ex-plod 3.2 Vectra for exceptional third lane clearing ability?
3.0 V6 Alfa GTV??
A few curiosities; Weird and basically undesirable yet still somehow intriguing five cylinder 2.4 litre selespeed FIAT Stilo Abarth. Another five cylinder FIAT hatch, a Bravo HGT. Slow, thirsty but nice sounding and cheap V6 323.
Or go bargetastic - lots of V8 five series, XJ6s, S-type Jags, three litre Omegas, Lexus GSs. Not really fun though, I guess. SAAB 9-5 estate with the three litre turbocharged V6 - could be amusingly, incongruously rapid, especially if you chipped it.
To be honest, I think "MX-5" is probably the right answer.
That GTV for £999 looks far too good to be true! Got to be a catch somewhere surely???Looking at AutoTrader, lots of MK3 Golf GTis and the odd Alfa 147 2.0, 206GTi, 306 XSi, but they're no quicker than a 1.8 MX-5. Leggy MGZS? SAAB 900/9-3 turbo? Plenty of those. Ancient Celica? Mondeo ST-24? Ex-plod 3.2 Vectra for exceptional third lane clearing ability?
3.0 V6 Alfa GTV??
A few curiosities; Weird and basically undesirable yet still somehow intriguing five cylinder 2.4 litre selespeed FIAT Stilo Abarth. Another five cylinder FIAT hatch, a Bravo HGT. Slow, thirsty but nice sounding and cheap V6 323.
Or go bargetastic - lots of V8 five series, XJ6s, S-type Jags, three litre Omegas, Lexus GSs. Not really fun though, I guess. SAAB 9-5 estate with the three litre turbocharged V6 - could be amusingly, incongruously rapid, especially if you chipped it.
To be honest, I think "MX-5" is probably the right answer.
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