Fun car for £3000

[ad16]

You have around £3000 to buy a car but plan on upgrading it over time but it has to be a runner from the get go. What would you get?

I'm thinking of a mazda mx5 (mk2 cant handle the looks of the mk1)
but I'm always tempted by some older American muscle or a good old hot hatch

Mazda mx5 seems like a good choice, especially after a handling upgrade and the potential for forced induction.

Cheers

[Codswallop]

Mk2 MR2 turbo would be worth a look too. Plenty of scope for upgrades, looks good, and should be just as fun as an MX5 (but in a slightly different way).

[Melvin Udall]

MR2 Turbo. You know it's the only real solution!

[Altrezia]

LOADS of choice at that money.

Impreza Turbo,
Corrado VR6,
Integra,
Clio 182,
Golf GTI,
Cheap M3
Classic mini
Lotus Elan?
etc

[TameRacingDriver]

For 3 grand it would be a supercharged MX5 or MR2 Turbo for me.

I've had both and both were a complete hoot to drive.

The MX5 is a bit more nimble and chuckable. The MR2 has that lovely mid-engined feel though and still handles well despite being fairly heavy.

I love them both.

Can't imagine there being many cars more fun than those for £3k.

[ad16]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.
It definitely seems like mx5 or mr2 seems the way to go.
I'm leaning towards mx5.

Has anyone here done any ecu mods before? I'd be tempted as I'm quite handy with a soldering iron and electronics. Would there be much gain from going the standalone ecu route with no turbo etc, in terms of MPG, horsepower etc?

Cheers

[rb5er]

Impreza or gt4

[V8Triumph]

BMW 2002
MGB
MG Midget
Lotus Excel
Porsche 924S
Porsche 944
Triumph GT6
Triumph Spitfire

[rb5er]

V8Triumph said:

BMW 2002
MGB
MG Midget
Lotus Excel
Porsche 924S
Porsche 944
Triumph GT6
Triumph Spitfire

If you are 70

[V8Triumph]

rb5er said:

V8Triumph said:

BMW 2002
MGB
MG Midget
Lotus Excel
Porsche 924S
Porsche 944
Triumph GT6
Triumph Spitfire

If you are 70

Or if you have some class ...

Classic cars are cheap to insure, many are tax free, are an absolute hoot to drive and are easy to mantain. Not to forget they are from an era when driving / motorsport / cars were cool.

[craigb84]

Can you get a decent GT6 for that money? Always loved their looks but there don't seem many about.

[PlugUgly]

V8Triumph said:

BMW 2002
MGB
MG Midget
Lotus Excel
Porsche 924S
Porsche 944
Triumph GT6
Triumph Spitfire

I like that list! What sort of condition would a £3k BMW 2002 be in?


Back on topic, I've been looking at some BMW Z3s, you can get a decent 2.8 for about that much.

[interloper]

Avoid the Z3, everyone I have driven has had the structural rigidty of a wet paper bag, horrible to drive! When it comes to the older stuff I would avoid anything roofless unless it was designed to be topless from the start.

[keo]

106 gti/ rallye or even cheaper a saxo vts?

[Welshbeef]

944 Turbo
928 S4

[Y282]

Youll get an early e36 m3 for that.

Itll definitely need some tidying tho!

[Flying Fish]

You can have my elan for not much more than that.

[irf]

Personally it'd be a 200sx, hugely moddable, rwd, not too heavy, no traction control, loads of fun.

[Y282]

irf said:

Personally it'd be a 200sx, hugely moddable, rwd, not too heavy, no traction control, loads of fun.

Had one. Great fun and very chuckable, but getting badly molested/maintained these days and a total ballache in the wet when youre just in a hurry.

Theres a couple of really tidy ones go up and down blandford road near me and even though i have my m3 now there's still a part of me that's a little jealous. Theyre such a cool looking car when looked after properly.

[Rsohyes]

S14a 200SX