Any suggestions to match my Tastes?

[snotrag]

My mileage has/will be dropping a bit with a new job near to home, and I'll have a little more to spend - not lots, but certainly enough to buy something interesting. Anywhere between 2.5 to 5k probably - although the more expensive it is to buy, the less there will be to run it and I'll likely have to commit to it for longer.

The one key thing I want next time is a characterful engine. Past few cars have been good but definitely a case of chassis>engine. But it must be a good handler also. Fun on B-roads important. Comfort on motorway not too important relatively - almost anything this side of a classic will offer more refinement than current car.


In short -

Petrol
Great noise.
I don't like understeer
Not VAG
~25mpg ish
V6 good, Turbo good, Honda Vtec engine good,
Good for working on/fiddling with
Not too modern
Not too remote or fast
Nice interior
Age or low miles not really important
Convertibles/Targas/Moonroofs/Tin tops all a possibility.(I do particularly like Fresh air motoring though)


Off the top of my head, cars I like are -

MR2 Turbo
Celica GT-4
Impreza Turbo 2000 (RB5?)
S2000
EP3 Civic Type-R
Accord Type-R
Mondeo ST220
Mazda RX-8
Alfa GTV V6
Fiat Coupe
200SX

What other things might I like which I haven't thought of?

[Cemesis]

M3 convertible?

[Liquid Knight]

Rover 213S with a V-Tec conversion.

Slightly more seriously go for the Fiat Coupe out of that list. One of the best handling cars Fiat ever made, under rated due to Coucil Estate chic and tunable to over 600bhp without breaking the bank.

[LordHaveMurci]

If you don't like understeer then half the cars on that list are no good!

[snotrag]

Cemesis said:

M3 convertible?

Thats a good point actually - I always liked the E36 whether in M-Guise or not. And the Convertibles are plentiful and cheap. But does a convertible 3 series actually drive well at all?

[A2Z]

FI your '5?

[iantek]

MGZS 180? Has the advantage of being new but dated, so you get that authentic late eighties feel! I had one and it was a hoot.

[Baryonyx]

MR2 Turbo should be good fun. One of my all time favourite engines, certainly. Noisy, powerful and always dramatic, and moutned right behind your head - you'll always be aware of it working it's charms! But the car overall might fall down on your criteria of not being 'too fast', as they are fast cars even in standard guise. £2500 should get you a good one.

[rowey200]

Early Nissan 350z' have entered the 5k region now....

[Whitean3]

TVR Chimera? Been a while since i looked, but aren't these now around 5k?

[snotrag]

A2Z said:

FI your '5?

Considered it many times, have been in plenty - but just want a change. Had 2 Mazda's love them, but there's a whole world of cars out there. And I don't think it actually makes for a better car anyway, and a turbocharged 5 still has a rather agricultural engine and floppy body, they are just faster (and that's from a major MX5 advocate).

Baryonyx said:

MR2 Turbo should be good fun. One of my all time favourite engines, certainly. Noisy, powerful and always dramatic, and mounted right behind your head - you'll always be aware of it working it's charms! But the car overall might fall down on your criteria of not being 'too fast', as they are fast cars even in standard guise. £2500 should get you a good one.

Probably the leader at the moment and always has been, done plenty of research. 'Too fast' is a funny one - I meant as in too remote/masked - not something you get in an MR2. I like that I could afford to be picky and find a nice, good condition cared for one for say £3k, rather than stretching for a ropey example of newer cars.

Whitean3 said:

TVR Chimera? Been a while since i looked, but aren't these now around 5k?

I've spotted that too. I'd actually like an S-series. As it would be the kind of car I'd spend a lot of time working on and fettling, Id probably want to run it alongside a £500 shed to be used as parts runner/commuter.