Can't decide what [focused] car to get for sub £6k

[Mandatory Fields]

Hola,

Having spent the last 4 years driving around in a van every day despite being a bit of a petrol head I want to compliment it:

I'm after a focused, secondary car ideally as cheap as possible but defiantly less than £6k

Usage will be evenings/weekends/the odd track day.

Here's my shortlist,

Renault Cliosport 182 with Throttle Bodies
£4,200
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ Sounds lovely, Fairly Cheap, Focused with Buckets seats and coilovers etc.
- I have no mechanical knowledge and perhaps reliability issues with the ITB?

Honda Civic EK9
£4,440-£5k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ Rarity, LSD etc, revvy, low depreciation
- Insurance, absolutely hated the steering feel of the EP3 when I drove it, old

Ford Focus RS (Mark1)
£5,600-£6k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ the exterior looks cool, LSD, remap potential makes it nice and quick, low depreciation
- horrid interior, allegedly there were a lot of bad apples that came out the factory that drove bad?

Honda DC2
£2,300-6k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ cheap, handling
- I hate the way the back looks, old, very high mileage for my budget, the DC5 looks so much better IMO

Renaultsport Megane R26
£5,500+
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ Rave handling reviews!, Recaros etc, quick effortless turbo esp with remap
- exterior looks, looks so much better in liquid yellow which due to being a £1.5k option makes one unlikely to appear within my budget.

Peugeot 106 Rallye [tuned]
£2,000-3k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ looks cool outside, cheap, small and probably st loads of fun!
- dated interior, would likely get murdered by any of the other cars in this list

Honda S2000
£4,000-6k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+open top roadster! +nice interior IMO
-not sure but there's something inexplicable I dislike about them compared to the others.

The Honda DC5 would be something I'd defiantly consider if it wasn't out of budget (again as long as it didn't have dead steering like the EP3 CTR).

Just wondering what anyone here thought?

Edited by Mandatory Fields on Friday 31st August 14:31

[kambites]

The mk3 MR2 would be my choice over any of the above.

[Krikkit]

Good list.

As a Rallye owner I can highly recommend them - I've driven a few cars on this list and none of them is as exciting as the Rallye to me, hence I own one. Not sure being "murdered" is quite accurate for one with a 16v, and certainly not with a set of cams and a remap, but it won't keep up with the faster stuff here. The Focus RS in particular is a rather rapid bit of kit.

The Clio, with ITB's, should be just as reliable as the standard one (if not slightly more, with fewer engine sensors) if it's been done without skimping.

My head says a DC2/DC5, but my heart says buy a Rallye and a smoker.

[C.A.R.]

If the little Civic would keep it's value, that's where I'd put my money.

I'd want a standard one or if it had modifications I'd insist they were properly branded parts from quality manufacturers, and a seller should know all of this...

Definitely have a soft-spot for those little EKs. Rarer and just as capable as anything else you have posted.

DC2 would be nice but still a little more common than the Civic. S2000 doesn't seem focused enough out of your list, it's more of a soft-tourer. Focus driving position is shocking, as is the rest of the interior.

Can you not afford anything RWD track-focused? An SR20 equipped S-Body Nissan could be a lot of fun, as could an MR2 Turbo.

And as this is PH, what about a Super/Turbocharged Mk1 MX5?!

[Roger Woods]

A nice 2003/2004 Scooby PPP.......Could be a nice one up for grabs soon.....

Edited by Roger Woods on Friday 31st August 15:31

[kambites]

C.A.R. said:

...S2000 doesn't seem focused enough out of your list, it's more of a soft-tourer...
... MR2 Turbo.

Never thought I'd see someone dismiss the S2000 as too soft and then suggest a mk2 MR2.

[ikarl]

how about a 2 door Impreza type R?

[edo]

The s2000 is the only car I'd say was an evenings and weekends kind of car.

3.0 Z4? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

3.2 Boxster http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

TVR S3. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[ryanthescot]

Just to let you know, that Megane that you posted is not an R26. It's the 225 F1 team, which along with being negligibly less powerful than the R26, has no LSD.

You can probably find a decent R26 for around 6k, and with a stage 1 map they put out about 260bhp+ and 270+ lbs/ft.

If you are planning on getting it on track then I think the R26 would be the best of the fwd cars you have mentioned. (maybe)

[Mandatory Fields]

ikarl said:

how about a 2 door Impreza type R?

Not a bad call as I like how compact the old Imprezas are but i'm not sure if I could live with the image, running costs and being pulled over so much

Roger Woods said:

A nice 2003/2004 Scooby PPP.......Could be a nice one up for grabs soon.....

Too big imo! and *if* I did want one then i'd have to be an STI or a spec c or something :>

edo said:

The s2000 is the only car I'd say was an evenings and weekends kind of car.

3.0 Z4? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

3.2 Boxster http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

TVR S3. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Z4 too boring outside of the z4m IMO
Boxster too expensive running costs, never driven an older one but I know the newer ones are fantastic! :>
TVR S3, too hideous, having nothing against TVR though, the Sagaris is one of my fave ever cars.

[Mandatory Fields]

ryanthescot said:

Just to let you know, that Megane that you posted is not an R26. It's the 225 F1 team, which along with being negligibly less powerful than the R26, has no LSD.

You can probably find a decent R26 for around 6k, and with a stage 1 map they put out about 260bhp+ and 270+ lbs/ft.

If you are planning on getting it on track then I think the R26 would be the best of the fwd cars you have mentioned. (maybe)

I hadn't noticed that but I do know the differences :>

the problem is I don't think I can find a decent r26 for £6k, the cheapest one on PH is £6,100 and the cheapest on Autotrader £6,700 (aside from a CAT C example)

[Lee540]

I really like the Honda S2000!

Nissan 350Z maybe? Subaru Impreza? Mitsubishi Evo 4/5? E39 M5? E36 M3?

[0000]

The S2000 of those.

Then the RS maybe. Though I'd probably go with a later ST, assuming they must be around that mark now?

[MissChief]

I would defiantly suggest either the RS or the Megane.

Focus ST's are still hovering around the £6k mark for a leggy ST2 and they will probably be a lot more thirsty than anything else shown. The S2k would also be interesting but they're very expensive to insure.

[Mandatory Fields]

Lee540 said:

I really like the Honda S2000!

Nissan 350Z maybe? Subaru Impreza? Mitsubishi Evo 4/5? E39 M5? E36 M3?

Not keen on the looks of the older bmw's and they are saloons and expensive to run

Evo's are nice esp the 6 but slightly out of budget and I hate the seats and again running costs are a ball ache

0000 said:

The S2000 of those.

Then the RS maybe. Though I'd probably go with a later ST, assuming they must be around that mark now?

MissChief said:

I would defiantly suggest either the RS or the Megane.

Focus ST's are still hovering around the £6k mark for a leggy ST2 and they will probably be a lot more thirsty than anything else shown. The S2k would also be interesting but they're very expensive to insure.

The ST isn't hardcore enough for me imo, I'm craving something really focused here! 4 years of driving a van has driven (no pun intended) me crazy! need some relief!

[0000]

How thirsty is the Mk1 Focus RS?

[Mandatory Fields]

0000 said:

How thirsty is the Mk1 Focus RS?

Not worried about petrol consumption seen as none in my list are insanely uneconomical and I won't be doing lots of miles

[Lee540]

Its like you want everything but want it to run for free?

Its a weekend car, fun car.. sub 20mpg figures shouldn't be a problem, most cars would be single figures when you're thrashing them around a track.

Have you actually driven any of those cars on your list?

For me, S2000 is the winner.. with a hardtop fitted, I'm not really a convertible type of guy.

What about also, Audi S3 or VW Golf R32, Audi TT 225, Mercedes CLK55 AMG, Mini Cooper S.. or a kit car? Caterham 7 replica? or go ol'skool.. BMW 325i Sport Tech 2, Mercedes 190 2.3i16, Peugeot 205 MI:16

[Kozy]

Mandatory Fields said:

Honda Civic EK9
£4,440-£5k
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

+ Rarity, LSD etc, revvy, low depreciation
- Insurance, absolutely hated the steering feel of the EP3 when I drove it, old

EP3 has MacPherson strut front suspension and Electronic PAS, EK9 is Double wishbone and good old hydraulic, nicely weighted steering. I assure you the steering is nothing alike at all.

The DC5 is mostly an EP3, but it has hydraulic steering so should feel a bit better. Still not as good as an EK9/DC2 though.

[Chrisw666]

If you want depreciation free motoring try a Ford Racing Puma, they're in budget and not falling, a bit slower than most on your list though. A VX220 should be doable for your budget and they won't be falling much either.

Have you thought about going down the project route?

£2k would see you with a decent base car, Clio 182 cup, 106gti, DC2 etc etc etc and you could then spec it to suit your preferences.

Or how about an Impreza or EVO VII or earlier? Lots of power (300bhp +) available and very quick in all weathers.

Also in budget would be a very good 944 S2, a less good 968, or a 986 Boxster - £6k will see you in a very good 2.5, a decent 2.7 and if you hunt hard a very usable 3.2S.