£3500 to spend on a fun, cheapish to run, service and insura

[danuneek]

Right I've got £3500 to spend. There's only myself to drive around so size isn't an issue.

- It needs to be fun to drive, something that will put a smile on my face and drive for the sake of driving (i've just sold my classic mini so it needs to be good round corners)

- Cheapish to maintain, I dont want to be spending more than £500 a year on servicing.

- Modern mechanics so no classics (I would love a classic but I've had enough of rust) It can be a modern classic though

- Not too high insurance, I'm 25 with 1 years no claims, been driving 3 years.

So basically an enthusiasts car.


I have an idea of what I want but would like to see the suggestions in case i've missed something.

[Diabolik]

Textbook MX5 example.

[Waugh-terfall]

Ford SportKa? Or, that cliche, you could just about get a nice 03 mk2.5 MX-5 1.8i Sport

[Honsta]

Diabolik said:

Textbook MX5 example.

+1

Would have said a DC2, but I don't know what the insurance would be like for you.

[CampDavid]

306 GTI-6 or some kind of Clio 172

[SteveS Cup]

£3500 would get you a leggy, tatty DC2 / CTR.

But it would get you a mint, low mileage 172 which is cheap enough to insure, will give 30+mpg, cost peanuts to service (belt change and plugs aren't the cheapest but hey) and is an absolute blast!

For me having owned much more powerful cars the Clio seems to just have the right amount of power for a FWD light hatchback. Brilliant car which I used to turn my nose up at. I can't recommend them enough now.

Go and drive one.

[sebhaque]

Left field suggestion - something non-Corsa that's a 3cyl. A Polo or Aygo/C1/107 would be fine. Good for one (two at most), very frugal, engines are bulletproof and they sound brilliant.

[Powered by BMW]

BMW E36 328i Sport.

Watch out for rust though...

[SteveS Cup]

Servicing the BM will be more than the Clio and depending how you drive it won't be as much fun.

However, the 328i sport is a great car which I soooooo much better on a long run which is the main downer of the Clio... It needs a 6th gear IMO.

[Honsta]

danuneek said:

I have an idea of what I want but would like to see the suggestions in case i've missed something.

Just out of curiosity, what were you thinking of?

[bazking69]

Of all the suggestions thus far the MX5 is the clear winner. £3500 buys a half decent on 'nall.

[adycav]

MX5 ticks the boxes but don't rule out an MR2 Roadster, less practical but a better drive imo.

[grumbledoak]

Just buy the best MX-5 you can afford.

[MrTom]

Skoda fabia VRS. Cheap to insure (£500, 24 y.o, no ncb), does 50+ mpg on a cruise, looks sporty, standard 130Bhp and 190Bhp with remap. owners rate them highly with little to complain of.

[Wadeski]

mx-5, or if you want to go faster, MR2 Turbo

[Ricky_M]

Could get yourself a decent Puma and still have change. Fits the criteria very well IMO.

[briSk]

the mx5 is definitely the obvious thing to look at.

might i suggest entertaining the idea of a xsara vts (aka a "306 gti-5")or primera gt and keeping a load of cash in the bank for your next car...

or the accord type r is getting cheaper as petrol gets dearer..

[briSk]

bit random and not exactly scalple sharp but:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2566768.htm
??

[briSk]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2582137.htm

[briSk]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2587490.htm