Best Car on the Road for 7k?

[jamesogt]

I have a 2002 3.2 Boxster S.

For the last year I have had a company car so the miles in it have decreased massively. Yesterday I took it to Manchester as the weather was nice. Sheffield to Manchester via Snake Pass - Glossop etc.

After driving a 2.0 Leon FR for 30k miles you forget how fast it really is in comparison to a 'normal' car. At one point of passing I even accidentally went flat to the floor (as done in the Leon), it is quick, really quick. Within in a few miles I was remembering I could take 3 or 4 cars on the straights never mind picking them off one by one, it changes your whole style of driving gaining all that acceleration and handling capability!

This got me thinking is there a better car on the road you could pick up for 7k? I think not.

[Stelongy]

You can buy an S2000 for £7k, pretty impressive allround car with much better reliability.

Plus the gearbox in the S2000 is sublime!

In many ways I prefer it to my 2008 cayman S.

[mollytherocker]

Yeh S2000 is a total hoot, the way it screams its guts out above 5000rpm is insane! Sounds like an old F1 car.

944 turbo and 968 Sport are great too.

Its all down to personal choice really, but the Box S is certainly great value.

[Crimp a Length!]

Boxster sublime for the money

[Alpinestars]

I had an S2000 as a loan car a while ago now, and found it utterly boring. I keep thinking I missed someting and would love to try another at some point. But, as far as Hondas go, you cannot beat the DC2. Absolutely awesome car, and you could buy 2 with £7k!

[Stelongy]

If you found the S2000 boring you can't be driving it very hard, fantastic drivers car!

Here is me in my old one....

http://youtu.be/Og_fjYmDL7U

And...

http://youtu.be/vajLtQMbcxk

What a hoot!

[Smi1er]

Very very hard to beat the Boxster.
Swapped an E46 M3 for a Boxster 3.2S for the other half last year and even though the M3 was a good car the Boxster just offers so much more. Sold an Elise S1 around the same time and again although fun couldn't touch the Boxster.
In fact, if it came to the crunch I would probably be more inclined to sell my 996 GT3 to keep the Boxster just for it's all round capability and fun factor. Would also stop the other half from killing me as she loves it so much!

[mollytherocker]

Alpinestars said:

I had an S2000 as a loan car a while ago now, and found it utterly boring. I keep thinking I missed someting and would love to try another at some point. But, as far as Hondas go, you cannot beat the DC2. Absolutely awesome car, and you could buy 2 with £7k!

Boring? They are spine tingling fun! Whats wrong with you man!?

[jackal]

Ford Puma, ITR


lots of spare change, in fact you could buy both for 7k and have some cash left over for an MX5 !

[Alpinestars]

mollytherocker said:

Boring? They are spine tingling fun! Whats wrong with you man!?

So everyone keeps telling me. Must try one again. It just felt like it revved its nuts off and I could have been walking faster. I think I almost fell asleep at the wheel.

[Stelongy]

Alpinestars said:

So everyone keeps telling me. Must try one again. It just felt like it revved its nuts off and I could have been walking faster. I think I almost fell asleep at the wheel.

They feel slower than they are tbh due to the lack of torque.

My friends standard S2000 was exactly the same from 30mph up to 140mph as my alfa 147gta.

jackal said:

Ford Puma, ITR


lots of spare change, in fact you could buy both for 7k and have some cash left over for an MX5 !

Ford puma?! What have you been smoking! Lol

Good shout on the ITR though, having owned one of those too I must say it was a utter gem. Only downside is fwd can be a little boring on track.

Edited by Stelongy on Friday 27th June 17:15

[Magic919]

Is this really a thread for Porsche section? I'd have thought GG would be better.

[Stelongy]

Magic919 said:

Is this really a thread for Porsche section? I'd have thought GG would be better.

It's only because the the thead starter was saying what better car can you get than a boxster for under £7k,
Perhaps is should have been named "what better cars can you get than a boxster for under £7k?"

[Carl_Docklands]

Clio Rs Cup worth a shout at £7k but only as an additional car to the boxster.

[jackal]

Stelongy said:

Ford puma?! What have you been smoking! Lol

Good shout on the ITR though, having owned one of those too I must say it was a utter gem. Only downside is fwd can be a little boring on track.

Edited by Stelongy on Friday 27th June 17:15

Puma the equal of an ITR in my book. Try one ... chassis, gearchange, engine, dynamics .... utterly superb drive.

[edc]

On my second cheap ish Boxster now. Both have been lightly modified but both very enjoyable

[Stelongy]

jackal said:

Puma the equal of an ITR in my book. Try one ... chassis, gearchange, engine, dynamics .... utterly superb drive.

I've driven the racing puma, typical underpowered engine and crap gear change IMO. I must agree though the Chasis pretty good and it turned in well. Maybe it's because I had been spoilt with an array of other cars?

[jackal]

Racing puma totally different ... heavier ! overtyred, less fizzy engine and maybe a different gearbox as well.

The small things count, the basic 1.7 had the magic IMO.

[Alpinestars]

Stelongy said:

If you found the S2000 boring you can't be driving it very hard, fantastic drivers car!

Here is me in my old one....

http://youtu.be/Og_fjYmDL7U

And...

http://youtu.be/vajLtQMbcxk

What a hoot!

Is it an easy car to get the arse out on, and controllable with it?

[ianwayne]

The OP is bang on the money, IMHO.

My 2003 Boxster S has now cost me over £7k with the new brakes and tyres it needed, but was I drawn to the car below. Both great, but in different ways, oh and also just under £7k.: