Most fun car for up to £20k.. new or used?

[CarPrintGuy]

I'm running a lovely 535d LCI at the moment which is a great daily and will probably take it to 400 bhp, but fancy something to complement it that's revvy, fun, great on track and can take a hammering.

What's the most fun I can have on 4 wheels for up to £20k?

I'm looking for the perfect road trip - Nürburgring - road tip car basically.

Thanks in advance!

[cerb4.5lee]

Fun is difficult to measure I think, and we all see cars very differently. Do you prefer lighter cars with smaller engines, or do you prefer heavier cars with bigger engines? Which do you personally find more fun?

£20k does give you a nice window of choice I reckon.

[CarPrintGuy]

cerb4.5lee said:

Fun is difficult to measure I think, and we all see cars very differently. Do you prefer lighter cars with smaller engines, or do you prefer heavier cars with bigger engines? Which do you personally find more fun?

£20k does give you a nice window of choice I reckon.

Good point. Lighter with smaller engines.

[PH User]

How many seats do you need?

[CarPrintGuy]

PH User said:

How many seats do you need?

2 is fine. 1 at a push haha. To be fair I'd love to work my way up to a Hayabusa but think will stick to cars.

[ZX10R NIN]

CarPrintGuy said:

2 is fine. 1 at a push haha. To be fair I'd love to work my way up to a Hayabusa but think will stick to cars.

Get yourself a Triumph Daytona 675R & you'll be well past most of the four wheeled suggestions, you'll also have a load of change for track days & extra coaching from places like the superbike school

675 R

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234371295639?hash=item3...

One of these will do the ring with ease but you'll probably enjoy Spa more.

[CarPrintGuy]

ZX10R NIN said:

Get yourself a Triumph Daytona 675R & you'll be well past most of the four wheeled suggestions, you'll also have a load of change for track days & extra coaching from places like the superbike school

675 R

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234371295639?hash=item3...

One of these will do the ring with ease but you'll probably enjoy Spa more.

Nice suggestion, it sounds the nuts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBIVO7q06E

Guessing not as likely to do a wheelie as something like a 'Busa so a little more forgiving.

[rjfp1962]

Obviously a Mazda MX-5ND2 2litre...!
Just my opinion....! 2018 (68) are just about available for £20k

[PH User]

CarPrintGuy said:

PH User said:

How many seats do you need?

2 is fine. 1 at a push haha. To be fair I'd love to work my way up to a Hayabusa but think will stick to cars.

An Elise or a VX220 is the obvious choice then.

[georgeyboy12345]

Lotus Elise 111S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110278...


Vauxhall VX220 Turbo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...


Honda S2000
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275...


BMW Z4 M
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...


Nissan 370Z
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...


TVR Chimaera 4.5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...


TVR Griffith 500
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...


Porsche Boxster 987 2.9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

Porsche Boxster 987 S 3.4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111079...


BMW E90 M3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201191...


BMW E46 M3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110028...

[ZX10R NIN]

CarPrintGuy said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Get yourself a Triumph Daytona 675R & you'll be well past most of the four wheeled suggestions, you'll also have a load of change for track days & extra coaching from places like the superbike school

675 R

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234371295639?hash=item3...

One of these will do the ring with ease but you'll probably enjoy Spa more.

Nice suggestion, it sounds the nuts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBIVO7q06E

Guessing not as likely to do a wheelie as something like a 'Busa so a little more forgiving.

No not as likely to wheelie although allegedly they'll comfortably lift the front wheel with a little clutch action they handle really well & with the triple they have a nice amount of torque too it makes them very useable.

The handling is focused but not so sharp that you'll cut yourself, the other option is a GSX R 750 which will give a similar feel but you'll also have TC & ABS:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203695678567?hash=item2...ZIAAOSw16FhxWtF

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133993308981?hash=item1...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353817094286?hash=item5...

[Belle427]

Sounds like an Elise would fit the bill but I’d look at the VX220 turbo as above.
I find myself strangely drawn to them and they seem to be decent value compared to a lotus.

[CarPrintGuy]

Thanks all for the suggestions, Elise, VX220 or a revvy Triumph bike are all compelling propositions.

I also like the idea of an EP3 turbo.

[Belle427]

CarPrintGuy said:

Thanks all for the suggestions, Elise, VX220 or a revvy Triumph bike are all compelling propositions.

I also like the idea of an EP3 turbo.

Would be a fun car for sure, getting harder to find a good one now though.

[boombang]

CarPrintGuy said:

Thanks all for the suggestions, Elise, VX220 or a revvy Triumph bike are all compelling propositions.

I also like the idea of an EP3 turbo.

Vx220 turbo is absolutely not revvy. Power comes on strong with boost and sits flat till drops off when runs out of puff.

That 111s Elise has less power, will be slower but will rev.

For the Nurburgring I'd take the Vx, for weekend UK roads the Elise.

[ZX10R NIN]

boombang said:

Vx220 turbo is absolutely not revvy. Power comes on strong with boost and sits flat till drops off when runs out of puff.

That 111s Elise has less power, will be slower but will rev.

For the Nurburgring I'd take the Vx, for weekend UK roads the Elise.

The OP was saying the Triumph 675R is revvy not the VX.

[un1eash]

If you want revvy then a 111R would be a better choice over the 111S Elise. A little easier to live with day to day also with servo brakes. Elise is surprisingly comfortable over long distances. Prices are crazy now though, I paid £15k for a low mileage 111S, sold it for £15k after 4 years, that was 5 years ago, would be worth £20k today and was last seen for sale a couple years ago for £19k.

[boombang]

ZX10R NIN said:

The OP was saying the Triumph 675R is revvy not the VX.

They specifically asked for a recommendation for a revvy car amongst other things.

[CostaBrava1972]

Abarth 124 Spider - similar performance to an MX5 2 litre, but the turbocharged performance comes-in lower down, rather than high revs. (Why delay gratification?)

Yes, it's a Mazda really, down there in the middle; just one that's been fitted with an Italian engine and some different bodywork; but retaining all the ergonomic advantages in the cabin area of Mazda's well-honed design.

"Fun" in a box, in short - but 'short' it isn't. With different bodywork, the 124 Spider is also about 6" longer and a wee bit wider. Hence (arguably) a lot better-looking than its accomplished & highly-popular progenitor; that car which unkind Americans occasionally call 'The Cockroach'...

Edited by CostaBrava1972 on Monday 24th January 14:39

[exelero]

I don’t know, get a Twingo 133 and charge it or Turbo it. You could pick one up for 5k and spend another 5 on the mods and then you have 10 k left for a bike.
Also a Tyler R civic for 3-5k and stick a turbo on or a charger . The type r revs 8k