What car? 10k fast and fun

[if in doubt]

Having always read 'what car?' threads with little understanding as to how petrolheads and driving gods couldn't work out what they want. I've now ended up in a similar boat.

So having just bought my first house, I've decided I want a faster car. I know the sensible thing is to plug all my money into the mortgage etc etc but I have a rear wheel drive itch I want to scratch it.

So, requirements:
Rear wheel drive
Faster than or as fast as my current Clio 182
Great handling for pushing on (I live near to the peak district so get regular access to fast, bumpy and empty roads)
Good for the occasional track day
Budget of around 10k
Doesn't need to be practical, happy to run a diseasel snotter to get to work as I have 40 mile round trip to work, so about 10000 miles p.a. Commute is 16 miles of motorway with a couple of miles each end of town driving.

Haven't progressed past window shopping but have considered E46 M3, S1/S2 Elise, Honda S2000, Nissan 350z, MX-5 (perhaps buy cheaper and send it to BBR for some power/handling upgrades) or Toyota GT86 with a bit of stretch.

Biggest concern with something like an E46 M3 is that I would struggle to really enjoy the car, a 15 year performance BMW is going to cost a fair bit more than my 182 to run. Especially if I want to do the occasional track day in it.

So, what do I get?

[cerb4.5lee]

I like pretty much all of the suggestions you have mentioned, I suppose it's whether you prefer lighter/less power or heavier/more power.

I've mostly done the heavier/more power route but lighter/less power is appealing to me currently, so the Lotus is attractive.

[anonymous-user]

VX220 ? Turbo may be out of budget slightly.

BMW Z4 Coupe?
Boxster S?

[PaulGT3]

z4 3.0si coupe

Only thing its lacking is an LSD, although for £1500 or so I think you can get birds to fit you a quaife.

[FlyingPanda]

£10k would just about get you into a half-decent TVR Chimaera...

[schmalex]

My money would be heading towards a Boxster or Z4 Coupe. Are early Cayman' at that price point yet..?

[jamieduff1981]

FlyingPanda said:

£10k would just about get you into a half-decent TVR Chimaera...

Which will be glorious over the peak district but will be a challenge rather than something to flatter the driver.

OP - do you like a challenge?

[if in doubt]

I think I'm leaning down the lightness route. Man maths assumes the car will be friendlier on consumables that way...

I'd looked at the Z4 coupe, it's a very good looking car in my eyes and the engine definitely appeals. Don't they break rear springs for fun though?

I've always lusted after TVR's, is a chim the kind of car you can grab by the scruff of the neck? It's probably one of my favourite traits of my clio.

[if in doubt]

schmalex said:

My money would be heading towards a Boxster or Z4 Coupe. Are early Cayman' at that price point yet..?

I fear my concerns over the M3 running costs would also apply to the sort of Boxster I could get for that money. There are a few leggy Cayman's around this price band, a friend has a GT4 (aware it's a different beast) but you have to cover ground at ridiculous pace to start to get the best out of it. Are the lesser ones still fun at sensible speeds?

[jamieduff1981]

I've only ragged a Chimaera once. It's happy to be thrown around but does need respect at the same time. You have to be ahead of the car. Get complacent and it'll punch you between the eyes.

TVRs never get boring to drive.

Have a look on Youtube for Chimaera and Griffith limits handling days and so on. You'll get an idea of how they behave there. They are hugely feelsome as TVRs always are.

[GrumpyTwig]

Ignore the RWD aspect and get a 250/265 Megane? Great way to get into something with 300bhp and a great chassis, even if it is FWD

Not mine but good spec, great price: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

Will be as cheap to run as the Clio give or take.

[schmalex]

if in doubt said:

schmalex said:

My money would be heading towards a Boxster or Z4 Coupe. Are early Cayman' at that price point yet..?

I fear my concerns over the M3 running costs would also apply to the sort of Boxster I could get for that money. There are a few leggy Cayman's around this price band, a friend has a GT4 (aware it's a different beast) but you have to cover ground at ridiculous pace to start to get the best out of it. Are the lesser ones still fun at sensible speeds?

A 987 2.7 is a wonderful car to drive and doesn't feel lacking at all. Having had an S before, I wouldn't waste my money on one again when the 2.7 gives you everything you need

[rossw46]

I've had an E46 M3 for the past 2 years, and yes, I absolutely love it to bits, it only gets used on the weekends, has a scorpion exhaust and a big brake kit, and servicing and tyres aside, in 2 years it's cost me about £800 replacing various bits, which I don't think is too bad, and is pretty much sorted now. That engine and chassis make up for it !

What about an S2000 if they're available around £6K, and a TTS supercharger kit fitted at £4K, >400BHP and 265lb torque...that even sounds tempting to me !

[lord trumpton]

BMW 130i?

[FlyingPanda]

if in doubt said:

I've always lusted after TVR's, is a chim the kind of car you can grab by the scruff of the neck? It's probably one of my favourite traits of my clio.

A Chim is not just a car that you can grab by the scruff of the neck, it is a car that you must grab by the scruff of the neck!

[mario64]

I'd vote for the Z4 coupe. The three litre roadster is surprisngly good to drive, and the coupe is fantastic to sit in. I've never driven a coupe but imagine it's amazing?

An E30 335 would be another choice if you want something a bit more GT ish.

As a left field choice have you thought about an FD RX7? They're supposed to be great to drive and would sneak under the £10k budget.

[CrouchingWayne]

You won't get a reasonable S2 Elise so I would rule that out. S1 is more compromised - if you can get a half decent one in budget I would buy that, but only if you can live with it.

I had a VX220 previously which I got for less than your budget - awesome car, cost peanuts to run which was nice. I'd question how fast any Elise derivative is vs a Clio 182. Obviously handling is totally different.

Elise derivatives have the convertible - adds a lot to the experience in my view.

Second choice would be an M3 from your list. I've got that engine in a different body and it's glorious. I find the relative comfort after the VX220 nice as well, heated seats and decent stereo notably. Finding something nice in budget is the issue again with the M3.

Have you thought about a Megane 250/265? Seem to be £10-12k and would be great fun and cheap to run.

[cerb4.5lee]

GrumpyTwig said:

Ignore the RWD aspect and get a 250/265 Megane? Great way to get into something with 300bhp and a great chassis, even if it is FWD

I'm a bit of a rwd fan(ok alot) but I must admit as a couple of you have mentioned and the megane does seem like a cracking choice.

Plus the OP is used to a performance Clio so the quick megane seems a really good option.

[cerb4.5lee]

lord trumpton said:

BMW 130i?

If we're suggesting refined and steady family cars...then I will throw the 330i into the mix too.

[if in doubt]

cerb4.5lee said:

GrumpyTwig said:

Ignore the RWD aspect and get a 250/265 Megane? Great way to get into something with 300bhp and a great chassis, even if it is FWD

I'm a bit of a rwd fan(ok alot) but I must admit as a couple of you have mentioned and the megane does seem like a cracking choice.

Plus the OP is used to a performance Clio so the quick megane seems a really good option.

I had considered it. Certainly an excellent choice for b-road blasting, but I've had a hot hatch. I was leaning towards a sports car of some description to give me a change.