Good fun £4k weekend car? MX5 Supercharged / R26 / Type R?
Discussion
Hi Guys,
may be in a position to buy a weekend within a £4k budget. Want something that will be a good solid fun drive at the weekends, unlikely to track and not interested in commuter comfort.
MX5 Supercharged seems a nice possibility, I like the MX5 and with a supercharger and about 180bhp these must be great fun each time you get in them?
Then an array of hot hatches R26/Type R (EP3) and maybe even 350z fall into the money.
Any experience advice or alternatives for the same money?
Thanks
may be in a position to buy a weekend within a £4k budget. Want something that will be a good solid fun drive at the weekends, unlikely to track and not interested in commuter comfort.
MX5 Supercharged seems a nice possibility, I like the MX5 and with a supercharger and about 180bhp these must be great fun each time you get in them?
Then an array of hot hatches R26/Type R (EP3) and maybe even 350z fall into the money.
Any experience advice or alternatives for the same money?
Thanks
I’ve owned a number of cars that fit the bill. Lots of experience with MX-5. The general consensus nowadays is to Turbocharge, not Supercharge. There’s far less support and availability of parts for Supercharging.
A Turbo MX-5 is hilarious fun, I absolutely loved mine, but be under no illusion, it will be a proper project requiring care and attention and some good mechanical skill and knowledge – if your scare of spanners I do not recommend.
As an alternative – I swapped my £4000 MX-5 turbo for a £4000 Boxster as featured here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Different, but also an excellent weekend, fun, project type car. Love mine to bits, even if there are things I miss about the MX-5.
As a final option, and one I would strongly consider – a Mk3 MX-5, with suitable mods. Buy a dirt cheap 2.0 car, which are a bit plain, but they really do become much more lively and exciting with the right mods – suspension, engine tuning, noise and character etc.
If there’s no reason for back seats, then I would ALWAYS recommend going for one of the dedicated 2 seat sportscar options over any hot-hatch, and I’m a huge hot-hatch fan.
A Turbo MX-5 is hilarious fun, I absolutely loved mine, but be under no illusion, it will be a proper project requiring care and attention and some good mechanical skill and knowledge – if your scare of spanners I do not recommend.
As an alternative – I swapped my £4000 MX-5 turbo for a £4000 Boxster as featured here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Different, but also an excellent weekend, fun, project type car. Love mine to bits, even if there are things I miss about the MX-5.
As a final option, and one I would strongly consider – a Mk3 MX-5, with suitable mods. Buy a dirt cheap 2.0 car, which are a bit plain, but they really do become much more lively and exciting with the right mods – suspension, engine tuning, noise and character etc.
If there’s no reason for back seats, then I would ALWAYS recommend going for one of the dedicated 2 seat sportscar options over any hot-hatch, and I’m a huge hot-hatch fan.
Thanks again for the replies.
That is my one concern with the MX5 Forced Induction, is you really dont know the quality of a build until youve lived with it for a while.
I have access to spanners and dont mind a bit of tinkering but ive massively lost the want for projects or something wanting constant fettling. Regarding the MK3 MX5 I know nothing about them but there is one with some BBR Tuning bits and a reported 185 BHP that I saw for sale that seemed interesting?
The MR2 Roadster is a decent shout, but for some reason doesnt appeal to me. Would like something a bit pokier than that.
That is my one concern with the MX5 Forced Induction, is you really dont know the quality of a build until youve lived with it for a while.
I have access to spanners and dont mind a bit of tinkering but ive massively lost the want for projects or something wanting constant fettling. Regarding the MK3 MX5 I know nothing about them but there is one with some BBR Tuning bits and a reported 185 BHP that I saw for sale that seemed interesting?
The MR2 Roadster is a decent shout, but for some reason doesnt appeal to me. Would like something a bit pokier than that.
hantsph said:
z4 3.0 will definitely be getting a look!
MGF/TF - I actually have one as a runaround im selling soon, not really enough punch for a fun weekend car to make most of the budget for me.
Which MG do you have?MGF/TF - I actually have one as a runaround im selling soon, not really enough punch for a fun weekend car to make most of the budget for me.
I've just bought a TF 160BHP for £1750. Aftermarket exhaust, headgasket done, hardtop for winter.
Few easy mods and a remap creeps the power up too. It's faster and more enjoyable than the MR2 Roadster I had.
For £4k I'd go for a BMW Z4 3.0. Fast enough, nice place to be, reliable enough. Just not as fun as an MX5 with a supercharger
Ahem. I respectfully disagree, see PH articles linked to above.
Said car going stronger than ever, no bork, maximum fun. Has been in daily use recently too as the weather's been fine.
£4k Boxster is very doable. Not limited to 2.5s, but the 2.5 is far from a limitation and arguably a really early 2.5 is the smartest, most fun purchase.
Said car going stronger than ever, no bork, maximum fun. Has been in daily use recently too as the weather's been fine.
£4k Boxster is very doable. Not limited to 2.5s, but the 2.5 is far from a limitation and arguably a really early 2.5 is the smartest, most fun purchase.
james_gt3rs said:
greggy50 said:
The bork is strong at that money though and it would only be the 2.5 which are not that quick to be honest
So the internet seems to think, hence the low values. Plenty living on way over 100k miles...I do want a Boxter S albeit a 987 as my next car so have nothing against them I just think for a tight budget they would not be my first choice.
I drove both and preferred the Z4 as well and thought it looked smarter inside and out. The 987 is far better in that respect however hence me wanting one next as it will make a nice upgrade.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff