Something fun
Author
Discussion

somerdom

Original Poster:

62 posts

122 months

Thursday 4th April 2019
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Hi everyone!

Bit of an issue here. I have currently got a 2012 Mini Cooper S with 61k miles on it. It has a good spec, and is awesome fun to drive. I love the thing to bits.

Unfortunately, it's st; I'm just about losing the will to live with it. It has been recovered three times now (I haven't owned it for three years yet!) and it is costing me stupid amounts of money to run. It's so unreliable that it puts a damper on every drive.

It's worth approximately £6.5-7k.

What is about for around £8k? It needs to be good fun to drive. All suggestions are on the table, I have no requirements about practicality, economy etc. The only requirement is fun.

romeodelta

1,149 posts

190 months

Friday 5th April 2019
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987 Boxster?

Good to drive, although maintenance can stack up a bit if you look after it properly.

stevekoz

577 posts

191 months

Friday 5th April 2019
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Hmmm, only requirement is fun, i guess that is subjective to each person, one mans fun is another mans hell. However, for the money you are in reach of a prime number of hot hatches which do the "sensible space" thing with the ability to have that "hooligan" alter ego.

If fun is on the cards, rwd is definitely something you should be considering. For me in terms of hot hatchbacks, the 1 series is marmite, you either love it or ou hate it. But trust me when i say that the 130i is a hoot to drive.

Its as easy to drive round town as any small to medium sized hatch. Boot isn't awful and neither are the back seats but the engine is a peach. You can pick one up that is decent between £5k - 8k. Save yourself a bit of money and tweak the suspension with a BIRD's kit and you've got yourself a baby m3 - it really can be that much fun IMHO.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Searching, i could not find many of these for sale currently. But here is probably one of the best drivers car in on the market for this kind of money - nowhere near as unreliable as some might tell you and a brilliant car to drive and have lots of fun in when the road takes you.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Megane-R26-F1-S...

Maybe you fancy something a bit different to a hatch and so bring on the 350z. Another great rwd car. Beautiful noise from the exhaust and reliability to boot (its a Nissan).

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or how about going for a bit of v8 british class muscle for your fun -

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Pretty much a baby Aston vantage for a third of the money i think. You aren't going to look better for 8k i don't think.

Or maybe you want to have some off road fun ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Harder to go quicker point to point than in an STI. Forgive the understeer a little and use the throttle and really drive it and they are a brilliant car to have fun in. The noise is addictive. The turbo's are great and reliability wise i've had 4 and nothing major has gone wrong. Though maintenance is key - most of it preventative.

Just a handful of "fun" if i was looking to spend that kind of money at the moment.



ZX10R NIN

30,528 posts

154 months

Friday 5th April 2019
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I'd say a 350Z or a Megane RS250.

Mr Tidy

31,260 posts

156 months

Friday 5th April 2019
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Or maybe a BMW Z4 - Roadster or Coupe.

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 6th April 2019
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ZX10R NIN said:
I'd say a 350Z or a Megane RS250.
Or R26 or S2000

ClaphamBoxS

392 posts

93 months

Saturday 6th April 2019
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romeodelta said:
987 Boxster?

Good to drive, although maintenance can stack up a bit if you look after it properly.
This...most def THIS .....

Halo in reverse

179 posts

136 months

Saturday 6th April 2019
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ClaphamBoxS said:
This...most def THIS .....
+1 you won't regret it

Darren93

151 posts

134 months

Sunday 7th April 2019
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What issues have you had with your R56?

TheJimi

27,665 posts

272 months

Sunday 7th April 2019
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ClaphamBoxS said:
romeodelta said:
987 Boxster?

Good to drive, although maintenance can stack up a bit if you look after it properly.
This...most def THIS .....
Guy reckons a Mini Cooper S is costing him a fortune, and you guys suggest a Boxster?

I'd suggest an MX5. A cracker could be found within budget, easily.




soad

34,632 posts

205 months

Sunday 7th April 2019
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RS 200 Cup?

romeodelta

1,149 posts

190 months

Monday 8th April 2019
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TheJimi said:
ClaphamBoxS said:
romeodelta said:
987 Boxster?

Good to drive, although maintenance can stack up a bit if you look after it properly.
This...most def THIS .....
Guy reckons a Mini Cooper S is costing him a fortune, and you guys suggest a Boxster?

I'd suggest an MX5. A cracker could be found within budget, easily.
I did add that caveat, but he said the only criteria is fun.

aka_kerrly

12,505 posts

239 months

Monday 8th April 2019
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Darren93 said:
What issues have you had with your R56?
This is important in my opinion , what has actually gone wrong and was it major!!!?

I ask because far too often I have heard people complaining of unreliable cars and then you find out it's due to lack of maintenance, ignoring obvious problems, a common fault on the vehicle that is well publicised or a random failure that no one could predict.





Honestherbert

592 posts

176 months

Monday 8th April 2019
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Carguy85 said:
Go for an audi TT
He said he wanted fun! An audi tt is as much fun as a golf. If you want a hot hatch then Renault RS models are a hoot. If RWD then I would go for either a 350z or S2000. Pulsar gti-r are also a fun little weapon and an easy 320bhp.