Best driving experience for £12k?

[Mark300zx]

Open to most cars, but Caterham style vehicles would not be a choice!

[cerb4.5lee]

For me personally something like a TVR Chimeara at that money would be the best driving experience. Noisy and engaging to drive...plus it is a lovely place to sit.

[cerb4.5lee]

It is all very subjective. Do you have a preference for FWD/RWD/4WD...4 cylinder/V6/V8 engine or NA or a Turbo engine. Coupe/Convertible/Hatchback etc.

[Mark300zx]

I am open to each person's subjective opinion

[Azzurrinick]

Low rev grunt, huge noise and great fun would be the Chimaera, if you prefer high revving engines then it's got to be the S2000.

[cerb4.5lee]

Mark300zx said:

I am open to each person's subjective opinion

I had a similar budget to that last year and I went for a 370Z GT Roadster(with an exhaust and intake mod) and I've been very happy with it.

[DoubleD]

What will you be using the car for?

[Mark300zx]

DoubleD said:

What will you be using the car for?

Fast road, some track.

[anonymous-user]

It's totally subjective. I love a good impreza STi for its turbo thrust and mega traction and also love the feel of a Cayman S for it's low slung driving position, N/A engine and different balance.

[DoubleD]

Mark300zx said:

DoubleD said:

What will you be using the car for?

Fast road, some track.

So a weekend car? If a Caterham is out the what about a VX220?

[Actus Reus]

VX220 - a cheap turbo or a nice NA for that.

[CABC]

Mark300zx said:

DoubleD said:

What will you be using the car for?

Fast road, some track.

Best driving experience

supercharged MX5 with coilovers. clearly the benchmark to be judged against.

VX220 out of budget.

[FredClogs]

It's hard to now what the best driving experience is, depends on roads, mood etc... I'd maybe think about a good e46 M3, sort of do it all car.

[anonymous-user]

I think some FWD ones might offer the best for our sort of roads.

Clio RS Trophy
Integra

[DoubleD]

CABC said:

VX220 out of budget.

No it isnt

[DoubleD]

Z4M?

[CABC]

DoubleD said:

CABC said:

VX220 out of budget.

No it isnt

if you can get an ok one for 12k then it gets my vote.

[Mark300zx]

Currently have an e46 M3 and after 8 years of great ownership I am after a change, Vx220 has legs but I am chunky monkey so it could be a challenge!

[courty]

You could save yourself a whole heap of cash and get a Mk3 MR2 and maybe put a turbocharger in it.
A friend of mine has a standard mk3 (lightened a bit) and he has a lot of fun on the track with it. It isn't quick, but enjoyably flickable.

VX220 and S2000 already mentioned (engine in the S2000 is very special, the VX has a sense of occasion getting in and out of it).


There is a guy at our car club who has a Jensen Healey with a SDi Rover V8 in it which is a lot of fun, very cool and sounds great. They are a bit rare, but ball-park your budget.


I have a 1970's Alfa Spider. Not the quickest thing in the world (120bhp 1000kg), but they can be zipped up a bit and come with lsd and discs all round as standard. I prefer it as an all round package than modern cars...handbuilt body by Pinin Farina and the interior with the angled gauges and twinpod-dials, the helebore steering wheel and long throw gear lever..I love buzzing around in mine..standard skinny tyres...but delicately balanced, great fun.

I paid £7,500 for it two years ago. Spent a bit on it, but even so, well under your budget. zero road tax too.

Image from Scotland last autumn with MR2 friends.

[Actus Reus]

CABC said:

if you can get an ok one for 12k then it gets my vote.

You can get a nice 2.2 for that budget all day long. A decent turbo is probably a bit more, but in this market prices will soften I’d say. Won’t be much supply til 2021 I suspect.