£15k - what fast/fun car?

[sgtbash]

Hi Gents,

I would like a car to use daily for work purposes (site visits etc) but also have fun on the twistys.

So far I am thinking:

Mk7 Golf GTi Manual
Focus ST-3 250

I feel the Golf is a bit boring however, and the Ford just a bit cheap inside.

Any suggestions?

[Jasandjules]

TVR Chimeara. You are welcome

[PH User]

MK3 Megane RS

[sinbaddio]

How about an Abarth Biposto? Everyone who has one raves about them, including folks with far more expensive stuff. In fact I'm sure 2manycars said if he had to keep one, that would be it (touch over £15k however):

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

[LordGrover]

GT86/BRZ.
Not the quickest off the mark, but for the twisties you'll struggle to find anything as much fun, and practical too - so long as you don't regularly take more than one passenger.

[sgtbash]

Jasandjules said:

TVR Chimeara. You are welcome

Forgot to say, needs to be at least moderately reliable.

PH User said:

MK3 Megane RS

A worse interior than the Focus! Although would be very fun.

sinbaddio said:

How about an Abarth Biposto? Everyone who has one raves about them, including folks with far more expensive stuff. In fact I'm sure 2manycars said if he had to keep one, that would be it (touch over £15k however):

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

Sorry, i'm just one of these guys that cant stand 500's/695's - totally not for me i'm afraid!

LordGrover said:

GT86/BRZ.
Not the quickest off the mark, but for the twisties you'll struggle to find anything as much fun, and practical too - so long as you don't regularly take more than one passenger.

I have always wanted a GT86 if i'm honest. But now i'll just want a GR 86, or a GR Yaris even!

[PH User]

Which do you care about most, a fun car or soft touch plastics?

[liner33]

M135i/m235i

[sgtbash]

PH User said:

Which do you care about most, a fun car or soft touch plastics?

£15k is a fair bit of cash to me, why not both?

[Sterillium]

I would vote XKR if the TVR isn't on the table.

[fflump]

Sterillium said:

I would vote XKR if the TVR isn't on the table.

He needs a daily driver for doing site visits, a TVR is not a good suggestion.

OP-how new or old do you want the car to be ideally?
Number of seats? doors?

[colin79666]

Octavia VRS. Golf GTI underneath but better boot and a bit less common.

[PH User]

sgtbash said:

PH User said:

Which do you care about most, a fun car or soft touch plastics?

£15k is a fair bit of cash to me, why not both?

If you can find both. You will likely need to compromise somewhere, for me fun wouldn't be the compromise.

[Sterillium]

fflump said:

He needs a daily driver for doing site visits, a TVR is not a good suggestion.

I ran one as a daily driver for a few years.

[SarlechS]

987 Boxster or Cayman S

[cerb4.5lee]

Audi TTS? They aren't the last word in driver involvement, but the do feel light and nimble and they have a decent turn of pace too. Great to live with/sit in I reckon as well.

[davek_964]

cerb4.5lee said:

Audi TTS? They aren't the last word in driver involvement, but the do feel light and nimble and they have a decent turn of pace too. Great to live with/sit in I reckon as well.

I bought an S-Line (so TT not TTS) a month ago, and it is pretty good down a twisty road. Handles well, decent acceleration and as you say the interior is a nice place to be.

[anonymous-user]

Vauxhall Monaro or VXR8 if you need 4 doors. You’ll be too busy laughing or looking for petrol stations to worry about how soft the dashboard is.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 7th April 15:05

[Yeti97]

Get yourself a decent Leon Cupra for that kind of money + change. 4 door looks great. Plenty of manuals available and 280ish bhp.

[cerb4.5lee]

If you can get by with only 2 seats then perhaps a 370Z/Z4M could tick the box? Or you could get a leggy E46/E9x M3 at that budget if you definitely need 4 seats.