£13k to spend on a fun daily, any suggestions?

[seanlaurent]

I'm looking at changing my Mk7 2L TDI Golf for something a bit more fun.

I commute 50 miles a day 7 days a week between Uni and my part time job, it's primarily B roads, but I could extend the journey by a couple of km and go on the motorway for most of it instead.

I want a petrol, even though it'll probably cost me a fortune.
If I'm sticking with diesel I want something that's not short on power.

I had an NB Mx-5 prior to my Golf and while I regret selling it, there's plenty of wet days when I don't.

I'm also from Ireland so road tax ain't cheap (€1800 on a 350z, €600+ on most older Mx-5s etc.)

I've €15k to spend, but €8k of that is a Credit Union loan.
So I'm partly thinking of buying something cheaper (that'll cost more to run) because €50 a week on the loan, plus tax, insurance and fuel isn't going to be nice.

I've been eyeing up a MK5 Golf GTI, my first car was a base model 1.4 MK5, I loved how it drove but it needed more power, so the GTI.
Road tax is €700 or so, it'll probably set me back €6k+ for something that's not too ropey.

MK2 Focus STs are also cool, I'd love the 5 pot but I don't think I can justify the €1200 a year tax + running costs.

Mx-5s are always going to be a contender for me, not sure how much I want a convertible though.

For diesel, a E92 335D can be got for ~€10k, insure is €2k (24, RWD + power), heard they can have issues.
Speaking of issues, I could go petrol and get a 335i, expensive tax, insurance and running costs but 300hp, 3L petrol.

CL7 Accord would be cool too.
No one will insure me on a S2000, EP3.

As you can tell I really don't know what I want..
It could be a hot hatch or a big diesel brute.
I just want something different that I'm going to enjoy driving.

Any suggestions?

[davidif]

I'd be looking at a GT86

[stevekoz]

Wondering why the mx-5 wasn't missed in the rain? Was it a case you didn't get with the rwd?

[ZX10R NIN]

The tax makes going petrol a tough call BUT there are options that give you RWD & a bit of poke:

125d M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

Or if you want to keep it more sensible the the 123d is a very good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108035...

[eleveneleven]

ZX10R NIN said:

The tax makes going petrol a tough call BUT there are options that give you RWD & a bit of poke:

125d M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

Or if you want to keep it more sensible the the 123d is a very good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108035...

I agree the 123/125D are superb cars i've had both. Fast enough to have fun in and good on juice.

Didn't realise road tax was so expensive in Ireland!