Best choice for £3k budget MR2 Mk3, MX5nc prht, MGF/TF, M3??

[ian-hd9p4]

Thinking of getting something more fun again with Max budget of £3000 that will be my only vehicle since no longer doing the mileage to need the 1.9 TDI Ibiza. Seen a similar post on here from 2022 but things may have changed. Previously had 1500 Spitfire, MR2 Mk1 and Impreza Mk1 in the past so don't mind minor easy tinkering. Will probably look to buy later in the year when summer prices may drop hopefully.

At this age and budget not sure the best choice for everyday car that will live outside:
Toyota MR2 Mk3
Mazda MX5nc prht
MG F/TF
BMW Z3

Any advice gratefully received thanks.

(Edit: probably should add I'm 6 Ft with broad shoulder so fitting in comfortably is required)

Edited by ian-hd9p4 on Thursday 16th April 08:58

[biggbn]

Z3 are brilliant to own, characterful, look great and can never be this cheap. Smart Roadster or Daihatsu Copen? Watch the rust on the Copen but brilliant wee cars.

[Frimley111R]

MR2 Mk3 - Toyota reliability, great to drive (I've had 2 MX5s and 2 MR2 Mk3s), loads around, cost nothing to run.

MX5s will be old, rusty and I never liked the lack of weight over the rear tyres in the wet.

[SAS Tom]

It’d be MX5 for me.

You aren’t getting an M3 for 3 grand.

[Ankh87]

MR2 is a better car to drive but there's limited room for luggage of any sort. The frunk is tiny and only usable if you remove the spare wheel. The "boot" which is behind the seats is only good for gym bag really.
I had one for a weekend car and loved it. Great fun to drive especially on the B roads. You don't even have to be over the speed limit to have fun. They do feel cheap inside though and feels like a cheap car in general.
At 6 foot tall, you'd be at the limit so worth sitting in one and seeing how you fit.

[Josemartinez]

Slightly different to your list but how about a Cooper S? I had a JCW and it was great fun to drive, reasonably quick and handled brilliantly.

[pti]

I've just bought a mk3 MR2 and first impressions are that it's a wonderful little thing. So light on it's feet (understandably) and while not exactly fast it doesn't feel horribly underpowered on the roads it was designed for.

I've had FI MX5s and mk2 MR2 turbos and this feels so much more alive.

[CG2020UK]

I drove the MR2 and MX5 NC.

Went the MX5 in the end because it’s a significantly nicer place to be and better for track days.

Honestly really like both and I’d actually buy more on condition and if I could get a gem (I did).

[Pickle_Rick]

We have an mr2 roadster, owned for 20 years, it's brilliant. If you can live with the fact it's even less practical than an elise, you'll never want to get rid. Mate had an mx5, was a nicer place to sit and is more of a 'daily' (hate that word), but we both agreed the mr2 was far more fun to blast down the A6 or the backroads to Buxton. Both were surprisingly good in the snow, even with summer tyres. The mr2 is purely about the drive, the seats are supportive but the interior really basic and plasticky, stereo is quite possibly the worst on any car, but that's like complaining that a rally car doesn't have a stereo or massage seats or you can't seat 5 in an Atom. Find one with no rust and it'll last forever.

[TameRacingDriver]

Another vote for the MR2. One of the most fun cars I've owned. MX5 is a good car but the MR2 is better out of the box.

[ZX10R NIN]

MR2 is the pick but finding a good one is the hard part.

2.5 Z4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508075...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

2.0t TT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602079...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601319...

350Z it'll need a bit of fettling but this coud be a good buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604131...

Leftfield

SLK 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604131...

280:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604061...