which weekend fun car...Elise S1 or MX5

[kambites]

The Elise certainly does corrode. In my experience, S1s have a particular problem with water getting under the floor mats (if fitted) and corroding the floorpan. Another issue is if the suspension geometry has been corrected using non-galvanised shims - contact with steel makes aluminium corrode much faster and if the suspension mounts go, the car is a write-off.

Mostly Elise corrosion is of the annoying variety rather than the terminal one, though. Getting steel bolts out of aluminium is a pain in the arse.

[Evo]

It's probably electrolytic corrosion if it's aluminium against steel, that's why 928's corrode.

[tonys]

You didn't fancy a Micra CC or a 206CC? - so I guess my initial thought of a Daihatsu Copen (is that the right name?) is out of the question as well then

The best weekend fun car I've had was a Caterham - although I think you'll struggle on that budget. Westfields are probably within reach, similar type of experience to the Caterham (others might beg to differ), but if you get the right one, certainly not that much different. Haven't driven an Elise, but would think the Caterham/Westfield option is just that little bit more 'raw', if you know what I mean. You don't need doors, windows and roof on a weekend toy - they just add extra weight.

[mikey P 500]

Having owned both before you will enjoy either; both great cars. You should be able to run either a £8k Elise or £2kish mx5 with out any major depreciation, if you doing low miles. I personally preferred the Elise but my wife much preferred the mx5 as a s1 Elise is fairly hardcore by comparison. You need to try them both really, as quite different to drive and live with. Vx220 and a mx5 with forced induction both good options worth considering too.