MX5 to... what?! £5-7k
Discussion
roscopervis said:
Lots of good choices and from that list I'd go 350z. Also, at 5k you would be scraping the 350z barrel, but at 7k you can pick up very nice low mileage GT examples of the 276 engine version. There are quite a few about
A curve ball perhaps, but if the 330ci is on your list, have you considered an Alpina B3 3.3? 280 bhp so a decent bit faster than the 330, but using many of the same parts as the 330 so keeping running costs down, rather than the bespoke M3 parts prices. Very nice cars to drive and the SMG box in the Alpina is better than that in the 330.
350Z is becoming more and more attractive.... I need to see some in the flesh sometime as I see them so rarely to decide if I really love how they look, mind. They have a wide array of different body kits which seem to change the looks quite dramatically!A curve ball perhaps, but if the 330ci is on your list, have you considered an Alpina B3 3.3? 280 bhp so a decent bit faster than the 330, but using many of the same parts as the 330 so keeping running costs down, rather than the bespoke M3 parts prices. Very nice cars to drive and the SMG box in the Alpina is better than that in the 330.
Dusty964 said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3998039.htm
Or an Élan.
Get away from mainstream motoring and into something with some character
I want that, a lot. Mainstream insurers do not want me to have it though, they quote more for an S than for a Chim! Elan is an interesting option.Or an Élan.
Get away from mainstream motoring and into something with some character
mike9009 said:
I don't think anyone has mentioned one yet, but I would highly recommend a VX220 NA. Different experience to an MX5, brisker acceleration, lovely feel through the steering wheel, cheaper than an Elise, cheaper insurance, more robust engine, an event to drive, stunning looks (subjective, I accept!), good mpg, easy to work on DIY, good owners forum with much support.
Only thing is your budget will buy either an early ropey one or potentially a cat D. TBH, if you can find the owner of a Cat D (owners forum can help), they may have just had the clams replaced (so not major damage, but major expense and enough to write it off)
Sorry to muddy your waters further - but I would dearly love another. I sold my MX5 this week and don't miss that, but sold my vx220 8 years ago and still miss it!
Mike
I much much prefer the looks of the elise, and the ropey one/cat D is offputting, and the small fibreglass car on my roads concerns me; the elise here, as mentioned before, is covered in cracks from the terrible parkers here.Only thing is your budget will buy either an early ropey one or potentially a cat D. TBH, if you can find the owner of a Cat D (owners forum can help), they may have just had the clams replaced (so not major damage, but major expense and enough to write it off)
Sorry to muddy your waters further - but I would dearly love another. I sold my MX5 this week and don't miss that, but sold my vx220 8 years ago and still miss it!
Mike
The Flying Ox said:
Captain Muppet said:
The Flying Ox said:
cocopop said:
If you're considering an RX8, you have to consider an RX7. And if you can insure an import Supra for less than £1200, then an RX7 shouldn't be out of the question.
For what it's worth, my RX7 was more reliable than my Supra. It was more reliable than all my MX5s as well.
So much this. Obviously biased, but it's the greatest car I've ever driven. Owned a few Jap turbos, an MX5 and driven an RX8. The RX7 is head and shoulders above any of them for a) overall driving experience, and b) outright feeling of power. So far, it's not costing me a small fortune either. Get one with a recent compression test in the high 7s or above and you'll be laughing.For what it's worth, my RX7 was more reliable than my Supra. It was more reliable than all my MX5s as well.
It is such a good idea! So much so that I suggested it twice to the OP but it's been ignored! If I had the space, I'd buy another one tomorrow, then hunt down my first and buy that back.
Edited by cocopop on Tuesday 31st July 22:06
cocopop said:
It is such a good idea! So much so that I suggested it twice to the OP but it's been ignored! If I had the space, I'd buy another one tomorrow, then hunt down my first and buy that back.
Edited by cocopop on Tuesday 31st July 22:06
I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/
Grodecki said:
I'm trying to ignore it. I love the RX7 but.... don't they cost lots? Won't they definitely break after a x miles? I don't like that idea at all!
I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/
On average mine cost less than my TT6 Supra. I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/
With the mileage you're doing, economy won't make to much difference. Buy carefully, and find a good one and it'll be fine. I ran mine more or less as a daily driver for two years and nearly 20k miles, and only ever had to do basic maintenance.
Obviously there are things to look out for, and that does include engine rebuilds, but there is a huge amount of info available online.
Of course, if you get bitten by the modifying bug, things can get pricey, but that's the case with all cars.
Grodecki said:
I'm trying to ignore it. I love the RX7 but.... don't they cost lots? Won't they definitely break after a x miles? I don't like that idea at all!
I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/
Find a local Nutzer with one, go for a passenger ride and then decide, I'd suggest.I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/
that's what I did!Grodecki said:
FI MX5 would require specialist insurance; Admiral and co won't touch me on one, I've just found out! Buggery.
"Specialist" insurance doesn't have to cost a fortune. I'm with Competition Car Insurance for the RX7. They were about £2k cheaper than the next option, all modifications declared, agreed value, 5 track days a year included. I believe REIS also offer a similar service.Dakkon said:
Another point to add, have you test driven any of the cars you are considering?
Despite someones praise for a particular car, you may not like it.
I haven't, no. Will dealers allow a 20 year old student test drive cars like this? I'm thinking I'll likely be laughed out of the place.Despite someones praise for a particular car, you may not like it.
I'd suggest an S series TVR, I ran mine for 18 months as an only car, mostly reliable Ford's part one it, although not as nicely styled as a chimaera it would be a good way into a TVR, will cope with daily use. You mention the parking on your road but then say your mx5 is a very clean one, if they were that bad the 5 would be covered in parking dings, it could be the driver of the elise is responsible.
Gaz. said:
Supra TT:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
Are the JDM brakes different? Assume they are either hard to get or expensive to replace?http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 1st August 10:20
Gaz. said:
Supra TT:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
Has anyone driven one of these with the auto box? I've always really wanted one, but most seem to be autos - imagine that would detract from the experience a fair bit when pressing on.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
The Flying Ox said:
Grodecki said:
FI MX5 would require specialist insurance; Admiral and co won't touch me on one, I've just found out! Buggery.
"Specialist" insurance doesn't have to cost a fortune. I'm with Competition Car Insurance for the RX7. They were about £2k cheaper than the next option, all modifications declared, agreed value, 5 track days a year included. I believe REIS also offer a similar service.300bhp/ton said:
Gaz. said:
Supra TT:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
Are the JDM brakes different? Assume they are either hard to get or expensive to replace?http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4105945.htm (insist that this comes with the UK brakes as per the advert)
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 1st August 10:20
All UK spec cars came with the larger brakes.
Edited by cocopop on Wednesday 1st August 10:37
Noisy said:
I'd suggest an S series TVR, I ran mine for 18 months as an only car, mostly reliable Ford's part one it, although not as nicely styled as a chimaera it would be a good way into a TVR, will cope with daily use. You mention the parking on your road but then say your mx5 is a very clean one, if they were that bad the 5 would be covered in parking dings, it could be the driver of the elise is responsible.
My '5 is clean indeed; but it's only been here about 2 months, and I park very very defensively and turn wing mirrors in, make sure I'm very very close to the kerb. About half the cars on this road have scrapes on them.S is too expensive to insure, unfortunately, else it'd be top of my list. This is unless a specialist is much cheaper. When I get a free day away from work I will be calling people like REIS and seeing if they can do me anything
Regarding insurance - I wouldn't even bother with mainstream insurers at your age, they'll just charge silly prices. Get some quotes with some of the proper specialists, there is a thread in Japchat somewhere with a list of a lot of them.. and then you may be able to reconsider some of your options.
Gaz. said:
The autobox is one of the first intelligent adaptive boxes, it is very, very good and only the 4 ratios vs 6 spoil it, you really notice the jump from 3rd to OD. It compliments the car rather than detracts from it but that is beside the point as good manual cars are well outside the OP's budget.
Ta for the info. Aware of the high prices that the manuals bring, I just don't think this type of car would suit an auto - but that's just me. If I was seriously interested I'd probably drive both and if my theory was right, see if I could save up the extra cash for a manual.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff