5-7K to spend

[underdosed]

Hi All,

Having recently moved and spent all I need to on the house I have been left with a max of £7,000 to buy a new car.

I'd like something fun, fast, petrol, manual and not too expensive to repair.

Not bothered about MPG as only do about 6k a year.

Car's I've considered (bearing in mind I'm quite a Honda fan)

S2000
DC5 Type R
350Z
Impreza

What else should I be looking at? Any thoughts on what I'm already looking at?

All help appreciated!

Edited by underdosed on Monday 26th June 13:59

[CivBrum]

underdosed said:

Hi All,

Having recently moved and spent all I need to on the house I have been left with a max of £7,000 to buy a new car.

I'd like something fun, fast, petrol, manual and too expensive to repair.

Not bothered about MPG as only do about 6k a year.

Car's I've considered (bearing in mind I'm quite a Honda fan)

S2000
DC5 Type R
350Z
Impreza

What else should I be looking at? Any thoughts on what I'm already looking at?

All help appreciated!

You won't get a decent DC5 Type R in budget, and they will be expensive to insure being an import. 350Z/Impreza are very thirsty and expensive to tax, and the 350Z apparently doesn't feel all that quick as it's quite heavy (though I am sure it is plenty quick). If you like Honda, I would personally suggest either a Civic Type R (Clean, late EP3 is around 5k, whereas for that money you'll be in a slightly leggy FN2, though there are decent examples around the 6.5/7k). Personally, if you can manage with a two seat convertible with no boot space, I would get the S2K - excellent engine, probably won't depreciate much if you're only putting 6k miles a year on, meant to be great fun. I haven't driven them, but I have done quite a bit of research into them - earlier AP1 models (pre 2004) rev higher but are twitchier, and have less low down torque. I'm not sure you'll get a great example for 7k however, they are getting quite pricey.

Tl;dr - S2K if you can find one in budget, otherwise EP3/FN2.

[underdosed]

Yes would definitely be at the bottom end of s2000's but assume (wrongly?) they are quite reliable.

Had an EP3 before and had considered getting another for £5,000ish.

Anything else I should be thinking about? Any left field choices?

[Prohibiting]

Clio 182 Trophy?

[CivBrum]

underdosed said:

Yes would definitely be at the bottom end of s2000's but assume (wrongly?) they are quite reliable.

Had an EP3 before and had considered getting another for £5,000ish.

Anything else I should be thinking about? Any left field choices?

The normal hot hatch options (Focus ST, Fiesta ST, Abarth 500, Renaultsport Megane, etc. etc. etc.), but if you like Honda/vtec why would you go for a turbo option rather than an EP3/FN2. BMW Z4? Could get into an older Porsche Boxster for that price, but I'd be a bit worried about pricey repairs.

[Butter Face]

You would be at the lower end of the S2k market, and yes they are reliable but more likely to cost more when they go wrong. (A chap I know had a bottom end let go and a replacement engine cost him a fortune) super rare to happen but when you're buying at the bottom end of the market you expect issues.

Your budget would get you a very nice EP3 I would say. It all depends on what you want. You could get a minty mint standard car or a highly modified one for that cash too.

[MorganP104]

underdosed said:

I'd like something fun, fast, petrol, manual and too expensive to repair.

What an excellent typo!

In the spirit of your typo, I'm going to suggest a RenaultSport Clio V6.

Failing that, a mid-engined R5 Turbo.

That pair will DEFINITELY be too expensive to repair.

[underdosed]

MorganP104 said:

What an excellent typo!

In the spirit of your typo, I'm going to suggest a RenaultSport Clio V6.

Failing that, a mid-engined R5 Turbo.

That pair will DEFINITELY be too expensive to repair.

Whoops!

[Ephraim]

If you like revvy engines, then as a completely left field choice, how about a RX-8? £4k would probably see you into a PZ which is a very sorted car, and you'd have plenty left over for fuel and a rebuild if needed. £6k gets you into a R3, which is a more reliable engine. Sure, they are thirsty, but if you aren't doing that many miles shouldn't be an issue, and they are a lot of fun.

[underdosed]

Ephraim said:

If you like revvy engines, then as a completely left field choice, how about a RX-8? £4k would probably see you into a PZ which is a very sorted car, and you'd have plenty left over for fuel and a rebuild if needed. £6k gets you into a R3, which is a more reliable engine. Sure, they are thirsty, but if you aren't doing that many miles shouldn't be an issue, and they are a lot of fun.

Good shout but I've had one already and having had to have it rebuilt it still scared me that at any point is was going to go bang again. Also its a pain having to leave it running when moving cars around etc

[Ephraim]

underdosed said:

Good shout but I've had one already and having had to have it rebuilt it still scared me that at any point is was going to go bang again. Also its a pain having to leave it running when moving cars around etc

Entirely fair. I had two and never had a problem with either engine, and whilst the flooding risk was there, I found that a couple of mins running, with a throttle blip as I turned it off meant I never flooded it. Which is more than could be said for my Jag XJ8, which I managed to flood once, and the missus three times, when shuffling the cars about.

[SebringMan]

When I looked at similar choices it seemed to be the same.

Out of those choices I'd get an EP3 Civic.

Otherwise?

Clio 182 with change ; you'll get a lovely one for that money and I still maintain they are about the best track/daily combo under £5k with mods included
BMW E46 330i ; A sound choice but IMO they will cost more than the above and your choices to run potentially.
RX8 ; They are a great shout. Keep on top of the maintenance and you'll be laughing.

[egor110]

Ephraim said:

underdosed said:

Good shout but I've had one already and having had to have it rebuilt it still scared me that at any point is was going to go bang again. Also its a pain having to leave it running when moving cars around etc

Entirely fair. I had two and never had a problem with either engine, and whilst the flooding risk was there, I found that a couple of mins running, with a throttle blip as I turned it off meant I never flooded it. Which is more than could be said for my Jag XJ8, which I managed to flood once, and the missus three times, when shuffling the cars about.

Would a turbo timer solve the flooding issue ?

Set it for 2 mins then park up and lock and leave the car with the timer counting down?

[steevewright]

Astra or Corsa VXR? Reliable, relatively cheap to run and fast/fun. Similar to fiesta or focus ST but seem to be a bit cheaper so can get a better one within budget. Failing that an MX5 is always a good shout.

[underdosed]

Been looking at a few BMW 130i's - seem to fit the bill quite well, anybody owned one?

[ZX10R NIN]

Never owned one but I found that the suspension seemed to be limited & run out of travel when pressing on in a similar way to the Z4 I will add that a set of Bilstein shocks & ACS springs seemed to cure this, but lots of people on here like them, for your budget I'd find it hard to look past the Focus ST/Megane RS or if it has to be N/A Hot Hatch wise I'd be looking at the Clio 197 big engine I'd be looking for a 350Z.

Nissan 350Z

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Clio RS (all with the Cup Chassis)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

These ones have the Recaros

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Megane RS230 F1 R26

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Focus ST-3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Leftfield Options:

Astra VXR (they represent good VFM & with a bit of suspension work can be a good steer)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Golf R32

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...