Most fun car under £1,500
Discussion
306 XSi, a grand.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Convertibles are available in budget with ease.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Convertibles are available in budget with ease.
I've had two on your list: Clio 182 and MR2 Roadster.
182 was good to drive. However, was the most expensive car to maintain I've ever owned, beating a couple of straight six beemers. Nice cars. But if you're trying to run one on the cheap, I'd definitely say get one that's had both the cambelt and dephaser changed, and a new tailpipe, otherwise your cheap car will turn into an expensive one.
Driving the MR2 now. Fun to drive on a country road on a nice day, but don't push your luck when it's wet. Great steering. Seat of the pants feel unrivalled by anything this side of an Elise or a Caterham. Not quite as quick as the Clio 182, but the difference doesn't feel all that big TBH and the low slung thing adds a sense of occasion all of its own. I often ask myself which is the better drivers car. I think the MR2 is more fun on the right roads and in the right conditions, i.e. dry country lanes, and the Clio is better in the wet. MR2 hasn't got a cambelt, has a cheap exhaust and Toyota Corolla parts. Clio has got back seats and a boot. Removable hardtop essential on MR2 for quiet motorway cruising, but you can pick one of those up afterwards for about £500, and then you'll have a coupe for the winter and a convertible for the summer.
182 was good to drive. However, was the most expensive car to maintain I've ever owned, beating a couple of straight six beemers. Nice cars. But if you're trying to run one on the cheap, I'd definitely say get one that's had both the cambelt and dephaser changed, and a new tailpipe, otherwise your cheap car will turn into an expensive one.
Driving the MR2 now. Fun to drive on a country road on a nice day, but don't push your luck when it's wet. Great steering. Seat of the pants feel unrivalled by anything this side of an Elise or a Caterham. Not quite as quick as the Clio 182, but the difference doesn't feel all that big TBH and the low slung thing adds a sense of occasion all of its own. I often ask myself which is the better drivers car. I think the MR2 is more fun on the right roads and in the right conditions, i.e. dry country lanes, and the Clio is better in the wet. MR2 hasn't got a cambelt, has a cheap exhaust and Toyota Corolla parts. Clio has got back seats and a boot. Removable hardtop essential on MR2 for quiet motorway cruising, but you can pick one of those up afterwards for about £500, and then you'll have a coupe for the winter and a convertible for the summer.
Johnny5hoods said:
I've had two on your list: Clio 182 and MR2 Roadster.
182 was good to drive. However, was the most expensive car to maintain I've ever owned, beating a couple of straight six beemers. Nice cars. But if you're trying to run one on the cheap, I'd definitely say get one that's had both the cambelt and dephaser changed, and a new tailpipe, otherwise your cheap car will turn into an expensive one.
Driving the MR2 now. Fun to drive on a country road on a nice day, but don't push your luck when it's wet. Great steering. Seat of the pants feel unrivalled by anything this side of an Elise or a Caterham. Not quite as quick as the Clio 182, but the difference doesn't feel all that big TBH and the low slung thing adds a sense of occasion all of its own. I often ask myself which is the better drivers car. I think the MR2 is more fun on the right roads and in the right conditions, i.e. dry country lanes, and the Clio is better in the wet. MR2 hasn't got a cambelt, has a cheap exhaust and Toyota Corolla parts. Clio has got back seats and a boot. Removable hardtop essential on MR2 for quiet motorway cruising, but you can pick one of those up afterwards for about £500, and then you'll have a coupe for the winter and a convertible for the summer.
Pretty much my experience.182 was good to drive. However, was the most expensive car to maintain I've ever owned, beating a couple of straight six beemers. Nice cars. But if you're trying to run one on the cheap, I'd definitely say get one that's had both the cambelt and dephaser changed, and a new tailpipe, otherwise your cheap car will turn into an expensive one.
Driving the MR2 now. Fun to drive on a country road on a nice day, but don't push your luck when it's wet. Great steering. Seat of the pants feel unrivalled by anything this side of an Elise or a Caterham. Not quite as quick as the Clio 182, but the difference doesn't feel all that big TBH and the low slung thing adds a sense of occasion all of its own. I often ask myself which is the better drivers car. I think the MR2 is more fun on the right roads and in the right conditions, i.e. dry country lanes, and the Clio is better in the wet. MR2 hasn't got a cambelt, has a cheap exhaust and Toyota Corolla parts. Clio has got back seats and a boot. Removable hardtop essential on MR2 for quiet motorway cruising, but you can pick one of those up afterwards for about £500, and then you'll have a coupe for the winter and a convertible for the summer.
My 182 had a fair number of faults, luckily, all fixed under warranty. I was not so lucky when it came to my 172 that was out of warranty. Plenty of people seem to think they are very robust cars, but neither of mine were, and they didn’t feel it either.
The 182 certainly felt quicker over any given stretch of road than the MR2, but the MR2 for me is much more fun to drive. It’s not even particularly slow if you drive it properly either, when I had mine I surprised a few would be “faster” cars over a twisty road.
At the end of the day: One is a mid-engined, LSD equipped rear drive, open top 2 seater sports car... and the other is a shopping trolley with a big engine, that’s not taking anything away from the Clio as they are very good steers for what they are, but the fact I had to qualify that with “for what they are” says everything for me. The MR2 needs no such apologies.
I had a gti-6. Loved it till I wrote it off being a knob (showing off to a girl)
Friends has 205 1.6gti, then put a gti6 lump in it. That was cool. Another had a 205 mi16. One had a red top nova. All quality early 90s hot hatches and huge fun but suspect none will come in under 1500 now unless they’re f
ked. Maybe keep eBay eyes peeled?
Friends has 205 1.6gti, then put a gti6 lump in it. That was cool. Another had a 205 mi16. One had a red top nova. All quality early 90s hot hatches and huge fun but suspect none will come in under 1500 now unless they’re f
ked. Maybe keep eBay eyes peeled? 
Interesting to hear the rally cries for MR2s. How have you guys managed with them as an only car? I've had an MX-5 before as my only car but MR2 doesn't even have a boot so it just seems a bit un-manageable..?
Also think they look quite ugly, maybe thats just me being a snob, but they look a bit girly. I will try to get in the drivers seat of one some time soon. Local garage has one on the forecourt so i might try that.
I was initially thinking of just getting a cheap £500 scrap barge but given that you don't have to spend much more to find some genuinely fun / decent cars, I'm just seeing what people think are worth getting at this price point
Whatever I get, it will be a downgrade from my current car, in terms of power and also in terms of reliability too. I would like somthing that is not boring.
Also think they look quite ugly, maybe thats just me being a snob, but they look a bit girly. I will try to get in the drivers seat of one some time soon. Local garage has one on the forecourt so i might try that.
ChrisH72 said:
Another vote for a ford puma here.
They are huge fun and easy to run as a daily. I had mine for a year and it was brilliant.
It will certainly be a bit rusty but most of the bad ones are long gone and 1500 will get you a very tidy, well looked after example.
I do think Pumas look nice. Also think Sport Ka are cool, i assume both drive similarly as they are based on each other right?They are huge fun and easy to run as a daily. I had mine for a year and it was brilliant.
It will certainly be a bit rusty but most of the bad ones are long gone and 1500 will get you a very tidy, well looked after example.
OldGermanHeaps said:
what kind of fun? power, speed, handling? for me a convertible is the most fun you can have in a shed.
I'm open to all ideas. I was initially thinking of just getting a cheap £500 scrap barge but given that you don't have to spend much more to find some genuinely fun / decent cars, I'm just seeing what people think are worth getting at this price point
Whatever I get, it will be a downgrade from my current car, in terms of power and also in terms of reliability too. I would like somthing that is not boring.
Mr Tidy said:
There was a BMW E46 325ti Compact on Auto Trader within budget recently, if you fancied a straight 6 and RWD.
In fact I loved the one I had for over 3 years, and sold it just within the budget 2 years ago.
I love E46 coupes, not as keen on the hatchbacks, but either way I would think BMW 3 series is quite expensive to run? or are the compacts maybe a bit less.In fact I loved the one I had for over 3 years, and sold it just within the budget 2 years ago.
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