Options for fun car under 10k?

[edc]

fflump said:

Caddyshack said:

I bought one without doing either and it has been fine. 987.1 3.2. I paid 8500 for it.

It's a cracking car for the money, but with all due respect what your experience with your car is not that relevant. It is an issue with a significant minority of cars with that engine.

Borescore not an issue on the 3.2 and smaller M96 engines.

[ChrisH72]

I had a few coupes before going for the ST. The most recent being an E92 325i.

I need back seats at the moment but the problem I found with 4 seat coupes is that they are generally big and heavy. The BMW was a nice car and the 6 pot engine sounded great but it was still a bit of a barge to drive. The Fiesta is my first hot hatch and it's so much more fun and agile in comparison.

If you don't like rag tops there's always foldy hardtop alternatives like the Z4. For 10k there are plenty of 20i models about which give you reasonable turbo performance. I think I'd go for the 6 cylinder 23i though.

Or an SLK maybe? It'll be auto but there's probably some good engine options for that money.

[infernouk]

cerb4.5lee said:

Yes and the 22mpg and £580 tax definitely grates on me with mine for sure. They are quite different to the MX5/GT86 though, and it depends on what style you like I reckon(quicker/heavy or slower/light). I do really like the brawny nature of the 370Z though, but most do definitely seem to prefer the way that the MX5/GT86 do it for certain.

Yeah for 10k I’d give it a go, but realistically they are 12-14k cars and at that point your competing with m235i etc which are as fast with better mpg etc so it’s less competitive unless you want a 2 seater

[cerb4.5lee]

infernouk said:

Yeah for 10k I’d give it a go, but realistically they are 12-14k cars and at that point your competing with m235i etc which are as fast with better mpg etc so it’s less competitive unless you want a 2 seater

Completely agree.

I've always fancied a M235i since they first launched as well.

[cerb4.5lee]

ChrisH72 said:

I had a few coupes before going for the ST. The most recent being an E92 325i.

I need back seats at the moment but the problem I found with 4 seat coupes is that they are generally big and heavy. The BMW was a nice car and the 6 pot engine sounded great but it was still a bit of a barge to drive. The Fiesta is my first hot hatch and it's so much more fun and agile in comparison.

I can relate to that and I went from a E90 330i to a Mini Cooper S, and I much prefer the Mini in comparison for the reasons you mention.

[MK1RS Bruce]

What about a leggy E46 M3?

High running costs would be offset by the lack of depreciation?

I have a fiesta ST and they are great fun and a good allrounder, can also pick up decent ones for a good bit under your budget and running costs are small!

[Caddyshack]

fflump said:

Caddyshack said:

True, but having owned many porsches I believed it to be a calculated gamble on an issue that actually seems to be fairly low numbers. If you buy well enough you can have the IMS done and a bore scope is easily done. Many cars have been sorted. I will do the IMS when I do the clutch.

Spot on. With most of these things the reputation drags the value down bigger than the problem is. If you go in eyes open then you can get a good deal, but a bore scope is a good bet.

It can't be too far in the future that either cars will have been sorted, or be original cars s that escaped the problems.

I remember 964 911's being very low value "as they all had bad oil leaks" now they are high value and have all been rebuilt so you no longer hear of that.

[infernouk]

MK1RS Bruce said:

What about a leggy E46 M3?

High running costs would be offset by the lack of depreciation?

I have a fiesta ST and they are great fun and a good allrounder, can also pick up decent ones for a good bit under your budget and running costs are small!

I’m always too anxious for a ‘leggy’ car as I don’t like surprise bills, the ST2 with the suspension updates start at 9-10k currently so actually at the budget, rather than the pre facelift ones which are cheaper but by all accounts significantly worse to drive

[Quickmoose]

A pre-March 2006 and post 2004 Honda S2000. You're welcome.

[infernouk]

Quickmoose said:

A pre-March 2006 and post 2004 Honda S2000. You're welcome.

I did look at these, they seem to be over budget, cloth roof, and by all accounts I have seen a fair few negative comments about how they drive (70/30 split) across this forum

[Quickmoose]

infernouk said:

Quickmoose said:

A pre-March 2006 and post 2004 Honda S2000. You're welcome.

I did look at these, they seem to be over budget, cloth roof, and by all accounts I have seen a fair few negative comments about how they drive (70/30 split) across this forum

You can get one with a hardtop too if necessary....and you won't have a car suggested that doesn't have a negative comment.

70/30 is killing it

test drive one...(?)

[infernouk]

Quickmoose said:

You can get one with a hardtop too if necessary....and you won't have a car suggested that doesn't have a negative comment.

70/30 is killing it

test drive one...(?)

It just seems that a nice one is 14k + and as you approach 15k budget rather than 10k, it opens up a world of competitive options

[MK1RS Bruce]

infernouk said:

MK1RS Bruce said:

What about a leggy E46 M3?

High running costs would be offset by the lack of depreciation?

I have a fiesta ST and they are great fun and a good allrounder, can also pick up decent ones for a good bit under your budget and running costs are small!

I’m always too anxious for a ‘leggy’ car as I don’t like surprise bills, the ST2 with the suspension updates start at 9-10k currently so actually at the budget, rather than the pre facelift ones which are cheaper but by all accounts significantly worse to drive

I don't think there is such thing as a pre face lift ST, they were all the mk7.5 style?

I own a 15 plate ST2, no idea if that has the "good" suspension or not but I always thought people saying that were being a bit precious. It gets more focus and air time because there is basically nothing else to fault with them at the price point

[infernouk]

MK1RS Bruce said:

I don't think there is such thing as a pre face lift ST, they were all the mk7.5 style?

I own a 15 plate ST2, no idea if that has the "good" suspension or not but I always thought people saying that were being a bit precious. It gets more focus and air time because there is basically nothing else to fault with them at the price point

They were face lifted later 2015/2016 you can tell by if it has the rear led lights, also then has the st200 improved suspension as they put it in all cars after end of 2015. So you’d want a 2016 car which is 10k

[ChrisH72]

65 plates have the revised suspension, you can tell from the rear LED's. Also these are clear of the problems with the cooling system.

Mine is a 66 plate and the ride is firm but perfectly okay for me on my own. The upside is great handling and a sporty feel. It's least at home on long motorway journeys where it can be a bit jiggly and the grippy seats can get uncomfortable after a while. I very rarely do long distance but if you do that might be a consideration.

Best bet is to try one and see how it feels.

Mine is a keeper but they do seem to hold their money as they are so popular. It'll still lose you a couple of grand if you only keep it a year though, more if you buy from a dealer then part ex it later.

[Quickmoose]

infernouk said:

It just seems that a nice one is 14k + and as you approach 15k budget rather than 10k, it opens up a world of competitive options

If you don't want one, you don't want one, that's fair.... I found a lovely one on AT in seconds...£9995, 68k miles, right age etc....
If you have time to look/wait etc, the right car comes to you..

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for a 335i (the M135i isn't better) both benefit from M3 parts to make them better, it's a good steer goes well & will please your colleagues.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101168...

330i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...

Z4 30i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249...

35i Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

370Z the tax is heavy but only £200 more than some of the other suggestions a big N/A will be more thirsty than a turbocharged equivalent but there's a lower chance of having any issues with an N/A & the 370Z is a sweet steer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Or if you want some real fun get a motorbike:

BMW S1000RR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-S1000RR/20328631339...

ZX10r

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-NINJA-ZX10R-20...

MV F4 1000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-AGUSTA-F4-1000-2009/...

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say go for a 335i (the M135i isn't better) both benefit from M3 parts to make them better, it's a good steer goes well & will please your colleagues.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101168...

330i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...

Z4 30i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249...

35i Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

370Z the tax is heavy but only £200 more than some of the other suggestions a big N/A will be more thirsty than a turbocharged equivalent but there's a lower chance of having any issues with an N/A & the 370Z is a sweet steer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Or if you want some real fun get a motorbike:

BMW S1000RR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-S1000RR/20328631339...

ZX10r

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-NINJA-ZX10R-20...

MV F4 1000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-AGUSTA-F4-1000-2009/...

Thanks for the ideas, how is reliability on those older BMW models? I had only looked at the m135 and m235 and they were over budget, these seem more feesable

I also do like the z4 quite a lot! Seems a good balance of weekend and daily driver for me

I suppose my biggest hang up is the Fiesta ST is light and great handling, every review I’ve seen that contrasts it with any of those other cars is that they are heavy and wallowy. The 370 I love the looks but hear the shifts aren’t great and the steering isn’t as good as a fiesta, it never wins a group test for example

I’m not really about straight line speed as we live in the UK and we can’t easily go fast, hence the GT86 previously, and I’m concerned that going for power over handling would disappoint me...having said that the z4 offers the roof down 2 seat experience, but again I’ve heard negatives in the handling.

Just nothing seems to trump the fiesta on that front for 10k? But this is just from my reading of course...

I can’t do a motorbike becuase I don’t want the risks associated!

[cerb4.5lee]

infernouk said:

The 370 I love the looks but hear the shifts aren’t great and the steering isn’t as good as a fiesta

I like the steering in the 370 because it is hydraulic whereas most stuff now is electric. You do have to be quite deliberate with the gearchanges though, and it has caught me out a few times to be fair. The auto rev matching is an absolute laugh though and it puts a big smile on your face I reckon(especially with the HFC's/upgraded exhaust I have on mine).

[infernouk]

cerb4.5lee said:

I like the steering in the 370 because it is hydraulic whereas most stuff now is electric. You do have to be quite deliberate with the gearchanges though, and it has caught me out a few times to be fair. The auto rev matching is an absolute laugh though and it puts a big smile on your face I reckon(especially with the HFC's/upgraded exhaust I have on mine).

Yeah as mentioned previously my mum had one for 6 years and she loved it, i only drove it once and have no memory of it to be honest. Im just concerned as I loved the GT86 and how light it was, going to a heavy punchy car on british roads im not too sure of (though i love the interior and exterior looks). Im also very very concerned about the way the gov is clamping down on such cars and being stuck with a 10k paperweight in a couple of years time, which is actually my biggest issue with buying one to be honest