Low Cost Fun Required
Discussion
georgeyboy12345 said:
Get this NC Mazda MX-5 that's had a BBR Super 200 conversion - it'll be great fun to drive!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...
What about another BMW to go with your X4?
Z3 3.0i Sport (remove the stupid black M badges)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...
Same engine in a Z4 - 3.0i SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...
Staying German, what about this Porsche Boxster 986 2.7
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...
Also mid-engined, but cheaper, this Toyota MR2 Roadster
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109297...
Stretch the budget a bit and you can get this lovely 350Z convertible - cheaper versions of these are a bit barried out and nasty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...
The MR2 would be my choice, but a later facelift model as the earlier cars had issues with pre-cats disintegrating and entering the engine. The later model also had a couple of cosmetic updates as well as 16" wider rear wheels as apposed to the 15" wheels of the earlier car.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...
What about another BMW to go with your X4?
Z3 3.0i Sport (remove the stupid black M badges)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...
Same engine in a Z4 - 3.0i SE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...
Staying German, what about this Porsche Boxster 986 2.7
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...
Also mid-engined, but cheaper, this Toyota MR2 Roadster
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109297...
Stretch the budget a bit and you can get this lovely 350Z convertible - cheaper versions of these are a bit barried out and nasty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109026...
I loved mine, it was mage fun to drive, closest car to the Elise I have ever driven but at a 10th of the price for a good one.
ZX10R NIN said:
bennno said:
With the exception of the 197 cup of those as good fun as a Boxster or MX5.
Boxster? Did you read the title brief?As for the others being as fun as the MX5 I'd say yes but it depends on what besides fun you're looking for from your car.
Being truthful I wasn't in to them new, inferior 911 etc so bought 911's back in the day.
Mine was a gamble but its a brilliant steer, plenty of grunt, turbine like engine purr, wind in the hair.
Servicing bits peanuts from D911. Entire service including all filters, inc fuel, new coil packs, plugs parts cost <£250
A Twingo GT really doesn't drive as well, although that would be better for getting dog to beach etc.
bennno said:
Yes, he wants a fun car for 5k. I've got a £4k 1999 2.5 Boxster sat outside that I'm using as a daily.
Being truthful I wasn't in to them new, inferior 911 etc so bought 911's back in the day.
Mine was a gamble but its a brilliant steer, plenty of grunt, turbine like engine purr, wind in the hair.
Servicing bits peanuts from D911. Entire service including all filters, inc fuel, new coil packs, plugs parts cost <£250
A Twingo GT really doesn't drive as well, although that would be better for getting dog to beach etc.
I took it as low running costs not the purchase price, I'm sure the OP knows which he means.Being truthful I wasn't in to them new, inferior 911 etc so bought 911's back in the day.
Mine was a gamble but its a brilliant steer, plenty of grunt, turbine like engine purr, wind in the hair.
Servicing bits peanuts from D911. Entire service including all filters, inc fuel, new coil packs, plugs parts cost <£250
A Twingo GT really doesn't drive as well, although that would be better for getting dog to beach etc.
Glad you're enjoying your car
No one has mentioned a Twingo GT but I did suggest the RS & RS Cup Twingo's & I can assure you they're a cracking steer .
Also depends what fun means.
A nice sounding 3.0 v6 is fun either just driving slowly holding the revs on a straight.
Track days are also fun with can be more fun in something lightweight.
A sports car on the weekend means it’s sometimes left sitting as not practical enough for some journeys and the engine/performance missed at some stretches of road.
A open top on a nice evening or early morning can be fun too.
I think the answer is a fleet of cars or the Z4 mentioned above.
My fun weekend car is a Gtv v6 (Alfa) not the fastest on track but lots of fun wearing out the front tyres.
A nice sounding 3.0 v6 is fun either just driving slowly holding the revs on a straight.
Track days are also fun with can be more fun in something lightweight.
A sports car on the weekend means it’s sometimes left sitting as not practical enough for some journeys and the engine/performance missed at some stretches of road.
A open top on a nice evening or early morning can be fun too.
I think the answer is a fleet of cars or the Z4 mentioned above.
My fun weekend car is a Gtv v6 (Alfa) not the fastest on track but lots of fun wearing out the front tyres.
Had 3 mk1 MX5s and whilst they were brilliant fun, I'm currently on my second Mini R53 (bought a cheap one, loved it so much that got rid after a few weeks and bought a better one!).
£5k will get a really, really good one. In fact £4k will get you a really good one - I paid £3k for mine (facelift, aero kit, R56 trailing arms, freshly refurbed wheels and new tyres, pretty good overall condition but decent service history and just had the supercharger service done as its approaching 100k miles).
Just back from holiday and whilst away from the car was toying with the idea of getting rid of it and our Mini Clubman daily to get a bigger/faster daily but came home, drove it and immediately realised its a keeper. Just a brilliant little car...
Not sure whats happened to the price of Clio 182s recently but a mate used to have one of those and remember it being brilliant fun to drive.
I'll chuck another option in - FN2 Civic Type R?
£5k will get a really, really good one. In fact £4k will get you a really good one - I paid £3k for mine (facelift, aero kit, R56 trailing arms, freshly refurbed wheels and new tyres, pretty good overall condition but decent service history and just had the supercharger service done as its approaching 100k miles).
Just back from holiday and whilst away from the car was toying with the idea of getting rid of it and our Mini Clubman daily to get a bigger/faster daily but came home, drove it and immediately realised its a keeper. Just a brilliant little car...
Not sure whats happened to the price of Clio 182s recently but a mate used to have one of those and remember it being brilliant fun to drive.
I'll chuck another option in - FN2 Civic Type R?
I'd have to agree with andberg personally, to me hot hatches are only really fun when you are kicking their heads in, otherwise they're quite dull really. The weight balance and handling are much better in a RWD sports car, and if you can also drop the roof then it's much more of an experience for me, not to mention I also enjoy a nice NA 6 pot more than your usual blown 4 pot. Each to their own of course, but I got bored with my mini in the end, good car but I'm really glad I switched to the Boxster.
Tame Racing Driver pretty much wrote my reply for me
A FWD hot hatch is about 2 things in general, practicality which the OP doesn't need and then being a riot when driven hard, too hard for most roads.
At the limit a slightly floppy convertible will of course be found wanting but it in my experience is more fun at a brisk road pace and when the mood takes you can just drop the roof and cruise.
£5k of my own money I'd do neither, I'd get a moderately powerful naked bike but its not what OP asked for.
A FWD hot hatch is about 2 things in general, practicality which the OP doesn't need and then being a riot when driven hard, too hard for most roads.
At the limit a slightly floppy convertible will of course be found wanting but it in my experience is more fun at a brisk road pace and when the mood takes you can just drop the roof and cruise.
£5k of my own money I'd do neither, I'd get a moderately powerful naked bike but its not what OP asked for.
andburg said:
Tame Racing Driver pretty much wrote my reply for me
A FWD hot hatch is about 2 things in general, practicality which the OP doesn't need and then being a riot when driven hard, too hard for most roads.
At the limit a slightly floppy convertible will of course be found wanting but it in my experience is more fun at a brisk road pace and when the mood takes you can just drop the roof and cruise.
£5k of my own money I'd do neither, I'd get a moderately powerful naked bike but its not what OP asked for.
Have to agree if the OP doesn't need any practicality then I'd say get a Motorbike.A FWD hot hatch is about 2 things in general, practicality which the OP doesn't need and then being a riot when driven hard, too hard for most roads.
At the limit a slightly floppy convertible will of course be found wanting but it in my experience is more fun at a brisk road pace and when the mood takes you can just drop the roof and cruise.
£5k of my own money I'd do neither, I'd get a moderately powerful naked bike but its not what OP asked for.
Having just bought a Renault Clio RS200, I have to say, these cars are superb.
You really need to drive them, but that's the beauty of the car. They're never going to set the world on fire in a straight line, however, they're fast enough and on a twisty road, they're a weapon.
The front end grip is just staggering, the rear is playful and the engine sounds so sweet for a 4 cylinder.
You'll never see a wide arch, manual, N/A hot hatch ever again, so I decided to buy one before prices went up too much.
They do suffer from munching 3rd and 4th gear synchro, but buy one either sorted or budget for it. Apart from this, they're solid cars.
I love mine, especially with a sports cat and KTEC manifold.
You really need to drive them, but that's the beauty of the car. They're never going to set the world on fire in a straight line, however, they're fast enough and on a twisty road, they're a weapon.
The front end grip is just staggering, the rear is playful and the engine sounds so sweet for a 4 cylinder.
You'll never see a wide arch, manual, N/A hot hatch ever again, so I decided to buy one before prices went up too much.
They do suffer from munching 3rd and 4th gear synchro, but buy one either sorted or budget for it. Apart from this, they're solid cars.
I love mine, especially with a sports cat and KTEC manifold.
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