Opinions wanted - what weekend car to get?
Discussion
Hopefully within the next 6 months or so I'll be in a position to get a second car for weekends etc... and keep a diesel runabout for day to day.
Budget will be around £5000 and so far I've contemplated Evo 5/6, Civic Type R, Leon Cupra R, Impreza to name a few but I'm sure I've missed some good ones.
What would you recommend?
Budget will be around £5000 and so far I've contemplated Evo 5/6, Civic Type R, Leon Cupra R, Impreza to name a few but I'm sure I've missed some good ones.
What would you recommend?
Edited by MechEng on Sunday 11th December 06:36
Perhaps with the exception of the Civic, to my mind all the cars you've picked are hugely competent but deathly dull to drive, simply because of that competence.
If its a weekend only car and you've got 5 bags to spend, I'd be looking at maybe an e36 M3 (great noise, plenty of poke and back end out action).
Otherwise, as you're not averse to Jap turbos, I really think you should consider a Rev 3 onwards MR2 Turbo...
Great looks, surprisingly practical and plenty of grunt. Plus, you get a 2 seater with possibly a glass targa roof. What's not to like??
If its a weekend only car and you've got 5 bags to spend, I'd be looking at maybe an e36 M3 (great noise, plenty of poke and back end out action).
Otherwise, as you're not averse to Jap turbos, I really think you should consider a Rev 3 onwards MR2 Turbo...
Great looks, surprisingly practical and plenty of grunt. Plus, you get a 2 seater with possibly a glass targa roof. What's not to like??
Cactussed said:
That's a lot of fun for very little money!Thanks for all the input so far.
I have seriously considered a motorbike, really can't make up my mind at the moment, the benefit of a car for me is not having to go through anymore training and tests as I aready have a licence.
I'll have a look at M3's, somehow missed that out when I was thinking about my options.
Thanks again
I have seriously considered a motorbike, really can't make up my mind at the moment, the benefit of a car for me is not having to go through anymore training and tests as I aready have a licence.
I'll have a look at M3's, somehow missed that out when I was thinking about my options.
Thanks again

VX220 is a good shout, or you should get a decent Boxster for that money - I bought mine (2000 3.2S) earlier this year for a bit more than your budget, but they seem to have dropped a bit since. Might not be quicker on paper than an Evo or even some of the hot hatches, but it's more of an event to drive - and you have the option of dropping the roof, which as someone on PH said a while ago is like driving in HD with full surround!
I'd go for something along these lines:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8...
Maybe not that one exactly, I'm not convinced it;s priced right, but certainly a well sorted turbo, charged, ITB or carbed mk1 MX5 for around £3-£4k and money left over for upkeep.
Or S2000 if you want something more refined.
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8...
Maybe not that one exactly, I'm not convinced it;s priced right, but certainly a well sorted turbo, charged, ITB or carbed mk1 MX5 for around £3-£4k and money left over for upkeep.
Or S2000 if you want something more refined.
Edited by oO Trouble Oo on Wednesday 14th December 14:45
browno said:
VX220 is a good shout, or you should get a decent Boxster for that money - I bought mine (2000 3.2S) earlier this year for a bit more than your budget, but they seem to have dropped a bit since. Might not be quicker on paper than an Evo or even some of the hot hatches, but it's more of an event to drive - and you have the option of dropping the roof, which as someone on PH said a while ago is like driving in HD with full surround!
+1 on the Boxster - just make sure you get a professional inspection on one before you buy and it will be great.I don't think buying a tarted up hatchback or saloon qualifies as a weekend car, you should buy a sportscar.
Other suggestions would be an Elan M100, S2000 as said above or even an MX5(!)
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Having said that, I would consider a RWD two seater if my circumstances were different....