Vx220 cheaper more practical alternatives?

[ED209]

Well I have had a vx220 for the last couple of years as a second car/weekend toy. Its dawned on me that i dont use it nearly enough to properly justify its upkeep, its becoming a bit of a garage queen. The lack of use is probably due to it being slightly impractical and secondly that I dont want to use such a nice car when the weather is a bit crap.

So i have been thinking about selling it (worth about 8k maybe) and buying a bit of a cheaper toy. So what suggestions to peope have?

I would be looking at something about 1-2k in price and hopefully reasonable to tax/insure as a second car.Something easier to use on a regular basis. Also something easier to work on than the vx220 would be useful. 30mpg at least would be good too.

I know the obvious answer is mx5 (i have had one before) but what other alternatives do you suggest? mr2? smart roadster? (too pricey?)
or something else? I would consider convertibles, small coupes or possibly a hot hatch.

[Baryonyx]

MR2 Turbo?

Mid engined, RWD fun with bag loads of power, cheap to tax and cheap to service, relatively cheap to insure too (on a classic policy, very cheap indeed!). Quite feasibly a nice second car for pin money. Sort of the same thing as your VX220 provides at a fraction of the price.

If you want to test drive an MR2, give me a shout, you know how to find me.

[ED209]

Baryonyx said:

MR2 Turbo?

Mid engined, RWD fun with bag loads of power, cheap to tax and cheap to service, relatively cheap to insure too (on a classic policy, very cheap indeed!). Quite feasibly a nice second car for pin money. Sort of the same thing as your VX220 provides at a fraction of the price.

If you want to test drive an MR2, give me a shout, you know how to find me.

I see its for sale in the classifieds too!

[TheHeretic]

The MR2 really is a hoot, and will feel faster, (and could well be), than the VX220. They are a 20 year old car, and won't feel as nimble as the VX, but a very rewarding drive if you like precision, and all that stuff.

[ED209]

Must be some more suggestions out there?

[TheHeretic]

200SX

[lewisf182]

Fiat coupe 20V Turbo? mentioned on the homepage in SOTW. Might not be that good a steer to warrant as a weekend toy, I wouldn't know I havn't driven one. But if you could pick one up at 1.5k you'd have £500 to play around with to improve handling etc.

[Truckosaurus]

BMW Z3.

Cheap, looks half decent, BMW parts bin for spares. James Bond had one.

[lestershaw]

subaru impreza sti, about £2k
4 seats , 2.0 ltre
bonkers when you want it to be

[ED209]

lestershaw said:

subaru impreza sti, about £2k
4 seats , 2.0 ltre
bonkers when you want it to be

Not reasonable to insure and run, more of a daily driver. Dont want 4wd on a fun car.

The evoque will sort 4wd needs if it eventually turns up.

[lestershaw]

in the last year i have had
a boxster 3.2
a chimaera 500
an xjr ( i still have those 3)
an impreza sti
a 350z
an 850i bmw
a z4
a chimaera 400
(those 5 are gone)
and i would say that if i was a good enough driver i would have had the most fun in the 350z and the scooby as a play car.

[Baryonyx]

ED209 said:

I see its for sale in the classifieds too!

It is, pending my imminent purchase of an Audi TT or an Impreza/Lancer Evolution. I've a want for a new toy now, an 4WD is the next box to tick!

[mk4vf2011]

Pug 106 GTI!! A cheap fun hot hatch.

[sebhaque]

A classic Mini? I got shot of my VXT not long ago and can say I have as much fun, if not more, in the Mini. It's easy to work on, mostly reliable, you can get 35mpg out of it even if you thrash it, and is pretty cheap motoring if you get it on a classic policy.

[Dalto123]

Umm, I may know someone interested in your VX220, what sort of mileage have you got on it?

Phil

[anonymous-user]

An early Monaro? V8 power with 4 proper seats and early 20s mpg. Get one with a cat back exhaust and you giggle like a girl every time you drive it.

It will cost you about 8k though.

[mike9009]

I have owned a few of the cars that you have suggested and also owned a vx220. I do regret selling the vx220 (some 7 years ago!) so do seriously consider what you will replace it with because for your limited budget (which many seem to be missing) you will sorely miss the VX.

I have owned the Smart Roadster, which I did enjoy but was not involving enough. It was a little 'over tyred' for the power and weight. Thus the nimbleness of the VX and MX5 would never be matched.

A mk1 MR2 I look back on with rose tinted glasses, and I suspect dynamically it may not be upto more modern machinery. But in my early 20s these cars were like a supercar. I 'thought' it handled well, loved to be ragged to the red line and even seemed to be fairly easy to control on the ragged edge (I am no driving god but this thing did flatter my ability!)

I now own an mx5 (1991 vintage) which I do enjoy and is probably closest in spirit to the VX, out of all the suggestions. It is the boring choice but genuinely is probably the best. What about getting one and going the supercharged/ turbocharged route, as you will eventually get bored compared to the VX......


Mike

[CaptainSlow]

GTV v6?

[mike9009]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3660523.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3610362.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3651954.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3630792.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3247306.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3607754.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3607754.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3628419.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3660790.htm

some don't necessarily meet your requirements (primarily the 30 mpg), but I love looking within this price bracket! (as this is where my 'fun' car budget sits!)

Mike

[mobile chicane22]

Honda S2000 £5k will get a reasonable one, boot is big enough for the weekly shop ( just )

Runing costs are about the same at a guess