Fun weekend car required - £2000 to £4000

[danyeates]

Hi,

Unfortunately I've had my BMW Z4M to buy our first house, but on the upside, our new house has a lovely new garage to put something in. I've got about £2,000 to £3,000 to play with now, but could get up to £4,000 if I waited a month to save a bit. The MASSIVE house deposit has completely drained the savings dry!

It will be garaged, just used for weekends and evenings, it needs to be something a bit special, fun to drive, a bit different to the norm. I've grown very keen on the older but standard look. I love an older mint car in completely original condition, at least externally anyway. No other real requirements, just want something that will be fun to take out at the weekend, as my Z4M was. My girlfriend and I share a Civic for daily running into work.

Short list so far...

I really want a TVR Chimera, but price wise they're out of reach.
I'd like a completely standard BMW E36 M3, but again, a good one is just out of reach price wise.
BMW E36 328i Sport M-Tech. Tempted by one of these. In standard guise with the BBS wheels, they look great IMO. Will it feel quick with just 200hp though?
Audi S4, will be a ropey one for that price, but if I get the estate I can use it to cart my kayak and bikes around on, which would be a bonus. But then it loses it's fun car element a bit.
Mazda MX5, well, I'm sure it will be a fun car, but I'm not that keen on the look of them really.

What else?

Cheers,

Dan

[danyeates]

Serious contenders so far:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3658470.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3628618.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3623230.htm

Or potentially this, but I'd need to change the seats!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3658361.htm

Does anyone know if you can fit a roof rack and/or a towbar to these?

Edited by danyeates on Sunday 19th February 10:37

[Mustard]

http://www.4startrade.com/BMW-328i-Sport-For-Sale/

Top end money, but it's a low mileage manual in a good colour combo so with light use I can't see it loosing much

[scotty_d]

A chimaera would be perfect but you would need 1-2k more to reach one.


Subaru impreza ??? or even a wagon

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Impreza-2-0-Prodr...

[danyeates]

Mustard said:

http://www.4startrade.com/BMW-328i-Sport-For-Sale/

Top end money, but it's a low mileage manual in a good colour combo so with light use I can't see it loosing much

Very nice, but over budget really.

[danyeates]

scotty_d said:

A chimaera would be perfect but you would need 1-2k more to reach one.


Subaru impreza ??? or even a wagon

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Impreza-2-0-Prodr...

Sorry, whilst I appreciate the car, it's not a car I'd want to own really. Cheap though!

[rallycross]

If you liked the z4 try a 2.8' Z3?

[Andy665]

I know of a stunning 328 Sport for sale that could be had for £3000, maybe less, I was seriously tempted by it myself but already have one and recently bought a GTV

Good 328 Sports are getting hard to find and are a safe a bet as anything else

PM me if you want contact details

[danyeates]

Andy665 said:

I know of a stunning 328 Sport for sale that could be had for £3000, maybe less, I was seriously tempted by it myself but already have one and recently bought a GTV

Good 328 Sports are getting hard to find and are a safe a bet as anything else

PM me if you want contact details

Might be interested. I have found a nice E36 3.0 M3 I like the look of though.

[Edmundo2]

If you fancy a Chim but can't afford it. I've owned a couple of TVR's, ( Chim/Griff ), and every time I hear the S series mentioned it is in a positive light. Really fun handling by all acounts, nice interior, cheap parts, V6 sounds awesome!

This one's sold but a few for sale at your money.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/largepic.asp?i=36...

[NadiR]

I reckon a Mazda RX8 will keep you smiling over the weekends. there getting dirt cheap as well.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[jack01825]

never have much more fun for the price than one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1987-Toyota-MR2-1-6-Twin...

trust me

[jimslops]

jack01825 said:

never have much more fun for the price than one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1987-Toyota-MR2-1-6-Twin...

trust me

Turbo needed

[mobile chicane22]

Honda S2000

early import.

I sold my slightly tatty but mechanicaly spot on 97k 1999 import for £3.5k with a years mot about 2 weeks ago

Get an insurance quote first though

[jack01825]

jimslops said:

Turbo needed

in that case
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1982-FORD-CAPRI-INJECTIO...

[r1ch]

An e36 328 doesn't scream "fun weekend car to me". That's far too sensible.

I'd be looking at maybe something like a integra type r, 944, corrado vr6, maybe an e30 of some kind.

[Bonefish Blues]

FI MX5 - a bunch of fun within your budget

[tomwoodis]

To answer your question about will a 328 feel quick enough, I've just gone from a 3.0 z4 to a 1.8 mx5 to a e36 328.

Whilst the 328 feels rapid compared to the mx5 it's not nearly as quick as the Z4 was nor is it as fun as the Mazda. Don't get me wrong I love the 328 but that's more because I paid £500 for it and for that price it's pretty unbeatable.

Having previously owned a '95 MR2 turbo I can thoroughly recommend you add that to your list. They are a lot of fun and will have that special feeling your after without breaking the bank. Certainly more of an event to go out in than a 328 at any rate.

[jimslops]

jack01825 said:

in that case
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1982-FORD-CAPRI-INJECTIO...

Nice machine. I meant, surely MR2 turbo would be better?!

[danyeates]

Bonefish Blues said:

FI MX5 - a bunch of fun within your budget

FI, as in turbo?