Quick, cheap, RWD?

[Mellow Matt]

I've had a bike engined kit car in the past, and currently have an mx5, but think I would like something somewhere in the middle.

The mx5 is great fun, and cheap to buy and run. The locoblade was REALLY fast and fun, but too impractical (no roof/windscreen/doors/reverse/fuel gauge).

I'd like something that is nippy (~200bhp/tonne), ~£5k or below, cheap to maintain and has a roof. Ideally I'd like a 7-alike with a proper roof (not a plastic one!), but that doesn't seem to exist.

My current area of interest is forced induction mx5s, but if anyone has any other suggestions I'd love to hear them!

(P.S. don't really fancy an Elise and insurance on an S2000 is too much!)

[tertius]

944 turbo, OK it may not fit the cheap to run criteria, but a 944 S2 wouldn't make the 200/ton figure

[SystemParanoia]

ls400

[Codswallop]

180sx/200sx
RX8

[Zoobeef]

Vx220 NA?

[wackojacko]

Mr2 Turbo.

[Toltec]

GTM Libra - a bit more than £5k though

[Dalto123]

tertius said:

944 turbo, OK it may not fit the cheap to run criteria, but a 944 S2 wouldn't make the 200/ton figure

+1 944's are fantastic cars. You could go for the 3.0 S2. Not cheap at times, but very fun and it's a Porsche

[jbi]

SystemParanoia said:

ls400

lol.. not quick at all... I have one

I would try a toyota/lexus soarer

[GC8]

Supercharged MX-5, obviously!

[SystemParanoia]

jbi said:

SystemParanoia said:

ls400

lol.. not quick at all... I have one

I would try a toyota/lexus soarer

strip it

[Mellow Matt]

Good suggestions so far! 180sx/200sx/mr2 turbo/mx5 turbo/mx5 supercharged are at the top of my list at the moment!

Trouble is, with these types of car you really need to know what you're buying, and I'm only really au fait with mx5s; I wouldn't really know where to start looking to learn about other Ricer stuff like turbo Nissans and MR2 turbos!

Are MR2s as fun to drive as MX5s? I guess they're a bit tricker to be an idiot in, with them being mid engined...

[wackojacko]

Mellow Matt said:

Are MR2s as fun to drive as MX5s? I guess they're a bit tricker to be an idiot in, with them being mid engined...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYFrgqNFm8&feature=related

[V8Triumph]

Triumph GT6
MGB GT V8

[Mellow Matt]

wackojacko said:

Mellow Matt said:

Are MR2s as fun to drive as MX5s? I guess they're a bit tricker to be an idiot in, with them being mid engined...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYFrgqNFm8&feature=related

Ha! Point taken, but still, I reckon you'd be less likely to end up going backwards through the grandstands in an mx5!

[Mellow Matt]

V8Triumph said:

Triumph GT6
MGB GT V8

Whilst I probably would quite enjoy those cars, I reckon I'm after something a bit more modern. I'll have a look at the classifieds though!

[leeson660]

200sx s14 would be my choice. Look great from the front lol 200bhp rwd manual, should be reliable as well.

Or a non turbo supra maybe?

[V8Triumph]

Mellow Matt said:

V8Triumph said:

Triumph GT6
MGB GT V8

Whilst I probably would quite enjoy those cars, I reckon I'm after something a bit more modern. I'll have a look at the classifieds though!

Any reason you're after something more modern?

[wackojacko]

Mellow Matt said:

wackojacko said:

Mellow Matt said:

Are MR2s as fun to drive as MX5s? I guess they're a bit tricker to be an idiot in, with them being mid engined...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYFrgqNFm8&feature=related

Ha! Point taken, but still, I reckon you'd be less likely to end up going backwards through the grandstands in an mx5!

Mx5's are not quick enough IMO, My Mr2 which I share with another PHer is only JUST quick enough for me and that's 160-170bhp as it's N/A a Turbo or a V6'd Mr2 would be perfect.... an LSD would be welcome as you can see in some of those slides it spins the inside rear and you have to sling it back into the slide.

Another one for your entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wRi2xZHoH4&fea...

[bicycleshorts]

wackojacko said:

Mx5's are not quick enough IMO, My Mr2 which I share with another PHer is only JUST quick enough for me and that's 160-170bhp as it's N/A a Turbo or a V6'd Mr2 would be perfect.... an LSD would be welcome as you can see in some of those slides it spins the inside rear and you have to sling it back into the slide.

Another one for your entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wRi2xZHoH4&fea...

Tbh, there's not that much difference between the 2. While the MX5 is 40bhp down, it's also nearly 200kg lighter, round Knockhill my import MR2 was only slightly faster than my mate's stock '96 1.8 Eunos. The MR2 also feels like it has a very long 1st and 2nd gear compared the the 5.

I doubt you'd notice the speed difference on the road. You would notice how much more pointy the MR2 is and how much more slidey the MX5 (especially with a torsen LSD).

OP, your 5 is pretty much identical to my old car

Edited by bicycleshorts on Wednesday 21st March 21:57