Car suggestion time!

[Biccaroo]

Afternoon! I'll cut to the chase - I currently own a 2001 Toyota MR2 Roadster but, after a year of ownership I feel it's time for a change. So, what would you suggest? All I require is that it:

- is fun to drive
- has good acceleration
- is reliable
- has no more than 3 doors!
- costs less than £15k
- is not a kit car
- is less than 10 years old

I know that this is a rather generalised list but my mind is open to the possibilities! I may well refine my requirments but for now this will do.

Cars that I've considered as a replacement for the MR2 are:

Lotus Elise
Honda S2000
Renault Clio 192 Cup
...and such like!

Thanks in advance!

[BUG4LIFE]

350Z or E46 M3...

[sawman]

Well, there is one glaring ommission from your list.....

[anonymous-user]

given you havent mentioned practicality or rear seats, i'd go for a facelift 3.2 Boxster. I was going to suggest a Z4M coupe but they appear to be around £17K.

[Twincam16]

sawman said:

Well, there is one glaring ommission from your list.....

[sawman]

Twincam16 said:

sawman said:

Well, there is one glaring ommission from your list.....

[james28]

I would get a cayman some are coming in at that price now
also some exiges are coming down to 15k too

[G20]

You may want to mention servicing costs in your specification as some of the suggestions you are going to get will be ridiculous.

[Biccaroo]

sawman said:

Well, there is one glaring ommission from your list.....

Haha, which is... an MX-5? They really must be pretty special because so many people rave about them. However, I was perhaps looking for something a bit more masculine. That's not to say I consider them to be hairdressers' cars, but they're a bit too pretty for my liking. More fool me I'm sure!

By the way, what are the newer MX-5's like? Still as good as the Mk1/2?

[sawman]

I ran a 1989 mk1 mr2, which was a great car, some years later I had a 1991 mx5. They were both a great drive, but quuite different, the mr2 was probably better built, the mx5 was probably easier to drive nearer the limit, ie more predictable, although it is probably fair to say I was a better driver by the time I had the 5, as they were nearly 10 years apart

[Biccaroo]

G20 said:

You may want to mention servicing costs in your specification as some of the suggestions you are going to get will be ridiculous.

Very true! Obviously premium marques such as Porsche and Lotus would cost a lot more to service, but which suggestions in particular are you concerned about?

[G20]

Biccaroo said:

G20 said:

You may want to mention servicing costs in your specification as some of the suggestions you are going to get will be ridiculous.

Very true! Obviously premium marques such as Porsche and Lotus would cost a lot more to service, but which suggestions in particular are you concerned about?

Porsche would be the main one as it is the obvious jump from a roadster, (Not everyone will agree with that) but with very different servicing costs.

For the record, I've also got a roadster and will be looking to make a change around this time next year so following this thread with interest.

[chriscoates]

£15k will get you a very tidy E46 M3.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3599931.htm

[PaperCut]

Biccaroo said:

- is fun to drive
- has good acceleration
- is reliable
- has no more than 3 doors!
- costs less than £15k
- is not a kit car
- is less than 10 years old

Monaro!

[300bhp/ton]

VX220T
Solstice GXP
11th Gen Thunderbird
C5 Corvette
C4 Corvette (ZR-1 maybe)
MG RV8
Cerbera V8
911 (996)
Mustang GT (S197)
Mustang Cobra (2003/4 supercharged model)
Ford SVT Lightning
GMC Syclone
Trans Am WS6/Camaro SS
M Coupe (Z3)

Ok some exceed the 10 year req, but in all cases they have better than average residuals which would offset any additional running costs.

[Biccaroo]

pablo said:

given you havent mentioned practicality or rear seats, i'd go for a facelift 3.2 Boxster. I was going to suggest a Z4M coupe but they appear to be around £17K.

I do like the idea of a Boxster actually. Anyone got any idea what servicing costs are like? Obviously this is one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions, but it's worth asking!