MX5 to... what?! £5-7k
Discussion
Evening chaps
Hate to do another spec me thread but I'm left totally stuck as to what to even start looking at!
I'm currently 20, have had my MX5 since I just turned 19, and will be 21 in under 3 months. Insurance for the '5 is a delightful £750 this year, and will be set to go down to about £680 when I turn 21. My car history before that contains 2 classic minis; I'm not adverse to old cars, and I have some vague 'spannering' ability.
I am however, itching to change; mainly because I just want something new, but having something with 4 seats would really not be a bad thing at all (although not a requirement). I'm presently a student but through a mix of hard work since 15, some decent saving, and having a couple of jobs, can probably fund a car between 5 and 7k come winter time. The kicker is ongoing running costs; I don't want something that's likely to sting me with huge bills, as large sums of money at once can be problematic for me! Also the annoyance of having it off the road for periods of time will drive me nuts... basically I want something fairly reliable. I however, could not give a damn at all about petrol costs; I do virtually no miles, and the ones I do are generally fun b-roads or town commutes, so fuel economy does not bother me in the slightest. The car is going to be parked on the road, and a garage is not available, apart from using a mates when 'spannering' is needed. I'm not at all adverse to a classic, but again, I don't want something that's going to be making me call the AA every few weeks. Insurance is a factor; I don't really want to spend more than £1200 on it, but for £1200 I can insure a Supra TT, 3000GT, Elise, 350Z, Z4, 330i, RX8 231, etc etc without issues.
The one car I really want as an upgrade to the MX5 is an S2000, but insurance is literally bonkers, unless specialists are significantly cheaper. I want to own a 3000GT one day, a childhood fantasy owed to Gran Turismo, but the 'running costs' thing is putting me off. I do not really want a 'hot hatch' or a hatch of any sort; they simply don't interest me.
TL;DR version of the above
21 year old student
£5-7k to spend - Cash, not finance.
4000 miles a year, mainly b roads and town commutes.
4 seats advantageous, not required.
Fuel economy irrelevant
No garage available
Some 'spannering' ability
Reliability desired; sudden huge bills disliked
Insurance possibly an issue; imports are a big no-no unless a specialist will take kindly on me. S2000s are a no no.
Modern hatches are mostly uninteresting.
Cars I've looked at
RX-8 - I like it. Could theoretically buy a dead one and then get a rebuild done with a 2 year warranty. Reliability still a concern. Can never decide if I truly love how it looks.
S2000 - Would love, can't insure for anything under £2000
Supra TT - Cheap insurance, fundamentally reliable.... bit too GT for the drives I do.
TT Quattro - Apparently uninvolving to drive?
3000GT - Would dearly love one, but can't insure GTOs and the bills could be scary. Too GT like again.
Celica GT-Four - Suspension component costs scary, unknown running costs
350Z - Like, a lot. But bit 'bottom of the barrel' at this budget.
Elise - Too expensive, and the one on my road has too many cracks from poor drivers
330i - It's nice. But I don't really want it.
Z4 - Bottom of the barrel, again.
Elan M1000 - Too similar to my MX5 - uglier and FWD (albeit good FWD!)
Corvette C4 - Bottom of the barrel... can't really park it on tight residental roads...
TVR Chim - Love it. Adore it. Reliability? Living on a road?! Insurance a *bit* too high.
Alfa GT - Pretty. Dull?
Alfa GTV - Pretty. Unreliable? FWD stepdown from the MX5?
Teg DC2 - Meh.
MR2 - Interesting. Cheap, insuraable, mid engined, pretty.
Long list there, I know. I'm very very open to classics but I'm not at all sure what to look at in that respect, and I'd appreciate any opinions on the list of cars there.
The only car I've seriously looked at is the RX8 and I sway between thinking it's a briliant idea and being terrified it'll leave me bankrupt and heartbroken.
If this starts an inquest into my finances and telling me to save my money, etc, I can say safely that I am not clearing out my savings account to do this, I'm not taking out finance. I love cars, I want something new and fun, and I have the money available to do it, as soon as I turn 21 and insurance becomes a possibility!
Cheers
Hate to do another spec me thread but I'm left totally stuck as to what to even start looking at!
I'm currently 20, have had my MX5 since I just turned 19, and will be 21 in under 3 months. Insurance for the '5 is a delightful £750 this year, and will be set to go down to about £680 when I turn 21. My car history before that contains 2 classic minis; I'm not adverse to old cars, and I have some vague 'spannering' ability.
I am however, itching to change; mainly because I just want something new, but having something with 4 seats would really not be a bad thing at all (although not a requirement). I'm presently a student but through a mix of hard work since 15, some decent saving, and having a couple of jobs, can probably fund a car between 5 and 7k come winter time. The kicker is ongoing running costs; I don't want something that's likely to sting me with huge bills, as large sums of money at once can be problematic for me! Also the annoyance of having it off the road for periods of time will drive me nuts... basically I want something fairly reliable. I however, could not give a damn at all about petrol costs; I do virtually no miles, and the ones I do are generally fun b-roads or town commutes, so fuel economy does not bother me in the slightest. The car is going to be parked on the road, and a garage is not available, apart from using a mates when 'spannering' is needed. I'm not at all adverse to a classic, but again, I don't want something that's going to be making me call the AA every few weeks. Insurance is a factor; I don't really want to spend more than £1200 on it, but for £1200 I can insure a Supra TT, 3000GT, Elise, 350Z, Z4, 330i, RX8 231, etc etc without issues.
The one car I really want as an upgrade to the MX5 is an S2000, but insurance is literally bonkers, unless specialists are significantly cheaper. I want to own a 3000GT one day, a childhood fantasy owed to Gran Turismo, but the 'running costs' thing is putting me off. I do not really want a 'hot hatch' or a hatch of any sort; they simply don't interest me.
TL;DR version of the above
21 year old student
£5-7k to spend - Cash, not finance.
4000 miles a year, mainly b roads and town commutes.
4 seats advantageous, not required.
Fuel economy irrelevant
No garage available
Some 'spannering' ability
Reliability desired; sudden huge bills disliked
Insurance possibly an issue; imports are a big no-no unless a specialist will take kindly on me. S2000s are a no no.
Modern hatches are mostly uninteresting.
Cars I've looked at
RX-8 - I like it. Could theoretically buy a dead one and then get a rebuild done with a 2 year warranty. Reliability still a concern. Can never decide if I truly love how it looks.
S2000 - Would love, can't insure for anything under £2000
Supra TT - Cheap insurance, fundamentally reliable.... bit too GT for the drives I do.
TT Quattro - Apparently uninvolving to drive?
3000GT - Would dearly love one, but can't insure GTOs and the bills could be scary. Too GT like again.
Celica GT-Four - Suspension component costs scary, unknown running costs
350Z - Like, a lot. But bit 'bottom of the barrel' at this budget.
Elise - Too expensive, and the one on my road has too many cracks from poor drivers
330i - It's nice. But I don't really want it.
Z4 - Bottom of the barrel, again.
Elan M1000 - Too similar to my MX5 - uglier and FWD (albeit good FWD!)
Corvette C4 - Bottom of the barrel... can't really park it on tight residental roads...
TVR Chim - Love it. Adore it. Reliability? Living on a road?! Insurance a *bit* too high.
Alfa GT - Pretty. Dull?
Alfa GTV - Pretty. Unreliable? FWD stepdown from the MX5?
Teg DC2 - Meh.
MR2 - Interesting. Cheap, insuraable, mid engined, pretty.
Long list there, I know. I'm very very open to classics but I'm not at all sure what to look at in that respect, and I'd appreciate any opinions on the list of cars there.
The only car I've seriously looked at is the RX8 and I sway between thinking it's a briliant idea and being terrified it'll leave me bankrupt and heartbroken.
If this starts an inquest into my finances and telling me to save my money, etc, I can say safely that I am not clearing out my savings account to do this, I'm not taking out finance. I love cars, I want something new and fun, and I have the money available to do it, as soon as I turn 21 and insurance becomes a possibility!
Cheers
Edited by Grodecki on Tuesday 31st July 01:05
okie592 said:
This is just the makings of a PHers Wet dream.
If that's me saying I'm basically lying or dreaming.. I'm not. I'm genuinely in this situation. I am left with a significant amount of cash left over each month, and have been since I was about 16, and it's all been saved. I love cars, I always have, so why not get something fun to replace the '5? Boxter again seems like a barrel scrape with potentially high running costs (not from any research, just assuming!), and I can't quite insure them either.
OP, from the info you have given i reckon a 350z is where its headed. practical, reasonably reliable, still looks awesome and modern compared to supra's, etc. Its a more realistic option IMHO esp as only 4k miles a year will mean mpg is not as much of a worry
Sometimes following your heart is better, I've found that you will be much happier and work that much harder anyways to raise cash and keep the car running! Any probs then you can always sell-up!
Sometimes following your heart is better, I've found that you will be much happier and work that much harder anyways to raise cash and keep the car running! Any probs then you can always sell-up!
PUA said:
OP, from the info you have given i reckon a 350z is where its headed. practical, reasonably reliable, still looks awesome and modern compared to supra's, etc. Its a more realistic option IMHO esp as only 4k miles a year will mean mpg is not as much of a worry
I really, really like them. The insurance is on the high side of acceptable but it's just about okay.... (similar bracket to the Elise and a bit below the Chim, a lot more than the Supra, 3000GT) and in GT form I think they look absolutely ace.ambuletz said:
Something more fun then an MX-5? Blasphemy! Quite afew people have gone from a '5 to a boxster S only to go back to a '5!
Not entirely stuck on the fun side of things... a lot of it is down to just wanting a change. I don't expect I'll keep it for a huge amount of time so if I really want back to the '5 I will go and buy another, although finding a UK car as clean as my SE would probably be a challenge!NadiR said:
Shame about the insurance on the S2000, but try running some quotes on the other hot Honda's that's within your budget, will be less ruinous to insure then the S2000. DC2/5, EK9/EP3 or ATR.
A DC2 is possible if it's a UK model, which I don't really like the look of! Imports with the Admiral group are a no-no on the insurance scale, so DC5s are off. EP3 is £1200, a little less than a 350Z. I don't particularly like the look of it that much, either. An NSX is £2500...
Gaz. said:
Run a quote for an import Supra (my old plate was C10JSH if you want to use that in confusedmeerkats) as you are a little short to buy even a ropey automatic UK spec Supra. Good manual ones are usually £18k as and when they come up for sale.
Can insure those for about £1200. Acceptable! 300bhp/ton said:
I'd say Supra out of your list. Although I do like C4 Vettes, I think these would probably be more "fun", although way less ability than the big Toyota.
Why do you think you couldn't park the Vette on the road? It's smaller than the Supra.
I had the impression that in my head the Vette was absolutely huge, it turns out it is not, at all! The fibreglass nature concerns me, mind, as I said, the Elise on my road is covered in cracks where people have driven into it, and cracks in fibreglass are not nice Why do you think you couldn't park the Vette on the road? It's smaller than the Supra.
Keep the MX5, buy an MR2 as well. I ran a mk1 MX5 and an MK2 MR2 at the same time for a couple of years and the contrast was fantastic, yet they were both really good fun. For a while I had those two and an E34 535i, which was an excellent decision to make every morning.
No need to spend all your budget to get something different, lots of fun to be had for not much money. Plus why sell a good MX5 if you think you might want one again later?
No need to spend all your budget to get something different, lots of fun to be had for not much money. Plus why sell a good MX5 if you think you might want one again later?
Eighteeteewhy said:
I think S2000 is the next logical step, and where I'll be looking is I ever get bored of my '5' 
Is it a logical step though? I'm not sure I can the logic. The S2k looks appeal less, it doesn't handle as well and isn't as well balanced, is heavier, bigger on the outside, but offers no more room or ability.The only thing it brings to the table is more power (although you could mod an MX-5) and slightly better mpg.
Not saying it's wrong to go to one and I quite like the S2k personally. But I just can't see the logic. I'd have thought changing to something quite different or modding the MX-5 would be a more logical progression.
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