What can I get for £2.5k?

[verminator]

I want something small, economic, a drop top and a bit of fun. Everyone sems to come up with the same advice, buy an MX5. This would be an every day car. I already have a TVR Cerbera for thrills and an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante manual for a good GT car and a Harley for the summer. I only
want to spend £2.5k. Can I expect to get something decent for that and what would you guys recomend?
I did think about an SLK 230. How do you think the two compare?

[MX-5 Lazza]

verminator said:

I want something small, economic, a drop top and a bit of fun. Everyone sems to come up with the same advice, buy an MX5. This would be an every day car. I already have a TVR Cerbera for thrills and an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante manual for a good GT car and a Harley for the summer. I only
want to spend £2.5k. Can I expect to get something decent for that and what would you guys recomend?
I did think about an SLK 230. How do you think the two compare?

The SLK 230 is a barge compared to an MX5. A few years back we had a trip to Scotland for a week with 3 other MX5s and an SLK 320. While it was easily the quickest and most comfortable car in the group it didn't stand a chance once we got to the twisties. We regularly had to wait for it to catch up is there were no straight stretches for a while. That was the 1st gen of SLK so probably the same you are looking at. The SLK just isn't the same type of car as an MX5 at all.

Compared to the MX5, your Aston and Cerbera are also barges. Yes I know the Cerbera is barely any heavier and only a little bigger but it's about the way it drives. The MX5 isn't a motorway car and not great at being an A-road blaster but there are few cars short of Elises/Caterhams etc. that can match it in terms of B-road thrills. They just love to be thrashed and B-roads are ideal for that. As much fun as an old-school 205GTI but less likely to throw you into the undergrowth.

No, I'm not suggesting that an MX5 is better than a DB7 or Cerbera, of course not. They are brilliant at what they do though.

As for the economcal... if you mean, cheap to buy, insure, service & maintain then yes, most definitely. The fuel economy is rotten though for such a small lightweight car. Judging by your other cars I'd guess that's less of a problem though

[verminator]

As far as fuel goes, it is important as it will be an every day car. What mpg could I expect from
say a 1.8?

[MX-5 Lazza]

If you are gentle, the car is in good tune and you are lucky then mid thirties is possible. However, if you enjoy using it and play with it like it wants to be played with then high twenties is more likely. Mine used to be around 28mpg but that was 99.5% b-road driving. The general consensus on fuel economy threads on MX5 forums seems to be around 28mpg with some better and some worse depending on condition, roads and driving style.

[verminator]

So, if you had £2.5k to spend what would you buy?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I've had a Mk1 1.8 and currently own a Mk2.5 1.8 supercharged so I'm probably biased

Personally I'd either go for a top quality Mk1 with change to spare for some fettling or a Mk2.5 (that's the 2001-05 facelift Mk2).

[verminator]

I have to say, I was a bit dubious about possibly buying an MX5 as I thought that being
in my mid fifties, I might just look a bit sad, but after seeing many being driven by people of all ages it looks like I might get away with it. My son also owned one and loved it. Thanks for the info.

[CDP]

Don't ignore the MG TF either. It also likes a good B road thrash and is a lot more agile than the older MGF, which is a very different car. Mine had me grinning this morning with it's ability to change direction almost telepathically. On the right tyres it's brilliant. You'll get a really good one for that kind of money, ideally with the MLS head gasket fitted which solves those problems properly. If the original fails it's about £400 for the MGOC to fit the correct parts.

I've not driven the Mazda much (a few laps of Silverstone) but the TF is closer to the Elise than it is the MR2 MK2 (having put quite a few hard miles in all three). I ignored the MK3 because it's not really useful as an everyday car.

Low to mid 30's fuel consumption, on a long run it can crack 40. That's a standard 135 which could do with more power I suppose but I never tire of thrashing it.

[verminator]

I seriously looked at the later MG but everone i spoke to said they were terrible! I think that they may be thinking of the early ones which were. Am I right in thinking that the later MG'S had a Toyota
engine?

[MX-5 Lazza]

verminator said:

I seriously looked at the later MG but everone i spoke to said they were terrible! I think that they may be thinking of the early ones which were. Am I right in thinking that the later MG'S had a Toyota
engine?

No, it's the later Elise that has the Toyota engine

[Riknos]

I've driven an MG TF 160 quite a lot (don't bother with a 115/135 when the 160 is the same price).
It's a quick car, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and it REALLY grips well in the corners. You get a lot more for your money than you do in an MX-5. The only real issues with the TF are the head gasket (£400-500 to replace with an upgraded LR one and you're sorted) and the coolant pipes go, about £200 max it replace. Much more economical than an MX-5 - 40+ MPG on a run is easy. However, the driving position is horrid. You sit far too high, and the pedals are horrible. I also don't like the interior much compared to a '5, it feels dated and cheap. I'd say drive both and see which you prefer. Not driven a mk3 MR2 but would consider one also, depends on how much space you need.

[CDP]

Riknos said:

However, the driving position is horrid. You sit far too high, and the pedals are horrible. I also don't like the interior much compared to a '5, it feels dated and cheap. I'd say drive both and see which you prefer.

The driving position might be an issue. I've found a way to get set up mine and quite like it but while it's not nearly as good as the MR2 (which is pretty much perfect) I've driven from Norfolk to Hull to Southampton over two days in complete comfort. Averaged 40mpg on that tank and wasn't going slow either. I asked the MGOC about whether there was anything I could do about the seat height and they said they can supply longer springs for the seat base but I can't help thinking this would make the seat look and feel like the cushion had gone.

Unless you're looking at an MK3 MX5 it's pretty cheap and nasty too. These are both very cheap cars but some of the trim plastics on the MG are "packaging quality". Mine has the red interior which brightens it up quite a bit. Only a sunvisor has dropped off in the four years I've owned it and now I've got the hard top (so I can tell) on I'm surprised how free of rattles it is.

[KelWedge]

verminator said:

As far as fuel goes, it is important as it will be an every day car. What mpg could I expect from
say a 1.8?

33 and lots of fun.

[iguana]

2.5k i'd go supercharged Mk1, decent suspension & cage, i've had a couple at that level.