£2500 fun car - suggestions please!

[Jumeeno]

I have now been given the thumbs up by the better half, and am looking to spend NO MORE than £2500 on a second 'fun' car. This will be kept in our newly cleared garage, and would probably be sold 12 months on, hopefully for as close to what I paid for it as possible.

My 4 year-old son is car mad (a true petrolhead in the making), so something that would put a smile on his face is also on my wishlist. I'm currently thinking Mazda MX-5 or Toyota MR2... a little obvious I'll admit, so please fire some more leftfield suggestions my way!

[Slow]

Something jap with turbos and rwd?

[300bhp/ton]

Jumeeno said:

I have now been given the thumbs up by the better half, and am looking to spend NO MORE than £2500 on a second 'fun' car. This will be kept in our newly cleared garage, and would probably be sold 12 months on, hopefully for as close to what I paid for it as possible.

My 4 year-old son is car mad (a true petrolhead in the making), so something that would put a smile on his face is also on my wishlist. I'm currently thinking Mazda MX-5 or Toyota MR2... a little obvious I'll admit, so please fire some more leftfield suggestions my way!

Why sell in 12 months time? Hardly seems worth the effort in finding something if your only real plan is to flog it? But if that is, then not much that is currently £2.5k will lose much over 12 months. Although anything older or niche will likely lose less.

[CampDavid]

If you're planning on getting in and out inside 12 months then something easy to move on is in order. An MX5 should do that, mk1 cars I feel will most likely move favourably.

[Jumeeno]

300bhp/ton said:

Why sell in 12 months time? Hardly seems worth the effort in finding something if your only real plan is to flog it? But if that is, then not much that is currently £2.5k will lose much over 12 months. Although anything older or niche will likely lose less.

Selling in 12 months, is the disclaimer to the wife. Trust me - if I find the right car, I'll be keeping it

[Jumeeno]

CampDavid said:

If you're planning on getting in and out inside 12 months then something easy to move on is in order. An MX5 should do that, mk1 cars I feel will most likely move favourably.

I saw a lovely '96 Mk1 MX-5 in white, locally about 3 months ago. £1700. Shame... that was before I'd had the thumbs up!

Had a Mk2.5 few years back, was lovely, but really fancy an original. Not fussed on miles, as long as it's been looked after.

[300bhp/ton]

Jumeeno said:

Selling in 12 months, is the disclaimer to the wife. Trust me - if I find the right car, I'll be keeping it

I guess the thing is, the "right" car may well need a couple of things doing to it at this money. So for me it'd be more than just buying a car, it'd be about getting something I want and something that I can tailor to do what I want. Even more so if a weekend car.

Guess on what would be good depends what you intend to use it for and why. For example having a Jag XJ12 6.0 V12 tucked away for high day and holiday use would be cool and lovely place to sit. But it's not a sports car and it'll drink like an alcoholic fish.

MX-5 is an obvious, if somewhat predictable and dare I say it boring option. A great daily, but in standard trim just a bit too modern, Japanese and dull for a weekend machine (unless heavily modded). It's also a 2 seater, so might pose an issue if you need to carry 3.

[the fury]

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&...

A bit tatty but should be fun!

[PH lurker]

I've been looking through loads of stuff, but chanced upon a car I immediately recognised and it would leave some money left over.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C363118

Well worth a read of the thread on here. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Wish I was in the positon to buy it .

I'd also found:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C309458
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C347548
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Jumeeno]

PH lurker said:

I've been looking through loads of stuff, but chanced upon a car I immediately recognised and it would leave some money left over.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C363118

Well worth a read of the thread on here. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Wish I was in the positon to buy it .

I'd also found:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C309458
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C347548
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Thanks, Car & Classis is a great place (that I hadn't thought of) to look for what I want. I love the white 924

[Conian]

944 = the new (old) MX5

[GBTurbo]

MR2 Turbo?

[Jumeeno]

Can someone please humour me.

Take the 1985 Porsche 924.

Classic car insurance and road tax - how does it all work? Is it all to do with when a car was registered, and the mileage the mileage that you do (for insurance)?

[skeeterm5]

Jumeeno said:

I have now been given the thumbs up by the better half, and am looking to spend NO MORE than £2500 on a second 'fun' car. This will be kept in our newly cleared garage, and would probably be sold 12 months on, hopefully for as close to what I paid for it as possible.

My 4 year-old son is car mad (a true petrolhead in the making), so something that would put a smile on his face is also on my wishlist. I'm currently thinking Mazda MX-5 or Toyota MR2... a little obvious I'll admit, so please fire some more leftfield suggestions my way!

What about a Smart Roadster? Fun, cheap, reliable.

S

[Jumeeno]

skeeterm5 said:

What about a Smart Roadster? Fun, cheap, reliable.

S

Really like these too - £2500 budget enough though? Surely BIG miles on a one of these engines could be bad news?

[george123]

Alfa GTV V6? there's some good ones around for£ 2.5k

[A900ss]

Get a Discovery and go off road.

Minimal depreciation on an old Discovery.

[s3fella]

944s are very cool IMO. A decent s2 could be had for your budget, and they are a lovely bit of kit IMO.

But also, a leftball option. How about a Clio Williams?

[Jumeeno]

george123 said:

Alfa GTV V6? there's some good ones around for£ 2.5k

Another good shout, added to list!

[billzeebub]

Corrado VR6, trust me..and if you get a good un with the right spec (ideally leather, dark metallic colour with manual gearbox) you won't lose any money on it., you may even make a few quid. There are .a couple of nice ones for sale at the moment for around your budget. One of them is a previous car of mine. If interested PM me and I will discuss them with you?

Edited by billzeebub on Monday 11th February 19:46

Edited by billzeebub on Monday 11th February 19:47