Audi TT or Mx-5?

[CiderLady]

My other half has given me permission to purchase a S/H sports convertible and I have narrowed it down to t TT or an MX5. I have a budget of £5-6K and would like some advice on which to buy, and also some guidance on any issues I need to look out for on either.

[Howroyd]

Very different cars. If this is a second car for fun, and you are limiting your selection to one of the above, then I would go for the MX5. That generation TT is more of a GT than a weekend blast car imho.

Last year I had £12k to put into a fun car, and ultimately went for an MX5, which was hard, as with that sum there were a large number of cars to pick from. I have the mk3.5 (NC2) MX5 and haven't looked back.

Between those two for me is an easy choice, but that's just my opinion..

[zcacogp]

One is a sports car, the other is a poser's trinket.

I've owned neither but driven several of both. If the styling and image is your thing then the Audi may be a smart choice, but you could just buy a Golf and then it would be practical as well.


Oli.

[sandman77]

MX5 for me. Whilst I think the mk1 tt coupe is a very nice looking car, the convertible is just far too feminine for my liking.

[Robert Elise]

MX5. At that budget you'll squeeze into a RC, which is worth doing.
It'll be an early one (06-08) and may have the SUV ride height issue (google NC suspension). A trip to WIM and £300 lighter all sorted.

[CiderLady]

Cheers all and apologies for not saying hello before diving into a question...

Thanks for the initial feedback.

This car will be my only car to drive; which consists of 30 miles or so to work and back, most of which is on the Glos section of M5, plus on the occasional weekend when we don't have the little one.

I'm kind of swayed by the MX5, as more economical but hear it has rust issues? The TT has more punch so may handle better on the motorway, but as I'm currently driving a VW Fox, anything more than a 1.4 is going to feel much quicker than I'm currently getting.

[Kitchski]

If you want something to commute in and potter around town, the TT is pretty good aside from the visibility.

If you want fun, the MX-5 is the driver's car.

I'd aim somewhere in the middle if it were me, but not sure what the middle is! BMW Z3?



Scrap the middle, go with the MX-5!

[SteveS Cup]

Do Porsche Boxsters not fall under the £6k mark now?

I couldn't spend £6k on an MX5 to be honest, a Z4 or Boxster would be very easy though!

£6k would potentially get you in to a DSG V6 TT though. I loved my TT and you'd enjoy it but it's not the most involving of cars. It's very able and due to the traction the do handle well but offer little feedback.

It depends what you actually want in a bit of summer fun.

[Bradley1500]

Mx5 I'd imagine you'd find more fun for a weekend blast, as although a TT (dependent on engine) can be very fast they're not massively engaging to drive.

For the weekday commute though, I'd have the TT every time, it'll be a lot more relaxed to cruise in compared to the Mazda.

V6s sound nice but are very nose heavy, personally I'd go for the 1.8T 20v in 225 flavor. Pack a punch and simple stage 1 remap will see it around 260bhp, it'll surprise a few.

[Matt UK]

SteveS Cup said:

Do Porsche Boxsters not fall under the £6k mark now?

But I'd also want £1k tucked away as a bork fund.

[Snowboy]

For me a sports car needs to be RWD, manual, soft top.
That's the MX-5.

I have an Audi a4. It's a cracking fwd quick car.
It's not a sports car.
I test drove the TT, it felt almost exactly like the a4.
A nice drive, but not a sports car.

Get the MX5.

[yzrh]

Get an MX-5.

The TT gets impressive once you're driving the TTS or TTRS, they have a 'plus' line too. Those are faster than a V8 R8

[youngsyr]

For that budget, what about a Boxster?

[k-ink]

Matt UK said:

SteveS Cup said:

Do Porsche Boxsters not fall under the £6k mark now?

But I'd also want £1k tucked away as a bork fund.

£1k? Is that a deposit towards a set of tyres? Try keeping £6-8k spare for when the engine needs replacing.

MX5 all day long at this price level.