Recommend a fun car for £6k or under?

[Delta-Tango]

I'm 23 and currently drive a sensible 1.6 Astra H. It's my first car, been driving since 17.

I do get stuck in traffic a lot thanks to the 9 - 5.

Budget is £5k - £6k.

Single and don't have any family responsibilities, so 2 seaters are all good.

I'm thinking something like a BMW Z4 or Toyota MR2 Mk3. Any thoughts?

Avoiding Alfa Romeo and VW... too many horror stories.

Cheers guys

[Groober]

Honda S2000? I'm sure you could pick one up for your budget.

[Delta-Tango]

oof S2000... it'll be difficult to find a decent non-ticking, rust free one for that price

[V8 FOU]

Z4 is a good call. Go for an auto if you get stuck in traffic a lot. You won't believe how relaxing that will make your daily grind.....

[kambites]

I'd probably go for a mk3 MR2 (and quite a lot of change) with that budget. If you're really lucky you might find one with a 2ZZ engine transplant.

An extra grand would get you into a VX220.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 3rd November 10:52

[eltax91]

Supercharged MX5

[trickywoo]

I'd drive exclusively in the twilight zone http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Evanivitch]

I reckon a Clio RenaultSport (whichever fits budget) would be a nicer daily in traffic than anything particularly low and soft top.

Just my opinion. Still be an absolute hoon.

[egor110]

Evanivitch said:

I reckon a Clio RenaultSport (whichever fits budget) would be a nicer daily in traffic than anything particularly low and soft top.

Just my opinion. Still be an absolute hoon.

The clutch are pretty heavy in the cliosports though.

If the issue is your stuck in traffic daily then surely a auto is worth the sacrifice over a few weekend hoons ?

[SirSquidalot]

Go and try an MX5! With that budget you could get a decent rust free one and have money left over for forced induction and suspension mods!

[Renn Sport]

Is an E36 M3 within this budget?

[HorneyMX5]

MK3 MX5 2.0 Sport. Loads of creature comforts, the roof comes off and you can do skids.

[C70R]

V8 FOU said:

Z4 is a good call. Go for an auto if you get stuck in traffic a lot. You won't believe how relaxing that will make your daily grind.....

That would be my shout if I was buying a car to use on the daily grind. The autobox isn't brilliant but isn't terrible - sport and tiptronic modes make life slightly more interesting.

[HedgeyGedgey]

A well specced ep3 type r? A lot of fun for the cash

[Howard-]

Nissan 350Z would probably be my choice.

[Calza]

Integra?

[AH33]

Get an EP3 for 2-3k, spend £500 on a good service and it'll go forever, while being quicker than 95% of the cars you'll come across on a daily basis.

Only downside, urban mpg is terrible. On my Corsa VXR it never goes lower than 30mpg no matter what. With the Civic i've genuinely seen 17mpg through town.

[lord trumpton]

mk5 golf gti dsg

[Delta-Tango]

trickywoo said:

I'd drive exclusively in the twilight zone http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Haha yeahh soz. I wasn't getting nearly as many responses as I hoped for. Only learned about "bumping" just now.

[TurboHatchback]

egor110 said:

Evanivitch said:

I reckon a Clio RenaultSport (whichever fits budget) would be a nicer daily in traffic than anything particularly low and soft top.

Just my opinion. Still be an absolute hoon.

The clutch are pretty heavy in the cliosports though.

If the issue is your stuck in traffic daily then surely a auto is worth the sacrifice over a few weekend hoons ?

I've owned 2 182s (one of them a Trophy) and currently own an MR2 roadster. The Clios are fast and certainly fun when you're really hooning but the other 95% of the time they are hard work and rather wearing to drive, also they need super unleaded which is a pain. The heavy clutches made my knee hurt after a while which was part of my reason for selling.

The MR2 may be slower but it is enjoyable all the time not just when flat out. It's more comfortable than the Clio, has a nice light clutch and slick gearchange which is far less of a chore to use in traffic, it runs on regular 95 unleaded (and not much of it) and they really are fantastic fun. I think they offer the best fun/£ ratio available and you could always spend the remaining £4k on an automatic barge for the boring drives.