Fun cars for 10k

[Abed20]

I have 10k to spend on a fun car.. must do 0-60 in under 8 seconds and preferably under 70k mileage.

So far I've only owned a few volkswagens and would like something exciting to drivr

Turbo or NA? I don't mind but something that sounds good from stock or with an exhaust

So far:

- Nissan 350z
- BMW 1-Series: 135i (rare under 10k) or other variants
- Fiesta ST

[HJMS123]

The Fiesta ST is a cracking car but unfortunately it does not sound good. Standard it has almost no exhaust note and aftermarket options don't sound good either IMO.

The actual engine sounds piped into the cabin do sound okay though.

[Integroo]

Honda S2000? Great engine and apparently sounds like an F1 car in a tunnel, revving up to 8/9k RPM.

[kostas_miata]

Based on the 3 options I'd go for the 135i without a second though. It has got the best engine by far and handling is superb for a stock car. If you'd want to track it that's a completely different case. I'm actually considering an 135i coupe myself, although I'm having second thoughts as an LSD and a set of coilovers to make it track ready would make my bank account suffer.
The 350Z has a great set up from factory and you can get them a lot cheaper than your £10k budget.

[JS1500]

Boxster?

[CABC]

VX220
FI'd MX5
Caterfield 10k absolute min, but doable.
MR2

those are fun.

[85Carrera]

TVR S Series

[designforlife]

DC5 if you want something thats fun but also a tiny bit practical.

[MildRelish]

E36 M3

[ZX10R NIN]

If engine/exhaust note are what you're looking for then there are some nice options:

The Focus ST sounds great with a bit of exhaust work they are also a good steer:

(I'd loose the red grills on this one)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 Audi TT Exclusive Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 with upgrades

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

TVR 2.8S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Porsche Cayman S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[imahuman118]

The most fun car you can buy is a mazda mx-5. Here in the uk, where our country roads are one track wide you want a car which you can reach the limits of without risking dying. The m135i is really fast so you'll be driving at "60mph" and using only 4/10 of what the cars capable of.

[ZX10R NIN]

Find the right set of corners & you can enjoy any car so for me you're wrong on that one also the OP wants a nice exhaust note which is not something the MX5 is known for.

[Abed20]

I do like that modified TT 3.2... looks pretty sweet

350z seems like a decent shout because there are quite a few examples around the 6-7k mark... Looks like I'd get a lot for my money

E36 M3... anybody have an idea of what insurance is on these cars? Classic insurance? An e46 M3 is my dream but I'm currently 22 & so I'm gonna have to wait a couple years until somebody decides to insure me on one (sigh)

[designforlife]

ZX10R NIN said:

Find the right set of corners & you can enjoy any car so for me you're wrong on that one also the OP wants a nice exhaust note which is not something the MX5 is known for.

handling also gets pretty boring after a while, when you can't pull the skin off custard.

mx5s are a nice beginner enthusiasts car, but they are no where near as good as evangelising owners would have you believe.

(I owned one for 5 years, so this isn't an unfounded opinion).

[johnwilliams77]

designforlife said:

handling also gets pretty boring after a while, when you can't pull the skin off custard.

mx5s are a nice beginner enthusiasts car, but they are no where near as good as evangelising owners would have you believe.

(I owned one for 5 years, so this isn't an unfounded opinion).

Perhaps you didn't have the skills to drive it properly? A mildly modified one recently posted a sub 8min lap BTG.

[designforlife]

johnwilliams77 said:

designforlife said:

handling also gets pretty boring after a while, when you can't pull the skin off custard.

mx5s are a nice beginner enthusiasts car, but they are no where near as good as evangelising owners would have you believe.

(I owned one for 5 years, so this isn't an unfounded opinion).

Perhaps you didn't have the skills to drive it properly? A mildly modified one recently posted a sub 8min lap BTG.

No amount of driving skill is going to make it faster in a straight line, and i can hustle my DC5 through bends just as quickly as my old mx5 tbh.

In FI form they're much more engaging, it's a fun chassis but the engines let them down....and the sill/roof drainage design is terrible. Oh and there's the whole chassis leg issue...

[Ursicles]

I bought an old Mk1 MX5 for £1400 ... seriously, go get one of those and bank the rest.

Plus its unlikely to drop in value much!

Depreciation proof fun.

[johnwilliams77]

Ursicles said:

I bought an old Mk1 MX5 for £1400 ... seriously, go get one of those and bank the rest.

Plus its unlikely to drop in value much!

Depreciation proof fun.

Until it rusts to bits!

[Abed20]

So I gather a turbocharged mx5 might be a decent shout

[designforlife]

Abed20 said:

So I gather a turbocharged mx5 might be a decent shout

as long as it has been built and mapped properly, and the rusty sills have been sorted, yep a turbo or SC one will be good fun.

My old mk2.5 1.6 supercharged is coming up for sale soon, the guy is getting the sills done for the MOT then putting it back on the road for sale. think he's after £6k or so.