Best fun car under 5k suggeestions

[LB99]

Hi everyone,

I've been driving a 1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E for 6 years now and I've finally decided it's time to sell it and get something a bit more fun. I'm open to all suggestions, I want something fast and fun to drive, something post 2000 and under £5k. My commute is only 2 miles each way so mpg isn't a huge issue. Will want to drive it on weekends and up to Newcastle every other week.

Things I've considered;

BMW Z4 pre face lift, 2.5 and 3.0
MX5
Golf mkv gti
E46 330ci

But as I said above I'm open to all suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: suggestions* in the title, my bad

Edited by LB99 on Tuesday 15th May 00:27

[JaredVannett]

Decent list... was on AT yesterday and noticed you get the mk5 golf R32 from around 5k now.

[SCEtoAUX]

When these type of threads pop up I suggest a Toyota MR2 Roadster

If you can put up with fairly limited luggage space they you only need to spend £2k-£2.5k to find a good one. Get lucky and you might even find a good one for less than that. (I did. £1,850 for a facelifted car with a good history and bodywork and under 75k miles).

Just as much fun as an MX-5, uses less fuel, less prone to rust. Toyota reliability included.

Only negative is that they're "nippy" but not quick. That's never bothered me though and having owned a 3.0Si Z4 with almost twice as much power, I prefer the MR2 (I'm on my second)

[Shiv_P]

BMW 130i or E46 330Ci or focus ST-2/ST-3?

[trickywoo]

Suzuki swift sport.

[Integroo]

I vote something small,light,rwd and convertible. Mx5, mr2 are the usual suspects.

[culpz]

Clio 172/182? Could get a really decent one for that or get a cheap one and use the change to get it up to scratch and do a few mods?

[Thats What She Said]

I would say the only one from your list thats fun, is the MX5.

Z4 is a bit too heavy
Mk5 Golf GTI, nice enough capable car. But wouldn't exactly call it fun
330 Quick enough, but again, not fun

As already mentioned a 172/182 Clio is a good choice (allow for dephaser/belt costs)

Fiesta ST is another consideration.

[LB99]

JaredVannett said:

Decent list... was on AT yesterday and noticed you get the mk5 golf R32 from around 5k now.

I hadn't considered the R32 due to mileage at that price but I'll have a look.

SCEtoAUX said:

When these type of threads pop up I suggest a Toyota MR2 Roadster

If you can put up with fairly limited luggage space they you only need to spend £2k-£2.5k to find a good one. Get lucky and you might even find a good one for less than that. (I did. £1,850 for a facelifted car with a good history and bodywork and under 75k miles).

Just as much fun as an MX-5, uses less fuel, less prone to rust. Toyota reliability included.

Only negative is that they're "nippy" but not quick. That's never bothered me though and having owned a 3.0Si Z4 with almost twice as much power, I prefer the MR2 (I'm on my second)

I've heard that they are nice little motors but I just can't past how they look! 90s ones are nice but after having a 30+ year old car for a while I want something a bit newer.

Shiv_P said:

BMW 130i or E46 330Ci or focus ST-2/ST-3?

E46 330ci is getting a lot of praise in the other threads too - is it really that good? I am leaning towards it at the moment. 130i is a nice car but there are so many of them in my home town, seems like everyone in a 2 mile radius has a 1 series at the moment. Focus is an interesting idea, going to look into that.

trickywoo said:

Suzuki swift sport.

A friend had one of these and it was a lot of fun - worried it will feel too much like my old mini size and shape wise but I think its probably worth a test drive

Integroo said:

I vote something small,light,rwd and convertible. Mx5, mr2 are the usual suspects.

I do like the MX5 but my worry is that they've all been hammered and I am not in the slightest practical to work on one, it would have to go to a garage. Do they tend to be knackered or are they alright second hand?

culpz said:

Clio 172/182? Could get a really decent one for that or get a cheap one and use the change to get it up to scratch and do a few mods?

Hadn't even considered a clio, will read up on them this evening.

Thats What She Said said:

I would say the only one from your list thats fun, is the MX5.

Z4 is a bit too heavy
Mk5 Golf GTI, nice enough capable car. But wouldn't exactly call it fun
330 Quick enough, but again, not fun

As already mentioned a 172/182 Clio is a good choice (allow for dephaser/belt costs)

Fiesta ST is another consideration.

In regards to something being 'fun' I would imagine my definition varies massively to most on this site as the mini I've been driving for the past 6 years takes HOURS to get to 60mph! Is the Z4 being heavy a really noticeable problem? I did think that about the Golf though - practical and capable but not fun to drive. An old work pal had the fiesta ST and it was a laugh - will have a look at them tonight as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far its a big help!

[anonymous-user]

Supercharged Corolla T sport?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say if you're looking at a Z4 then definitely look at a 350Z:

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

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

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

Hot Hatch wise it would be (the engine & handling sway it for me) an ST-3 Focus:

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

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

[Mr Tidy]

LB99 said:

E46 330ci is getting a lot of praise in the other threads too - is it really that good? I am leaning towards it at the moment. 130i is a nice car but there are so many of them in my home town seems like everyone in a 2 mile radius has a 1 series at the moment. Focus is an interesting idea, going to look into that.

Z4 is a bit too heavy
Mk5 Golf GTI, nice enough capable car. But wouldn't exactly call it fun
330 Quick enough, but again, not fun

As already mentioned a 172/182 Clio is a good choice (allow for dephaser/belt costs)

Fiesta ST is another consideration.

In regards to something being 'fun' I would imagine my definition varies massively to most on this site as the mini I've been driving for the past 6 years takes HOURS to get to 60mph! Is the Z4 being heavy a really noticeable problem? I did think that about the Golf though - practical and capable but not fun to drive. An old work pal had the fiesta ST and it was a laugh - will have a look at them tonight as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far its a big help!

E46 330Ci is a good car, but I found an E46 325ti Compact a better option. Although I'd rather have a 130i than either of those!

And although everyone around you may have a 1 Series, I doubt many of them are 130is!

As for a Z4 being heavy, the 3.0Si Roadster is 1,385kg. MK V GTi's are apparently 1,336kg as a manual or 1,355kg with the DSG option, so Golfs aren't really lightweight - other than in power output!

Clio is a good option, but you need to bear the cam-belt replacement cost in mind!

The BMWs mentioned use a chain, so no such issues.

You need to try as many of them as you can before you decide.

[Princeprawn]

I bought a 100,000mile 57reg E90 330m sport off eBay last year for 5k. I don't think it's possible to get more car for the money. I think they hover around this price quite consistently, most people can't tell it's a 10 year old car as the shape has stayed very similar.

Edited by Princeprawn on Friday 18th May 20:49

Edited by Princeprawn on Friday 18th May 20:50

[MDL111]

Can you get a Boxster for 5k in the UK (I seem to remember they were quite cheap at some point)?

[dhutch]

I have an E46 330ci, following a E37 compact, previously a 1.8l Pug 306.

Lovely car, can't fault it, comfortable and quick, fun for what it is, but not raw laughs.

Daniel

[Angpozzuto]

I've driven the 330 it is a lovely motor but I found it a bit too big and heavy to be a proper fun car. I'd rather a mx5 or mr2. Small, lightweight and rear wheel drive

[Princeprawn]

If those are your choices it has to be the mx5 I had one with the pop up head lights and managed to sell it for more than I paid one year on, if you look after it, it probably won't loose money. The MR2 is not as nice to drive in fact it feels very old fashioned.