Fun, cheap, RWD, space for a dog?

[MajorMantra]

I sold my NA MX5 before moving house and now I'm settled I'm hoping to get back in something fun reasonably soon. My sensible car is an E91 325i M-Sport Touring. I love it, but it's too big and heavy for larking around in.

Obvious answer would be another MX-5, but I'd like something that can comfortably accommodate two adults and a small terrier.

Any new car is going to live outside so maybe a soft-top isn't the best choice anyway.

The obvious answer is a GT86/BRZ. It's a serious contender that's getting more affordable all the time (prices are now dipping to circa £8k at the bottom end) but still a bit extravagant for a car I 100 percent do not need.

I'm struggling to come up with many alternatives. So far I've got:

RX-8: too thirsty and too much bork. Otherwise perfect.
1-series: too similar to my current car, and too heavy to be fun. I'd rather have something low powered and light.
Porsche 944: I love these, but they're properly old now and good ones are no longer cheap. A nice one probably deserves to be garaged.
Toyota Celica: FWD, aesthetically challenging.
Audi TT: FWD/AWD, not fun enough (?), not keen on the image.
Mitsubishi FTO: FWD. Not sure how good these are, and unmolested manuals are very rare.

Any brilliant ideas?

[sbridgey]

I'm in almost exactly the same situation, i too have a e91 325i touring and have been looking at mx5's and GT86's, i just don't have a dog!

Top of my list at the moment is a supercharged GT86 if i can find one or a sensibly priced BBR NC Mx5.

[Overall D]

Nissan 350Z. Not really small or light but maybe more interesting than a 1 or 3 series? Enough space for a terrier at the back I'd think. 5k seem to buy a decent one.

Z4 coupe, though that's probably nearer the same 8 grand 86's start from.

R53 Cooper S. Obviosly FWD, but small, light and very similar to MX5 in chuckability. Can be had for 2k. I'd vouch for this option, especially if cheap is priority, they are great fun, I have one and had/have gt86 and mx5's before.

Audi TT - don't know much about them. FWD or front heavy AWD and supposedly not the best steer but at least a dog friendly boot in coupe shape.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the 350Z ticks the boxes.

[Mr Tidy]

My daily is an E91 325i and my weekend toy is a Z4 Coupe - works well for me!

[MajorMantra]

Overall D said:

Nissan 350Z. Not really small or light but maybe more interesting than a 1 or 3 series? Enough space for a terrier at the back I'd think. 5k seem to buy a decent one.

I did look hard at the Z but it's not really the sort of driving experience I'm after by all accounts. It also doesn't have rear seats, so safe comfy dog transport is doubtful.

Overall D said:

Z4 coupe, though that's probably nearer the same 8 grand 86's start from.

Yeah, if I'm spending that much I'll just get the 86 most likely. The Z4 is cool but again lacks rear space. Tempting to have a second N52 powered car as it's a great engine, but if I were going that way the 1-series might make more sense!

Overall D said:

R53 Cooper S. Obviosly FWD, but small, light and very similar to MX5 in chuckability. Can be had for 2k. I'd vouch for this option, especially if cheap is priority, they are great fun, I have one and had/have gt86 and mx5's before.

That's an interesting suggestion. I'd sort of excluded all hatches but maybe I shouldn't?

I'd loves something that feels special again. My MX-5 (Eunos, actually) had some nice mods that made it a hell of a lot of fun to chuck around, and it sounded great. Turning the key was always a little thrill.

Edited by MajorMantra on Friday 18th January 14:13

[ZX10R NIN]

If you don't mind hatches the the Clio 182/197 are the stand out options.

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

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

Or a Celica T Sport

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

Civic Type R

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

RCZ

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

[Mr Tidy]

MajorMantra said:

Overall D said:

Yeah, if I'm spending that much I'll just get the 86 most likely. The Z4 is cool but again lacks rear space. Tempting to have a second N52 powered car as it's a great engine, but if I were going that way the 1-series might make more sense!

[quote=Overall D
R53 Cooper S. Obviosly FWD, but small, light and very similar to MX5 in chuckability. Can be had for 2k. I'd vouch for this option, especially if cheap is priority, they are great fun, I have one and had/have gt86 and mx5's before.

I guess it may depend how big your dog is - I've seen smaller ones in the boot of an E86!

But a 130i would probably work better, and would be a cheaper option.

I just missed out on one before I bought my 325i - gotta love an N52 and RWD!

Then again a Cooper S might be entertaining, albeit in a different way! Mrs Tidy has had an R56 Cooper since 2006 and for a FWD car it drives really well.

[MajorMantra]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you don't mind hatches the the Clio 182/197 are the stand out options.

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

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

Or a Celica T Sport

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

Civic Type R

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

RCZ

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

All valid. RCZ is an interesting one. I love the rear glass. Like the Audi TT I'm not convinced it's the sort of driving experience I'm after though.

I want to love the Celica, but it's just meh looking. Also not RWD either.

If I open it up to hatches there are loads of options like the Swift Sport, but hatches are just a bit sensible...

[ZX10R NIN]

Here's a leftfield option it's a 7 speed auto but they can be fun especially if you add some Eibach springs, they have a peach of on engine look very sensible & are a bit of a sleeper once debadged.

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

CLC230

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

[V8RX7]

When I had similar requirements I bought a Forester XT and tuned it to 275bhp - having been unable to find anything RWD

My point is that the dog used to leap in at the start but after a few weeks, flatly refused to do so.

It turns out dogs really aren't happy in fast cars - at least mine wasn't (she wasn't thrown around, just didn't like the G forces)

BTW despite what PH says, a Forester is NOT a fun car to drive

[MajorMantra]

ZX10R NIN said:

Here's a leftfield option it's a 7 speed auto but they can be fun especially if you add some Eibach springs, they have a peach of on engine look very sensible & are a bit of a sleeper once debadged.

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

CLC230

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

I'm impressed at the originality, that would never have occurred to me! A respectable amount of oomph for the money, but not really my jam.

[MajorMantra]

V8RX7 said:

When I had similar requirements I bought a Forester XT and tuned it to 275bhp - having been unable to find anything RWD

My point is that the dog used to leap in at the start but after a few weeks, flatly refused to do so.

It turns out dogs really aren't happy in fast cars - at least mine wasn't (she wasn't thrown around, just didn't like the G forces)

BTW despite what PH says, a Forester is NOT a fun car to drive

I reckon a Forester is too grown up and heavy anyway. I test drove a ropey one before I got my E91 and liked it but the driving position is too high for it to feel like a sports car, it's definitely an SUV.

That's a fair point about the dog. Mine has been known to bring up her breakfast on a twisty road. I wouldn't drive hard with her on board, it's more to have the option of taking the fun car on short trips. My MX-5 was fun even when cruising because it felt fast at low speeds, it sounded good, and of course you had the wind-in-hair sensation of a convertible.

[V8RX7]

MajorMantra said:

If I open it up to hatches there are loads of options like the Swift Sport, but hatches are just a bit sensible...

3 Series compact ?

The E36 has the more fun suspension but the largest (standard) engine was the 1.8, plenty of 2.5 and 2.8 conversions around though.

Or the E46 325 compact - supposed to be far more fun than the E46 (which isn't IME)

Or just an E36 touring 325 / 328

[ZX10R NIN]

As above 325ti

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-325ti-sport/2833368...f:1

[Mr Tidy]

ZX10R NIN said:

As above 325ti

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-325ti-sport/2833368...f:1

325ti is great fun - I had mine for over 3 years, but that one looks about 50% dearer than it should be!

Given your budget, and having experienced the BMW 3 litre N52 engine I'd be looking for a 130i ahead of a 325ti.

[MajorMantra]

...which brings me full circle to not wanting something too similar to my current car. I'm not convinced a 130i is light enough or fun enough to be worth having in addition to a 3-series.

The E46 compact is an interesting one, but I've never been totally sold on the looks. Good ones are thin on the ground too...