Best driver's car for £11k budget?

[jhillsdon]

I returning to London having lived abroad for 3 years and finally looking to spend hard earned cash on a fun, sporty, driver's car. Budget £11k.

Currently considering options such as:
- BMW Z4 (2009-2012) 2.5 or 3.0l
- BMW 1 series coupe 25i
- Renault megane Renaultsport (2010 onwards)
- Audi A5 TFSI 2.0?
- Toyota GT86
- 3 series (2010) 2.0i?

Appreciate any thoughts and options for the best value and fun car for the money!!

Edited by jhillsdon on Friday 17th May 10:29

[Xcore]

Vx220

[underphil]

Depends what you would describe as fun, for me the only one on the list that would be qualify would be the GT86. Most of the others are big, heavy, refined cars

[mbwoy84]

GT86 or Z4

[jhillsdon]

underphil said:

Depends what you would describe as fun, for me the only one on the list that would be qualify would be the GT86. Most of the others are big, heavy, refined cars

Any other options you would consider?

[luigisayshello]

You could start with the megane rs. Very well sorted car from oem. Just needs better disks and pads and you can go straight to a trackday from a Tesco run. It's lovely. Z4 3.0 would be my second option., especially if you are doing just road. It's quite nice. Gt86 is just underwhelming.

Get the megane rs, enjoy it and continue with your search, it's a great part exchange, everyone either likes them or is curious about it as well as an easy sell.

[designforlife]

Integra DC5

[nunpuncher]

I've had all the BMWs on that list and wouldn't call any of them a drivers car. The 3.0 Z4 is a decent enough car but it's the engine that makes it good rather than the chassis/driving dynamics.

So from that list it'd be the GT86 or the Megane. An NA VX220 is achievable at that price though and it's definitely more drivery.

[stevekoz]

jhillsdon said:

I returning to London having lived abroad for 3 years and finally looking to spend hard earned cash on a fun, sporty, driver's car. Budget £11k.

Currently considering options such as:
- BMW Z4 (2009-2012) 2.5 or 3.0l
- BMW 1 series coupe 25i
- Renault megane Renaultsport (2010 onwards)
- Audi A5 TFSI 2.0?
- Toyota GT86
- 3 series (2010) 2.0i?

Appreciate any thoughts and options for the best value and fun car for the money!!

Edited by jhillsdon on Friday 17th May 10:29

From that list, the Renaultsport rs250 is the best drivers car. It's one of the best fwd chassis of that kind of era and make a very useful drivers car.

The 2nd on that list is probably the gt86. Though for me, they feel a bit gutless to have proper fun in. If you turn the drivers aids off though, they are good fun but you do have to be able to handle a rwd car if that is the case. I mean its not a beast but it can still catch you out if you aren't used to it.


11k would purchase a number of good drivers cars. Agree with the comment above on the vx220, very good. Alas 11k would struggle to get you its better cousin the Lotus Elise. But its definitely a good shout :thumbsup:

11k would buy you a decent e46 M3 and they are a very good everyday drivers car. They are relatively cheap to maintain and use on a daily basis. Make a great GT car and a great track car and are just really good all round.

Whilst not a drivers machine as such, as they aren't all that dynamic. They are however one of the best point to point cars i've ever driven and that is the Subaru Impreza WRX STI -

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

You can pick up a very good 2.0 sti and you'd have a big grin ear to ear. They are quite an "event" to drive. They are very good fun and hard to beat on a/b-roads. Poorly equipped and plastic interiors - its your typical japanese fair but its a mighty fine car and a lot of fun

Likewise its Japanese rival the Mitusbishi Evo and for 11k you would be in the territory of getting an Evo VIII - which is arguably the best platform they made. Unlike the Subaru, it is a bit harder to live with every day than the scooby but they are equally addictive and fun. Whilst not being a thoroughbred drivers car -

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

I can't really ignore the ford fiesta st - they are actually very fun and good to drive. They aren't the last word in sophistication. Their reputation is one of a bit of a hooligan but if you check all your reviews - https://www.evo.co.uk/ford/fiesta/st200, the element that every agrees is how good they are to drive -

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

Another choice would be the Porsche 987 S - the Boxster. Whilst its not its big brother the 911. This is a very well put together car. Cleverly designed. Well made and a good car to drive. The S is the one to go for as the added power makes it more of the drivers car. Very well pointed and good fun to drive. It's certainly worth considering -

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

11k would also buy you its cousin the Cayman -

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

Again a very good car and whilst some would note that you buy one/either as you can't afford a 911 - that isn't true. Again a very good car in that price bracket.

Just a few to mull over from me.

[underphil]

jhillsdon said:

underphil said:

Depends what you would describe as fun, for me the only one on the list that would be qualify would be the GT86. Most of the others are big, heavy, refined cars

Any other options you would consider?

haven't driven too many other cars that I found really engaging, but did own an 86 and a 125i and drove a couple of others on the list

the BMW's have nice engines, but the steering is so inert. The 135i coupe retains the old hydraulic steering, which is meant to be a lot better, not the most reliable car out there though!

Honda S2000? or not practical enough?

[jhillsdon]

underphil said:

haven't driven too many other cars that I found really engaging, but did own an 86 and a 125i and drove a couple of others on the list

the BMW's have nice engines, but the steering is so inert. The 135i coupe retains the old hydraulic steering, which is meant to be a lot better, not the most reliable car out there though!

Honda S2000? or not practical enough?

Thanks for that.
Interested to hear about the BMW 125i coupe, there seems to be quite a few available - small, good power, I thought they'd be great to drive? Plus they don't make them anymore. What's your thoughts?

There is also the BMW 1 series 125i hatch (2013 onwards). Thoughts?

[jhillsdon]

stevekoz said:

From that list, the Renaultsport rs250 is the best drivers car. It's one of the best fwd chassis of that kind of era and make a very useful drivers car.

The 2nd on that list is probably the gt86. Though for me, they feel a bit gutless to have proper fun in. If you turn the drivers aids off though, they are good fun but you do have to be able to handle a rwd car if that is the case. I mean its not a beast but it can still catch you out if you aren't used to it.


11k would purchase a number of good drivers cars. Agree with the comment above on the vx220, very good. Alas 11k would struggle to get you its better cousin the Lotus Elise. But its definitely a good shout :thumbsup:

11k would buy you a decent e46 M3 and they are a very good everyday drivers car. They are relatively cheap to maintain and use on a daily basis. Make a great GT car and a great track car and are just really good all round.

Whilst not a drivers machine as such, as they aren't all that dynamic. They are however one of the best point to point cars i've ever driven and that is the Subaru Impreza WRX STI -

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

You can pick up a very good 2.0 sti and you'd have a big grin ear to ear. They are quite an "event" to drive. They are very good fun and hard to beat on a/b-roads. Poorly equipped and plastic interiors - its your typical japanese fair but its a mighty fine car and a lot of fun

Likewise its Japanese rival the Mitusbishi Evo and for 11k you would be in the territory of getting an Evo VIII - which is arguably the best platform they made. Unlike the Subaru, it is a bit harder to live with every day than the scooby but they are equally addictive and fun. Whilst not being a thoroughbred drivers car -

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

I can't really ignore the ford fiesta st - they are actually very fun and good to drive. They aren't the last word in sophistication. Their reputation is one of a bit of a hooligan but if you check all your reviews - https://www.evo.co.uk/ford/fiesta/st200, the element that every agrees is how good they are to drive -

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

Another choice would be the Porsche 987 S - the Boxster. Whilst its not its big brother the 911. This is a very well put together car. Cleverly designed. Well made and a good car to drive. The S is the one to go for as the added power makes it more of the drivers car. Very well pointed and good fun to drive. It's certainly worth considering -

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

11k would also buy you its cousin the Cayman -

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

Again a very good car and whilst some would note that you buy one/either as you can't afford a 911 - that isn't true. Again a very good car in that price bracket.

Just a few to mull over from me.

Thanks so much! Really helpful.

Would love a Cayman, but for the budget it's only an older one that's possible and not sure on maintenance and running costs?!

What's your thoughts on the Z4 (2009 onwards) with either 2.5 or 3.0 engine? This is probably the front runner ATM.

[designforlife]

I wouldn't call the Z4 a driver's car.... s2000 on the other hand.

Do you want a "driver's car", or something fast and refined in a straight line?

[Drew106]

Comes down to personal preference. There really is no 'best'.

I just spent similar on a JDM Impreza STi. Love it.

[Jamesstanley16]

designforlife said:

I wouldn't call the Z4 a driver's car.... s2000 on the other hand.

Do you want a "driver's car", or something fast and refined in a straight line?

Yeh something refined and fun to drive but i guess it's subjective depending on your car history...I've just had a Hyundai rent a car for the last 3 years abroad 😮😮.

[underphil]

jhillsdon said:

underphil said:

haven't driven too many other cars that I found really engaging, but did own an 86 and a 125i and drove a couple of others on the list

the BMW's have nice engines, but the steering is so inert. The 135i coupe retains the old hydraulic steering, which is meant to be a lot better, not the most reliable car out there though!

Honda S2000? or not practical enough?

Thanks for that.
Interested to hear about the BMW 125i coupe, there seems to be quite a few available - small, good power, I thought they'd be great to drive? Plus they don't make them anymore. What's your thoughts?

There is also the BMW 1 series 125i hatch (2013 onwards). Thoughts?

The 125i coupe was a good all rounder to be fair. The engine is the same as the 130i hatch, and just needs an ECU tweak to get it to 260bhp. For general driving it was great as the engine always feels special, a four cylinder car just won't do the same. actually decent on fuel too. On the occasions I got to give it a proper thrashing on a back road, it wasn't a patch on the GT86 though

Imagine the 125i hatch to be quick and competent but not exciting (only driven the M135i)