After a budget automatic sportscar. 160+bhp 1-2k

[Jamaica]

Due to injury i need an automatic, i previously had a Celica 190 bhp and loved it. I currently drive a powerful barge but i want to be in a nimble sports car again.

I have a budget of 1-2k, i was thinking about getting a ropey BMW 330ci, not really a sports car but could be a decent halfway house.

What do you think?

[300bhp/ton]

Lol. I think you and I have very different definitions of the word “sportscar”

I’d have thought a 330i is closer to a barge than the Celica. Good cars. But generally pretty big and heavy with somewhat refined and cushioned manner.

Where you referring to an E46 or newer model?

[Jamaica]

300bhp/ton said:

Lol. I think you and I have very different definitions of the word “sportscar”

I’d have thought a 330i is closer to a barge than the Celica. Good cars. But generally pretty big and heavy with somewhat refined and cushioned manner.

Where you referring to an E46 or newer model?

Lol, i probably should have said sporty car and yes the E46. I have a shed E39 so a 330 would be a half way house.

[ajprice]

Autotrader search for coupe, automatic, £2k, 1.6 litre (to filter out the Smarts) says

Mercedes C Class 3 door and CLK (loads of them)
Hyundai Coupe 2.0 or 2.7

Anything else like a TT, 3 series or Crossfire is single figures for sale.

[Jamaica]

ajprice said:

Autotrader search for coupe, automatic, £2k, 1.6 litre (to filter out the Smarts) says

Mercedes C Class 3 door and CLK (loads of them)
Hyundai Coupe 2.0 or 2.7

Anything else like a TT, 3 series or Crossfire is single figures for sale.

These seem a bit gutless

[300bhp/ton]

Crossfire probably isn’t a bad shout if available for your budget.

There are also some older couples like a Probe, MX-6, Cougar or Prelude. If you can find a tidy one they might feel a bit more light and nimble over the BMW.

I think the Pug 407 coupe might be an option too. Although possible more GT than sporty.

As for the BMW’s. I actually quite like them. But they have always felt very saloon car to me.

Bet you could find an RX-8 in budget too.

[Joelonghair]

We picked up an 05 TT Coupe for 1500 notes a couple of months ago. Pretty brisk even in 180 form. Lots of car for not a lot of money - plus there seems to be quite a dedicated following with lots of owners groups etc. You could do far worse.

[C70R]

Jamaica said:

Due to injury i need an automatic, i previously had a Celica 190 bhp and loved it. I currently drive a powerful barge but i want to be in a nimble sports car again.

I have a budget of 1-2k, i was thinking about getting a ropey BMW 330ci, not really a sports car but could be a decent halfway house.

What do you think?

As a previous owner, the BMW will feel significant less 'nimble' than your Celica.

At this end of the market you're going to be stuck with a slushy auto, which will blunt most feelings of 'nimbleness'.

They are rare, but I'd get out looking for an automatic MR2 in the most recent shape. 2k should get you what you're looking for.

[Captain_Morgan]

Slk 2.3 or 3.2

[Stuart Fordyce]

The MGF came with a CVT auto but whether it came in the 160bhp of the K series I don't know. Should be a cheap conversion of not though.

[Jamaica]

C70R said:

As a previous owner, the BMW will feel significant less 'nimble' than your Celica.

At this end of the market you're going to be stuck with a slushy auto, which will blunt most feelings of 'nimbleness'.

They are rare, but I'd get out looking for an automatic MR2 in the most recent shape. 2k should get you what you're looking for.

Good call on the mr2, wish they had the vvtli engine.

Why did you specify the latest shape MR2? Are the older ones in auto any good?

[Jamaica]

Joelonghair said:

We picked up an 05 TT Coupe for 1500 notes a couple of months ago. Pretty brisk even in 180 form. Lots of car for not a lot of money - plus there seems to be quite a dedicated following with lots of owners groups etc. You could do far worse.

May consider this, are the seats in the back usable? What's the auto box like?

[300bhp/ton]

Jamaica said:

May consider this, are the seats in the back usable? What's the auto box like?

It’s a Golf in a coupe body. Seats are somewhat usable, but less room than a Golf. So depends what use you wanting to put them too.

Not too sure about the driving dynamics. More looks than handling fun IMO. But nice looking cars.

[culpz]

Standard PH answer; MX5! The best thing is, the automatics in these, I believe, are as reliable as the rest of the car.

Another option is a 325ti. Shouldn’t be as bargey as the saloon/coupe and should also feel a bit more nimble.

Sticking with BMW; Z3 or Z4?

[culpz]

Jamaica said:

May consider this, are the seats in the back usable? What's the auto box like?

The SMT gearbox is prone to breaking and is expensive to fix and replace. Google it and you will basically be told to avoid.

[300bhp/ton]

culpz said:

Another option is a 325ti. Shouldn’t be as bargey as the saloon/coupe and should also feel a bit more nimble.

I’ve not driven a Compact. But aren’t they only about 20kg or something lighter than the regular E46? Do they really drive vastly differently?

[ZX10R NIN]

CLK320 Avantgarde haggle hard & this one could be yours with a slight budget stretch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

240 Elegance

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

C320 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

C230

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.7 Hyundai Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

3.5 Laguna Coupe

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

3.0 407 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Crossfire

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

3.2 TT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Non are what I'd call a sportscar but they do fit your brief.

[Roboticarm]

How about an auto Celica, they are rare but they do exist, was a JDM import on eBay a little while back

[culpz]

300bhp/ton said:

culpz said:

Another option is a 325ti. Shouldn’t be as bargey as the saloon/coupe and should also feel a bit more nimble.

I’ve not driven a Compact. But aren’t they only about 20kg or something lighter than the regular E46? Do they really drive vastly differently?

Me neither, I'm afraid, but they seem to be getting a bit of a following, especially on here. The weight isn't much of a saving, like you said, but it's a smaller car, so it should feel a bit more lively/fun maybe? They also don't rust anywhere near as bad as a coupe/saloon/estate, which is the E46's Achilles Heel.

[C70R]

Jamaica said:

C70R said:

As a previous owner, the BMW will feel significant less 'nimble' than your Celica.

At this end of the market you're going to be stuck with a slushy auto, which will blunt most feelings of 'nimbleness'.

They are rare, but I'd get out looking for an automatic MR2 in the most recent shape. 2k should get you what you're looking for.

Good call on the mr2, wish they had the vvtli engine.

Why did you specify the latest shape MR2? Are the older ones in auto any good?

Because the old ones aren't great. Your budget only gets you an early car with the lower output engine (140bhp?), which will probably be a leggy import and/or rusty.

If you want a sporty car and you don't want the MGF, the MR2 mk3 is probably the only real option.