Car for less than 10k

[matty78]

Morning all, so got a budget of 10k which i want to spend on a fun car and that alone. Want a balance between driving on normal UK roads, european road trips to the likes of spa and nurburgring and some performance on track.

Can do some mods to the car afterwards as in suspension and brakes as that is what i have always done to my cars rather than out and out power because a good handling car can be just as good as with standard power or uprated power.

Whats people's thoughts and suggestions on make and models to consider?

[Pit Pony]

matty78 said:

Morning all, so got a budget of 10k which i want to spend on a fun car and that alone. Want a balance between driving on normal UK roads, european road trips to the likes of spa and nurburgring and some performance on track.

Can do some mods to the car afterwards as in suspension and brakes as that is what i have always done to my cars rather than out and out power because a good handling car can be just as good as with standard power or uprated power.

Whats people's thoughts and suggestions on make and models to consider?

Fun? It's not the car, the power or the handling that makes the fun. It's the driver and what he does with it.
I suggest a 2001 fiat punto, and a roll cage and some track days

[Heaveho]

Boxster 3.2 S 987.1. The most reliable and re-saleable model from that era, you can get a high spec car for less than that money. I didn't pay much more than that for mine 4 years ago, it's needed consumables and servicing in that time. Feels like a quality thing to be in.

[Nickbrapp]

The only answer to that is the standard PH response

MX5
Clio 182
Mapped 335D

[Paul671]

That's almost enough money for an Elise or Caterham. What about an S2000, can get a nice one for £10k.

[vaud]

Any other criteria? 2 doors / 4 doors, etc?

[brillomaster]

Normal uk roads, with potential for euro roadtrips, suggests you need a relatively normal car, with some occasional sporting credentials.

Therefore anything too hardcore is out, so id suggest a bmw 135i, with a remap.

Or maybe a z4 coupe?

[Jaaack]

Integra Type R.

Either DC2 or DC5. DC5 probably a bit more refined.

Great looking, supremely reliable, widely regarded as one of the best handling cars out there. Very characterful engine. Quite a special, focused car - thinner glass than standard Integras and all that jazz. LSD, Recaro seats.

Accord Type R is a great shout too, more refined but still fairly raw. Often overlooked but deserve more of a spotlight on them - the way they drive is truly brilliant. They do have their issues so buy well if you do go for one. I'll never be without one of these, currently own 2.

[Chubbyross]

Heaveho said:

Boxster 3.2 S 987.1. The most reliable and re-saleable model from that era, you can get a high spec car for less than that money. I didn't pay much more than that for mine 4 years ago, it's needed consumables and servicing in that time. Feels like a quality thing to be in.

Definitely this. I had one for a while and driving it was utterly intoxicating- the handling, the throttle response and that flat six sound a few inches behind my head. I’d buy one again in an instant.

[cerb4.5lee]

350/370Z?

[anonymous-user]

I second the Renault Clio 182. 172 is good too.

[jwilco]

cerb4.5lee said:

350/370Z?

This.

[Sterillium]

Heaveho said:

Boxster 3.2 S 987.1.

What years would this model be?

[matty78]

jwilco said:

This.

Thats one i forgot about but yes good idea.

[DoubleD]

What about a VX220? £10k will get you a decent 2.2 or maybe even a 2.0!

[ZX10R NIN]

For me at this price point there are two options that stand out:

370Z GT a good drivers car & a nice base point should you want to add upgrades

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006019...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008222...

Megane RS Lux with the Cup Chassis

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009113...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009063...

Alternatives:

An alternative to the Megane is the Astra GTC VXR. not quite as sharp as the Megane but still a good steer with a nice interior (& a lovely set of Recaro's) for those long haul runs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006220...

335i Coupe add some M3 parts to sharpen up the handling & this one seems to have had the rest of the upgrades you want already done.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

335i the 3 series has the better chassis than the Z4/1 series & it's simpler to add the M3 bits.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009113...

[S100HP]

Nickbrapp said:

The only answer to that is the standard PH response

MX5
Clio 182
Mapped 335D

Never has been funny. Never will.

[Heaveho]

Sterillium said:

Heaveho said:

Boxster 3.2 S 987.1.

What years would this model be?

I would aim for a late 2005 model, the VED is a lot more for a 2006 car, and the very early 3.2 at the beginning of 2005 will have the smaller IMS bearing which is a bugbear for any Porsche.

Boxanet has a sticky about chassis numbers, it seem like a small window of opportunity, but in reality, there are a lot of cars with that engine and the larger IMS bearing out there. June onwards seems to be the time when you can safely regard the bearing being upgraded, although mine is a May car, and is just inside the bigger bearing chassis number safety net.

The 2.7 is a nice engine, but that model seem to struggle to sell, the 3.4 all have potential to bore score. The 3.2 seems to sell ok, is relatively reliable, and goes very well.

[Sterillium]

Heaveho said:

I would aim for a late 2005 model, the VED is a lot more for a 2006 car, and the very early 3.2 at the beginning of 2005 will have the smaller IMS bearing which is a bugbear for any Porsche.

Boxanet has a sticky about chassis numbers, it seem like a small window of opportunity, but in reality, there are a lot of cars with that engine and the larger IMS bearing out there. June onwards seems to be the time when you can safely regard the bearing being upgraded, although mine is a May car, and is just inside the bigger bearing chassis number safety net.

The 2.7 is a nice engine, but that model seem to struggle to sell, the 3.4 all have potential to bore score. The 3.2 seems to sell ok, is relatively reliable, and goes very well.

Ah, so it's not as simple as just getting a specific age of car.

[Heaveho]

Sterillium said:

Ah, so it's not as simple as just getting a specific age of car.

Not quite, but it's a relatively easy thing to check to make sure you end up with the one you want. The info wasn't available when I bought, 4 years ago, and I've simply been lucky in buying a car from the preferred chassis number range. The 3.2 wasn't in production for long ( end of 2004 to the beginning of 2006 ).

It's a strange situation, all of the 3.4s appear to have the larger IMS bearing, but also seem to have taken a step backward from the 3.2 with regard to the cylinder liners being a bit of a lottery as to whether or not they'll cause a problem. Big numbers to fix it if it goes pear shaped.