£7.5k fun daily. Used vs PCP. Open minded to any suggestions

[hittheapex1989]

Hello everybody, I'm a long time reader but first time poster. I'll introduce myself and my situation and perhaps you could help?

I'm not getting any younger at 32 and it seems to me it would be a good time to make my next car a fun one, what with the government's obsession with an electric future etc. Most of my 20s I didn't need to drive as I lived abroad and could walk to work. Also you didn't want to drive in South Korea if you could help it. So fast forward to 2021 and I have a few years no claims bonus under my belt and in the next year or so, short of a major disaster, a £7.5k budget.

I'm somebody who is open minded when it comes to cars. I like something from just about any category or brand at some point in history, but hopefully I can narrow it down for you with my buying criteria:

Buying budget: £7.5k
Insurance budget: circa £500 per year, roughly group 35 at the most.
MOT, servicing/maintenance per year: £1.5k average to be on the safe/pessimistic side
MPG: Circa 25 or above in mixed driving
Mileage per year: About 8,000
Colours: I prefer combinations that mix restrained and eye catching e.g. grey/red, yellow/black, blue/red, orange/black inside or out.

I particularly have a fondness for cars from the 1990s up to circa 2005 that were technically interesting but not nannying or overly complicated. I love a lot of Japanese or JDM cars, but I will consider anything that fits the bill above that is ready to drive or needs minimal work, such as replacing a crucial long-life part e.g. cambelt or exhaust. I cannot economically restore as though I love cars, I am terribly unpractical. Changing the fluids and the tyres is about the limit of my mechanical abilities.

Primarily considering used, but I am also interested in a Mazda MX-5 RF, Suzuki Swift Sport or similar on a PCP as possible alternatives to the above (even if they do have touchscreens in the interior).

Target is to buy something in about a year's time so there is no hurry here. Many thanks everybody, if nothing else I am sure I will have fun looking at your suggestions.

[ZX10R NIN]

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104061...

[LightningBlue]

How many miles do you do in a year and are you tall? I like the latest MX-5 but I don’t think a well-specced RF would reach your budget for a while. Not well known as a good daily due to poor storage. Mini Cooper S are a lot of fun but have to be aware of some engine and quality issues. You can get older Golf GTIs or Scirocco 2.0GTs in that budget, even an Audi TT Roadster with the same (I think) engine. It’s a pretty good budget but you have to balance age of the car with the potential fun factor and reliability. The more exotic it is the more repair bills will sting

[Objective Alpha]

I think if youre mostly going to be hooning it about, don't pcp. £7500 is getting close to gt86 territory and you cant get more fun for the money.
other than that youre looking at a typre R EP3, or a 350z although more a touring car than engaging and parts like breaks and tyres will soon need replacing compared to the lighter EP3 and GT86.

jus bought a GT86 myself and honestly cant think of a better buy!

unfortunately a lot of 90's jap cars are not staying cheap although if you wanted 90's, find yourself the newest mk2 Toyota MR2 you can and the rwd, midengined layout will have you grinning. Just watch out for the sills and arches and leaky T-top if that's what you choose

[Objective Alpha]

How much would you look at spending on a pcp? with what deposit?

[hittheapex1989]

Objective Alpha said:

How much would you look at spending on a pcp? with what deposit?

Thanks everybody for the suggestions so far. Having second thoughts about the PCP actually, ran a few numbers on Mazda and Suzuki sites and those cars will not be obtainable for another couple of years yet. Ones for the car that comes after perhaps.

Re Toyota MR2 nice cars when they are right but the good Mk2s seem to be a rare find now...

I sat in a GT86 at the Toyota museum in Nagoya amazing place to visit but it didn't grab me like I thought it might on a purely emotional level. I do however love the look of the new one Toyota are on a roll with fun cars lately.

Edited by hittheapex1989 on Sunday 11th April 14:36

[hittheapex1989]

LightningBlue said:

How many miles do you do in a year and are you tall? I like the latest MX-5 but I don’t think a well-specced RF would reach your budget for a while. Not well known as a good daily due to poor storage. Mini Cooper S are a lot of fun but have to be aware of some engine and quality issues. You can get older Golf GTIs or Scirocco 2.0GTs in that budget, even an Audi TT Roadster with the same (I think) engine. It’s a pretty good budget but you have to balance age of the car with the potential fun factor and reliability. The more exotic it is the more repair bills will sting

Thanks yes an R53 Mini Cooper S is tempting but the engine issues put me off. A Mk1 Audi TT 225 Coupe that has been cared for and kept standard is also an option.

[Objective Alpha]

2 on auto trader, no rust on the red one from mot history although don't just look at that

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103099...

This ones been dry stored and looks in amazing condition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

[Objective Alpha]

hittheapex1989 said:

Thanks yes an R53 Mini Cooper S is tempting but the engine issues put me off. A Mk1 Audi TT 225 Coupe that has been cared for and kept standard is also an option.

I think with the tt, if you can get a 3.2 VR6, itll be like a r32 for less money and will probably appreciate during ownership

[Defcon5]

hittheapex1989 said:

Thanks yes an R53 Mini Cooper S is tempting but the engine issues put me off. A Mk1 Audi TT 225 Coupe that has been cared for and kept standard is also an option.

The engine issues are with the early turbo ones, not the supercharged R53

[PH User]

You could probably pick up a RS250 Megane for your budget. They are great fun to drive.

[ZX10R NIN]

Haggle hard a the underrated Astra VXR GTC is within reach & if you want a fun daily that a smidge behind a Cup Chassis Megane RS but a whole heap newer & a better daily then this is the pick of the FWD cars.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195...

Mazda3 MPS not as good a car as the Vauxhall but a good car none the less.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006089...

[hittheapex1989]

ZX10R NIN said:

Haggle hard a the underrated Astra VXR GTC is within reach & if you want a fun daily that a smidge behind a Cup Chassis Megane RS but a whole heap newer & a better daily then this is the pick of the FWD cars.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195...

Mazda3 MPS not as good a car as the Vauxhall but a good car none the less.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006089...

Hmmm thanks interesting choices I deliver cars for a living right now and recentry drove the GTC SRI good car. Great seats too.

You have me thinking now not of the Mazda 3 but the Mazda 6 MPS a car I always liked the look of...

[hittheapex1989]

Objective Alpha said:

hittheapex1989 said:

Thanks yes an R53 Mini Cooper S is tempting but the engine issues put me off. A Mk1 Audi TT 225 Coupe that has been cared for and kept standard is also an option.

I think with the tt, if you can get a 3.2 VR6, itll be like a r32 for less money and will probably appreciate during ownership

Hi Objective Alpha yes would love a V6 will have to see what the insurance is like when the time comes. Fuel economy looks to be similar anyway. Those MR2s are encouraging finds cheers.

[ZX10R NIN]

hittheapex1989 said:

Hmmm thanks interesting choices I deliver cars for a living right now and recentry drove the GTC SRI good car. Great seats too.

You have me thinking now not of the Mazda 3 but the Mazda 6 MPS a car I always liked the look of...

The VXR is another step on from the regular models & the seats are more supportive, the Mazda6 MPS is a bit of a hit & miss car especially when it comes to reliability the second gen Mazda3 MPS is a better overall car.

[hittheapex1989]

ZX10R NIN said:

hittheapex1989 said:

Hmmm thanks interesting choices I deliver cars for a living right now and recentry drove the GTC SRI good car. Great seats too.

You have me thinking now not of the Mazda 3 but the Mazda 6 MPS a car I always liked the look of...

The VXR is another step on from the regular models & the seats are more supportive, the Mazda6 MPS is a bit of a hit & miss car especially when it comes to reliability the second gen Mazda3 MPS is a better overall car.

Thanks good to know.