Summer fun for 5k

[VS02]

I was thinking about changing my 1.0 Polo BlueMotion for something more exciting, then I realised that all the cars I want would financially ruin me in the future (I am a student without financial support). I save most of my salary, and I started a thread in the financial matters sub about how to use that money wisely. And I have stuck to it, but there’s still the itch I need to scratch.

So I’m thinking about buying a usable £5k hoot, something fun and interesting that won’t cost much to run and sell on before I return to university and put that cash back into savings.
I’ll continue building up cash from my 2 jobs and in the autumn I’ll sell the Polo and get another economical runabout i.e Golf, but something that can sit on the motorway all day without any fuss. Realistically, when I’m there I won’t have time to enjoy a P&J, and it will just get knocked about and dented by other students. So it’s a win win all round. I’ve always wanted a BMW 4 Series but I don’t think it will be appreciated.

I also have a Mercedes E240 but I have it SORN’d, and its not exactly what I was thinking of to enjoy for summer.


I’m young, but I’ve noticed my insurance has dropped considerably while I was looking for quotes for other cars. I also remembered reading something on PH a few years ago, an old thread about a young guy who got a Jag cheap on insurance as it was a classic. So maybe thats the way to go?


Just looking for ideas.


Will mostly be used for just long, casual drives with friends (I am the only one out of my mates who can drive), backroads drives to work, and just as a fun commuter.

Would like a convertible ideally!


Must be either interesting to look at or fun to drive (ideally both!)

Would prefer something from the period 1975-2000 but I don’t mind!

Must be reliable and easy to maintain. I am not good at spannering …
I like all cars. I don’t tend to stick to a certain era!
Actually, Doesn’t have to be a car, can even be a van!


So far, I have thought about


Mazda MX-5 (MK1 with pop ups)

Morris minor (too old?)

Mercedes W114 (always loved these, but budget only gets a shoddy example)

Mercedes 190E in a bright colour

Civic Type R (all are rusty)

But bar the MX-5 these don’t seem realistic at all, and the last three aren’t even vaguely sporty. I’d like something realistic!

[ninjag]

Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6 will be reliable and good fun, they are like driving a go-kart.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...

SAAB 9-3 2.8 v6 Convertible - effortless styling. Could always look at the 2.0T if insurance too high. With SAAB if it's a capital T then it's a high pressure turbo, when it's a small t then it's low pressure turbo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104071...

[egor110]

clio , mini cooper s ( super charged model) would be good fun for the budget .

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want something for you & your mates to enjoy whilst dropping the top, whilst keeping the costs sensible then here are a few options, they may be a bit newer than you're looking for.

CLK320:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202232...

325i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...

330ci:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204034...

[Canon_Fodder]

Loving the Moggy droptop idea OP...

You're only young once

[SWoll]

MK1 Audi TT Roadster in 1.8T 225 or 3.2 250 form if 2 seats works? Plenty in budget, decent drive, modern classic.

Or, save up a bit more and get this bought.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

Edited by SWoll on Monday 2nd May 20:53

[jdoubleu]

5k would get a mk3 MR2 in decent condition.

Edit. Just noticed you wanted something 90s. This era of MR2 started in 2000.

Edited by jdoubleu on Monday 2nd May 22:48

[VS02]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want something for you & your mates to enjoy whilst dropping the top, whilst keeping the costs sensible then here are a few options, they may be a bit newer than you're looking for.

CLK320:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202232...

325i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...

330ci:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204034...

I did look at BMW’s (love them) , we had E39’s, E46’s and an E90 for years in the family before my parents switched back to Lexus. The only thing is the E46, E8x and E9x has become the chariot of choice for all the cocks I know around here down in London. I can name 5 people that I know personally who drive an E92 or E93 alone, and another 2 who have an E90. All of them are falling apart, chavved up and driven in a tttish manner. That put me off even wanting an E9x model (knowing a lot of them will have fallen in to the hands of idiots like this).

E46’s however are still one of my first loves though in car terms, so I probably couldn’t resist a clean one….

[romeodelta]

MGF/TF?

Cheap to run and good summer fun.

[DrFeelAverage]

Is ULEZ is an issue for you in London? I'm guessing it's not because of the 1975-2000 stipulation. If it is, how about a 350z?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

If you wanted something more Germanic, a Mk2 TT Roadster is a nice car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203143...

You saying it could be a van made me think of the total opposite to the convertibles being mentioned

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154975969863

Left field option, I just think they're cool

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205015...

[VS02]

DrFeelAverage said:

Is ULEZ is an issue for you in London? I'm guessing it's not because of the 1975-2000 stipulation. If it is, how about a 350z?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

If you wanted something more Germanic, a Mk2 TT Roadster is a nice car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203143...

You saying it could be a van made me think of the total opposite to the convertibles being mentioned

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154975969863

Left field option, I just think they're cool

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205015...

ULEZ is not an issue where I live (I live in the outskirts nowadays)

[Bobupndown]

A little mechanical ability is really useful for running older cars or you'll end up spending extra money at gauges.
Like the idea of a Minor Tourer, charming old school convertible but I don't think £5k will buy a great one anymore.

[dave_s13]

VS02 said:

I did look at BMW’s (love them) , we had E39’s, E46’s and an E90 for years in the family before my parents switched back to Lexus. The only thing is the E46, E8x and E9x has become the chariot of choice for all the cocks I know around here down in London. I can name 5 people that I know personally who drive an E92 or E93 alone, and another 2 who have an E90. All of them are falling apart, chavved up and driven in a tttish manner. That put me off even wanting an E9x model (knowing a lot of them will have fallen in to the hands of idiots like this).

E46’s however are still one of my first loves though in car terms, so I probably couldn’t resist a clean one….

We had a 325i E93 for a short while. Once the novelty wore off it was gone, that only took about 6 months. Horrific fuel consumption for the performance, it felt like it was throttled back/broken almost. The roof adds over 100kg so this is part of that. It also broke frequently and then continued with threats of further borkage relating to injectors, NOx sensors etc.

I didn't like it at all in the end. Not a fun car to drive in the same way an mx5, swift, mini would be, nowhere close....don't do it.

[ilikejam]

Not exactly fun in the grand scheme of driving, but as an all rounder it may be worth considering...

I picked up a mint 2010 A3 1.8 TFSI Sport cabrio with 58k on the clock for just over £5k off Gumtree in January. 4 useable seats, decent boot for the type of car, engine has a wee bit of poke, decent enough steer as it's from before the time of too much electrical intervention and - most importantly - you can put the roof down! My kids actively ask to go out for drives in it.

Bought it as a stop-gap car while waiting for the missus' new lease to appear in July and she drives my estate, but genuinely struggling with the thought of getting rid of it!

[samjlevy]

BMW Z4?

You could get a 3.0i or 2.5i for your budget. Seems to fit with what you are looking for.

[cerb4.5lee]

DrFeelAverage said:

Is ULEZ is an issue for you in London? I'm guessing it's not because of the 1975-2000 stipulation. If it is, how about a 350z?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

That was the first car that came into my mind too.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

You need a supercharged Mini. I just happen to be selling one for half your budget

[Rotary Potato]

986 Porsche Boxster.

No idea if you could insure it.

They have a couple of 'ticking time bomb' reliability issues, but most kicking about today will have either had preventative maintenance done at some point in the past, or be one of the ones that were absolutely fine from the factory (failure rates of somewhere between 5% and 10% seem to be bandied about). You would have to be seriously unlucky to be left holding the baby if you only plan on owning it for a short stint.

Buy it. Enjoy some top down drives over the summer. Punt it on for what you paid.

What could possibly go wrong? (famous last words! )

Full disclosure - I run a 986 Boxster S as my only car ... so may be slightly biased here.

[Xcore]

Boxster/3.0 z4/mx5 with a turbo stuck on

[VS02]

Rotary Potato said:

986 Porsche Boxster.

No idea if you could insure it.

They have a couple of 'ticking time bomb' reliability issues, but most kicking about today will have either had preventative maintenance done at some point in the past, or be one of the ones that were absolutely fine from the factory (failure rates of somewhere between 5% and 10% seem to be bandied about). You would have to be seriously unlucky to be left holding the baby if you only plan on owning it for a short stint.

Buy it. Enjoy some top down drives over the summer. Punt it on for what you paid.

What could possibly go wrong? (famous last words! )

Full disclosure - I run a 986 Boxster S as my only car ... so may be slightly biased here.

Boxsters were what I really liked, however I just couldn’t seem to find one that didn’t look either totally shagged or in a horrific colour scheme within budget. How much worse is the 2.7 over the 3.2?