Fun car for £6k

[rotaryjam]

I'm looking for fun car for about £6k though there is a wiggle room bit of room there.

My criteria is:

- Must be fun to drive
- 2 seats is fine but more is ok
- Need to have a boot so some level of practicality for weekends away
- Must be naturally aspirated or supercharged - no turbo!
- Must sound good
- Must look good
- Tax below £360
- Reasonable maintenance costs
- Ideally between 100 - 200 bhp/ton
- Ulez a bonus
- E10 compatibility a bonus
- Couple / convertible preferable but no essential

Show me what you've got!

[patchb]

I recently sold my 350z for £6100, pretty much fits the bill I think!
Mine was very tidy with no rust at all however I see some rust buckets going for similar money so definitely do your research if it's an avenue you'd like to explore!

[ZX10R NIN]

As above this sounds like 350Z ticks your boxes:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225094931792?hash=item3...dQAAOSwxGlit3uc

[rotaryjam]

Good shout! Agreed the 350Z does pretty much tick all boxes.

What's put me off is the look of thr rear and also, the reviews seems quite lukewarm. Definitely a contender though.

I'd like to hear from any owners

[bennno]

Z4 3,0, Boxster 986, bmw 125i (3L) coupe or cab

[Belle427]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175362583818?mkcid=16&a...

[fflump]

An Alfa Brera is worth considering if you like the looks, which I do. Q4 V6 suits the car well.
They are also going up in value.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295132384216
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265771407118
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207037...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207097...

Fiat Coupe if you can find one without rust issues.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203213...
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1478034
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1424558

[cerb4.5lee]

rotaryjam said:

Good shout! Agreed the 350Z does pretty much tick all boxes.

What's put me off is the look of thr rear and also, the reviews seems quite lukewarm. Definitely a contender though.

I'd like to hear from any owners

Try and get a go in one. I drove a brand new 350Z back in 2006 and I really liked it. The 350Z/370Z do seem to be very marmite cars though, but I love my 370Z a lot.

[Funky Squirrel]

Similar to the 350z is slk with 3.5 v6 engine, could your budget stretch to the 5L v8?

[rotaryjam]

I think I've gone off the idea of a 350z, though I'd like to try one to see - its the looks and reviews that make it seem like more of GT car when I really want something a bit sharper.

Same kind of drawbacks for the SLK really though the 5L sounds interesting! The SL is more my thing as I prefer the look but again, probably more of a GT?

Brera is an interesting choice, they looks amazing, even better with age - will do some reading on that one.

Z4 3,0 - not sure about the look of these in convertible trim but I like the coupe

Boxster 986 - very keen on these, its on the shortlist

Bmw 125i - like the look but worry it won't be sporty enough

Fiat Coupe - had 3 of them, great engine but didn't really like the handling nor the interior

Edited by rotaryjam on Thursday 11th August 19:38

[nismo48]

Mx5 circa 2008 2.0 good bet ...

[patchb]

rotaryjam said:

I think I've gone off the idea of a 350z, though I'd like to try one to see - its the looks and reviews that make it seem like more of GT car when I really want something a bit sharper.

Edited by rotaryjam on Thursday 11th August 19:38

I initially looked at them when I was 20 but I didn't feel it was sharp enough so I bought an S2000 instead.

10 years later I wanted another S2000 but prices have gone mental so I decided to have another look at the 350z and I'm very glad I did. It was a really good car to drive, fairly nippy (300bhp doesn't sound much these days!) nice balanced handling which could be tail happy if provoked but never snappy, good brakes, comfy and looks good (I do agree the rear is a bit hard to love but it will grow on you!)
If you want something sharper I would definitely not be considering any kind of Mercedes!!

[ZX10R NIN]

Readers car thread:

https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element...ttihrqz61o&q=https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp%3Fh%3D0%26f%3D47%26t%3D1916542&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiC2Iamy7_5AhURwoUKHcwhAwUQFnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw0nf9hDid1iNAPrXt9YB66o

[Electrics not for me]

Early Honda Civic Type R?

[CarlosSainz100]

For 6k got to be the best non rusty mx-5 you can find. If you can find a non rusty one then the mechanicals are cheap to fix and they're a brilliant laugh

The Brera is lovely (I've had one) but expensive to run and quite a lard ass. Looks amazing inside and out though.

I've also just sold my 986 Boxster. I'm not sure you'll find one that doesn't have a load of bills waiting for you for 6k and these can easily add up.

[bennno]

rotaryjam said:

I think I've gone off the idea of a 350z, though I'd like to try one to see - its the looks and reviews that make it seem like more of GT car when I really want something a bit sharper.

Same kind of drawbacks for the SLK really though the 5L sounds interesting! The SL is more my thing as I prefer the look but again, probably more of a GT?

Brera is an interesting choice, they looks amazing, even better with age - will do some reading on that one.

Z4 3,0 - not sure about the look of these in convertible trim but I like the coupe

Boxster 986 - very keen on these, its on the shortlist

Bmw 125i - like the look but worry it won't be sporty enough

Fiat Coupe - had 3 of them, great engine but didn't really like the handling nor the interior

Edited by rotaryjam on Thursday 11th August 19:38

I bought a 986 Boxster, way better than expected, also bought a 125i - surprisingly good, six pot 3L manual bm - chipped to 265bhp.

[Chromegrill]

Lexus SC430 is a convertible V8 that ticks tax, ULEZ and under £6k boxes but seems unloved round these parts. What's not to like?

[Mr Tidy]

rotaryjam said:

I think I've gone off the idea of a 350z, though I'd like to try one to see - its the looks and reviews that make it seem like more of GT car when I really want something a bit sharper.

Same kind of drawbacks for the SLK really though the 5L sounds interesting! The SL is more my thing as I prefer the look but again, probably more of a GT?

Brera is an interesting choice, they looks amazing, even better with age - will do some reading on that one.

Z4 3,0 - not sure about the look of these in convertible trim but I like the coupe

Boxster 986 - very keen on these, its on the shortlist

Bmw 125i - like the look but worry it won't be sporty enough

Fiat Coupe - had 3 of them, great engine but didn't really like the handling nor the interior

Edited by rotaryjam on Thursday 11th August 19:38

Some interesting options there, but if you find a Z4 Coupe in budget it's going to be very leggy.

The BMW 125i had the same 3 litre engine as the facelift Z4 3.0Si but for some reason it only produced 218bhp instead of the 265bhpin the Z4. But as someone has said it only needs a remap!

Leftfield brave option may be an RX8 231 perhaps, or maybe a Chrysler Crossfire.

You'll need to be careful with some of these as post 23 March 2006 registered cars will be Band M Road Tax so £600+ a year.

[bennno]

Chromegrill said:

Lexus SC430 is a convertible V8 that ticks tax, ULEZ and under £6k boxes but seems unloved round these parts. What's not to like?

It’s looks and the way it drives.

[bennno]

Mr Tidy said:

Some interesting options there, but if you find a Z4 Coupe in budget it's going to be very leggy.

The BMW 125i had the same 3 litre engine as the facelift Z4 3.0Si but for some reason it only produced 218bhp instead of the 265bhpin the Z4. But as someone has said it only needs a remap!

Leftfield brave option may be an RX8 231 perhaps, or maybe a Chrysler Crossfire.

You'll need to be careful with some of these as post 23 March 2006 registered cars will be Band M Road Tax so £600+ a year.

I did pick up a cheap rx8, nasty and hugely problematic, avoid