Best fun/driver's car for £12k or less
Discussion
A new job may soon mean that I no longer need a car specifically for commuting.
I want to get something that I will enjoy driving when I need to, the sort of car that I could take out for a drive just for the sake of it. I know that is somewhat subjective but let's see what gets suggested.
Budget is £12k, some budget creep allowed for something that really takes my fancy.
Fuel economy isn't important as I won't be doing many miles.
I'd like something with 60k miles or less ideally.
Not too fussed on age, say anything MY2000 onwards.
Bonus points if I can get a road bike in it somehow, the less wheels I need to take off the better, but most things I expect would need to take a front wheel off which is fine.
I also have a 5 month old and while he won't be in this car much, when he starts going to child care I will need to pick up/drop off some days of the week so it needs Isofix really.
Struggling to think of anything at this price point that's a driver's car that would be fun to drive and own. I think I have been focussed on commuter cars for too long.
Last time I had this dilemma I bought an S2000 but that was 7 years ago now and the used market is definitely different to then.
Cars I have ruled out already -
Anything from Renault (had a 182 before and don't fancy any Clio's or Megane's)
Audi S3/Golf/Leon - Currently driving a Leon
Mini's
Audi TT
350Z/370Z
I want to get something that I will enjoy driving when I need to, the sort of car that I could take out for a drive just for the sake of it. I know that is somewhat subjective but let's see what gets suggested.
Budget is £12k, some budget creep allowed for something that really takes my fancy.
Fuel economy isn't important as I won't be doing many miles.
I'd like something with 60k miles or less ideally.
Not too fussed on age, say anything MY2000 onwards.
Bonus points if I can get a road bike in it somehow, the less wheels I need to take off the better, but most things I expect would need to take a front wheel off which is fine.
I also have a 5 month old and while he won't be in this car much, when he starts going to child care I will need to pick up/drop off some days of the week so it needs Isofix really.
Struggling to think of anything at this price point that's a driver's car that would be fun to drive and own. I think I have been focussed on commuter cars for too long.
Last time I had this dilemma I bought an S2000 but that was 7 years ago now and the used market is definitely different to then.
Cars I have ruled out already -
Anything from Renault (had a 182 before and don't fancy any Clio's or Megane's)
Audi S3/Golf/Leon - Currently driving a Leon
Mini's
Audi TT
350Z/370Z
If you want a fun car just for fun then make it rear wheel drive manual with 2 seats. The only sticking point is the bike...
Z4s are performance bargains at the moment, just bought my second one
Renaultsport Megane seems like a good shout, I was looking at those, Cup was preferred although not many around
Left field an RCZ R, I think the rear seats drop down so you have a sizeable boot and its very unique and rare
Nissan Z cars are an option
MX5 ND
Z4s are performance bargains at the moment, just bought my second one
Renaultsport Megane seems like a good shout, I was looking at those, Cup was preferred although not many around
Left field an RCZ R, I think the rear seats drop down so you have a sizeable boot and its very unique and rare
Nissan Z cars are an option
MX5 ND
k the bike. 
Autoalex on YT bought an E46 M3 for 10k and well...erm...it had to be written off as unroadworthy 
Cayman is a good shout but you run all the usual bork factors at £12k
Some people rate them and it would potentially tick your bike option, a GT86
Personally I would be going 2 seater...so a Z4 350z MX5 or something of that ilk
Cayman is a good shout but you run all the usual bork factors at £12k
Some people rate them and it would potentially tick your bike option, a GT86
Personally I would be going 2 seater...so a Z4 350z MX5 or something of that ilk
coldel said:
Some people rate them and it would potentially tick your bike option, a GT86
Personally I would be going 2 seater...so a Z4 350z MX5 or something of that ilk
I thought that a GT86 could be a good option too. Personally I would be going 2 seater...so a Z4 350z MX5 or something of that ilk
I'd be going in the direction of a Z4/350Z/MX5 or similar as well.
There has been a lot of similar threads like these and they inevitably come down to what others have said:
Z4
Boxster
350Z
MX5
Out of interest why did you write off the 350Z? I did the same for years, because of looks and unfavourable comparison to the S2000. Guess what? I loved it! One of my favourites.
Z4
Boxster
350Z
MX5
Out of interest why did you write off the 350Z? I did the same for years, because of looks and unfavourable comparison to the S2000. Guess what? I loved it! One of my favourites.
Belle427 said:
Fiesta/Focus ST.
Focus ST does very little for me to be honest, not really something I think I would go for a drive in for the sake of it.I have looked at Fiesta ST's before and image thing aside in Mk8 form I wouldn't mind one, but more budget creep required than I'd like.
Heathwood said:
BMW Z4C 3.0si
RenaultSport Megane 250/265
When I bought the S2000 I actually wanted a Z4M and could get an S2000 for much less so went for that instead.RenaultSport Megane 250/265
I have never looked at the Z4 3.0si to be honest, I'll see what's out there. I have had an F30 330d before so do like some BMW's.
pb8g09 said:
Shame you've written off the Megane as I think it ticks all your boxes - including getting the road bike in the car.
Astra VXR or if feeling brave, an exotic Maserati coupe perhaps?
We have a cooking Astra in the household, the shape that they didn't make a VXR. I think it's a shame because it actually drives OK and it's loaded with kit in Elite Nav spec. Don't think 2 Astra's would go down well to be honest.Astra VXR or if feeling brave, an exotic Maserati coupe perhaps?
With the Megane I actually had a look earlier and I think a lot of the older stuff is overpriced. £12k seems to be a bit no mans land, not enough for the 2015ish ones and too much for the older ones which I just don't like the look of, high prices aside.
coldel said:
If you want a fun car just for fun then make it rear wheel drive manual with 2 seats. The only sticking point is the bike...
Z4s are performance bargains at the moment, just bought my second one
Renaultsport Megane seems like a good shout, I was looking at those, Cup was preferred although not many around
Left field an RCZ R, I think the rear seats drop down so you have a sizeable boot and its very unique and rare
Nissan Z cars are an option
MX5 ND
Sticking point would be the bike and the child seat when I need to do nursery pickups really. I could get something and run it for 6 months or so I guess.Z4s are performance bargains at the moment, just bought my second one
Renaultsport Megane seems like a good shout, I was looking at those, Cup was preferred although not many around
Left field an RCZ R, I think the rear seats drop down so you have a sizeable boot and its very unique and rare
Nissan Z cars are an option
MX5 ND
Xcore said:
Cayman S
Tvr chim
E46 m3
Mx5 turbo
No hatchback rubbish
Hadn't actually though of a Cayman S, they seem to have held their money well.Tvr chim
E46 m3
Mx5 turbo
No hatchback rubbish
That does tick the take it for a drive for the sake of it box better than most of the cars being discussed here. Again I wouldn't be able to keep it for long though.
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