Fun, Interesting daily driver for a young driver under £10k?

[Pesto217]

I'm 22 and currently drive a diesel Peugeot 208 which is my first car. Looking to get something interesting for a daily that I'll happily look back at anytime I walk away from it.

Requirements:
- up to £10k maximum, but anything below £8k would be ideal
- under £400 tax
- above 180hp
- petrol
- preferably a coupe
- manual preferred, but an interesting enough auto is fine
- something you don't see too much of on the roads
- fun to drive (doesn't have to be fast)

[vaud]

Audi TTS
Nissan 350z
Peugeot RCZ

(not sure on tax on any of them)

Insurance may be your limiting factor

[Pesto217]

vaud said:

Audi TTS
Nissan 350z
Peugeot RCZ

(not sure on tax on any of them)

Insurance may be your limiting factor

How's the reliability on the TT's and TTS's? heard they're basically a golf underneath?

[Boringvolvodriver]

Have a look at an Alfa perhaps

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408082...

Not quite 180 bhp but still pretty quick especially with the auto box and in sport!

[ChrisH72]

A bit flawed in some ways according to reviews but I still like the GT86 for £10k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024060705...

They don't seem to get much cheaper than this so it shouldn't lose too much money. Fits your criteria?

[Robertb]

986 Boxster 2.7?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14114078

[bennno]

Pesto217 said:

I'm 22 and currently drive a diesel Peugeot 208 which is my first car. Looking to get something interesting for a daily that I'll happily look back at anytime I walk away from it.

Requirements:
- up to £10k maximum, but anything below £8k would be ideal
- under £400 tax
- above 180hp
- petrol
- preferably a coupe
- manual preferred, but an interesting enough auto is fine
- something you don't see too much of on the roads
- fun to drive (doesn't have to be fast)

Mx5 suprisingly cheap to insure

[brillomaster]

Boxster, bmw z4 or Nissan 350z. All great, just depends what flavour you like your 6 cylinder engine in.

If you need a modicum of practicality, a bmw 130i.

[Uncle boshy]

Pesto217 said:

How's the reliability on the TT's and TTS's? heard they're basically a golf underneath?

Like any car there are known issues, but mostly easy to fix.

A 2.0l tt mk2 would meet your criteria, or you might get a 1.8 mk3

If you’ve a couple of years no claims insurance isn’t crippling

[Hammy98]

BMW Z4 3.0Si. Lovely things.

[bennno]

half the cars being proposed are borderline uninsurable for a 22 y/o - oddly the mx5 (even in ND 192bhp form) is the exception.

[MorganFoth]

MX5, nothing getting else as fun for the money

[Jimjimhim]

ChrisH72 said:

A bit flawed in some ways according to reviews but I still like the GT86 for £10k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024060705...

They don't seem to get much cheaper than this so it shouldn't lose too much money. Fits your criteria?

This seems to fit the brief better than any other.

[jamesbilluk]

2006 gen Celica GT? Meant to be great handling, and the 190hp revvy VVT-i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406291...

Or the same 190hp HP engine, minus the body kit of the GT
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16281046

I did think of the GT-Four, but looks like they're past 10k now.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 14th August 11:04

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 14th August 11:07

[Baldchap]

jamesbilluk said:

2006 gen Celica GT? Meant to be great handling, and the 190hp revvy VVT-i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406291...

Or the same 190hp HP engine, minus the body kit of the GT
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16281046

I did think of the GT-Four, but looks like they're past 10k now.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 14th August 11:04

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 14th August 11:07

I had one of these years ago at work.

They're pretty awful to live with.

Zero, and I mean zero, oomph under 6200rpm. Ours had two engines and one gearbox under warranty, although that isn't the norm.

[RSTurboPaul]

An MX5 and a second, practical car should be achievable with £10k?

[jamesbilluk]

Baldchap said:

I had one of these years ago at work.

They're pretty awful to live with.

Zero, and I mean zero, oomph under 6200rpm. Ours had two engines and one gearbox under warranty, although that isn't the norm.

Ah, not ideal then!

[davek_964]

RSTurboPaul said:

An MX5 and a second, practical car should be achievable with £10k?

I'm not sure 2 x insurance is very economical when you're 22.

[AnhBanhBao]

As some have said, I think it’s the insurance that’s going to be the limiting factor.

I’ve mentioned something similar on another thread, but if the OP’s willing to compromise on power figures then something like a Smart Roadster Brabus (with any SAM or water ingress issues sorted) would definitely stand out and in theory be much cheaper to run than some of the other cars mentioned.

Chocolate wheels, though, apparently.

[RSTurboPaul]

davek_964 said:

RSTurboPaul said:

An MX5 and a second, practical car should be achievable with £10k?

I'm not sure 2 x insurance is very economical when you're 22.

Get an NA and stick it on a Classic insurance policy?

No NCB accruing but should be cheaper.