Budget weekend toy - £5k
Discussion
I turn 40 next year, and faced with the depressing realisation life has pushed me down a boring car route....Getting the itch (again) for a weekend toy, purely for messing around in on a summer afternoon. Is there a better answer than a Clio 200 (or 182)?
I used to be cool (honest) - car history includes Impreza STI, Evo V, DS3 Racing and an FK2 Type R, all of which I loved. DS3R, good as it was, gearing was all wrong and notoriously poor reliability was a pain.
The hot hatches I used to lust after in my youth now seem to be available for relatively little money. Daily drivers are two EV SUVs (kids + bills + tax breaks) which are very functional but very dull.
I'd like something brisk, manual, potential to take on a track day (I live near Silverstone) and possibly a bit rare on the roads these days. Too much to ask for £5k?!
I used to be cool (honest) - car history includes Impreza STI, Evo V, DS3 Racing and an FK2 Type R, all of which I loved. DS3R, good as it was, gearing was all wrong and notoriously poor reliability was a pain.
The hot hatches I used to lust after in my youth now seem to be available for relatively little money. Daily drivers are two EV SUVs (kids + bills + tax breaks) which are very functional but very dull.
I'd like something brisk, manual, potential to take on a track day (I live near Silverstone) and possibly a bit rare on the roads these days. Too much to ask for £5k?!
Scootersp said:
You can say that again, what a weird suggestion. 
A few suggestions…
Mini R53, mx5, Clio 182 or 200 (not the later auto one!), Fiesta ST.
I have had all of the and the are all fun and have character.
Suzuki swift gets a good name. Last model mr2 if you don’t need any practicality.
Vauxhall Corsa, Astra are usually great value due to image; if you can live with the image.
Mini R53, mx5, Clio 182 or 200 (not the later auto one!), Fiesta ST.
I have had all of the and the are all fun and have character.
Suzuki swift gets a good name. Last model mr2 if you don’t need any practicality.
Vauxhall Corsa, Astra are usually great value due to image; if you can live with the image.
Mk5 or 6 Gti, a remap will really liven them up.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508175...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508175...
732NM said:
You can say that again, what a weird suggestion. 
brisk? maybe depends how you define that, manual yes, what can't be taken on the track, I'd say they are rare'ish in the road and in budget (with a few of the known issues recently fixed) it's even RWD which from his history he's not had and I'd argue makes a more interesting track car.
So left field yes but fits the brief below, what's your less weird suggestion, where would your £5k go?
Fiisch said:
I'd like something brisk, manual, potential to take on a track day (I live near Silverstone) and possibly a bit rare on the roads these days. Too much to ask for £5k?!
Scootersp said:
732NM said:
You can say that again, what a weird suggestion. 
brisk? maybe depends how you define that, manual yes, what can't be taken on the track, I'd say they are rare'ish in the road and in budget (with a few of the known issues recently fixed) it's even RWD which from his history he's not had and I'd argue makes a more interesting track car.
So left field yes but fits the brief below, what's your less weird suggestion, where would your £5k go?
Fiisch said:
I'd like something brisk, manual, potential to take on a track day (I live near Silverstone) and possibly a bit rare on the roads these days. Too much to ask for £5k?!
Pop down to the next track day and have a look at what people are using, have a chat with owners about running costs and fun per £ would be a good start.
Alfa GTV 3.0 - way better than you'd imagine, sound glorious
RX8 - not driven one but they are supposed to handle well and have that unique rotary
Golf R32 - a ropey one is just about in budget. Another glorious engine note
MR MK3 - great fun, really nice handling, crap engine, scary on motorways..
GTI6 is a really good shout as someone else mentioned. Always seemed to be in the shadow of the Clio's but a fantastic car.
RX8 - not driven one but they are supposed to handle well and have that unique rotary
Golf R32 - a ropey one is just about in budget. Another glorious engine note
MR MK3 - great fun, really nice handling, crap engine, scary on motorways..
GTI6 is a really good shout as someone else mentioned. Always seemed to be in the shadow of the Clio's but a fantastic car.
Edited by rotaryjam on Thursday 9th October 11:36
rotaryjam said:
MR MK3 - great fun, really nice handling, crap engine, scary on motorways..
Assume you mean MR2? If so not scary on the motorway and engine is fine. It feels nippy if not quick, great handling. A late one will have A/C too but check the roof as these can start cracking, although a replacement is only about £350 IIRCEdited by rotaryjam on Thursday 9th October 11:36
Cheap cars for track days is something me and my mates have been doing for the last 10 years, and I would say the most popular thing is a Renault Clio Spot of some variation, they are generally the most popular thing under 5k.
MX-5's are still doing the rounds as are MR2's but they seem to be a lot less common recently.
R53 Mini's are a decent option too for the novelty of the Supercharger, I currently have one but I would say for out and out performance the Clio's are just better and it's where i'd be putting my money.
A cheap Boxster is a money pit, i've been there too.
If I was going for a 2 seater convertible i'd be going for a 3 litre Z4 but I prefer a hatchback
MX-5's are still doing the rounds as are MR2's but they seem to be a lot less common recently.
R53 Mini's are a decent option too for the novelty of the Supercharger, I currently have one but I would say for out and out performance the Clio's are just better and it's where i'd be putting my money.
A cheap Boxster is a money pit, i've been there too.
If I was going for a 2 seater convertible i'd be going for a 3 litre Z4 but I prefer a hatchback
[quote=rotaryjam]Alfa GTV 3.0 - way better than you'd imagine, sound glorious
Not sure it fits the brief but rotaryjam's comment made me look at Alfa's and I think this looks fantastic, plus as they say you're not a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509196...
Not sure it fits the brief but rotaryjam's comment made me look at Alfa's and I think this looks fantastic, plus as they say you're not a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509196...
Frimley111R said:
Assume you mean MR2? If so not scary on the motorway and engine is fine. It feels nippy if not quick, great handling. A late one will have A/C too but check the roof as these can start cracking, although a replacement is only about £350 IIRC
Sorry yes. Maybe mine wasn't right but it was that combination of light weight (particularly over the front) and quick steering which makes it feel very unplanted at speed.
Driving down the highest motorway in the UK with high wind in my MK3 MR2 I was sweating!
Josemartinez said:
Not sure it fits the brief but rotaryjam's comment made me look at Alfa's and I think this looks fantastic, plus as they say you're not a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509196...
That’s a GM engine. And you’re quoting Jeremy Clarkson.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509196...
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