£4k to spend...

[Biccaroo]

Hi, I'll keep this brief. I've got £4k to spend on a 'drivers' car. What would you fellow Pistonheads recommend?

[C2james]

I'd say something like a Mazda mx5.

[slomax]

Sensible daily hack to be put through the elements or a garaged sunny car?

All weather I'd go for an mx5/mr2 or a BMW 3 series

fun weekend toy- kit car every time.

[Biccaroo]

Unfortunately it's got to be a sensible daily hack as well as a drivers car! Therefore, reliability and cheap maintenance would be advantageous!

[Fabric 2.2]

Evo gave these a somewhat positive review, not bad prices either!

Looks comfortable enough as a daily hack as well. Actually quite tempted myself now, after browsing the classifieds..



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1821636.htm

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4879...

[Xaero]

Can get an RX7 for that price now. Although sensible is not the best word to describe them

[AdeTuono]

You want one of these. Look at the spec!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[andye30m3]

maybe an integra type R, not ideal if your doing lots of very long journeys but otherwise a good daily driver, reliable, economical and great fun.

[firman]

All depends on what you require 2/4 seats, is insurance an issue, do you mind what age it is etc?
What about this?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2205296.htm

or

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2205296.htm

Edited by firman on Monday 15th November 08:43

[Harry Monk]

It'll just about net you an EP3 Civic Type R, but I'd probably be looking at a very nice E36 BMW 328i coupe for that sort of money.

[teen_cerbera]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-FORD-MONDEO-ST220-SILVE...

[GarryA]

You could get an E36 3.0 M3 but only if you can afford to look after it!

[T84]

Octavia vRS?

[Thorburn]

Assuming you don't have an absolute fortune to spend on running it, either a Ford Puma or a Mazda MX-5.

[TRUENOSAM]

I would reccomend a DC2 Integra type-r. Very much a drivers car with reasonable running costs

[redgriff500]

What's more of a drivers car than an MX5 ?





A Supercharged one !

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1739696.htm

[Biccaroo]

As expected the MX-5 seems the prime candidate! Only real worry with this is driving it during the winter? Could be "interesting" would you say, what with it being RWD and all??

The car I am looking for will generally be used to kart me around alone. I currently drive a Nissan Primera SRi (Don't judge me - I bought it last minute as I desperately needed a car and £600 seemed like a bargain! ). I am therefore looking for something smaller and - if possible - more economical to run. Two seats would be ample and no more than 3 doors for sure!

Edited by Biccaroo on Monday 15th November 11:22

[Jonny671]

Biccaroo said:

As expected the MX-5 seems the prime candidate! Only real worry with this is driving it during the winter? Could be "interesting" would you say, what with it being RWD and all??

The car I am looking for will generally be used to kart me around alone. I currently drive a Nissan Primera SRi (Don't judge me - I bought it last minute as I desperately needed a car and £600 seemed like a bargain! ). I am therefore looking for something smaller and - if possible - more economical to run. Two seats would be ample and no more than 3 doors for sure!

Edited by Biccaroo on Monday 15th November 11:22

Get an MX5 and you'll wonder why you ever contemplated these other vehicles, trust me!

[Thorburn]

Biccaroo said:

As expected the MX-5 seems the prime candidate! Only real worry with this is driving it during the winter? Could be "interesting" would you say, what with it being RWD and all??

Drove my old one in all weather including snow. Was a weird spec, Mk2 1.8i, but didn't even have ABS.

I found it pretty easy to handle in the snow so long as you were nice and gentle with your inputs, took it 70 miles in light snow one day and while it was sideways quite a few times it was never particularly snappy.

If anything I found it worse in the heavy rain over standing water, but only really as the tyres wore down (around 2-3mm).

[Chris71]

Fabric 2.2 said:

Evo gave these a somewhat positive review, not bad prices either!

Looks comfortable enough as a daily hack as well. Actually quite tempted myself now, after browsing the classifieds..



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1821636.htm

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4879...

Had a mk1 ZS180. Great everyday cars, but not a weekend toy IMHO.

If the OP has a bit left over above the £4k for maintenance and insurance I'd suggest a TVR S-Series. When they're properly setup they handle as well as an MX5 (well, perhaps not quite so nimble, but they're progressive, well balanced and communicative), they're usefully quicker in the real world and they feel far, far quicker. Oozing with character, one of the best sounding production cars ever (better than the Rover V8s I'd say) and fundamentally quite reliable if you get a good one. Should be able to pick up something pretty decent for £4,000.