I can't afford an Elise...

[Biccaroo]

... so what should I get instead? I've got £6000 to spend on a car and I want to get it right. What would you recommend? The most powerful car I've owned so far is an MR2 Mk2 2.0 T-Bar. It was fun but I think I need something even more involving.

I look forward to your suggestions.

[C2james]

What about something like an old 944 or 968 Porsche?

[Egg Chaser]

VX220? May need to stretch your budget a little bit though.

[WhoseGeneration]

Biccaroo said:

... so what should I get instead? I've got £6000 to spend on a car and I want to get it right. What would you recommend? The most powerful car I've owned so far is an MR2 Mk2 2.0 T-Bar. It was fun but I think I need something even more involving.

I look forward to your suggestions.

Daily, fun, or both?

[pacificf1]

C2james said:

What about something like an old 944 or 968 Porsche?

Great cars, with your budget one good one of those and keep the change for inevitable running costs.

[Pearcyy]

I've seen a few 6k elises and theres quite a few for 7, why not stretch your budget a little and get what you want?

[thinfourth2]

I don't see a S1elise value dropping much further so while it might cost you more to buy the long term costs won't be too hard.

[BrewsterBear]

GTM Libra/Spyder.

End Thread.

[Bill]

Mk3 MR2. A genuinely surprisingly good sportscar and vastly more direct than the mk2.

[900T-R]

If you have got up to six grand now and want an Elise, that's what you should get. Either keep what you have and save a bit more, or buy something cheap and cheerful for the interim. Spending 'nearly' what a decent Mk1 costs on something that will always be second best for you at best, sounds a bit silly...

[garrykiller]

mx5? boxter? z3? s2000?

[madbadger]

This:



£5000 - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2694592.htm

or this:



£3500 - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2678999.htm

Both leave plenty from your budget towards running costs. Both pretty much depreciation proof so if you would like to 'downgrade' in a few years you will get your money back.

Both greater road presence than the Lotus.

[cjm]

VX220 has to be the obvious one?!

[Lordbenny]

cjm said:

VX220 has to be the obvious one?!

£6000 will get you a ropey one or a cat D. I would recommend that you dont spend less than £7500 on a VX220.

[Mellow Matt]

You could get a mint turbo/supercharged mx5 for that. If I wanted practicality I'd go for that. If I wanted less practicality I'd go for a Westfield/other 7-alike kit car.

[Some Gump]

op said:

I want a light, nimble sports car

PH said:

How about a massive V8

I love PH.

[chuno]

Yes, I almost certainly wouldn't touch a £6k VX220 (unless you don't mind a cat D). I don't think the base price between a decent VX and an S1 elise is much different anyway.

What about an S2000?

[kambites]

The mk3 MR2 makes a very compelling case for itself as a "budget Elise". No other modern mainstream car comes close, IMO.

Don't buy an Elise or VX220 at that price. There is a general truism that any S1 Elise costs at least 9-10k, regardless of how much you spend on the initial purchase.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 28th April 08:41

[Biccaroo]

WhoseGeneration said:

Daily, fun, or both?

Both! Unfortunately I can't afford two cars and my daily commute is about 40 minutes each way.

[Bill]

kambites said:

The mk3 MR2 makes a very compelling case for itself as a "budget Elise". No other modern mainstream car comes close, IMO.

Better power to weight, better roof and a radio, but ironically less luggage space

ETA scratch the power to weight claim, it turns out I can't do maffs

Edited by Bill on Thursday 28th April 10:08