MX5 to... what?! £5-7k

[Grodecki]

Evening chaps

Hate to do another spec me thread but I'm left totally stuck as to what to even start looking at!

I'm currently 20, have had my MX5 since I just turned 19, and will be 21 in under 3 months. Insurance for the '5 is a delightful £750 this year, and will be set to go down to about £680 when I turn 21. My car history before that contains 2 classic minis; I'm not adverse to old cars, and I have some vague 'spannering' ability.

I am however, itching to change; mainly because I just want something new, but having something with 4 seats would really not be a bad thing at all (although not a requirement). I'm presently a student but through a mix of hard work since 15, some decent saving, and having a couple of jobs, can probably fund a car between 5 and 7k come winter time. The kicker is ongoing running costs; I don't want something that's likely to sting me with huge bills, as large sums of money at once can be problematic for me! Also the annoyance of having it off the road for periods of time will drive me nuts... basically I want something fairly reliable. I however, could not give a damn at all about petrol costs; I do virtually no miles, and the ones I do are generally fun b-roads or town commutes, so fuel economy does not bother me in the slightest. The car is going to be parked on the road, and a garage is not available, apart from using a mates when 'spannering' is needed. I'm not at all adverse to a classic, but again, I don't want something that's going to be making me call the AA every few weeks. Insurance is a factor; I don't really want to spend more than £1200 on it, but for £1200 I can insure a Supra TT, 3000GT, Elise, 350Z, Z4, 330i, RX8 231, etc etc without issues.

The one car I really want as an upgrade to the MX5 is an S2000, but insurance is literally bonkers, unless specialists are significantly cheaper. I want to own a 3000GT one day, a childhood fantasy owed to Gran Turismo, but the 'running costs' thing is putting me off. I do not really want a 'hot hatch' or a hatch of any sort; they simply don't interest me.

TL;DR version of the above
21 year old student
£5-7k to spend - Cash, not finance.
4000 miles a year, mainly b roads and town commutes.
4 seats advantageous, not required.
Fuel economy irrelevant
No garage available
Some 'spannering' ability
Reliability desired; sudden huge bills disliked
Insurance possibly an issue; imports are a big no-no unless a specialist will take kindly on me. S2000s are a no no.
Modern hatches are mostly uninteresting.

Cars I've looked at
RX-8 - I like it. Could theoretically buy a dead one and then get a rebuild done with a 2 year warranty. Reliability still a concern. Can never decide if I truly love how it looks.
S2000 - Would love, can't insure for anything under £2000
Supra TT - Cheap insurance, fundamentally reliable.... bit too GT for the drives I do.
TT Quattro - Apparently uninvolving to drive?
3000GT - Would dearly love one, but can't insure GTOs and the bills could be scary. Too GT like again.
Celica GT-Four - Suspension component costs scary, unknown running costs
350Z - Like, a lot. But bit 'bottom of the barrel' at this budget.
Elise - Too expensive, and the one on my road has too many cracks from poor drivers
330i - It's nice. But I don't really want it.
Z4 - Bottom of the barrel, again.
Elan M1000 - Too similar to my MX5 - uglier and FWD (albeit good FWD!)
Corvette C4 - Bottom of the barrel... can't really park it on tight residental roads...
TVR Chim - Love it. Adore it. Reliability? Living on a road?! Insurance a *bit* too high.
Alfa GT - Pretty. Dull?
Alfa GTV - Pretty. Unreliable? FWD stepdown from the MX5?
Teg DC2 - Meh.
MR2 - Interesting. Cheap, insuraable, mid engined, pretty.

Long list there, I know. I'm very very open to classics but I'm not at all sure what to look at in that respect, and I'd appreciate any opinions on the list of cars there.

The only car I've seriously looked at is the RX8 and I sway between thinking it's a briliant idea and being terrified it'll leave me bankrupt and heartbroken.

If this starts an inquest into my finances and telling me to save my money, etc, I can say safely that I am not clearing out my savings account to do this, I'm not taking out finance. I love cars, I want something new and fun, and I have the money available to do it, as soon as I turn 21 and insurance becomes a possibility!

Cheers

Edited by Grodecki on Tuesday 31st July 01:05

[Grodecki]

okie592 said:

This is just the makings of a PHers Wet dream.

If that's me saying I'm basically lying or dreaming.. I'm not. I'm genuinely in this situation. I am left with a significant amount of cash left over each month, and have been since I was about 16, and it's all been saved. I love cars, I always have, so why not get something fun to replace the '5?

Boxter again seems like a barrel scrape with potentially high running costs (not from any research, just assuming!), and I can't quite insure them either.

[Grodecki]

PUA said:

OP, from the info you have given i reckon a 350z is where its headed. practical, reasonably reliable, still looks awesome and modern compared to supra's, etc. Its a more realistic option IMHO esp as only 4k miles a year will mean mpg is not as much of a worry

I really, really like them. The insurance is on the high side of acceptable but it's just about okay.... (similar bracket to the Elise and a bit below the Chim, a lot more than the Supra, 3000GT) and in GT form I think they look absolutely ace.

ambuletz said:

Something more fun then an MX-5? Blasphemy! Quite afew people have gone from a '5 to a boxster S only to go back to a '5!

Not entirely stuck on the fun side of things... a lot of it is down to just wanting a change. I don't expect I'll keep it for a huge amount of time so if I really want back to the '5 I will go and buy another, although finding a UK car as clean as my SE would probably be a challenge!

[Grodecki]

NadiR said:

Shame about the insurance on the S2000, but try running some quotes on the other hot Honda's that's within your budget, will be less ruinous to insure then the S2000. DC2/5, EK9/EP3 or ATR.

A DC2 is possible if it's a UK model, which I don't really like the look of! Imports with the Admiral group are a no-no on the insurance scale, so DC5s are off. EP3 is £1200, a little less than a 350Z. I don't particularly like the look of it that much, either.

An NSX is £2500...

[Grodecki]

Gaz. said:

Run a quote for an import Supra (my old plate was C10JSH if you want to use that in confusedmeerkats) as you are a little short to buy even a ropey automatic UK spec Supra. Good manual ones are usually £18k as and when they come up for sale.

Can insure those for about £1200. Acceptable!

[Grodecki]

300bhp/ton said:

I'd say Supra out of your list. Although I do like C4 Vettes, I think these would probably be more "fun", although way less ability than the big Toyota.

Why do you think you couldn't park the Vette on the road? It's smaller than the Supra.

I had the impression that in my head the Vette was absolutely huge, it turns out it is not, at all! The fibreglass nature concerns me, mind, as I said, the Elise on my road is covered in cracks where people have driven into it, and cracks in fibreglass are not nice

[Grodecki]

The Crack Fox said:

Some good info, OP, we should help you whittle that down a bit. I own (and love) an old MX-5, here's my 2p on some of your choices;

S2000- drive one. 0-60 stats aside, what does it do that your MX-5 doesn't ? Great cars, sure, it will get you to 60 quicker than the MX-5 but you won't smile any more. Insurance is obscene too, have you checked ?

3000GT- Wallowy old pigs to drive, if you like the styling though, fine.

350Z- Great cars, I love them, but you might be asking for trouble on that budget.

330i- The Coupe is a different drive to the 4 door, and only slightly less practical, I own a 330CI Sport and it's a good all-rounder. Some utter dogs at the lower end of the price scale though.

RX8- If you can find one with the engine recently compression tested and OK'd, that would be my choice based on your criteria.

I'm going to chuck another one at you, bear with me.... Lotus Excel. The more I look into them the more I think they're a very good car. Plenty of people running them as daily drivers, cool wedgy styling, plastic bodies, pop-ups and that badge. Possible classic insurance with AF. Worth a look ?

S2000 insurance is off the charts, but I love the look of them. Not driven one and I suppose you're probably right, it's quite like my '5.
3000GT - I love the looks, childhood dream, will probably own one at one point in my life, even if just for a few months to 'check it off the list'.
330i - Great in theory, don't really want.
RX8 - Same conclusion as you; it fits every criteria IF it's not going to go pop.
Lotus Excel... I will look into that. Plenty of specialists if I need servicing as I can drive back home; my folks live 4miles from the hethel!

I don't want to run 2 cars, really.

[quote]ocus rs mk1
or supra tt
2wd sierra cosworth

Nope, considered, nope.

Boxter is interesting, but won't it cost me a fortune to run? I will definitely look into it, mind.

the 350Z is becoming more and more attractive, if I can possibly save up a bit more cash to not scrape the barrel and get a nice GT.

[Grodecki]

mobile chicane22 said:

I did mx5 to S2000 to 996

The insurance is the same on the honda as it is on the porsche which imo is madness as my honda was a tatty 1999 import worth maybe £4k on a very good day wheras the 996 is an 03 worth over 3 times that mutch with another 120bhp.

how about a newer more powerfull mx5 ?

Not at all interested in a Mk2 or 3 MX5, think the Mk1 is by far and away the best looking, and from what I gather, one of the best to drive.

[Grodecki]

DanDC5 said:

If you're only saying meh to a DC2 you've clearly never driven one...

No, I haven't, but a friend owns a DC2 (pays silly, silly money on insurance) and I've been in it. It doesn't interest me all that much. The looks don't do anything for me, I just simply don't love it. I'm pretty irrational when it comes to a lot of things and whilst I know it's a brilliant car, I just don't... want one.

GTVs are easy to insure and I love them. Cheaper so could put money aside to keep it running... but what of how it drives? Will it be a huge step down from my '5?

Scoobies, m3s are off due to insurance and running costs.

Edited by Grodecki on Tuesday 31st July 12:38

Edited by Grodecki on Tuesday 31st July 12:39

[Grodecki]

Riknos said:

S2000 if you can stomach the insurance - If not, get yourself in a mk3 2.0 Sport MX5.

The 160 bhp vs your 115bhp will feel a lot quicker, get the geo and springs put on it and it's basically the same recipe as before but with more of everything.

Look in the MX5 section / MX5 owners clubs and see how many people have gone from a mk1 > mk3 MX5 and the feedback from them is always great.

Mk3 is a bulbous looking thing if you ask me, don't like it at all!

S2000 is out due to bonkers insurance. Insuring a TVR Tuscan is cheaper.

[Grodecki]

Dracoro said:

As I say, you need to look at TOTAL cost of ownership, not just one factor. I'll bet a Tuscan would cost a lot more than the S2000 to run (insurance costs included!).

I er, know that. It's just to put it in perspective.

I dislike throwing £2500 on insurance as it's a cost I get nothing back for. A lot of these cars will not lose me huge amounts of cash if I keep them for a year and then sell up. £2500 is a lot of cash I'd never get back.

[Grodecki]

Dracoro said:

Despite the poor fuel economy, I think the RX8s (chosen well mind!) are a bit of a bargain (not sure what insurance is like). It appears you can spend £4k or so and get a good one, the money saved should make up for the dire economy (relative to the performance). They'll also be relatively new - a lot of suggestions on this thread are for cars 10-20 years old! I suspect the RX8 will need less maintenance than these "classics" for that reason.

I keep coming back to the idea of buying a dead one, having it trailered to a good rebuilder, getting a rebuild done and having a warrentied, fun, newish coupe for about 5-6k all in.

[Grodecki]

I've never really liked Porsches, with the exception of the 964 and the Boxter; TVR has a much, much greater appeal, but I'm aware it is not at all suitable at this budget, really.

[Grodecki]

T S Magnum said:

Speaking from experience, T or S'charging a Mk1 MX5 should make it different enough to give a couple more years' interest. Can be done well for less than £1k. Is an interesting challenge if you like spannering.

Don't know effect on insurance at your age (but I was 29 when I did mine, premium went up ~40%).

Problem with doing a turbo conversion on my '5 is that I can only borrow a friends garage, I can't leave it sitting there for ages as I do it week by week.... I don't really want to turbo it to be honest, it's a lovely little car as it is and it's purely the itch for a change that is making me look into new things. I suppose if I spent a few quid doing up the 5, replace the roof where it was broken into and get the drivers seat refurbed it'd be pretty much perfect, I might be happy. Could just save till I finish uni and get something that I really, really want.

[Grodecki]

Dakkon said:

I have owned a couple of the cars you are talking about:

MX5 - Great car, would have another
350Z - Does everything it should, but I found it really dull after a while
S2000 - I know you say it's bokers insurance, but the engine and gearbox are second to none, really liked mine, would have another.
Boxster - Seriously considering getting one of these, lot of car for the money, some real bargains out there including the 'S'

Cheers, much appreciated. I really would like an S2k but I cannot stomach paying £2500 for insurance. If I'm doing 4000miles a year, that's more than 50p a mile on insurance.

Boxter is also £1700 for insurance, so out of contention really.

RX8/350Z are my two big picks at the moment.. going to keep exploring other things posted in this thread.

I love this stage of looking for cars... just constantly looking at different adverts and forums on the net. I'm a right saddo.

[Grodecki]

Ephraim said:

Do this. 2 or 3 year warrantied engine. Endless smiles. Great cars if you can get past the mpg and perceived unreliability of the engines (and with your situation you can).

I am, of course, biased.

Any idea if there are any well regarded rebuilders in the south west?

[Grodecki]

roscopervis said:

Lots of good choices and from that list I'd go 350z. Also, at 5k you would be scraping the 350z barrel, but at 7k you can pick up very nice low mileage GT examples of the 276 engine version. There are quite a few about

A curve ball perhaps, but if the 330ci is on your list, have you considered an Alpina B3 3.3? 280 bhp so a decent bit faster than the 330, but using many of the same parts as the 330 so keeping running costs down, rather than the bespoke M3 parts prices. Very nice cars to drive and the SMG box in the Alpina is better than that in the 330.

350Z is becoming more and more attractive.... I need to see some in the flesh sometime as I see them so rarely to decide if I really love how they look, mind. They have a wide array of different body kits which seem to change the looks quite dramatically!

Dusty964 said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3998039.htm

Or an Élan.

Get away from mainstream motoring and into something with some character

I want that, a lot. Mainstream insurers do not want me to have it though, they quote more for an S than for a Chim! Elan is an interesting option.

mike9009 said:

I don't think anyone has mentioned one yet, but I would highly recommend a VX220 NA. Different experience to an MX5, brisker acceleration, lovely feel through the steering wheel, cheaper than an Elise, cheaper insurance, more robust engine, an event to drive, stunning looks (subjective, I accept!), good mpg, easy to work on DIY, good owners forum with much support.

Only thing is your budget will buy either an early ropey one or potentially a cat D. TBH, if you can find the owner of a Cat D (owners forum can help), they may have just had the clams replaced (so not major damage, but major expense and enough to write it off)

Sorry to muddy your waters further - but I would dearly love another. I sold my MX5 this week and don't miss that, but sold my vx220 8 years ago and still miss it!

Mike

I much much prefer the looks of the elise, and the ropey one/cat D is offputting, and the small fibreglass car on my roads concerns me; the elise here, as mentioned before, is covered in cracks from the terrible parkers here.

[Grodecki]

cocopop said:

It is such a good idea!

So much so that I suggested it twice to the OP but it's been ignored! If I had the space, I'd buy another one tomorrow, then hunt down my first and buy that back.

Edited by cocopop on Tuesday 31st July 22:06

I'm trying to ignore it. I love the RX7 but.... don't they cost lots? Won't they definitely break after a x miles? I don't like that idea at all!

I will look into FI on the '5, but I'd really like to swap to something else, I think.... but I suppose it is really suited to what I do :/

[Grodecki]

FI MX5 would require specialist insurance; Admiral and co won't touch me on one, I've just found out! Buggery.

[Grodecki]

Dakkon said:

Another point to add, have you test driven any of the cars you are considering?

Despite someones praise for a particular car, you may not like it.

I haven't, no. Will dealers allow a 20 year old student test drive cars like this? I'm thinking I'll likely be laughed out of the place.