Options for fun car under 10k?

[infernouk]

Hey all,

Im in the market for a second car (have a VW UP for shopping and misc stuff), its use will be weekend fun driving and 2 days a week commute to work (5 mile drive), no kids so practicality isnt important.

At the moment im only looking at investing in the car for 12-18 months as ill probably move elsewhere / change jobs, so due to this im not looking at any kind of PCP or lease.

Unfortunetly due to the current climate and not being a home owner, i cant secure any kind of loan under 15% APR which is too rich for my blood, despite having high household income (go figure)

So because of this, im stuck with my budget of 10k cash purchase give or take

What are peoples thoughts on a fun choice?

Previosuly I had a GT86 Aero for a year as my only nice car ever. I loved the coupe RWD, but the engine was abysmal and the breaks screeched like a freight train so I dont miss the driving experience, just the looks.

My lead choices were a Fiesta ST, Pug 208 Gti PS, of a Cooper S...however i dont REALLY like hatchbacks, and im about to hit 30 and everyone keeps telling me im too old work too professional a job for these cars...stuff like the M135i i considered but its 15K for not much more than an ST would offer...?

Am i overlooking some options here? Im not a great fan of very old cars as I do like my tech and mod con's but I wouldnt overlook a great choice if there is one

Cheers for any thoughts! (or any way i can increase the budget without getting wrecked on APR!)

[infernouk]

Caddyshack said:

Try a boxster S manual. A lot of car for £10k, don’t worry about the miles, buy on condition.

I’d love a cayman but I’m terrified of the repair bills on a Porsche!

[infernouk]

Wagonwheel555 said:

I wouldn’t compare an ST to an M135i

STs are good cars but M135i is a big step up.

I wasn’t comparing them they are just options I’ve considered, I’ve heard from a lot of m135i owners they are straight line weapons but not worth the cost over the ST which is lighter and more of a B road warrior, the ST is closer to 10k, the 135 closer to 15

[infernouk]

ChrisH72 said:

I have a Fiesta ST3 and it's great. I'm 48 by the way and couldn't care less what anyone thinks image wise.

But....

For a fun 2nd car with no requirement for practicality surely it has to be a 2 seat roadster? And with short term ownership wouldn't you be better off spending less?

Before I had kids I bought an MR2 roadster for £2500, ran it for 18 months and about 5k miles then sold it for £3000. It's the only car I ever made money on and it was totally reliable and great fun to drive. When my boy is a bit older I'm sure I'll have another 2 seat sports car, you just can't beat it.

2 seat sports cars at a budget don’t really grab me, my mum has an mx5 which is fine but doesn’t do anything for me vs my old gt86, I think I’d like to try turbo. I can spend whatever I can justify so less is fine, but 10k seems to have a few decent options

Also really don’t like the looks of cloth tops

[infernouk]

ChrisH72 said:

2 seat coupe like a 370Z?

I think they slip below 10k now and other than expensive to tax should be reliable and painless to run?

Yeah my mum actually drove a 370z before the mx5 and I did like it and like the coupe, the tax was insane and it’s quite heavy and thirsty so my concern was it’s just a lot of extra running cost for no better handling than a mx5 or gt86?

They are also more like 13-14k for a decent one and I’d be concerned no one will buy it in a year or so time with the governments agenda!

Edited by infernouk on Wednesday 24th February 22:49

[infernouk]

cerb4.5lee said:

Yes and the 22mpg and £580 tax definitely grates on me with mine for sure. They are quite different to the MX5/GT86 though, and it depends on what style you like I reckon(quicker/heavy or slower/light). I do really like the brawny nature of the 370Z though, but most do definitely seem to prefer the way that the MX5/GT86 do it for certain.

Yeah for 10k I’d give it a go, but realistically they are 12-14k cars and at that point your competing with m235i etc which are as fast with better mpg etc so it’s less competitive unless you want a 2 seater

[infernouk]

MK1RS Bruce said:

What about a leggy E46 M3?

High running costs would be offset by the lack of depreciation?

I have a fiesta ST and they are great fun and a good allrounder, can also pick up decent ones for a good bit under your budget and running costs are small!

I’m always too anxious for a ‘leggy’ car as I don’t like surprise bills, the ST2 with the suspension updates start at 9-10k currently so actually at the budget, rather than the pre facelift ones which are cheaper but by all accounts significantly worse to drive

[infernouk]

Quickmoose said:

A pre-March 2006 and post 2004 Honda S2000. You're welcome.

I did look at these, they seem to be over budget, cloth roof, and by all accounts I have seen a fair few negative comments about how they drive (70/30 split) across this forum

[infernouk]

Quickmoose said:

You can get one with a hardtop too if necessary....and you won't have a car suggested that doesn't have a negative comment.

70/30 is killing it

test drive one...(?)

It just seems that a nice one is 14k + and as you approach 15k budget rather than 10k, it opens up a world of competitive options

[infernouk]

MK1RS Bruce said:

I don't think there is such thing as a pre face lift ST, they were all the mk7.5 style?

I own a 15 plate ST2, no idea if that has the "good" suspension or not but I always thought people saying that were being a bit precious. It gets more focus and air time because there is basically nothing else to fault with them at the price point

They were face lifted later 2015/2016 you can tell by if it has the rear led lights, also then has the st200 improved suspension as they put it in all cars after end of 2015. So you’d want a 2016 car which is 10k

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say go for a 335i (the M135i isn't better) both benefit from M3 parts to make them better, it's a good steer goes well & will please your colleagues.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101168...

330i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...

Z4 30i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249...

35i Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

370Z the tax is heavy but only £200 more than some of the other suggestions a big N/A will be more thirsty than a turbocharged equivalent but there's a lower chance of having any issues with an N/A & the 370Z is a sweet steer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Or if you want some real fun get a motorbike:

BMW S1000RR

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-S1000RR/20328631339...

ZX10r

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-NINJA-ZX10R-20...

MV F4 1000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-AGUSTA-F4-1000-2009/...

Thanks for the ideas, how is reliability on those older BMW models? I had only looked at the m135 and m235 and they were over budget, these seem more feesable

I also do like the z4 quite a lot! Seems a good balance of weekend and daily driver for me

I suppose my biggest hang up is the Fiesta ST is light and great handling, every review I’ve seen that contrasts it with any of those other cars is that they are heavy and wallowy. The 370 I love the looks but hear the shifts aren’t great and the steering isn’t as good as a fiesta, it never wins a group test for example

I’m not really about straight line speed as we live in the UK and we can’t easily go fast, hence the GT86 previously, and I’m concerned that going for power over handling would disappoint me...having said that the z4 offers the roof down 2 seat experience, but again I’ve heard negatives in the handling.

Just nothing seems to trump the fiesta on that front for 10k? But this is just from my reading of course...

I can’t do a motorbike becuase I don’t want the risks associated!

[infernouk]

cerb4.5lee said:

I like the steering in the 370 because it is hydraulic whereas most stuff now is electric. You do have to be quite deliberate with the gearchanges though, and it has caught me out a few times to be fair. The auto rev matching is an absolute laugh though and it puts a big smile on your face I reckon(especially with the HFC's/upgraded exhaust I have on mine).

Yeah as mentioned previously my mum had one for 6 years and she loved it, i only drove it once and have no memory of it to be honest. Im just concerned as I loved the GT86 and how light it was, going to a heavy punchy car on british roads im not too sure of (though i love the interior and exterior looks). Im also very very concerned about the way the gov is clamping down on such cars and being stuck with a 10k paperweight in a couple of years time, which is actually my biggest issue with buying one to be honest

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

The only thing the government is concerned about is Euro ratings as that's how ULEZ's will be implemented so don't worry about that.

The shift isn't bad I'd say average, the GT86 is lighter but you have to drive around the flat spot that's irritating in normal driving, you can make pace but in a different the good thing about the 370 is that you can make it sharper but I'd say leave it for a bit & enjoy it.

The newer Z4 is a good car a nice convertible & an enjoyable car but not as sweet a steer as the 370/GT86, like most cars they're fun in different ways.

Yeah the flat spot ruined the gt86 for me, I’d consider the 370z, I’m just unsure if i would get the value out of it that it costs over a fiesta ST, that straight line speed is mostly unusable, but obviously it wins hands downs on looks...