Suggestions - Cheap - Fun - Can be fixed with a hammer.

stuman

stuman

stuman

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27 Aug 2003
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So, as per the title, I'm looking for something around the £2-3000 range. (or something really good for £8-10k, but would need to finance so don't really want to do that!)

I would like something that is fun. It will be mostly used as fun, day trips, some small errands, and some road tripping in the uk.

There are some examples of mx-5's in that range. Are there any others I could be looking at? Im not afraid to put some hammer time in to do some worth while mods to get it to be fun, but nothing excessive. Wouldn't mind something a bit odd either, old doesn't matter, but needs to be fun.
 
What do you class as fun?

mk5 golf gti, 2005 model, manual. 200bhp, average mpg and can hit 340bhp with mods if you wanted to go that way.
MX-5, I know @Freefaller has a great one so may be able to help.
RX-8

older cars there's loads to chose from, MGBGT, Triumphs etc but again, depends on what you class as fun.
 
Mini Cooper S?

Decent R53 (Supercharged) is definitely in budget, and R56 (Turbocharged) are just beginning to creep into that price range.
 
Armageus said:
Mini Cooper S?

Decent R53 (Supercharged) is definitely in budget, and R56 (Turbocharged) are just beginning to creep into that price range.
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I'd avoid a cheap r56. The early ones had engines seemingly made from buttons, fluff and gravel. They love to snack on timing chains and coke up like mad. Neither of which are easy things to resolve. They're also known for popping head gaskets and we know what that can lead to!
 
It was going to be my next question as i seem to remember some catastrophic failures and issues with some of the early ones.

Fun for me is not all out speed, but handling, nice feel (steering feedback, nice mechanical feeling gear box (none of this slushy mop in bucket feeling)) would like a 2 seat convertible but not an absolute. Needs to be water tight if that is the case. less than a tonne, 100+hp. Would prefer naturally aspirated high revving but i know that costs.

i guess, mx5, renaultsport clio 172 / 192? any good guides of what to look for in these? any other similar?

I would love a 70's Lotus, MGB or triumph but they are starting to get expensive. 20k-ish
 
Dis86 said:
I'd avoid a cheap r56. The early ones had engines seemingly made from buttons, fluff and gravel. They love to snack on timing chains and coke up like mad. Neither of which are easy things to resolve. They're also known for popping head gaskets and we know what that can lead to!
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I'd have to agree, but there were a couple of decent looking ones on Autotrader when I looked that had recently had a decoke and new timing chains. R53 is probably the better choice though - easier to get a bit more power out of with a new supercharger pulley etc.
 
Renault Clio 182.

Easy to fix, very easy to work on. Cheap parts.

Light weight, good performance. Handles really well. Can be had for an absolute bargain. Only issue is that the Cambelt is a £500 job.
 
Armageus said:
I'd have to agree, but there were a couple of decent looking ones on Autotrader when I looked that had recently had a decoke and new timing chains. R53 is probably the better choice though - easier to get a bit more power out of with a new supercharger pulley etc.
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I'd go for the r53 too. Plus...woooooooooo who doesn't like that supercharger noise?
 
A nice example of an RX8 s1 can be had for that price, although it drinks fuel so i'm not sure how good it would be for road trips. if you can stand the fuel bill though its something to consider, preferably one thats had a recent rebuild by a specialist.
 
Echo someone above, if you can find a "decent" MX5 mk2.5 "SPORT" (6-speed, LSD) with the option of adding some bbr goodies in the future if its just a car for the weekend or make short trips, though i've never owned one i can only imagine it's great fun, I've got a 3.0i Z4 and having the roof down during daylight/Night time, warm/cold/foggy weather, It's an experience everytime.

Renault Clio 172/182, though I've only had the 1.2 as a first car years ago, It was soooo fun to throw around, For a car made back in 2002 there was very minimal body roll and it stuck to the road while keeping up speed on corners, I can only imagine a Renaultsport Clio to be million times better than my 1.2 first car haha.

Civic Type R EP3 for some vtec goodness

Can't really think of anything else for 3k max, think you're just out from a 2.5i Z4, Besides the little niggles such as the poor quality rattley interior, poor Roof motor location (Can be moved into the boot by some kind people in the country). having that roof down and pushing that Straight six engine up to 6.5k rpm it's great, and to this day they're still beautiful looking cars, people always turn and give "the nod" when you drive past, I certainly don't regret my Z4 despite the annoying issues I've had from it, and if you're handy with the spanners or know a friend/family mechanic it's a very affordable car to run and maintain.
 
it's strange a quick look on piston heads has shown a z4 for £4500, the next cheapest is 9k. "if it looks too good to be true it is...." Suzuki swift sport is a good shout :) inis however is ugly :P

still looking at mx-5's anybody spotted a good deal?
 
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