MX5 Replacement - 5-7k

Hxc

Hxc

Hxc

Soldato
Joined
29 Oct 2004
Posts
12,500
Location
London
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.

Or

Keep the MX5, save, be able to afford something I really, really want in a few years. Ie, Elise, TVR.

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 brilliant idea and being terrified it'll leave me bankrupt and heartbroken.

I'm aware posting this here will probably instigate a vast inquest into my finances, but to put it simply, I have this money, I work hard for it, and it is not cleaning out my bank account by any means; I'd still be left with a solid £10k of savings after this.
 
Last edited:
If your after a sporty drive, the TT will probably be off the list. Bit of a soft driving experience, even with the v6. My boss at work has a RX-8, lovely blue colour. He's had it over 2 years and hasn't had a single problem (apart from heavy right foot syndrome). As long as the correct procedures are followed, they are fine Im told.
 
As long as the correct procedures are followed, they are fine Im told.
kv.gif
 
Hxc said:
Reliability desired; sudden huge bills disliked

TVR Chim - Love it. Adore it. Reliability? Living on a road?! Insurance a *bit* too high.
Click to expand...

I'd ditch the idea of running a TVR without wanting expensive bills and parking it on the road if i was you.
 
Last edited:
I'm just going to wade in here with the guidance that a Corvette C4 is smaller than a Supra and GTO.

A C4 is actually about the same size as an RX8 (it's very fractionally longer and wider). Parking them's a doddle as a result, particularly as you're sitting next to the kerb. :)

They just look large and imposing because they're so low and wide.

They are a bit bigger than an S2000 though. 5cm wider and about 35cm longer off the top of my head. Not as tall though.
 
Last edited:
Hxc said:
-Snip-

Or

Keep the MX5, save, be able to afford something I really, really want in a few years. Ie, Elise, TVR.
Click to expand...

As you don't want a car that's going to deplete your savings quicker than you can replenish them, I'd do the above. When you get your first full time job (and this is by no means a given even with a degree these days) then treat yourself to something really nice.

p.s. Good work on building up savings while at uni.
 
Imy said:
As you don't want a car that's going to deplete your savings quicker than you can replenish them, I'd do the above. When you get your first full time job (and this is by no means a given even with a degree these days) then treat yourself to something really nice.

p.s. Good work on building up savings while at uni.
Click to expand...

Agreed, not much comes close to an MX5 without incurring significant costs, none of which seem worth it when you look at it amongst the F40 and Pagani Zonda F in Evo's top 10 drivers cars of all time.

I've been looking to change for 2 years, and haven't found a solution.
 
Of the list given in the OP, most of the cars there will cost an absolute fortune to run.
Ignoring fuel costs, the likes of a Supra and 3000GT will cost a bomb to keep in good shape and the RX8 is expensive because it is a rotary engine that most garages don't know how to work on and drinks fuel like a 400 horse power Impreza.
Of the list given, there are some lovely motors on there, but for your budget and spannering ability I can only see the MR2 and Audi TT (the girly MK1) being good examples rather than tired old nails.
Your list looks nice, but a lot of those are 1990s sports cars that will be worn out.
Either buy a late MR2 Turbo, a newer MX5, or a MK1 TT if that is what you want. An Integra would be brilliant to drive, but a 15 year old non-galvanised steel Honda will give you a constant battle against rust.

I hate to **** all over your car dreams, but from the list given in the OP I think you are in fairy land rather than the real world. There is no way a 20 year old student can properly run an 18 year old Supra TT!
 
Last edited:
Lashout_UK said:
No, only two seats. Big boot though, although loading it through the rear hatch can be a chore sometimes.
Click to expand...

That's a shame, I would have one after uni but the missus is preggers :) Are they horrendous to run servicing and tyre wise? I think I remember reading that they aren't too bad but a 90s V8 can't be too bulletproof :p
 
phil675 said:
That's a shame, I would have one after uni but the missus is preggers :) Are they horrendous to run servicing and tyre wise? I think I remember reading that they aren't too bad but a 90s V8 can't be too bulletproof :p
Click to expand...

90s V8 not too bulletproof? Chevrolet V8's one of the most durable out there! :p

They're very, very reliable to say the least. They're designed to be used and abused day in and day out and just keep on motoring, as well as having powertrains that usually cover over 150,000 miles without any fuss. One of my old ones is on 180,000 miles now and still going strong, as well as doing regular laps around race circuits...

Servicing's cheap because it's just plugs, oil, filters and coolant. Nothing particularly special required. I did a complete service (auxiliary belt, plugs, cap, rotor, filters, diff fluid, trans fluid, oil, filters, coolant, few other misc bits) for about £250 once. That'd last for a few years without too much trouble. Tyres, well, depends on what you go for - I used Khumos on my previous one which worked well and they were around £95 a corner.

Later versions (1992 and onwards, with the LT1 engine) have even wider service intervals - plugs, for example, are expected to be changed every 60,000 miles.
 
Last edited:
I see.. completely depends on my circumstances after uni but they look like loads of fun to own. I once saw one when I was up town, doing an accidental wheel spin at some traffic lights which made me think, me want.

Hopefully in 2 years time the prices will stay in the 5-10k range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom