Spec me - Up to £3-4k - Keep short term

86JR said:
Honestly I think an R32 would have a good chance of being serviced and looked after more thoroughly than a 2.8 4motion in the same car; it is an enthusiasts car vs just a high end car (in its day) so IMO more likely to have had the oil changed at the right time etc.
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BS. They are both just as likely to have been well looked after or abused.

There is a mk2 Golf GTI up on a local forum to me, with a 1.8T conversion running the mk4 ECU etc... So a well thought out conversion by all accounts. And it does look very nice. At £3k I can't imagine it loosing ANY money, at all, ever. So long as it's kept on the road.

My money would go on something like that. Most of the other suggestions above are still on their depreciation curves. Go older, more (as much as I hate using this word) "Scene", and your money should be relatively safe.
 
Some interesting suggestions. Can't say I would be interested in an R32 Golf at that price, I get the feeling it would be too tatty for me. Mario has a Cooper S and although I do really like them I don't think they'd be different enough for me for a few months.

Civic or Accord Type R is a good shout, been a while since I've had a go in a VTEC-YO, but I fear Peter might be right about the turbo thing :D

GT4 is a good shout as is MR2 turbo, love both of those actually so will add them to the list of possibles.

I have to say I'm more tempted by something RWD, mainly due to not having owned a RWD before. But would a 200SX be too much too soon?

MX-5 wise, why such an awkward price range? Could I not go MK1 for cheaper thrills? Remember I'm not set on spending £4k, I don't mind buying something a lot cheaper if it means I have fun and get near the money back.

306 Rallye would be cool, I loved my old GTi-6!
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
GT4 is a good shout as is MR2 turbo, love both of those actually so will add them to the list of possibles.

I have to say I'm more tempted by something RWD, mainly due to not having owned a RWD before. But would a 200SX be too much too soon?
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306 Rallye would be cool, I loved my old GTi-6!
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The 200sx is better from a control perspective than an mr2 turbo, significantly so - In saying that the mid engined layout has a fantastic amount of grip on a dry day, in the wet is where it will catch you out so you just need to make sure you behave. On the flip side the nissan will give you nice controllable fun in the rain, though to be honest I never really found a standard S14a to be all that tail happy, perhaps I just didn't try hard enough!

The rallye is a great cut price alternative, not for your money though, maybe if you halved it?
 
I'd be tempted to spend £1500 on a tidy 1.8 mk1 MX5. You could do a few cheap track days with it and B road blasts and get back almost all of the value whenever you needed too.

You could well find the power delivery frustrating coming from a scoob initially, i know as my wifes had 2 MX5's and when out on drives you did sometimes long for the surge of boost but once you get into the mindset of trashing the nuts of the thing its very enjoyable. One of my big regrets is never taking her MK3 to the track as i bet it would have been huge fun :(
 
Well.. I just drove past this (MX-5 1.6 Monaco):

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mazda-mx5-16i-monaco/1060388250

Without knowing that it had been advertised etc. Apparently he only had the sticker in the window a few minutes!

A good history with the car, starts almost immediately. Couldn't find any rust, all looked rather clean. Drives ok. Gearbox seems a bit stiff, clutch bearing is a bit noisy, potential noisy wheel bearing also. Rip in the roof but no leaks (it was just chucking it down) - MOT only until July 14th, tax is an optional extra.

Anyway what is thing thing actually worth with the hard top? :)
 
kaiowas said:
Stretching the budget a little but it's a convertible, with a V6, in a lairy colour. What more can you need for fun at this time of year?

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=178649

I'm supposed to be shopping for a sensible car and I'm tempted by it :p
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I think a 3 litre 6 would ruin the roadster tbh. Would be too much weight slung behind you for what isn't massive power. 2zz a much more appealing prospect and near as makes no difference the same weight as what was in it originally.

Not to mention the fact that one's been hedge trimming!

Is the mx-5 a uk 1.6 with hilariously low power? If so I wouldn't buy it, if it's the 115ish bhp version I'd be tempted to take a punt at around the asking.
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
Well.. I just drove past this (MX-5 1.6 Monaco):

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mazda-mx5-16i-monaco/1060388250

Without knowing that it had been advertised etc. Apparently he only had the sticker in the window a few minutes!

A good history with the car, starts almost immediately. Couldn't find any rust, all looked rather clean. Drives ok. Gearbox seems a bit stiff, clutch bearing is a bit noisy, potential noisy wheel bearing also. Rip in the roof but no leaks (it was just chucking it down) - MOT only until July 14th, tax is an optional extra.

Anyway what is thing thing actually worth with the hard top? :)
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Wouldn't bother, gearbox is the best thing about these and should be a nice precise change and it's going to be a slow one.
 
I have to admit, it did seem a bit slow, but I've been driving the Pug for however long and not had anything to compare it to.

Sounds like I'll give it a miss.

Impulse buys are not my kinda thing anyway :D
 
If that's a UK 1996 1.6 then it'll only have 90bhp. That's why it's slow. Buy an earlier mk1 with 116bhp, or the 130bhp 1.8, and without an iffy gearbox and ripped roof and rear screen and you'll have plenty of fun. They're quicker than the figures suggest if you thrash them, and they're not all about straight line speed anyway. :)
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
Civic or Accord Type R is a good shout, been a while since I've had a go in a VTEC-YO, but I fear Peter might be right about the turbo thing :D
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I wouldn't bother with an Accord Type-R for £3-4k. You'll get a good one but they're not worth that, even if you keep it for short term. I wouldn't see you getting that sort of money back. Plus they're old, and may need work doing.

If you want some vtec'y0 get a EP3 for £3.5k preferably a F/L. You should see it go quick should you come to sell.

I'd love a GT4, but it's a niche market. It would just take a while until you come to sell. Great cars though.
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
Well.. I just drove past this (MX-5 1.6 Monaco):

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mazda-mx5-16i-monaco/1060388250

Without knowing that it had been advertised etc. Apparently he only had the sticker in the window a few minutes!

A good history with the car, starts almost immediately. Couldn't find any rust, all looked rather clean. Drives ok. Gearbox seems a bit stiff, clutch bearing is a bit noisy, potential noisy wheel bearing also. Rip in the roof but no leaks (it was just chucking it down) - MOT only until July 14th, tax is an optional extra.

Anyway what is thing thing actually worth with the hard top? :)
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The gearchange is probably stiff as the rubber shift boots are torn and the 'turret' oil is mangy. The mk1 and mk2 mx5s have lubricating oil that the gear linkage sits in, and two rubber boots that insulate the inside of the car from transmission noise in the cabin. The rubber often perishes over time, the boots split and the oil doesnt get changed often enough so the shift gets stiffer and stiffer over time.

If its genuinely rust free (sills and wing edges) and comes with the hardtop its probably worth 600-800 quid but the above would concern me, the mx5 gearchange is usually very good so I'd be concerned that this shows sign of some neglect.
 
EDIT - This was in response to vita.

I don't have to spend £3-4k remember. So if a car isn't worth that then I wouldn't pay that.. I'm just after ideas.

Ideally I'll take some days off work and compile a list to see and try :-)
 
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I don't think I'd buy an M3, more like a 325i or 328i or similar. No need to go M3 to have fun!

Will thanks for the advice on the MX5 - I will pass on that one for now, but will keep in mind your post as I do intend to have a look at some other MX5s.
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
I don't think I'd buy an M3, more like a 325i or 328i or similar. No need to go M3 to have fun!

Will thanks for the advice on the MX5 - I will pass on that one for now, but will keep in mind your post as I do intend to have a look at some other MX5s.
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M3 is definitely the way to go though, totally different beast to a vanilla 6 pot.
 
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