Recommendation for a cool runaround?

[chuckyegg]

Ok while I find my feet with a new business venture, a cutback is needed.

I have a budget of £4-5k. I'm used to driving modern cars with all the mod cons, Quattro, warranty etc etc, so it's going to be a bit of a shock.

Looking for suggestions, based on the following (no laughing please):

- Nippy (as in fast-ish, not lacking windows)
- Cool / a bit different (so it looks more like I'm having a midlife crisis rather than having to cut back)
- Ready to go (MOT / etc)
- Reliable (I do 50-100 miles a week, and I'm no mechanic!)
- Fun, but safe enough to take the kids with me. Could be 2 seater though, if it's a brilliant idea, but a small back seat would be a bonus.

Other than that, I'm undecided! So feel free to suggest a GMC dayvan or a 2 seater roadster.

Any suggestions much appreciated!

[chuckyegg]

(And proper suggestions please - no 'I just happen to be selling...'

[Ritchie335is]

E30 BMW?
A nice 325i Sport or 318is would be good.

[boredofmyoldname]

944S2

[MGB Boy]

My money would go on a 944, £4000 may even stretch to a reasonably tidy turbo...

Edit to say beaten to it!

[Ritchie335is]

boredofmyoldname said:

944S2

Good suggestion.

What sort of 928 do you get for 4k?
A ropey one I presume?

[oilslick]

You'd get a cracking mk2 MX5 for that sort of money

[Ritchie335is]

White would be nicer..
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2321267.htm

Oooh I feel a bit of the A-Team coming on.

[theironduke]

Ritchie335is said:

Good suggestion.

What sort of 928 do you get for 4k?
A ropey one I presume?

You can get a tidy and reliable S or S2 for that. However an S4 will be a gamble (well, MORE so than any other 928 to be accurate) at 4k IMHO.

If you do get a 928 then be very thorough in your research and take your time finding the best car you can. From bitter experience i can tell you thaat a bad one WILL be painful. Very painful.

[Fleckers]

I would look at

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2266862.htm this is a bit ott but I have seen then as low as £4k

or a 80's classic http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2420309.htm

one of these will be quick http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1877125.htm

[Xavier259]

Alfa Romeo 156 - Job Done!




...or if you want a more predictable PH response then what about a Fiat Panda 100hp?



[edited for spelling]

[chuckyegg]

Some good options so far (apart from the Panda ha), thanks! Keep 'em coming...