Help choosing fun cheap car

[MiataBug]

Hi everyone thinking of buying a car I can drive along the b roads on a weekend. Have a been looking at a few cars and wanted other opinions or experiences with driving them.

My budget is roughly £6k , something over the registration year of 2006 due to ULEZ. Preferable something with 0-62 under 7s previous car was an mx5 which was fun but had to be sold at the time and just what something different now.

The cars I currently looking at is FN2 Tyre R, Mazda 3 or 6 MPS, Subaru WRX 2.5L estate or wagon, BMW 130i open to anymore suggestions
Cheers

[eleveneleven]

Focus ST
Mazda 3 MPS
Renaultsport Megane
Peugeot 208 THP GTI
Alfa Brera 3.2 (not sure what they're like to drive but they look stunning)
330i
Z4

Leftfield option: Skyline 350 GT

[Belle427]

Focus ST has a cracking engine note if you can find a good unmolested one.
Same goes for the Type R really.
Mk5 Golf Gti maybe as they can also be tuned fairly easily if you want a bit more poke, a bit boring though.

[Xcore]

Megane r26/rs250 cup, leggy mk7 fez st

[georgeyboy12345]

ooh la la what about a Renault?

Clio RS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

Megane RS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...


Or a Ford Focus RS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...


Or from your list, a BMW 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

[ATM]

MiataBug said:

something over the registration year of 2006 due to ULEZ

Do you mean the TFL area round London?

If so you can open up your search to more cars before 2006. My 2001 Boxster is ULEZ exempt according to TFL.

[MiataBug]

ATM said:

Do you mean the TFL area round London?

If so you can open up your search to more cars before 2006. My 2001 Boxster is ULEZ exempt according to TFL.

Unfortunately im right in the centre of London

[ZX10R NIN]

The 130i isn't a natural B Road option but it's an enjoyable car with your budget these would be my picks.

Twingo RS Cup:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

RS with Cup Chassis:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

Clio RS Cup with the Recaro's:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011276...

Megane RS225 Cup:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

Out of the bigger hot hatches I'd take the 2.5T Focus over the Megane above:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

[MiataBug]

Thanks everyone some really good suggestions.

[ATM]

MiataBug said:

ATM said:

Do you mean the TFL area round London?

If so you can open up your search to more cars before 2006. My 2001 Boxster is ULEZ exempt according to TFL.

Unfortunately im right in the centre of London

Ok so lots of pre 2006 cara are still ULEZ exempt according to TFL

[Cascade360]

ATM said:

MiataBug said:

ATM said:

Do you mean the TFL area round London?

If so you can open up your search to more cars before 2006. My 2001 Boxster is ULEZ exempt according to TFL.

Unfortunately im right in the centre of London

Ok so lots of pre 2006 cara are still ULEZ exempt according to TFL

Yup 2001 is the true cut off - nothing prior to a date in 2001 is compliant, and some stuff between 2001 and 2006 is compliant. Both my 2001 2.5 Rover 75 and 2004 Jaguar XJ6 are compliant.

[ATM]

Cascade360 said:

ATM said:

MiataBug said:

ATM said:

Do you mean the TFL area round London?

If so you can open up your search to more cars before 2006. My 2001 Boxster is ULEZ exempt according to TFL.

Unfortunately im right in the centre of London

Ok so lots of pre 2006 cara are still ULEZ exempt according to TFL

Yup 2001 is the true cut off - nothing prior to a date in 2001 is compliant, and some stuff between 2001 and 2006 is compliant. Both my 2001 2.5 Rover 75 and 2004 Jaguar XJ6 are compliant.

OP

If this will be a fun car only and you buy something older - say 20 years old - you should be able to get Classic Insurance which is cheap as chips. Way way cheaper than standard insurance. There are conditions like you cant commute with classic insurance and some companies stipulate you need another vehicle for day to day stuff but if you can swing classic insurance I've found it over 50% cheaper.

[classicfred]

Type R Civic
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205276...

Astra VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205276...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...

Boxster
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205256...

Abarth 500
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205145...

Audi TT 3.2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205125...

Audi S3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205105...

DS3 Racing
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...

BMW Z4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204244...

Corsa VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205276...

Golf R32
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204104...

Fiesta ST 2.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201171...

Megane RS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205236...

Locost kit car
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1404877

[MiataBug]

Of topic question but,

ULEZ the requirements for London are Euro 4 or above, believe this Euro 4 emissions applied to cars registered 2006 and after. These you don't have to pay the charge but then you could have some cars that are classed which Euro 3 emission. Example, EP3 tyre R but when you type the number plate into the TFL ULEZ checker it says the only charge you would have to pay is congestion.

Does anyone actually know was system they use to determines whether a vehicle has to pay for the ULEZ charge.

Thanks

[ATM]

MiataBug said:

Of topic question but,

ULEZ the requirements for London are Euro 4 or above, believe this Euro 4 emissions applied to cars registered 2006 and after. These you don't have to pay the charge but then you could have some cars that are classed which Euro 3 emission. Example, EP3 tyre R but when you type the number plate into the TFL ULEZ checker it says the only charge you would have to pay is congestion.

Does anyone actually know was system they use to determines whether a vehicle has to pay for the ULEZ charge.

Thanks

Yes I do

See here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Look for my posts

Feel free to ask any questions

[ChocolateFrog]

Clio 182, probably not enough for a Trophy these days.

[Rotary Potato]

I own a 986 Boxster S and previously owned a Mazda RX8.

No idea of their ULEZ compliance, but both were great fun down the right road.

Fast enough to be 'fun' ... not so fast that they are only 'fun' at truly dangerous and licence losing speeds.

[MadmaxNC]

ATM said:

Yes I do

See here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Look for my posts

Feel free to ask any questions

Mate fantastic bit of detective skills there let's just hope in the near future they don't turn around and say the cars have to meet Euro 5 emissions now

[MadmaxNC]

Rotary Potato said:

I own a 986 Boxster S and previously owned a Mazda RX8.

No idea of their ULEZ compliance, but both were great fun down the right road.

Fast enough to be 'fun' ... not so fast that they are only 'fun' at truly dangerous and licence losing speeds.

Oh the rx8 does look like a interesting choice especially with the rotary engine and the 9000rpm, how was the maintenance like did the engine ever failed on you.

[Rotary Potato]

MadmaxNC said:

Oh the rx8 does look like a interesting choice especially with the rotary engine and the 9000rpm, how was the maintenance like did the engine ever failed on you.

Yes, the engine failed on me.

I had it rebuilt.

Yes, the rebuilt engine failed on me.

The warranty from the engine builder (eventually!) covered a rebuild of their rebuild.

When it came back, it still wasn't running right.

I broke the car for parts as I was seriously losing the will to carry on by this point!

I did gamble on a fairly cheap, high-ish mileage one. I bought it at about 85k, and it never made it to 90k.

If I could find a rust free shell at the right price, I would consider doing it again, but I would be MUCH more careful about my choice of specialist for the rebuild.

My 986S has been just as fun, a little quicker, and absolutely 100% reliable. Oh ... and a lot more economical!