~£6k to play with. What you buying?

[Joshitravels]

Hi all. I'll keep it simple.

Sold one of my motorbikes. I have ~£6k to play with and I'm looking for something fun to drive.

Some thoughts I had:
BMW Z3 (2.8 ideally?) - or Z4?
Pug 106 Rallye.
Land Rover Series II/III,
'classic' mini (pre BMW)
Porsche Boxster.
Go older - MGB etc

Thoughts? What have I overlooked? What should I look out for?

Context - it'll just be me in the car and all it needs to do is put a smile on my face. I have other options for practical / long distance / high speed requirements! My most regular fun drive is to the gym and back (20 mins), and I love driving around the New Forest in the evening rather than endlessly watching Netflix...

Thank you in advance!

[Jer_1974]

Boxter all day long.

[jds32]

Panda 100hp

[Joshitravels]

jds32 said:

Panda 100hp

That's interesting. I realised I left off things like Suzuki Swift Sport and other little hatches

[Super Sonic]

Civic type R. N/A.

[jfdi]

R53 mini coopers S. 6k will get you a very good one.

[MattsCar]

" I have other options for practical / long distance / high speed requirements! My most regular fun drive is to the gym and back (20 mins), and I love driving around the New Forest in the evening rather than endlessly watching Netflix..."


Forget hot hatches. Open top 2 seater RWD.

Z4 might be a good call.

[Joshitravels]

MattsCar said:

" I have other options for practical / long distance / high speed requirements! My most regular fun drive is to the gym and back (20 mins), and I love driving around the New Forest in the evening rather than endlessly watching Netflix..."


Forget hot hatches. Open top 2 seater RWD.

Z4 might be a good call.

Hmm yeah I did recently trade in a convertible Ftype too and it's replacement is a coupe - so I was leaning convertible to get one of those back on the driveway

[Krikkit]

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

[Joshitravels]

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

[soad]

Super Sonic said:

Civic type R. N/A.

Nearly twice the power of a Swift Sport, sits lower too. Happy days.

[BricktopST205]

MX5 Turbo.

[Mr Tidy]

I've got my 3rd Z4 so would probably go for a good 6 cylinder one, but the Boxster is reckoned to drive better albeit with a bit of bork potential.

Nissan 350Z might be an option too.

[MattsCar]

Jostravels said:

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

You aren't going to get a 106 Rallye for £6k that isn't rotten/needs work.

I sold one 2 years ago with no MOT in need of welding for more than £6k.

Great car though.

With regards mention of the Swift Sport. It is a slightly different car to an EP3 civic and quite a different car to an FN2 Civic. It is smaller and is probably the closest to a modern day 106/205 that you can get, despite being much bigger. They are brilliant. You will have to row the gears, but, very rewarding and you would struggle to get a speeding ticket. Same as a 106 Rallye really.

Edited by MattsCar on Saturday 4th May 22:47

[Joshitravels]

MattsCar said:

Jostravels said:

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

You aren't going to get a 106 Rallye for £6k that isn't rotten/needs work.

I sold one 2 years ago with no MOT in need of welding for more than £6k.

Great car though.

With regards mention of the Swift Sport. It is a slightly different car to an EP3 civic and quite a different car to an FN2 Civic. It is smaller and is probably the closest to a modern day 106/205 that you can get, despite being much bigger. They are brilliant. You will have to row the gears, but, very rewarding and you would struggle to get a speeding ticket. Same as a 106 Rallye really.

Edited by MattsCar on Saturday 4th May 22:47

Hmmmmmm!

Thoughts on this one? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256479993714?mkcid=16&a...

[jamesbilluk]

The MK3 MR2 is meant to be a brilliant handling little car.

This is the facelift variant I believe.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 5th May 00:32

[ChrisH72]

This could be fun

https://trophycars.co.uk/carsforsale/mgf-trophy160...

[Phunk]

Biased, but a Honda Beat.

Stock 3 cylinder with ITB’s sounds glorious

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Focus ST?

[Gad-Westy]

Jostravels said:

MattsCar said:

Jostravels said:

Krikkit said:

106 Rallye if you can get one with the appropriate 8v engine and not too messed about with. So light, so joyous to drive, nothing like that will be made again.

Yeah they all seem to have been messed with. There's a red one in Cornwall that's had bits done, but the interior is original. I'm still sorely tempted...

You aren't going to get a 106 Rallye for £6k that isn't rotten/needs work.

I sold one 2 years ago with no MOT in need of welding for more than £6k.

Great car though.

With regards mention of the Swift Sport. It is a slightly different car to an EP3 civic and quite a different car to an FN2 Civic. It is smaller and is probably the closest to a modern day 106/205 that you can get, despite being much bigger. They are brilliant. You will have to row the gears, but, very rewarding and you would struggle to get a speeding ticket. Same as a 106 Rallye really.

Edited by MattsCar on Saturday 4th May 22:47

Hmmmmmm!

Thoughts on this one? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256479993714?mkcid=16&a...

To me, it's not really a rallye anymore without the, steelies, unassisted rack and 1.3 engine. It's basically a GTi with Rallye interior and some other clumsy mods. And to be honest if you aren't actually bothered about those Rallye bits, your £6k budget might just about get you a good GTi rather than the cheapest rallye.

I think I'd apply that mantra to any option really. Being able to buy something for £6k is quite different to being able to buy a good example for £6k. Of the original list, I'm not really sure that any of these are really £6k cars other than the BMW's. It's perhaps possible to buy a good boxster for £6k but they can be needy in terms of costs and really need a proper preventative maintenance plan. If you can find a car that has been absolutely loved and you continue that on after, then great but I don't think they're actually that abundant.

Z3/4 both good options but I guess not the last word in driving dynamics but a nice ownership prospect and roof down always adds a layer of interest to any drive.

Mk3 MR2 maybe worth a look?

If an MGB interests you, I'd maybe also consider an early MX5 as well simply because your budget should be able to buy an excellent one and they make for a pretty painless ownership experience with most of the appeal of an MG but without some of the usual classic car headaches. For what it's worth, our's costs less than £100 a year to insure too.

Clio 172?

I like the Swift sport and panda 100 suggestions too.