Cheap fun investment cars
Discussion
Got a small amount of money saved and want to put it into a car rather than have it sitting in the bank, just wondering what everyone's opinions are of what a good buy would be.
It would be a second car, needs to be something fun, fit in a 5x3m garage, nothing newer than 05, starting to get rare and up to about £8k. Don't mind a small project but not too much work.
At the moment I have been thinking
Civic type r ep3
Megane rs
Mx5 mk1s
182clios
Anything else I should consider?
Thanks
It would be a second car, needs to be something fun, fit in a 5x3m garage, nothing newer than 05, starting to get rare and up to about £8k. Don't mind a small project but not too much work.
At the moment I have been thinking
Civic type r ep3
Megane rs
Mx5 mk1s
182clios
Anything else I should consider?
Thanks
The Clio 172/182 is the car I wish I'd had from your list. Doesn't fit my needs now but in your position it's what I'd get.
Can't see it being an investment especially if you actually use it. Maintenance and running costs will far outweigh any financial gains. But it won't depreciate and it'll be fun.
Can't see it being an investment especially if you actually use it. Maintenance and running costs will far outweigh any financial gains. But it won't depreciate and it'll be fun.
DonFresh said:
Got a small amount of money saved and want to put it into a car rather than have it sitting in the bank, just wondering what everyone's opinions are of what a good buy would be.
It would be a second car, needs to be something fun, fit in a 5x3m garage, nothing newer than 05, starting to get rare and up to about £8k. Don't mind a small project but not too much work.
At the moment I have been thinking
Civic type r ep3
Megane rs
Mx5 mk1s
182clios
Anything else I should consider?
Thanks
How about an Alfa GTV?It would be a second car, needs to be something fun, fit in a 5x3m garage, nothing newer than 05, starting to get rare and up to about £8k. Don't mind a small project but not too much work.
At the moment I have been thinking
Civic type r ep3
Megane rs
Mx5 mk1s
182clios
Anything else I should consider?
Thanks
If you can find a good one.
Howmmanyleft suggests the majority are gone already.
All these cars are likely to be poor investments, but better than spending an extra £8k on a newish car perhaps?
Cheers guys. Thanks for the input.
Sorry I probably shouldn't use the word "investment"
I want something that will hold its value or go up slightly in the years that I own it forget about running costs etc.. I know I'm not going to get a big return on a 5k car but I want to know it will be worth the same or more in a few years time
Sorry I probably shouldn't use the word "investment"
I want something that will hold its value or go up slightly in the years that I own it forget about running costs etc.. I know I'm not going to get a big return on a 5k car but I want to know it will be worth the same or more in a few years time
The pulley and dephaser on those Renaults will vacuum up any gain you may make and then some.
Think whole life costs, not just what optimistic non-selling prices you may be seeing.
Too many people still dumbass pricing post COVID having paid too much and/or got burnt by maintaince they didn't anticipate.
Think whole life costs, not just what optimistic non-selling prices you may be seeing.
Too many people still dumbass pricing post COVID having paid too much and/or got burnt by maintaince they didn't anticipate.
My 182 is a little b
d, cost me £1400 to buy 8 years ago and I've spend into 5 figs on it over that time. Belt change is a grand these days, parts are getting expensive. It's on it's 3rd gearbox.
But every time Idrive spank it, that all disappears. Thought of selling and buying something different, but nothing comes close (bang for buck wise at least).
A financial investment, it is not. But a smiles per mile investment, best money I ever spent. Many track days with mates, euro trips (having to hold it in 5th gear for 300 miles), random abandonings and it still starts every morning.
d, cost me £1400 to buy 8 years ago and I've spend into 5 figs on it over that time. Belt change is a grand these days, parts are getting expensive. It's on it's 3rd gearbox. But every time I
A financial investment, it is not. But a smiles per mile investment, best money I ever spent. Many track days with mates, euro trips (having to hold it in 5th gear for 300 miles), random abandonings and it still starts every morning.
Heathwood said:
If it’s more a case of not losing money, I think you’ve got loads of choice if you buy right. A few more possible options:
Mk5 Golf Gti (maybe ED30 or Pirelli)
Mk2 Focus ST
BMW 130i / Z4 coupe 3.0Si
Those all look like good options to keep their value, as does the Civic Type R. Mk5 Golf Gti (maybe ED30 or Pirelli)
Mk2 Focus ST
BMW 130i / Z4 coupe 3.0Si
Scootersp said:
Last of the MR2's?
Was going to suggest an Mr2.Can get a fairly ropey one for £3k, spend £5k+ doing it up, do about 2000 miles a year, and in about 10 years time after £7000 or so running costs (fuel, insurance, servicing) , you might get near half your money back, which in car terms is a brilliant 'investment'.
Heathwood said:
If it’s more a case of not losing money, I think you’ve got loads of choice if you buy right. A few more possible options:
Mk5 Golf Gti (maybe ED30 or Pirelli)
Mk2 Focus ST
BMW 130i / Z4 coupe 3.0Si
Z4 Coupe wont make his cut based on year as they only came out in 06, but that would have been my shout also.Mk5 Golf Gti (maybe ED30 or Pirelli)
Mk2 Focus ST
BMW 130i / Z4 coupe 3.0Si
Great cars.
I dont think a 130i is special enough but i do see the 130i LE is creeping up in value. Those are really nice and attract a niche following.
illmonkey said:
My 182 is a little bd, cost me £1400 to buy 8 years ago and I've spend into 5 figs on it over that time. Belt change is a grand these days, parts are getting expensive. It's on it's 3rd gearbox.
But every time Idrive spank it, that all disappears. Thought of selling and buying something different, but nothing comes close (bang for buck wise at least).
A financial investment, it is not. But a smiles per mile investment, best money I ever spent. Many track days with mates, euro trips (having to hold it in 5th gear for 300 miles), random abandonings and it still starts every morning.
That seems quite expensive! d, cost me £1400 to buy 8 years ago and I've spend into 5 figs on it over that time. Belt change is a grand these days, parts are getting expensive. It's on it's 3rd gearbox. But every time I
A financial investment, it is not. But a smiles per mile investment, best money I ever spent. Many track days with mates, euro trips (having to hold it in 5th gear for 300 miles), random abandonings and it still starts every morning.
I've had a couple of Clio 182's and a 197, and had no big problems with any of them - and two were dedicated weekend/track day cars. They can have gearbox issues (but I never had any) and the belts are indeed expensive to replace (I recently paid around 700 for belts and water pump on the 197 before I sold it), but then cars like the MX5 can throw some big bills purely for rust issues, so if you've got 8k then I suppose a large portion of that can just be a maintenance fund.
Either way, my vote goes to the Clio. I sold my last 182 to my Dad and took it out the other weekend, and forgot just how much fun it is! There's a reason they were so well regarded at the time, and seen as one of the best hot hatches of that generation. I remember seeing a video from Henry Catchpole on Carfection about his personal Clio 182, and if it's good enough for him, it's certainly good enough for me! For 8k you could be tempted by one of the newer ones (a 197 or 200), but the 182 is going to be the most fun as an occasional car. You could probably even get a Racing Blue one if you can find one, which might help any future appreciation, or at least help it hold its value.
Either way, my vote goes to the Clio. I sold my last 182 to my Dad and took it out the other weekend, and forgot just how much fun it is! There's a reason they were so well regarded at the time, and seen as one of the best hot hatches of that generation. I remember seeing a video from Henry Catchpole on Carfection about his personal Clio 182, and if it's good enough for him, it's certainly good enough for me! For 8k you could be tempted by one of the newer ones (a 197 or 200), but the 182 is going to be the most fun as an occasional car. You could probably even get a Racing Blue one if you can find one, which might help any future appreciation, or at least help it hold its value.
I suspect any Mini JCW, MX5, Z4, Type-R, Renault Sport, etc with a manual gearbox will certainly be worth 'something' in the future - I suspect examples of these cars with low mileage are already being priced as 'modern classics'.
As others have said, the problem is keeping the cars in good condition, especially if you want to have fun yourself.
The FIAT/Abarth 124 always seems a value buy compared to its sister MX5.
As others have said, the problem is keeping the cars in good condition, especially if you want to have fun yourself.
The FIAT/Abarth 124 always seems a value buy compared to its sister MX5.
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