Getting the blood flowing again

[eftpotrm]

OK, so here's the problem. I'm stuck with a Mk1 Zafira because I need its space. Dull, uninspiring car. About the only interest in it is due to them fitting amusingly short gear ratios which do at least make it slightly thrashable.

Aaaaanyway. This needs augmenting with something more interesting. Something a tad faster and more amusing, ideally that doesn't look like I've got even more phantom children in tow. £6k budget absolute max, will stay for <1 year, has to be at least a little day-to-day usable (so something fun but very aged seems a bad idea), don't have any off-road space of my own so limited opportunity to work on something that'll need tweaking.

MX-5 seems the predictable choice but predictable is nagging at me! Where else would you look?

[Digby]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2178279.htm

Bit of summer fun..

[Chapppers]

Don't worry about going for something just because it's well recommended and "predictable" - there's good reason for it.

[Gizmo!]

If not an MX5 then perhaps a Porsche 944. £6k should see a reasonable example that's been well maintained and prices are essentially static so you'll get most of it back.

I'd have the MX5 though. You could get an absolutely mint Mk2 or probably one of the earliest Mk3s for that...

[Gizmo!]

Gizmo! said:

If not an MX5 then perhaps a Porsche 944. £6k should see a reasonable example that's been well maintained and prices are essentially static so you'll get most of it back.

I'd have the MX5 though. You could get an absolutely mint Mk2 or probably one of the earliest Mk3s for that...

For example: http://pistonheads.com/sales/2123560.htm

[sunbeam_alpine]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1990-ALFA-ROMEO-SPIDER-2-0-S...

Lot of car for the money. Real old skool open top fun.

[Hell27]

Honda S2000, Honda Integra DC2, BMW M3 cab e36, Subaru Impreza STI, MR2 cab?

[eftpotrm]

Thanks for the feedback guys

Z3 M - hmm, a tad over budget and older than I was thinking, but interesting.... Would be concerned about possible repair bills on that motor, sure I remember hearing it as a little fragile in the past? A neighbour drives a slightly newere M5, always looked bit like a monster repair bill on wheels TBH.

Chappers - I know, predictable can be good, just curious what others thought!

Gizmo - 944, nice car but I'd be concerned about Porsche parts and pulling up at traffic lights next to every last Clio 172 or similar, knowing that they had more power than I and would be determined to show that. MX5 Mk3 - ISTR the pre-facelift models really weren't rated, dodgy handling?

Alfa Spider - Hmm, don't own either lofas or chinos, or plan on changing that any time soon

Honda S2000 - Like the shape, engine never sounded my cup of tea, power too high in the rev range.

Integra - tempting....

M3 Cab - Slight wide boy image issues for me, plus mostly seem a tad molested. Nice motor otherwise, might be tempted by a clean hardtop in a discreet colour.

Impreza - Silly MPG, very wide boy image. Would rather a touch more class in the proceedings!

MR2 Cab - Not sure I ever saw the point of it over the MX-5 - so much less practicality with that boot arrangement and it just didn't seem to win very much back for it.

With hindsight a little surprised no-one's mentioned any of the VAG 1.8T cars. Any reason why that everyone but me knows?

[Haighermeister]

Buy s decent quality DC2, enjoy it, then when its time to sell you'll hardly lose a penny...

[BlueMR2]

928 if a 944 doesn't have the grunt you want.

[BeeRoad]

£6k will get you a cracking Mazda RX-8 and its only major downfall, its thirst isn't a problem as second car.

[H_Kan]

BeeRoad said:

£6k will get you a cracking Mazda RX-8 and its only major downfall, its thirst isn't a problem as second car.

I reckon these will carry on depreciating though. Fuel is becoming more expensive and these sorts of motors are becoming steadily less attractive, therefore if he wants a motor for a years fun, I reckon these will bite him when it comes to depreciation.

Imo, a mk2 1.8 MX-5 for around £4k would be the ideal motor and if bought wisely will likely lose no cash at all. In fact, I had my mk1 for 1 year and actually made a couple of hundred quid profit.

[Raverbaby]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2183916.htm

[hidetheelephants]

I think a Mk 1/2 Transit panel van. Plenty of room for stuff, no danger of being mistaken for a breeder, and lairy RWD handling(especially if you get a Essex V6 one and put crossplys on). If bystanders attempt to categorise or stereotype you as you screech past them with the sliding door open, it will be as an escaping bank robber with the back filled with a van load of slags, blaggers, shooters and loot.

[petrolsniffer]

E36 m3??

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2315278.htm

[attym3]

Fiat Barchetta(spelling)
I had never really made my mind up about these until the last TG. Image might be a prob, but I thought it looked really good against the others, and it seemed to ''push on'' a lot better, Clarkson didn't have a chance in the MX5.
Plus you will get change from your 6k.

Mark

[eftpotrm]

Thanks chaps :-)

RX8 - like the idea, don't like the fuel or lubricant consumption.

928 - more power but can't see it having any less potential for scary repair bills than a 944. Plus firmly over budget for a decent one.

Transit - No.

Barchetta - interesting, LHD wouldn't be ideal, bit like hens teeth too.

I think we're narrowing it down to:
MX-5 - probably a late 1.8Mk2, outside chance a Mk3 if the handling can be sorted without making insurance companies run away screaming
Integra, if a clean one could be found
E36 _maybe_
Still tempted by the VAG 1.8Ts - TT180 or a Leon Cupra, but they're getting no love from you lot?

[Hell27]

If a VAG floats your boat, I was confused as the title said getting the blood flowing, I would not consider as they do not excite me.
If you have a shortlist of 3 or 4 go and test drive some. That's the only way to be sure.

[eftpotrm]

Relative to a Zafira, most things get the blood flowing to some degree ;-)

Think I am down to test drives though, thanks all for the feedback.

[tyranical]

The 1.8t is hit or miss with people, alot of people say its a boring engine, but I've got a ibiza tuned to 215bhp and i love it to bits, never gets boring to me. I think it depends what you want out of it.