Car buying time again and this time it's for SWMBO. She wants a small sporty number preferably Japanese such as Mazda MX5, Toyota MR2, Honda Somehting-or-other. Budget is £5K and I want something reliable and not too expensive to run but fun to drive. I'd consider anything up to about 5 yrs old. Am I asking for a bit too much for £5K. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Yes, if you want that sporty. You'd probably need to be looking at cars closer to ten years old to get within budget.
Managed to find a very late CR-X with a removable hardtop (a bit like a less sophisticated, more reliable 206cc) for £6250 but by 98 these cars were all but extinct.
You could look at a Honda Civic VTi which should be available, just, on budget for a 98. Only the three door looks remotely sporty though.
Suggest an Almera or a Corolla and she'll laugh. You get away with one of the last of the old shape Mazda 323s in the five door coupé bodystyle. Not Japanese but a long shot would be a Hyundai Coupé.
To get what you want, you'd have to pretty much double either your budget or your age limit.
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The local main dealer by me has a 23,000 mile, one owner, 1996 Mazda MX3 for £5,995. It looks sporty-ish.
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Thanks people. I have found a couple of nice looking Hyundai Coupés on the Autotrader website.
Check this one out: atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/dpage_photoad.asp?ab...0
I'll try and convince her to go for one of these. Funnyly enough, I almost bought one if these myself a couple of years ago.
Any owners out there care to share your experiences of this car? Things to look out for etc?
Anyone else think the 1.6 might be a little underpowered?
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I like Hyundai, but, as I've said before....
see how young an Mx5 driver looks & how old a Hyundai driver looks, regardless of their REAL age!!
VB
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Trouble is, follow an MX5 with the top down and you get dazzled by the sun reflecting off the bald spot. ;-)
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I'll tell Mrs Vansboy to make sure she wears a hat in future!!
VB
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