Your budget will get you a nice 2000/2001 MX-5 or Toyota MR2 Roadster from a dealer with warranty. About as risk free as used car buying gets if you do your checks carefully.
Both still unanimously praised for dynamic ability and fun, both with Japanese reliability, and both plentiful on the used market. I have much more experience with the MX-5 having owned one for a year, but anyone who says they are boring frankly is either used to a sports car of twice the price, or has never driven one hard. Proper, RWD handling, tail happy when pushed, but never intimidating, and just delightfully communicative, with quick geared steering, and beautiful balance. A modern hot hatch will leave it for dead, but that's not the point.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 05/05/2008 at 10:22
|
|
If you want modern, reliable and fun, then MX5 or MR2 definitely. Not much else comes close for the money.
|
Yeah but the MX5 looks sooooo dull, I personally believe the TF to be far more attractive and have much more "feelgood" factor about it:-
Here's my baby:-
i191.photobucket.com/albums/z251/blueoval1984/Carf...g
i191.photobucket.com/albums/z251/blueoval1984/Carr...g
i191.photobucket.com/albums/z251/blueoval1984/DSC0...g
Apologies about the awful garage issue floormats, perhaps I should start a thread about them... :-)
From a reliability point of view, the TF is never going to compete with an MX5, but it's not as far behind as people like to think, my Head Gasket failed as expected and was replaced under warranty with a new modified Land Rover one, that's the last time that should happen! *fingers and toes crossed!* Other than the HGF she's been fine.
|
Heya Blue
Nice looking car there, the leather looks great as do the alloys. One question though, why have you fitted a Mini Metro steering wheel to it?
www.geocities.com/jot386x/white_metro_interior.jpg
{running away} only joking ;-)
And what do you mean? The MX5 has the same light stalks as a 1975 Nissan Cherry X-1? How dare yo...oh hang on, yes it does.
|
I am a bit biased however I dont think you can beat the MGF/TF for value if you are after something that goes as well as it looks. Mid engined and rear wheel drive and if you go for the VVC model then some pretty good performance.
You cannot expect perfect reliability, but if its for occasional use and you have your eyes open to the fact that its pretty much a hand built sports car then you wont be disapointed. I have found my running costs to be very reasonable - £0 over the last 5K miles I have owned mine. Check that the headgasket has been replaced with the MLS Landrover one and you shouldnt have any bother with that - infact for your budget I would expect a lot to have been done by now anyway.
Here is mine:
i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/bbroomlea/S20200...g
i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/bbroomlea/S20200...g
i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/bbroomlea/Tonnea...g
|
|
The more I look at the MGTF....the more I am inclined. I have size 11's and am 6'3" so that may be an issue?
|
>>The more I look at the MGTF....the more I am inclined. I have size 11's and am 6'3" so that may be an issue?
There is a fair amount of room down near the pedals, Ive never had a problem with lack of room and im a size 11. Not quite as tall though but there is loads of headroom due to the way you sit.
Best thing to do is go and sit in one and test drive it. Any lack of headroom and take the roof off :-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your budget will get you a nice 2000/2001 MX-5 or Toyota MR2 Roadster from a dealer with warranty. About as risk free as used car buying gets if you do your checks carefully.
I was about to post that surely you cannot get this, but a quick Autotrader search shows how prices have dropped. The budget is right at the very bottom for MR2s so will only get an early 2000 model, perhaps not a great one. It can get a 2001 MX-5 1.6, but there's loads of choice of early Mk2s about for the budget.
I used to have an MX-5 and would highly recommend it as well.
|
Not a 'rag top', but have you considered a Honda CRX 'DelSol'? I bought one, 1992 reg., just over a year ago, with 118K on the clock,with a manual 'targa' roof. I've since put another 8K on, mostly with the roof in the boot. It hasn't missed a beat, and has just passed its MOT with no problems. I haven't had so much fun driving since I owned a frog-eye in the 60s! Oodles of legroom and headroom, and a huge boot. Pictures below.
tinyurl.com/6q5ptl
Best of luck with your search.
P.
Edited by P.Mason {P} on 06/05/2008 at 20:47
|
Honda CRX....now THAT looks really interesting!
I might just do a bit of research on it. Ta v/much
|
Toyota Celica GT Comvertible - mainly grey imports though. 175BHP engine, handles well, rides well, and very reliable, also good on petrol for the size of engine.
And different - not many on the roads !
I have one and the best car I've ever owned.
|
Ignore the hairdresser jokes and get a Mazda MX5. It is a cracking little car, well balanced and with just enough power. If you get a good one which you should with your budget, it will last for ever with a bit of tlc. Yes there are a lot of the mout there bu, like the 3 series it is because they are so good.
I personally would not go near the MG what with delays for parts and dodgy reliability. A colleague had one and everything went wrong on it. Another outside choice, if you can find one is the little Fiat Barchetta. left hooker only but lovely little thing. If you want to be really brave try and find a FIAT 124 Spyder. Lovely twin cam engine, would love one myself. Nice dry state import, ditch the emissns gear, four branch manifold and higher compression pistons and you have a great car.
|
Thanks Citreonian, I'm quite proud of her, although I've just found out why she has always had an interesting way of letting the back end go, apparently the front tyres (narrower ones) are actually on the rear!
She's getting two new tyres tommorow and a swap around, but then I've just realised that I've owned her for more than a year and haven't had an MOT done so that must be sorted tommorow too! I can see the Mondeo ending up back on the road for a short while here...
Tack - I would urge you to try and test drive a good one, if you're in the North East I'll happily show you mine (you can't driver her without fully comp coverage though!) and please take tales of parts problems with a pinch of salt, I haven't had any difficulty with my car and I haven't seen much evidence of this "problem" on the MG forums either despite the main topic of conversation been faults and problems, along with threads about how much everyone loves them of course. :-)
|
|
|
|
At this price range, a mark IV Toyota Supra (non turbo) is also an option. Its a Toyota, so reliability is not an issue. Certainly different, and not many about, so you will stand out.
|
Some good suggestions above. In fact anything which can be driven roofless is pleasureable in the right conditions.
However, I note the first word you use in your thread title is "fun" and that this will be an occasional use vehicle?
If you want to spend your summer with a permanent manic grin on your face get a Westfield. You simply can not describe the feeling to anyone who has not tried this type of car. Motorcycle levels of acceleration, track car handling and quite the purest feedback through all controls. You would find yourself involuntarily inventing your own language to go with the already lairy soundtrack from the car. Mine used to go from whaaaaaa, to whoooooooo, to jeeeeeeeez, and so on! You find yourself making any excuse to use it and always taking the B roads where possible.
The others would indeed be enjoyable, these are other-worldly.
|
Look at some of the 7 type kit cars around, the £4k probably won't stretch to a good westfield but there are plenty of others of this type about that will be as much run, If you want something more normal then MX-5 is a good one if you can put up with the hairdresser comment or what about an old TVR S or TVR 350i. Looked after they will hold there money well so could be free motoring.. I've had spitfires, helalds and a stag, All good fun but you'll be "tinkering" when you want to be driving.
|
Ok....enough already......it's doing my head in! Thank you all for your suggestions. If this was food for thought, it would be 10000 calories.
Head says MX5 for reliability. The MG looks really nice and a bit more blokey. The CRX is a really interesting option.
Thanks one and all, I knew I could rely on you roomers to throw in more than your tuppence worth. Appreciate it and will let you know what I get.
Regards
|
|
>>I personally would not go near the MG what with delays for parts and dodgy reliability.
I have not seen an indication of any part supply problems for the MGF or TF car. Is there anything in specific you've struggled to get hold of?
Both xpart and Rimmer Bros stock everything that you will ever need and probably stuff that you never will. Its an old story that 'may' have been true 4 years ago but times have moved on and should not be a consideration of buying a car or not. Although I have no facts on this, but an MX5 and particularly Honda CRV as mentioned may have or will have certain parts that are difficult to come by due to being obsolete models.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
