Hi Folks,
I'm looking for a new car. I've decided that I'd like something ridiculously cheap (I have a budget of £1000 max) for driving for fun
along the twisty country roads around North Wales. I don't want mega expensive to run, I want something cheap to buy, cheap to run, and cheap to
maintain. simple is goood!
I want something that can be driven from the day I get it, but I don't mind if it needs odd jobs doing. I don't want outright speed, but
brisk acceleration would be nice. It just needs at least one seat (two would be nice). The roads I am talking about, are not the smoothest in the
world too, so something with working suspension would be good (Not ridiculously firm!)
Anyone got any suggestions?
Andy
[Edited on 8/6/13 by bigandy]
MX5
There must be others, but the one that springs to mind that meets your criteria is a MX5. Although I have never driven one. Have your fun until it fails a MOT than build a kit with the bits and have some more fun.
I would choose any of the clio sport range. I think the early ones are creeping around the 1k mark.
Heard nothing but good things about these little cars..
Mark.
Cannot beat a ph1 172 Clio. Bought mine for £1200, can get cheaper but I knew the history of this car and so was worth a bit more to me.
Xsara vts. You'll get 2 for a grand! Not much handles better.
Another vote for clio sport range, had a mk1 16v, 2 172s and wife had a 197, superb cars.
Mx5, cheap as chips at the moment. £1000 will buy a tidy example. Had one for 5 years and very cheap to run.
Definitely not the most sensible idea, but very good fun and can be picked up for less than a grand with all the right bits already fitted (springs,
dampers, ARBs, polybushes).
(I wont mention the weldathon i'm currently undertaking....)
Another vote for a mx5 here. Sold mine about 3 months ago to someone on here and regretted it straight away so now looking out for another! Didn't pay much for it and never gave me any trouble, most thing I've ever owned or driven.
Thought MX5 before I read any answers . it's a no brainer 
Mx5 for me too - I'm loving mine
Scoobies are fairly cheap at the moment and look like alot of fun, not owned one personally but did own an Eunos roadster that I really enjoyed until I moved to Bristol. BMW's are a popular option for a fun weekend car, I'd quite like a stripped out E36.
Another vote for MX5 here!
I've had two and loved them. Would have one now if I wasn't building a kit.
Avoid the imports with yellow bilstein shocks if you don't want the ride to be too hard.
How about a Ford Puma?
I've never had one, but been tempted a couple of times.
Seems to be plenty of them for under a grand, and I've heard lots of good things about them.
Another vote for the MX5 don't touch anything from france they are rubbish and will cost you money when it goes wrong and it will. Along with the mx5 a MR2 is good ...........
quote:
Originally posted by skov
How about a Ford Puma?
I've never had one, but been tempted a couple of times.
Seems to be plenty of them for under a grand, and I've heard lots of good things about them.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?index=0&sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=300915829524
ATB
Simon
Mk3 MR2 ....brill
An other vote for the MX5 I had two and enjoyed driving both (mk1 and Mk2) The first one was great until I decided to lower it and fit coilovers. North Wales and Irish roads made mincemeat of the chassis rails.
Mx5 will die of rust.
Mk3 mr2 roadster is the better car.
As a long term owner of French cars, it's lack of correct maintenance that kills them. Befriend a decent specialist and it will cost less to
maintain than anything else that offers similar performance. Hence I do 25k a year in mine.
Another vote for the MX5/Eunos. I have a 1990 Mk1 and I love it.
Get one that's not been mucked about.
David
quote:
Originally posted by skippad
Mk3 MR2 ....brill
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?index=0&sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=300915829524
ATB
Simon