No modern car is anything like a Mini and that is probably a good thing. A mini is like it is because of its size, lowness and light weight (imagine a modern car weighting 620kg). I had one for 2 years around 10 years ago and enjoyed it but got fed up with the awful ride and really wouldn't have wanted to crash in it.
The closest car I have had in feel was a Caterham 7 which again is nothing like a Mini but felt closer to it that bigger modern cars.
I have fun driving most things though and have driven Aygo's for years and find them great for whizzing around B roads again due to relatively light weight and small size but even an Aygo weighs 930KG (which is the same as an Escort MK2 RS2000 - which I had many years ago and still my favourite car to drive)
Not that I've ever had any actual fast cars, but little hot hatches are the most fun to drive. Smaller/lighter the better then they are like road going to karts. Not too much power to be having your license revoked every time you drive, but enough to have a dart about (safely).
Older the better for me but rust is always a nightmare. First car was a 1982 Mk1 Ford Fiesta and if I could do I'd have it back in a heartbeat. So much fun, many modifications and plans but always loved that thing despite the issues it gave me.
Also had an original Suzuki swift GTi which was ace, 205 Rallye, also ace, mk2 golf GTi 16v probably the best of the lot and a few others before I moved onto actual modern cars and now just have a boring estate.
If I had £5k burning a hole in my pocket for a project/play car it'd be either a Fiesta or Japanese. Something with a bit of character but plenty of modification options.
This one is a 5 minute walk from me, we drove past it this morning www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18579905957
It's overpriced but it is from a dealer. Also given how hard it is to find a nice one, you might have to pay extra if you want a really clean, standard one.
I can't buy one yet but I might have a casual stroll past it later today and see what it's like.
So my Escort sold - I was hoping it’d fetch enough to buy @Pz_steve’s lovely MX5 NC3.5 but alas, such is the way of eBay, it didn’t fetch quite enough.
I have, however, agreed a price for a rather nice MR2 and am awaiting logistics for the Escort to go and to then pick it up - looking forward to collecting it and thank you all for your advice!
Mk3 MR2?
I actually went to a dealer to buy one with my Saxo as a part x but they’d failed to mention on the phone that ‘great condition’ didn’t get as far as the roof which had a hole in it. Otherwise I’d have had one of those. Quite fun to drive and neat little cars - enjoy!
Should you decide you want more power there is a vvtli version of the same 1.8 litre engine in the similar year Celtic’s. 190bhp instead of 138bhp. I think the engine bolts straight in but needs a bit of jiggery pokery with wiring. Either that or apparently a Camry v6 fits - but is presumably a much harder job.
Good work on the MR2.
This is another car that's quite interesting to me and seems to be off the radar of the investment types and 'appreciating classic' dealers.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325555931793
I can't think of any other cars with a huge hatchback boot, straight 6 engine, manual box and RWD. Would be a good entertaining bike carrier.
The 325 engine is the same block as the 330 so easy swap and lots of turbo and supercharger options available. Would be more useful than an MX5 if you wanted to go riding with it. I'd run it as a 2 seater.
Yes @joebristol, facelift MK3.
I’m not a fan of the compact 3 series, but we did go to look at a 330CI the other day. Really nice car, and the engine was a peach, but the tax is £615 a year!
Wow that's a killer. There's loads of nice early 2000's cars with sky high VED. It makes no sense for me when I'll drive something once a week at the most. I'm stuck at work Monday to Friday, I don't want a car sitting at home costing 60 quid a month to go nowhere.
So, from this thread Im thinking Mini R53 or MX5
They're reasonably different cars. The mini has much more grip and is a fair chunk faster. But it's very very stiff. It's hard to find them with full service history, and you need a supercharger service at 100k miles which is rarely observed as it's a big job. In 6 months ownership, mine has had a couple of different leaks into the cabin to deal with, and has very suddenly started showing the body work rust at the boot and arches that are common. Plus a coolant leak that I need to deal with. I'm very happy with it though.
The mx-5 (mine is NB) is much softer and has less grip, which makes it both more fun and more usable on bumpy roads. I got lucky and found a garaged one virtually rust free at an acceptable price, but with all of them it is only a matter of time and they can deteriorate very fast if used through the winter. It's been the most reliable car I've ever owned, I have only done service items and an alternator in 4 years. It's really easy to work on too, did the timing belt myself with minimal issues.
Edit - never driven an original mini but I'd say a Citroen c1 is the modern day equivalent. Thin tyres, fun engine, genuinely one of the most fun cars I've driven on a small road. You could get one and sportify - there's a whole race series based on them so plenty of stuff around.
Just spotted this. Someone buy it and make it the STW project car...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14752697
looks familiar!
This is my current pick of the best NC's on PH... https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14608157
Way over my budget at the minute but I can't think of anything else for the price that would be as entertaining and relatively easy to live with. Part of the appeal for me is that they're totally invisible, even to most people who consider themselves 'into cars'. Absolutely no one would care that you owned an MX5.
I have a TT & would be happy to recommend, in usual STW tradition. You should be able to get a good Audi TT for £5000. They have a few known issues but on the whole are reliable, pretty rust free on the bodywork, so can live outside without any issues. Not the best handling car, but excellent grip & comfortable to use & live with.
Buying advice from Hoggy (TT forum Guru)
My standard reply for would be Mk1 owners
Service history is very important.
Cambelt/water pump 75K miles or 5 years which ever comes first.
Dash instruments (dashpod) read correctly & coolant temp reaches 90 within a couple of miles & stays there.
If it has xenon headlights, make sure the headlight washers work, MOT fail.
3.2 V6 no turbo or cambelt to worry about, so should be more reliable & a nicer exhaust note.
V6 Chain wear can be checked using VagCom, very expensive to replace.
DSG may be weak link, unless you can find a manual. Expensive to repair, but probably no more expensive than a manuals clutch.
Check no delay when pulling away & no juddering when reversing slowly while turning up an incline or into a tight parking space.
Don't rush into it. A good TT is a wonderful car, a bad un can be a money pit.
Plenty of good uns out there, but probably more bad uns, so as I said don't rush into it.
A bad TT, could be the most expensive car you've ever bought.
Roadsters, check roof operation thorougly & carpets for damp, especially in the rear. Roof drains block easily & damp can cause lot of future probs in rest of car.
Hoggy.
I have, however, agreed a price for a rather nice MR2 and am awaiting logistics for the Escort to go and to then pick it up – looking forward to collecting it and thank you all for your advice!
Congratulations, should be good fun!
I loved my early (1.6 115bhp) Eunos
My Smart Roadster is quicker, drivers better, cheaper to run and the coupe takes enough luggage for a weekend away.
£5K might get you a brabus.
Fiat Coupe and money spare perhaps?
There are plenty of the faster 20v Turbos available too for under 5 grand. Had one back in the day and they were seriously rapid machines, very fun.
