[Closed] Another week, another cynic-al car thread

I've been considering selling my MX5 for a Mini Cooper S Convertible.

Haven't done much thinking about it tbh, but maybe something to look at?
Price is about the same, but more seats, more power but no rwd and heavier?

I'm struggling to think of any cars [i]less[/i] practical than the Smart Roadster; does the Auto Trader website offer a "lucky dip" button?

I have owned a Mk1 1800 Golf Gti and a 205 1.9Gti., both in the late 80's so when they were only a few years old, rather than approaching 33 in the case of the Golf, 30 for the 205
Loved both, but even then the brakes on the Golf were considered a bit marginal and whilst the bodyshell of the 205 was much better prepared against rust the interior was not at all robust so buying one in good unadulterated condition might be hard. More room in the golf, better motor in the 205.
At about the same time I also had a Mk 2 Jetta Gti16v. Now that was a car, more room than either of the others, more power than the 205, much more comfortable on longer trips. I wonder if any of those are about? Edit: just looked, 20 left on the road according to howmanyleft
Good luck in finding something suitable

I had an Audi coupe in the early 90s. It was a great car, seven years old when I got it expensive to maintain but would have run for many years if some boat towing arsehole in an 4x4 hadn't rear ended it when I stopped for a red light.

Mk1 TT, either roadster or coupe.
Find an unbuggered/no blinked out one (plenty around) 225 or even the 180.
Easily affordable in your price bracket.

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Or

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Yes TT is on the list too, high VED and low mpg against it.

It's also stupidly chubby, 1.5 tons FFS!

Audi a2 tdi 1.4....

Nippy, cheap to run, high mpg, all aluminium so no tin worm. Tdi is probably one of the most reliable diesel units produced

Volvo 850 T5

Just read more into the TT, actually it's way more viable than I thought. Shame the soft to has a wee boot.

Audi a2 tdi 1.4....

Nippy, cheap to run, high mpg, all aluminium so no tin worm. Tdi is probably one of the most reliable diesel units produced

....but doesn't otherwise fit with any of the OP's criteria :roll:.

Personal opinion inbound.

Our most recent purchase came down to a (maybe 2011) TT 1.8 soft top or an MX5 2l MK3.5 folding hard top.

The TT felt safe but dull, the MX5 left me with a smile on my face without having to drive fast. So we got the MX5.

Boot is big enough for the weekly shopping for us, maybe not if you have 3 kids.

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Alfa Spider 🙂

What's the budget here ? Good E30s are getting very thin on the ground nowadays.

That silver TT that bikebouy posted looks good. I never liked them before. IIRC the coupe has a surprisingly large boot.

And the rear seats fold flat.

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I've got an E30 which seems to tick all your boxes.

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Been our family daily driver for a year and covered 11,000 miles, including a trip to Morzine last month.

As practical as any small five door estate really. Bikes, dogs and kids all go in no bother.

It's no sports car but nice enough to drive with lovely 170bhp straight six, nicely balanced handling and lsd.

Getting hard to find decent examples, but definitely worth the effort!

edit; just realised you want a convertible which is obviously different, but they're mechanically pretty much identical

I've been considering selling my MX5 for a Mini Cooper S Convertible.

Don't. Unless you really need the seats, I think the 5 is more practical, a better drive (probably not faster - but more fun) and possibly going by a couple of friends experience more reliable.

Elan M100 is in enthusiast territory to be honest. An MX5 would be a better daily driver, or a S1 Elise would be roughly the same ball park and a better pain/pleasure ratio. That said, I'd love an M100.

TT coupe is a sound choice, though the 3.2 might be a touch pricey to run.

I like A2s 🙂 I have owned a Eunos, which rusted away, plastic does appeal. MK3 quite thirsty no? Mate had a TT and we put our bikes in it 🙂

Thinking of £5K, and it'd live in the street.

Doesn't have to be a convertible

itstartedwithakona - Member
I've got an E30 which seems to tick all your boxes.

Was that parked halfway down the hill where you drop onto the road from the Super Morzine lift run? If so, looked very smart, was noted by a couple of us in the group!

OP, Mk2 Scirocco? £5k would get you one with a 20VT conversion I'd have thought which would tick a number of your boxes!

Yep, that was mine.

Thanks!

[quote=brassneck ]I've been considering selling my MX5 for a Mini Cooper S Convertible.
Don't. Unless you really need the seats, I think the 5 is more practical, a better drive (probably not faster - but more fun) and possibly going by a couple of friends experience more reliable.

Yeah, it seems unlikely, especially mine is the top spec best model and really low miles. With a nicer stereo.

Tempted to get a test drive in the mini though

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itstartedwithakona - Member

I've got an E30

Cracking looking motor.
Well jeal'! 🙂

Good call on the Z350 mrjmt, much more fun than a TT!

BMW Z4 also available for same sort of money but not particularly great to drive.

Thanks sbob!

BMW Z4 also available for same sort of money but not particularly great to drive.

I just sold a 3.0i Z4, hence the recommendation for the 350Z!

It was certainly quick, but blimey it was badly built. I can only assume I got one that was build on a friday afternoon or something. Or it was cursed.

mrjmt - Member

It was certainly quick, but blimey it was badly built. I can only assume I got one that was build on a friday afternoon or something. Or it was cursed.

They were mostly built in the US.

Al - are you sure you meant E30? You could get a good BMW E46 330Ci convertible for £5k. Personally, I'd go for a Coupe. You can fold the seats and it's surprisingly practical. I got 4 bikes, 2 tents, a load of camping gear and 2 people into mine for Mountain Mayhem in 2010.

I had a Mk1 TT coupe, I had the OE Audi roof bars for bikes, and sometimes put one inside. Mine was a '99 225 so cheaper tax.

I had a 350z (can you get one for 5k?!) mine was 04 pre the big tax, frustrating for bikes as strap on rack only, and boot taken up with strut - until I got one of these shipped over from rockauto.com £160, a US trailer hitch and used a US square hitch bike rack on that. http://www.curtmfg.com/part/114832

I now run a Porsche 996 with OE roof bars - loads of room for kit in the boot and inside. You would need to almost double the budget for one.

However you could get into a 986 boxster for £5k. Superb car.

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The car that popped into my head was Nissan 350Z, which someone else appears to have posted a pic of above.

I imagine the tax would be quite high & fuel consumption not great, but probably a decent choice.

but doesn't otherwise fit with any of the OP's criteria :roll:.

Which bit did I miss....?

350Z, Boxster, Fiat Coupe, GTV all been considered but just too inefficient/costly to run.

Daffy - Member

Al - are you sure you meant E30? You could get a good BMW E46 330Ci convertible for £5k. Personally, I'd go for a Coupe

Yup, E30 or older, ie more "classic". Which Coupe?

Mk1 Scirocco is klovely...but rusty? Not a fan of the Mk2.

dot you hanker or indeed own retro bikes as well al (hands up to at least two here).

Having had a brace of 205s and a MkII Golf GTI to follow, I'm not sure the reality - if you even get hold of running models - would;d be as expected. Mind you mate Gary has an X reg TT that he uses for biking, what a faff!!

cynic-al - Member
Which Coupe?

I get over 30mpg out of my Touring (which is heavier) and almost 40mpg on a run if driven carefully.

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-3-Series-3-0-330Ci-M-Sport-2dr-Highest-Spec-FBMWSH-/263120759193?hash=item3d43382999:g:rJYAAOSwIclZheJI ]Link to eBay 330Ci[/url]

Thanks, kcal I don't do retro bikes for that reason, you may have a point re those cars. I certainly would not want anything like the P1800 or Amazon I had, and guess a 02 might not be much more sophisticated. I'm hoping a E30 might be just modern enough.

I drive a pool car for work which exacerbates any differences with my own car.

Yeah, so long as you go for a later, well specced E30 there's very little compromise compared to a modern car. It'll have ABS, power steering, air con, electric windows, etc...

Mechanically they're pretty robust and there's plenty around with mega mileage to prove this. When things do go wrong, parts are cheap and easy to find, even through main dealers in most cases.

Big thing to look out for is rust.

Lots of information on e30zone.net

Thanks, I am thinking it's the best balance. Esp a convertible. I'm hoping mpg/VED not too bad but I am not looking for a rocket - even a 316 is 10s to 60 which is fine.

I presume they are old enough that DIY spannering is possible too.

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One of these? Brera is also available as a coupe which has a boot that will take a bike.

SAAB 9-5 convertible?

Just get a Panda 100hp and stick a strut brace on it..

Alphas...high servicing costs?

Panda - Swift or Colt way cheaper to run. I won't be hooning it, just don't always drive like a pensioner (though I frequently do for mpg!)

[quote="wzzzz"]I now run a Porsche 996 with OE roof bars...

Snap !!

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Well this week's favourites are Renault Wind, E30 cabriolet and TT.

cynic-al - Member

Panda - Swift or Colt way cheaper to run. I won't be hooning it, just don't always drive like a pensioner (though I frequently do for mpg!)

I didn't think mpg would be a concern with a Smart Coupe.

Practical? do your own spannering? there's only one option - 2CV. 🙂

I had to Google Renault Wind.

Wish I hadn't.

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I didn't think mpg would be a concern with a Smart Coupe.

It is, 45mpg tvm.

I had to Google Renault Wind.

Wish I hadn't.

This sort of reaction makes it appeal more. Almost as good as a hairdresser comment.

What other cars are around developed by RenaultSport? Evo magazine said:

the purest, neatest and most enjoyable of the compact coupe-cabrios.

I kinda get it, just.
But it looks horrible and horribly impractical.

I don't care what others think about what cars people drive, but I do like them to look nice, don't they look a bit bulbous in real life? Would a bike fit in it? But it's your choice, so enjoy choosing.. a long list to choose from.

What about a Fiat 500?

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I like cars to look interesting!

Bikes aren't going to fit in any cabriolet, 500s are too common

The stickers come off:

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Neighbours lad has a blue one, just odd enough to be interesting.
Faster, lighter and cheaper than a Panda 100hp.

LOL what is it?

Seicento Schumacher looks good also, but too old.

I saw this, thought of you 😆

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Now that is minging with the roof up, and bland.

Shameless plug

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-wrx/subaru-impreza-41t-wrx-turbo--ppp---------------2004/7449999

Mick 😉

I see these often, I think it'll suit you.. 😆

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I can't quite see you in this, but they are cheap and you may like the colour.. 😉

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But..

We have a winner winner ice cream filler..

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I
Am
Taking
This
Task
Seriously

cynic-al - Member
LOL what is it?

Suzuki Ignis Sport innit?

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I quite fancy one.
There seem to be a few nice ones left.

Bikebuoy you have taken that too far 🙁

Yeah, but a little bit of fun innit.

Best of luck, I remember when you bought the Smart Coupe and we had similar giggles.

Actually a bike will go in the boot of a Micra CC, both wheels and handlebars off mind 😉 can more easily be carried with roof down and in the +2 rear seats though. 1600cc goes pretty well although needs a 6th gear at 130kmph. Fun little city car which like all convertibles is a blast on a sunny day in town or country 8) Can be had for £1500-2000 and the wife's is in great condition and super reliable as you'd expect for 10 yo Japanese car.

Anyway Al not recommended for you.

Basically anything from this site Al :

[url= http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/showroom ]thecarwarehouse[/url]

eg :

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ygh - wouldn't bother, we had one as a loan car after the MX-5 got totalled. Massive disappointment after the initial excitement of the acceleration.

Had a 944, same practical shape as a 924, big boot area, but £5k might be a bit tight, although the 924 may have more cheap VW parts. Boxsters are within your range now.

106 Rallye is the new appreciating little Peugeot according to a motoring journalist friend, possibly because he just bought one.

Steve the 4th one is meant it be a good car.

Oh I found 2 pack lacquer BTW. Rusty bike here I come (see other thread).

"Steve the 4th one is meant it be a good car."

Andi here is partial to a Japanese car and has an eye out for one as it happens... 🙂

Your list of cars a. Stinks of nostalgia and b.will keep Pete's welder busy....and no paying top dollar doesn't guarantee you won't get a rot box 🙂

Shirley a galvanized 205 is an exception...as is a Elan M100? Can't E30s be ok rust wise.

Nostalgia, of course, how else does one choose an old car?

Did you mention a 205gti ?

My mate has one, a 1.9 and it's in excellent condition with 70k on it.. it's a beautiful thing and he drives it most days ...

Someone offered him £10k for it on spec, just walked up to him at the club and said "£10k and I drive it away.."

My mate still has it, but I've not seen it in a few months..

So, in the spirit of the thread and this time not winding up Cynic.. a pic.

Like this..

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If I had 5k I would satisfy my hankering for one of these...

View this post on Instagram

NRD - link broken.

A 205 was on my list but topless is fun, and image/look matter less when you are driving it (see my P1800///though it's still important)

R53 MINI Cooper S (the supercharged one). Could get an early R56 for £5k budget but they've more issues with timing chains on that N14 engines. Unless you can stretch to a later N18-engined one, R53s are a safer option.

Definitely ticks the interesting/fun box.
Handles well especially if you get rid of the runflats and/or stick to 16s.
More than quick enough.
Not that expensive to run.
Cheap consumables, e.g. I've swapped from 17" to 16" and decent tyres cost me <£200 a set.
Tax reasonable.
Economy not bad.
Insurance good.
Roofbars for biking easy enough.

Image doesn’t bother me, they’re genuinely fun and interesting cars. My previous 2 were 3.0 6-cyl petrol BMWs, I always go for interesting where I can. Mini just as interesting, more fun, and a lot cheaper consumables.

Something like this for £4.5k: http://newminiscotland.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?28051-2005-Dark-Silver-R53-Cooper-S-Chilli-Sports-Pack-47000mi (no connection to me).

Galvanising something doesn't mean it stops rotting it just slows down the process and makes it harder to do an effective lasting repair without compromising it further.

Also see E30 shock tower rot for example.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/honda/honda-beat-1993-k-regn.-immaculate-uk-since-new-example-of-this-rare-kei-car/1172538111

Honda Beat! About as cynic-al as a car can get.

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you'll not get in to a porsche or lotus at your budget that wouldn't make you want to take a bath with an electric fire at some point. just don't. the elan might be plastic on the surface but it's a tubular steel frame IIRC. i moved my tvr on for similar reasons - the frame can rot.
i could get a mountain bike in the boot of the chimaera, mind. 😉
why not just a newer mx-5?
or my neighbour has an mr-2 with 48k on it, immaculate, with removable hardtop, for 3k, if that's any use?

you'll not get in to a porsche at your budget that wouldn't make you want to take a bath with an electric fire at some point

That's definitely not the case with some of the lowlier transaxles!

MR2 no thanks, noisy and the Mk3 just about takes a handbag.

Seen lots of Excels and some decent Elans for <£5K.

Ohh.. I forgot about these!!

Oldie .. but lovely..

S1
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S2
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Electrics and rust aside, lovely little sports cars ...

Check out the prices Al.. [url= http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C880224 ]Carandclassic X19 for sale-new link to a lovely car[/url]

X1/9s, lovely, but from Fiat's rustiest times? Also not much boot space or performance.

That HOnda is cool , but the keis are too see.

Mini Cooper JCW (the original-new supercharged variant)?

My housemate had one, more nuts than a greased ferret that's been shown a barrel of monkeys that are in turn fascinated by a box of frogs.

Ride was best described as uncomfortable, but it didn't half shift and certainly had character!

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What about a Twingo 133, with the Cup chassis if you want extra handling.
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Performance/cost of running ratio can be bettered.

They are cute tho, first car I test drove en route to the Roadster was a Twingo 100

Seeing that Honda Beat....how about a Suzuki Cappuccino?

Or Fiat Barchetta (LHD only I think though, which could be a pain).

306 GTi-6 or cabriolet? My sister had the cabriolet...it had the body stiffness of a 3 week old lettuce, but was quite fun to be in.