MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Actually gen II Renault Clio V6 would be a very good call and if looked after will probably appreciate in value.
For some reason I have got a thing about some of the big American muscle cars at the moment too...
It's cos you have the brain of a 12 year old boy.
Luckily for me I have that brain too - old American muscle cars rock.
TFO
Coming from a slightly different angle, whatever new toy you choose you will end up going to club meetings or tunnel runs as it becomes a hobby and interest.
Worth checking out local clubs, meetings and runs. Meeting up with other owners can be useful for sharing info, suppliers, servicing, just like singletrack really. I am not a club person but the odd run out with other owners is good fun.
Pistonheads forums for the make of car and your area give an idea of whats happening.
I think you need to decide whether you want a sports car (to be driven quickly on road) sports car (to be driven quickly on track) or essentially a grand tourer, and whether you want it to be literally a car for taking out for a drive or a car you can use to get from A-B.
If you want a car that is fun for the road and to take out for a drive I'd look at MX5 Mk 1 or 2 (yes I know well below budget but still drive better than most cars) or Elise/Catherham/Westfield etc.
Things like TVR's/Porches/M3's etc are a bit more grown up still a blast on the road, but you can certainly not exploit their full potential on the road. However you then get a car that can be used every day.
i ran a chimaera for a good while every day. for tvr i'd look seriously at the t350t. very civilised when you want it to be, and an absolute rocket when you want it, with handling to match. cerbie and even the tuscan a bit old tech, and if the engine does let go, you'll want to take a bath with an electric fire. on any of the tvrs and caterhams look carefully at the chassis would be my advice.
boxster s is a very good shout. mate has one at work and i'd seriously consider one if i wasn't running a 4-bed semi these days! lovely car with all the show and the go to match. my mate does proper miles in his, used every day, and from what he's told me he hasn't had any major shocks or problems.
IMHO forget the jap stuff with the exception of the s2000 ( i would have thought long and hard about one of those if i'd wanted to replace the chim and do the same jobs with it - marginally more manageable day to day and much greater service intervals! ), but the rest are just a bit naff, again, IMO.
just remember that the more things you want the car to do, the more it's going to cost. if i had the opportunity now i'd go caterham without question.
nice choices to make - have fun! 😀
Some nice cars mentioned,
however an E30M3 will be beyond your budget now (at least for something not needing some/lots of work) with pristine examples @ £40k plus
similar is true of the E46M3CSL, £30k plus whereas an M3CS of a similar age may be in your price range of around £18k.
I would say [u]LOTS[/u] of test drives are in order, hope you find something that works for you.