I like my Cayman. You could get a nice PDK flappy paddle for £20k. Loads of luggage space with front and rear boots.
Considered the GT86 too... might be a bit better if you don't want the dog on the passengers lap.
Test drove a Golf R and GTi the other week. Was really unimpressed with the R... fast yes, but I felt unnecessary, exhaust sounded nothing like I was expecting- it just lacked character. I enjoyed the revvy GTi much more.
Next car for me will probably be slower than the Cayman, as you're easily breaking speed limits before it starts to really feel good. Thats why I think the Mx5/GT86 type cars are such a great idea.
Thanks guys some interesting suggestions to mull over, a couple have possibly tweaked me towards upping the budget, well yo cor tek it wi ya.😋
If the budget is elastic, then forget the m135/m140 I suggested earlier.
How about :-
Porsche cayman - but no room for dog in the back
BMW f80 m4/m3 - love these (I do own one though, so maybe biased)
Jag f type - possibly might fail on the reliable criteria?
Nissan gtr - possibly stretching the budget past its elastic limit?
Shocking number of hatchback suggestions when the op asked for sports/fun
You'd have to be mad to choose a golf over gt86 / Cayman when all you need space for is a dog.
On gt86 rear seats, I'm 185cm and have travelled from le mans to CDG airport in the back without my legs falling off
The budget has quite a bit of elasticity, the problem is I'm a tight old git.
I have flirted with Porsche and Lotus it's the possibility of big bills that scares me shitless.
As soon as this madness eases I/we need to test drive some of the suggestions.
We currently own a Toyota Avensis so are used to living on the edge.😁
Lotus won't be too bad for big bills, the porsche could be if you use a main dealer, but a specialist should keep the costs manageable.
I used to have an elise s1 back in the day, they're fun, but were a bit slow (in a straight line) even back then, so will feel really slow now.
I know the audi fans on here will hate me for it, but I find audis to be terribly boring.
As someone else said earlier you need a car with flaws , flaws = character.
Feeling brave? How about a tvr? Will almost certainly not pass the reliability test though. I used to have a cerebra (after the elise), awesome car, but I couldn't in good conscience recommend that anyone buys one.
I find that of the mainstream manufacturers bmw get the closest to getting the right balance between fun and everything else, but that only on their m cars, their other non m cars (except for m135/m140) are as boring as the rest.
How about a bmw z4m coupe - it will be. A few years old now, but will be fantastic, like a tvr but with added reliability and no rough edges. That's probably where my money would go.
I know the audi fans on here will hate me for it, but I find audis to be terribly boring
No hating, however Audi's may be pre concieved as boring and your typical rep mobile may be.
RS models are different gravy though. The B8/8.5 RS4/5's have 4/5 of the V10 used in Lamborghini's. Redline is 8250 and the grip from the Quattro/sports diff is insane. 450bhp, 0-60 4.5s. Driving god's will berate the AWD and lack of a manual gearbox, but unless you are on a track, do you really want to be able to break traction on the rear wheels, especially in the wet? I don't get the fuss about having a manual gearbox either. It'll leave an M3 or C63 for dust on damp roads
What tasty reliable car
porsche
Any porsche in the 20k range has potential for very big bills die to bore scoring and seals. You can get them with a warranty if needed though
tvr
Hahaha
. Driving god’s will berate the AWD and lack of a manual gearbox, but unless you are on a track, do you really want to be able to break traction on the rear wheels, especially in the wet?
Yeah, it's the awd that I don't like, and yes I'd like to be able to break traction to the rear wheels at will. Not bothered about a manual gearbox though, perfectly happy with a double clutch auto, good torque converter auto(like the zf8), or good manual, as long as I get to choose when to change gear and which gear to change to I don't care how its done.
tvr hahaha
I did say I couldnt in good conscience recommend one. 😁
Yeah, it’s the awd that I don’t like, and yes I’d like to be able to break traction to the rear wheels at will
Fair do's I get it. However - took my mate out who has a Mustang, on damp roads, and he was very impressed where I could put power down. Said there was no way he'd get away with it and he ain't a bad driver
If the budget has flexibility then I can't see past one of the new Mustangs, V8 obviously. Plenty of early ones for low £20k and 2017 onwards have much more palatable VED.
Curveball....
Monaro VXR. I had a drive in one a few years and it blew my hair back. Astonishing noise and drama but very civilised when you're chilling out. You can burble around all you like and then blow the rear tyres off as easily as blink. I've been in much more 'talented' cars but that thing hit me in the feels.
Comfortably within your budget.
Oh my God, I've just remembered how good it was. I'm off to Ebay.
Fair do’s I get it. However – took my mate out who has a Mustang, on damp roads, and he was very impressed where I could put power down. Said there was no way he’d get away with it and he ain’t a bad driver
Yep, there's no doubting that awd is very fast , the fastest car point to point on roads (as opposed to the race track) that I have ever had was my 2007 audi s3, it was bonkers fast, way faster than anything I've had since despite owning cars that on paper are faster.just because you can count on the traction.
I'm talking about on the road here, on a dry track its a different kettle of fish, and the audi would probably have been one of my slower cars.
🙄 but we live in the UK 😂
And how often do you go to the track? Tbh, if I did, I'd buy a track car
Tbh, if I did, I’d buy a track car
Yeah, that's what I did, bought a Caterham 7 for track, and m4 for the road.
Yeah, that’s what I did, bought a Caterham 7 for track, and m4 for the road.
Nice - I like your style!
@5lab Not all will borescore, the 9A1 engine in the 2nd gen 987's hasn't suffered this issue at all- at least the 2.9, not sure about the 3.4 S. Also doesn't have the 'scary IMS' bearing to fail that puts some off
i30N.
Reliable - tick. Hyundai come out top 2 in pretty much all car reliability tests.
Tasty - tick. 275bhp standard, simple tune to ~310bhp, stage 3 to close to 400. Electronic mechanical slip diff. Pretty much all the gadgets you''d want. Warrantied for track use. I've managed 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, I've seen a few get close to 5.
Sounds chuffing amazing. A lot of noise, pops and bangs.
You can buy new for not much more than £20k, and you get 5 year warranty.
Plus, they're not common, and you can tell it isn't the base model Golf or not without looking at the badge 🙂
I get someone chatting to me about my N most weeks, just wandering up in a car park.
Kia Stinger.
I30N, lots of noise, pops and bangs, I'm 57 not 17. 😁
Some lovely Mitsubishi Evolution X FQ 300's from around 15k (or less). But if you aren't wanting an I30 N 🙄
I'll add my love for the m135/m140i too - I had one for two years and I completely loved it. For me it was the perfect blend of practicality, subtlety, respectability and complete lunacy when you wanted. Yeah, I get that there are probably better sports cars for the money, but you can't drive one of those without *someone* judging you for it. I don't think many people would actually care about the difference between a 114i and 135i so it's a perfect fly-under-the-radar machine. If that's important to you.
I'm sure I'll have another one some time.
I'd definitely have an i30N. Not sure if it ticks the "weekend sports car" type requirement but
I'll probably look for a lightly used one once my Focus ST Mk 3.5 is a bit older.
Mitsubishi Evolution X FQ 300
.
Most fun car I ever drove was a Mitsubishi Evo VIII.
You know how when you go karting, and you get a good kart that for whatever reason has just perfect balance. You can brake in a straight line, keep the power nice and smooth through the corners and drive fast clean laps all day, or you can behave like a loon and slide round every corner, never feeling like it will ever actually break away and you can just reign it all back in and calm it down if you want to.
That's what the Evo felt like, the handling was sublime. As an ownership prospect they weren't great though. If you drove it sensibly (and no one ever did) you got low double figure MPG, service intervals on the faster ones were like 4,000 miles! And you ended up with the left leg bigger than the right as the clutch was really heavy. They were also one of the least subtle performance cars ever made. Still it was fun borrowing it from my brother for the afternoon.
Thanks to you lot I'm off to test drive an M140i with stage one remap and M-Performance exhaust this afternoon...
Thanks for all the suggestions, we're currently trying to move house so once that's sorted I've decided to up the budget and buy a new GR Yaris which I stumbled upon while surfing YouTube.
Thanks to you lot
I know what you mean. My immaculate 320d MSport touring dad car is sitting in the garage whilst this thread caused me to Look at my friendly dealers web site to see a 335d and 340i version of the same advertised. Both very much a good swap for the same duty’s and typical sleepers but not “fun”, just quick to 70 on the MWay so what’s the point.
I've recently changed from my 135i to a new golf GTI 7.5. I'd had a lot of work done to the BMW to the tune of 480bhp and frankly ruined it, but it was bloody good fun and as standard they're an ace car. Even managed 42mpg on a long run at 60mph. The Golf is a different proposition - I've not bothered trying to go fast in it as it'll not be as quick as the BMW so I've not been tempted. What I will say is that I drove my mother to Lincolnshire from Suffolk at the weekend to socially distance visit some relatives. 300 miles in a day, comfy and easy with the adaptive cruise control. If it had been the BMW I'd still be recovering now.
Definitely not exciting though. Years ago I had 350z - probably not as quick as the BMW but way more of an event to drive. If I was looking for a cheapish exciting car, I'd be going in that direction. I definitely wouldn't be looking at a Yaris (Gremlin or otherwise) but then different stroke for different folks...
I’ll be keeping my significantly less than immaculate 520D Touring if I buy the 140, it’s already ruined by the bike and the dog and I don’t want a toy going the same way. It’s also worth more to me as a beater than it is in PX.
I've got a 6 month old Cupra ST that's for sale soon to get a van, slightly over your budget...
I test drove a colleague's Fiesta ST recently and was bowled over by how much fun it was. Not much kerb appeal (they've never been on my radar) but was bags of honest fun without having to drive too hard. I'll seriously consider one when my Beemer dies.
I can't think of anything original, so I'll poke holes in everyone else's choices.
Golf R, it's probably going to be my next car, in estate form. It's a fast car isn't it, if you want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible it's going to be hard to beat, unless maybe you've got the Audi RS3 version, which is sort of the same, costs a lot more and has an extra cylinder and 100bhp or so. Anyway, the Police LOVE them, no wait, they hate them because every small time drug dealer in the UK has one, they're called the VW "failed to stop" by some copper apparently. I fancy the Estate because 1) I could do with the space 2) it's less likely to have been owed by someone in the powders industry so I won't be accidentally TPAC'd on the way to School one morning. Not sure I'd want one as a 'weekend' car. A bit too clinical and a bit too good at going fast. I don't think it fits the brief either.
GT86, I really wanted one of them, how secure are you in your Masculinity? They're sort of the anti-Golf R, or at least the anti-fast German car. They're not really slow, but they're not fast either, they've also not got near unlimited grip. The point of them is to make a drivers car from the 21st Century. Even in Wales, roads are busier than ever before and speed limits are not only more enforced than before, but more necessary. I think a lot of people who hate them (honestly it's an irrational hatred) do so because they dare to challenge to accepted norm that 'more is more'. As cars get bigger, faster, more powerful, get more grip etc, roads get busier. The point of them is that, without being a massively anti-social dick, tearing around the place at 100mph its possible to enjoy them. I'm not sure I could live with an auto though, is it an auto-auto? A 5 speed slush box? Not sure it fits the brief.
A Cayman is sort of a dream car for me, I don't know how much Cayman you can get for £20k but I know some of earlier ones don't always fit the "reliable" breif, but if I didn't have 2 kids and didn't need a car for work every day and maybe if I was brave enough to live with the knowledge that one day a mechanic might tell me "bore scoring mate, you'll need a new engine" I'd have one of those.
I'd probably go with the GT86, or the BRZ if I could find one. but avoid trying to modify it to have more grip or power, because what's the point.
Ok, give it a rest, I'm getting a YARIS. 🤣
Ok, give it a rest, I’m getting a YARIS.
I'd forgotten they existed, but they are very cool. I thought you wanted an Auto?
Circuit pack?
Auto if it was a low seat, I'm ok if there is a decent bend in my knee.
Yes circuit pack, ouch. 😶
I was going to put a deposit down, but apparently they're building 25000 so no panic, might be a few low mileage used examples about by the time I've sorted this house moving fiasco.
I was going to post something derogatory about you choosing a yaris, but I've just done a quick Google and it actually looks like it could be a decent fun car. It's light for an awd car
Will deffo need the circuit pack to make it interesting, but it's a car that I'd like to have a go in. I'm not sold on it being awd, but given it has an lsd at both ends it might be alright.
I had to get rid of my M140i just over a year ago (decent size for a couple, but not for a couple with a little person and associated stuff & things...). Loved it. Also previously had some quick cars previously - Leon Cupra R, S4, S6, etc. There's a lot of valid points been made about the M140 by previous posters, but the reality is that it's a very easy car to live with day to day and returns reasonable mpg (mine was 34 av over it's life with me). The active sound thing is disapointing (but easily unplugged), and I found the steering overly light in anything other than the sport/sport+ setting. Run flats do numb it a bit too(though they are now a million times better than only a few years ago) - a lot of people talk about Michelin Pilot Sports, but I rate the Goodyear Eagle F1 to get as near to a non run flat experience as possible. The engine is lush - and most are running well in excess of the 340ps they quote, and the 0-60 is under quoted too - mine as stock was 4.3-4.4 - lots of them out there getting under 4 without much done to them - very often just an ecu tinker. Lots of options on upgrading too - loads of genuine M-Performance parts, and lots of very good aftermarket stuff too. I really wish i'd waited out for one with the Adaptive suspension option - really worth the extra to be able to tune the feel of the car (permanent sport steering for me then!). The comment about the exhaust rattle is valid - mine had it and was fixed - it's a sticky/loose valve that diverts exhaust through one pipe only on start up to warm the cat quicker. Lots of owners got M-Perf exhaust upgrades for free - i didn't... rear seating is tighter than FWD cars - someone mentioned that too. Not an issue if it's just pooch in the back.
Compared to the newer Beemers, the interior is starting to look a little dated - but has everything you could ever want. It's looks will be a personal thing obvs - i didn't like the 2 door, liked the 4 door - loads won't like them at all. The engine and quality are fantastic though - last time you'll ever see a (relatively) big inline 6 in a car that size.
You could definitely get an M3 - but can you be bothered with 8k service intervals and the extra running costs? Plus, they're really not much quicker at all. Same comment here for Porsche, Subaru WRX, etc...
I'm clearly biased because I did love that car, and am still an owner of 2 x Beemers (E30 318is and an X3M40i) - but it's properly good little car.
BMW Z4 3.0 Si
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Z4 Coupe - yes! I'm considering moving on the E30 and looking for one of these!
M2, if you have some budget flexibility consider an M2 non-competition.
I've just traded an M2 Comp for a 17 plate M2 + ££££. If you want drama, noise, 25 mpg and to live in fear of your life (on a wet day), this is the car for you. Its brilliant. Comparatively analogue by today's standards... and... that noise...
Everything *they* say about the Golf R / S3 is true, extremey capable - rapid, sterile, bland, farting, shopping cart.
M2, if you have some budget flexibility consider an M2 non-competition.
But they have been hit by the largest ugly stick available. Give me subtle any time
I went out in a Westfield Megabusa yesterday. Not far from the fastest thing on 4 wheels on the right road. Bloody horrible place to be on the motorway though.
We came home in a Toyota taxi and the car went on a recovery truck to an engine builder in Birmingham with a rough guestimate of around £1500 to £3500 to repair whatever went flying around inside the head.
Good shout on the Yaris GR though. That thing it going to be a riot.
Hell of a budget stretch to get the Yaris isn't it?
I know it's not the last word in in-the-know niche drivers cache and the marque comes with a reputation but an Audi mk3 TTS. Mk3 is a much more sorted handling car than the previous versions and it is certainly rapid and easy to live with. OK it's basically a Golf R in fancy pants but the fancy pants do make it a very nice place to be when you are in it. Feels a lot more special to drive in than a hatch. With the rear 'seats' folded down it is also surprisingly capacious if you only need to carry two humans. Slotted in a bike in a bike bag plus luggage for two on the way to the airport no bother.
If they didn't make the cheaper duller diesel and 2wd versions that basically look the same it would be a far less common sight and have a bit more 'special' about it.
Hell of a budget stretch to get the Yaris isn’t it?
He can get on PCP. At a rough guess, £5k deposit and £250 a month for three years means he's paid £14k - under budget for three years of fun and can then consider his options.
