I was going to suggest an Abart Competezione or a Riva

I prefer the Lotus version.

Looking at the Ignis isn’t a Suzuki Swift Sport a better option? I had maybe an ‘07 plate 1 – 1.6 16v 120bhp engine. Very revvy and quite nipph if you’re really on it. Doesn’t look quite as ‘special’ as the Ignos too so it’s a bit more respectable to drive.

It was economical and had no issues with mine at all – only thing it’s less good at is motorway drives. It’s fine, but revs quite high for a given speed – in much the same way as the 2x Citroen Saco Vts’ I had did I guess.

You’re dead right about the Swift being a decent car. It just lacks the curiosity value of the Ignis with its Evo foglights and Recaro fishnets. If you want to be purely objective you’d buy a Fiesta ST because it’s better again and has many, many tuning options to keep yourself busy with.

The attraction of the Ignis Sport is not that it’s better than anything else, just it’s very niche, with its unique revvy little engine and Japanese weirdness.

Think of it as a Japanese 205/106 Rallye – objectively lots of things are much better for the money, but it’s a rare unique car.

I’d take a 205 gti above the Ignis every day of the week. I had an mi16 converted one and the thing was absolutely bonkers. Looks much nicer than the Ignis. I get the latter is rare but for me that doesn’t make it desirable – in that category for me would be things like a Tenault 5 turbo 2 or a Clio V6 (although not in a £5k budget obvs)

I had my fill of 205’s when I was young and they were almost free. I once delivered a 16v one for a mate who bought it unseen on eBay. I picked it up in Edinburgh and drove it to Sheffield avoiding the motorway as much as possible. That was a fun 8 hours or so.

Cool cars but I’m happy to admire them from afar these days.

this thread has really got my juices flowing!

lots of great suggestions but Im not sure where to go now. So I’ll ask a question…

Im after a car, definitely sub 5k price, just for me, just for fun.

I’ve had a few nice cars, nothing pricey, but fun. I honestly think that my favorite was my 1972 Mini, with a 1275 A-series and 10 inch wheels. It wasn’t fast but it was a go cart for street use.

I would like to get a more modern version of that Mini. Obviously another Mini is the answer but they are totally over priced now and to be honest, I cant be bothered with the constant rust repairs. I’ve spent enough time chopping, cutting, welding, seam sealing, etc to go back there.

So, from this thread Im thinking Mini R53 or MX5 – but which one is closest to my old, 50 mph round every corner, go-cart, 1972 Mini?

Im happy to spanner my self, but i cant take constant maintenance.

Help me Obi-STW, you’re my only hope…

In the recommend what you have mode!…

An FN2 Type R – plenty around for £3.5k – strip them out and make a track day car or keep standard. Not without their issues (as they’re old now!) and rust can be a problem.

Revving to 8000rpm is addictive. Love mine, I use it as a daily and every drive feels fun.

Unfortunately getting more power costs ££££££’s!

R53 Cooper S would be my shout here – Ours is 20 years old this year (had it since new) and it still makes me smile when I drive it.

Supercharger makes a lovely noise – they’re not super quick but certainly not slow. Pretty much the closest ‘feeling’ car to my old mini estate I’ve driven.

A 100hp Fiat Panda felt good too! R53 is quicker though.

FN2 type R was a K20, i think?

a few friends had them, very nice as i remember.

My old DC2 had the B18C6 (UK version) but i still preferred the Mini.

Im more interested in handling and fun, than speed.

Jeez! Im getting old! 🙂

FN2 type R was a K20, i think?

Yep – last of the NA type Rs. And not reached comedy levels of pricing yet.

Later ones have LSD and more toys.

Our Panda 100hp was very reminiscent of the old Mini’s we used to buzz around in. The main difference is it was very cheap to buy and run, never broke down and didn’t have any rust.

It was a blast on the right road when you were in the mood. Not powerful at all and the suspension was brutal. Saying that, we drove it to the Italian Alps and back twice with 2 bikes on the roof.

I’d have another one but after I sell the van I’ll be looking for something different before I go crawling back to the 100hp club and asking what’s for sale.

FN2 type R was a K20, i think?

They all do, just the newer ones are turbocharged.

Later ones have LSD and more toys.

A few special editions back to the EP3 at least have them as well.

Unfortunately getting more power costs ££££££’s!

Performancetek is but a 50 minute drive from me. Think he does a lot of Minis now but still does K swaps. Not been up since I chucked my EU9.

pandhandj
Free Member

So, from this thread Im thinking Mini R53 or MX5 – but which one is closest to my old, 50 mph round every corner, go-cart, 1972

Neither really… An early MX5 has some smallness but they drive and feel so different. The R53 is ace, I wanted to hate it but I just couldn’t… But it’s a modern hot hatch, really not very mini-ish. Mostly in good ways to be fair.

Our 2004 supercharged Mini cooper S has just gone off to the scrap heap. Written off by a rear shunt. It replaced a RS Twingo 133 cup. The Twingo was more fun to drive, more reliable, and more practical. And probably safer judging by what was left of it after my son spun it into the M25 barriers. It was also a lot lighter with similar power to weight. Last of the proper Renaultsports. That’s in your budget. Just. Top Gear loved it. And drove it into the Irish Sea having thrashed it around the Isle of Man.

Looking to replace with something newer, more powerful and ULEZ compliant. Possibly a Trophy 220 or a fast estate. But I miss the Twingo. Very in keeping with the Mini 1275 GT my stepfather used to hillclimb in. He loved the Twingo too.

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 http://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.

http://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.

Katies after the Turbo fit

Fiat Coupe and money spare perhaps?

Fiat Coupe on Ebay

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.