You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Boxster 2.7 here , lots of owners ahd history exept the last one failed to do much. If you are goodc
With the spanners costs can be ok but if you have to pay labour small jobs can be expensive.
Allow a fund for suspension work, coffin arms etc and brake refresh at the very least. IMS not worth the worry
If it goes it goes only a few % fail.
Great to drive and still cheap to buy but prices are slowly rising.
I’m really liking the idea of a MK3 MR2, they seem to be less prone to rot and the slightly left fuel choice which appeals to me. Also mid/rear engine is a very cool selling point.
They seem a bit more expensive than they were but your budget should get you a nice one. You'd probably want the facelift version (2003-2006). If you think you'll want a hardtop try to buy a car with one because getting hold of the fitting kit later can be expensive.
From memory the major issues to look out for were the rear subframe being prone to rust (it's underneath the engine and water can drip through) and the earlier models having a potentially serious engine problem.
It's not a powerful car but it doesn't really need to be when it's so light, they're great fun to drive if you're happy to keep it at higher rpms, and comfortable enough for cruising on the motorway (quite noisy even with the roof up though).
I had a Boxster 2.7 for 9 years and 70,000 miles. It was great for the first 7 years but once stuff was wearing out/needed fixing it was in the garage every month and I was glad to get rid of it. I would never buy a £5000 Boxster.
People saying mk3 MR2 but the mk2 is also a very solid option. Unlikely you'd get the fairly mental turbo version for £5k but a 170-something bhp n/a should be achievable in your budget. For an almost 30 year old car they're very well put together, nice inside and with a surprisingly usable boot - you could probably carry a couple of A4 envelopes in the mk3 for comparison. Most importantly they have pop up headlights, a fact that on its own should propel the mk2 to the top of your list.
Things to look out for would be dodgy steering geometry on the Revision 1 (1990-1992 models) which gave them the ditchfinder reputation. T-bar seals can leak but an easy fix. Boy racer scene adding lots of unnecessary visual tat. Obviously rust on a car this old but there are still plenty of well kept examples out there.
OP, I've PM'd you
Been watching this recently, pining for a garage. Ignore california levels of rust (ie none) and pretend it will take at least twice as long to do anything.
Been wondering recently what the VED implications of flinging a Honda F20C into an RX8 would be, prepared to be disappointed.
I'm on the lookout for one of these but they're surprisingly hard to find. There's only a few rough examples for sale in the UK. I just need a cheap bike carrier now that my van has been hobbled by the clean air zone. I thought I'd try to get something unusual before I default to a Panda or Jimny.
Tiny, lightweight, frugal, very obscure with a pleasing level of ugliness. Right up my street.
Tiny, lightweight, frugal, very obscure with a pleasing level of ugliness. Right up my street.
Love those. Back in a bit, I'm off to Autotrader...
Edit, that didn't take long - a grand total of one for sale on Autotrader, but it's not the model above which is hen's teeth.
Yeah, as I said, quite hard to find! There's a pretty enthusiastic owners group on FB and there's a couple of decent cars for sale in there. I haven't contacted anyone yet as I need to shift the van first.
I showed the Mrs yesterday and she said "What the bloody hell is that?", which means I'm on the right track. Admittedly it was a yellow one with full graphics.
There’s one of these a few doors up from me funnily enough! Very cool looking thing in a quirky kind of way.
I'm not quite ready to have the eye rolling from Mrs a11y so haven't yet shown her what I'm looking at. I think she'd be happier if I spent similar money on a new bike rather than a car.
How about a Honda CRX? You can pick up a 92/93 vintage for £5K on trader. Targa top, decent engine?
Watching a ‘96 one on eBay locally to me, but isn’t quite giving me the fizz somehow. What are the engine/mechanicals like? Same as a period Civic I assume?
I've just bought a Mk1 TT 3.2 Roadster. Always like the TT and owned a Mk2 Coupe for a while so when the oppotunity to buy a fun/weekend car came about the TT was high on my list. Found a nice, well cared for one locally and couldn't resist. Roll on the summer!
Ignis Sports are ace. A mate had one not so long back, great fun it reminded me of the days of the Saxo VTS ect. Fishnet Recaros too!
Don't know anything about that Suzuki but from what I've just read about them they will hardly raise your pulse and sound a bit lukewarm
Maybe ok if your 19 and want something you can play around with
On the back of this thread and a work colleague collecting a 997.2 this Friday I was scouring Autotrader for these mythical £5k boxsters - there's a lot with Flying Pigeon brand ditchfinders which are an instant no, any that do have half decent branded tyres then have rubbish MOT history. I think it would take awhile to find a good 'un.
TBF you can pick up a car less than 5 years old from a dealer with similarly shite tyres.
As for Del Sol's, VTi was the one to go for and the gen before was the SiR, both have a VTEC B16 block rather than the D series engines. If you're looking for something sporty I wouldn't consider a Honda without VTEC, it's their entire party piece.
Maybe ok if your 19 and want something you can play around with
What if you're 40 and you'd just rather have a weird, funky little car than drive like a dick?
What if you’re 40 and you’d just rather have a weird, funky little car than drive like a dick?
107hp in something that weighs less than a ton? Sounds fun. Probably easy enough to retinue to JDM spec as well.
Two thirds of the thread a Porsche or hot hatch, hardly sedate driving funky looking cars
Remind me again what the bhp/ton is for an NA MX5. How is the Ignis so much different?
I'll save you the bother, 118.75 for the much lauded early 1.6 and 117.58 for the Ignis.
I bet a penny to a pound you couldn't find that horse if you tried. I know there's more to it than power but I doubt either is going to have much to shout about after 20-30 years. And just because autocar slated it doesn't mean its actually crap, they didn't rally them for nothing, as long as whoever is driving it is happy who cares?
I have an NC MX5 with the 2 litre, it's a great little thing but in many people's books the worst MX5. I don't agree obviously!
The ND is probably out of budget so you'd be basically deciding do you want winky headlights (NA) or a car that's basically the same only better but not as cool (NB), or Fat But Practical (NC). They all rust like absolute mother*****s so at this price you're probably looking for one that needs some work (and budget for it), one that's already been fixed (but approach with care) or as a leftfield option a relatively recent import. A never-been-rusty NA is a rare thing so they're expensive.
With the NC specifically... IMO there's not much point in getting anything but the 2 litre with the limited slip diff. There's not much real cost saving getting the smaller engines and the only thing they do "better" is have less power, since some people prefer a little engine working hard. The LSD is obviously an excellent addition, it's not the highest spec unit but it works. The 6 speed gearbox is worth holding out for too, again it doesn't add much cost. The PRHT divides opinion, I got one because Scotland and since it sits outside. Rust aside they're dependable and work well as standard though especially with the earlier ones you'll probably want to address the ride height as they sit tall.
Mine is currently broken- blew up the engine on a trackday, it was suspect when I got the car so it cost buttons. So it's getting new suspension, a 2.5 engine swap and a few other bits plus an epic derusting. Can't wait to get it going again
I have an NC MX5 with the 2 litre, it’s a great little thing but in many people’s books the worst MX5. I don’t agree obviously!
I've been in all of them and I think the NC is my favourite. People will come around eventually. They were slated when they came out because the early cars had monster truck suspension amongst other things.
People bang on about the weight but I think I read that the heaviest NC with the powered roof is about 40kg heavier than an NB. For a much more comfortable car in which I can actually fit in the drivers seat, I'd take the extra weight.
So it’s getting new suspension, a 2.5 engine swap and a few other bits plus an epic derusting. Can’t wait to get it going again
Hell yes. Are you getting the engine from DanST Engineering? He brings them in from the States and fits his own ITB's etc. That would be amazing.
The same engine fits in the mk6 Fiesta ST. I've always thought it would be good to make a very fast one of those. It's another car which had a pretty luke warm reception when it was new. I think they look quite smart these days compared to crazy hyper hatches.
MG ZR?
If there are any still left on the road...
Handling was awesome (i had one when they were new).
Unfortunately, it was slightly unreliable. (ZR160)
Bet you'd get a concourse condition one for 2k...
The 160 3 door was a smidge over a tonne IIRC.
Crash it and it'd open up like a tin can though!
MG ZR is basically a Rover 200 series isn't it?
K-Series engines go through head gaskets at a fair old rate.
I crashed a Rover 200 in my youth and i'm glad it was the passenger side that took the hit (and that no one was sat there!) and not mine.
buy mine, you can have it for the thread budget, house improvements force sale:
Its a an NC3.5 Venture 2.0 sport (6spd & LSD) Tech (sat nav heated leather) PRHT
Rare Radiant ebony paint.
Drives awesome.
Fresh MOT
Price and location please.
Not for me obviously. For all them other people.
My immediate vehicle purchasing future depends on today's budget. If the 'free childcare ' rumours are true I might lose my enthusiasm for a 20 year old Ignis and reinstate my 'BBR MX5' eBay alerts.
Price and location please.
...I hope it's not too close to Derbyshire. Outer Hebrides would be ideal! 🤣
£5k from a friendly mountain biker would take it, Appleby in Cumbria.
The reasons it is £5k and not £8k is it has 114k miles, and it came to me like this missing a bumper and wing (cat N):
Nothing was bent at all, a replacement wing and bumper were painted and every lined up perfectly, the headlights did not even need alignment.
Anyway, it will be up on the autotrader when I've given it a wash at the weekend for £5500 or so.
That will be a great purchase for someone. Cheap car, ripe for spicy upgrades. Nice colour as well.
MG ZR is basically a Rover 200 series isn’t it?
It's completely a rover 200, lowered and stiffened with some (very) minor tweaks on the 160 version.
K-Series engines go through head gaskets at a fair old rate.
Yup, there used to be a kit for an upgraded one, bet you can't buy them anymore 😀
I crashed a Rover 200 in my youth
Never crashed mine, but it did spend a lot of time in the garage having warranty work done...
sharkattack
Full MemberHell yes. Are you getting the engine from DanST Engineering? He brings them in from the States and fits his own ITB’s etc. That would be amazing.
Nah, I bought a horrible Mazda 6 and pulled the engine out of it- worked out cheaper, plus I could testdrive the engine and make sure it was all OK. I'm just slinging it in completely standard for now, I definitely should do cams while it's out, but I want to try it as it is. It won't make that much more power than the 2 litre, because it won't rev, but a ton more torque.
I'd love to do ITBs but that pretty much requires proper engine management (or skills I don't have) so it's out of budget for now. DanST is great, DuratecNC is a good person to know too
should have fitted the Jaguar V6
Nah, I bought a horrible Mazda 6 and pulled the engine out of it- worked out cheaper
I had been considering doing this but 2 things cropped up that have put me off...
1. It is FAR from a straight swap, there's a lot more involved than a lot of people think to the conversion, even though the engine essentially bolts straight in and...
It won’t make that much more power than the 2 litre, because it won’t rev, but a ton more torque.
2. One thing the MX5 doesn't really need a lot more of is torque IMO... Revs though... The more the better! The 2.5L Duratec is a lazy lump on stock cams, peak revs only just over 6k I think, peak power well under 6k. My stock NC1 lump (the lower revving non-forged engine) with a BBR super 180 tune is delivering peak power at 7150rpm now, and redline just above that. A forged NC2 or NC3 engine will rev up close to 8k safely I'm told. The stock 2.5L Duratec will max at about 185-190bhp on stock cams I believe, which is no better than my NC1 2L... Replace the cams and they'll go up to around 210-220 with some other breathing work, at nearer 7krpm... But then replace the cams on a 2L and they go up over 200bhp with the BBR map too...
Seems a "built" 2L or even a 2.3, with a fully forged bottom end, lumpier cams, head and breathing mods etc. will go to about 220-230bhp before the stock injection seems to become the limiting factor, after which you go to throttle bodies of course... Obviously this is all at significant cost though!
Happy enough with mine as it is to be fair. May end up going for the BBR Super200 cams too at some point, but that's another £1500 for another 20bhp which isn't exactly great value!
All this tuning of the wee mx5 takes me back to gran turismo 2 listening to Feeder amongst many bands music tuning my mx5 then gaining licences
Proper manual gearbox changes for me
should have fitted the Jaguar V6
No point with an NC. The main advantage in the NA/NB is that the alloy V6 is lighter than the cast iron 4 pot. The Duratec/MZR is alloy anyway and quite lightweight with loads of tuning options readily available.
DuratecNC is a good person to know too
Thanks for that, I've just lost my whole afternoon on his website!
Forget about all the cars mentioned, if it fun your looking for, then look no further than a Abarth
I was going to suggest an Abart Competezione or a Riva, but while both are lovely little cars, and with more power than seems reasonable in a little car, they’re limited in numbers, and are unlikely to match the OP’s budget anytime soon. Probably this decade…
I’ve gone down my own little rabbit hole after the Ignis chat, and while I can’t afford / don’t want a 500 really, there are a few Seicento Sporting Abarths well within budget and they look fun as hell!
Maybe not enough to put me off an MX5 or equivalent but certainly giving me something to think about.
MX5 digressions... the V6 in the NC is cool but it's miles more work- needs way more parts + standalone engine management, it's a very different kettle of fish. But I can't afford Rocketeer, and if I could I'd buy a different car, and if I was doing it all myself I'd not use that engine. Still, love the noise!
mboy
Free Member1. It is FAR from a straight swap, there’s a lot more involved than a lot of people think to the conversion, even though the engine essentially bolts straight in and…
Why do you say that? You basically need your original 2.0, the donor 2.5, a few consumables like the bloody stupid diamond washers, and a remap (which you can DIY, but I'm too stupid). It's not quite a straight swap but it's about the closest alternative. And super cheap if you do it from a donor car- I don't think I'm going to quite break even but it'll be close.
To get the most out of it, yep, more work is needed but then the same is true of the 2.0 and doing the same mods to the 2.5 doesn't cost any more. Other than race class restrictions or if you really want a high revver, the 2.5 is mostly a better place to start.
Since I'm fitting mine completely stock initially, I'll be leaving a lot of easily accessed performance on the shelf- for now, anyway, but it'll still work decently. There's really 2 perfectly good logical approaches here- yep it's more efficient to fit cams etc while you're doing the swap. But I like incremental changes, I'll have fun trying out the stock 2.5 then I'll probably add cams and have fun with that too, and appreciate the final result all the more knowing what did what.
Tbf if I didn't have a broken car, I'd not be doing any of this- I'd probably have put the exhaust and intake on it and called it good. But it was so cheap, I couldn't say no, and it was fun til it popped. Ironically, my hobby just now is "putting 2.5 litre engines into broken 2 litre cars", I'm also stabbing an sti ej257 into my spare legacy 🙂 ) Shitboxes are fun.
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 MemberSo, 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 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.