Looking for something cheap but fun

Dr Galen

Hey all

Bit of a boring thread maybe, but maybe some of you can help out

Am looking to pick up a second car. Been driving the wifes fiesta since I left my old job last year and handed back my Audi.

Bored of it now, although it's a grand wee car. On a tight enough budget right now, around the 2.5k Mark tbh so I know I'm not exactly going to have huge choice but would love something half decent. Bear in mind this is likely to have to do me for about 2 or 3 years, before babies And **** mean I buy a Volvo. nothing too flash though, have been looking at a few alfas thati've seen online. That sort of thing maybe?

Not asking for anyone to go trawling car zone or done deal for me btw, that'd be a bit cheeky, more a few suggestions as to what people in the know what
think.

Any help Appreciated

Cheers

DrG

colm_mcm

Mx5

Solnskaya

Db9

Glowing

I bought an mx5 last year as my 'pre-baby' car. I've now decided to ditch the idea of a family and keep the car It weighs less than 1 tonne and is a rwd1.8 with heated leather seats, its a dream to drive, take one for a spin and you'll be hooked

Edit: unlike an alpha, these cars are great at maintaining value so look after the car well and you wont lose out too much over the space of a few years ...

Dr Galen

Cheers for that.

For the record I know I said 2 and a half as a price guide but it's highly likely I'll end up spending a bit more when it comes down to it. Just not thousands more.

Glowing

mx5ireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3945

vectrahed

1.6 vectra



tax cheap / insurance cheap

cheap to run and cheap to fix


big inside and has a nice big boot for the pram etc

Dr Galen

Glowing wrote: »

mx5ireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3945

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I've always liked the lok of the mx5 in fairness. See some nice one around. Probably going to need something with 4 seats though. It's one to think about though.

You have any problems with seals and/or leaking? What about security? With the odd bit of use for work it will be parked in a few less nice places from time to time.

Glowing

I had the same thoughts about 2 seats but to be honest, the amount of times one generally needs to carry more than one passenger are few and far between. If you are a 2 car family, its even less of an issue. I hated the idea of a car with 'pretend' back seats too, like many other cars of the same size.

Security can be an issue alright, a hard top is a real plus but you will pay for it. I'm not sure about seals etc, I guess the rubber would age and leaks do happen, but those lads on the mx5ireland are great at giving repair advice worst case. The key is to find an old but well loved car which us why I gave you that link, at least you know it came from an enthusiast! A few others for sale there too BTW

p.s if you're 6"3 or taller, you probably won't fit into one btw

fonecrusher1

Honda civic 1.6 vti.

colm_mcm

vectrahed wrote: »

1.6 vectra

Nobody likes them

bazz26

vectrahed wrote: »

1.6 vectra



tax cheap / insurance cheap

cheap to run and cheap to fix


big inside and has a nice big boot for the pram etc

He said fun.

OP, how about something along the lines of these:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201107201244420
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201046200240429
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201105201088101
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201102200883880

Wolverine_1999

6 Cylinder Z3 You'll be hooked on keeping the top down just to hear that purr

Glowing

bazz26 wrote: »

He said fun.

OP, how about something along the lines of these:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201107201244420
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201046200240429
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201105201088101
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201102200883880

That celica is nice

TestTransmission

vectrahed wrote: »

1.6 vectra



tax cheap / insurance cheap

cheap to run and cheap to fix


big inside and has a nice big boot for the pram etc

A 1.6 vectra is fun?

:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

lomb

Some great old cars out there. Have a look on bangernomics thread, an old audi 100 quattro rs for 2k, old bmws E34 are nice also. You might pick up an old e300 coupe for that sort of money. Old honda integras are also lovely. There arent many decent convertibles for less than 7 grand,something like the MX5 isnt a patch on an Audi TT but for a couple of grand you cant complain.
Depends more than on what you want to pay, road tax, insurance, maintainance headaches and cost, fuel, engine size, no of seats, petrol or diesel, 2 or 4 wheel drive , saloon, hatch, coupe, convertible, jeepetc etc

Bigus

Value in that Celica for 1500 or how about something more modern and adventurous but over budget @4750


http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201441776

vectra

You may not like any of these but prices and performance would be ok.!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1916656




Or this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1856658




This one a bit over budget?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1918387

Glowing

Glowing wrote: »

That celica is nice

Bigus wrote: »

Value in that Celica for 1500

I reckon that Celica is gone but for €15000 it was priced keenly, NCT up since 2010 though, the GT is a better proposition than the jap SS2s as they don't have superstrut (expensive when it need replacing, over €500 a corner) and are not limited to 180kph.

Top Dog

Bigus wrote: »

how about something more modern and adventurous but over budget @4750


http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201109201441776

RX8's can be had for less than 5k now? :eek:

Dr Galen

Intrigued by the MX5 tbh. Wouldn't have been something I would have given thought to but maybe, the security aspect is the only thing I'd have a big concern on, but having a hard top as well would sort that I guess.

Some other good suggestions. Thanks lads. That celica looked nice, most likely gone at this stage, but might give a call just to see.

Father in law bought a 2009 cupra 2 months ago, very nice it is and goes like a wee rocket. Seeing the possible value has made me think I should maybe hold off for a short while and add to my budget. Though saying that, I could be saying that forever like.

redsteveireland

Just for fun? How about a pug 205 1.9 Gti? You might get a decent for that money. Toying with the idea of getting one myself.

YouTookMyName

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1844325



Been for sale for a while, Bring it home for 2500 cash.

If an MX5 appeals an MR2 from the 90s might too, T bar or normal hard top, rev3 (94 on) nasp are a great car. Certainly fun. You'd get a better MR2 for €2500 ish than you will an MX5.

Mar4ix

<snip shilling>

Wicklowrider

RoverJames wrote: »

If an MX5 appeals an MR2 from the 90s might too, T bar or normal hard top, rev3 (94 on) nasp are a great car. Certainly fun. You'd get a better MR2 for €2500 ish than you will an MX5.

Or: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/MR2/MR--2-RO/201048200401609/advert?channel=CARS

Convertible MR2 (or MRS spyder) have one for about 18 months.

dr.fuzzenstein

Glowing wrote: »

I

p.s if you're 6"3 or taller, you probably won't fit into one btw

I'm 6"3 and I fit into the MX5 with no problems whatsoever

Dr Galen

Being too tall is not going to be an issue here. I can guarantee that lads.

Glowing

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I'm 6"3 and I fit into the MX5 with no problems whatsoever

Maybe it depends on the model, mine is a 2002 and I can't imagine it'd be comfy for long journeys. Anyway I'm nowhere near that so fine for me

Dr Galen

YouTookMyName wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1844325



Been for sale for a while, Bring it home for 2500 cash.

That I like.

Any opinions on alfa's? seems like a good few knocking around. What looks like a few nice 147s at in an around the price range.

challengemaster

FWD:
Nissan Pulsar VZR

RWD:
Mazda MX5
Nissan Skyline R33
Nissan S14/15 Sylvia

Should all be around 2.5-3k mark, all very fun

dr.fuzzenstein

Glowing wrote: »

Maybe it depends on the model, mine is a 2002 and I can't imagine it'd be comfy for long journeys. Anyway I'm nowhere near that so fine for me

We have a 00 MX5, I seem to fit OK:)
Having said that I wouldn't dream of going on a long journey in it, I like a bit of space around me and therefore we take the CMax whenever we head off for a longer drive, it's a much more effective motorway muncher.:cool:

Dr Galen

See that could swing it for me. I'll have occasional long journeys in this as a result of work.

challengemaster

Buy recaros and have them fitted, sorted!

Dr Galen

Golf GTI?

Never driven one, got the practicality of a bit of space

Testament1

challengemaster wrote: »

Nissan S14/15 Sylvia

Should all be around 2.5-3k mark, all very fun

An S15 goin for 3 grand is almost guaranteed to be a bucket of sh*t. They may have come down in price in a big way compared to a few years ago but a good clean Spec R still holds its value better than a lot of cars out there.

I'd say something like a VTi or SiR Civic or a DC2 Integra would be a good bet. Or maybe a Toyota Celica or Levin. These are all going pretty cheap these days and would certainly be fun and cheap enough to keep run.

Dr Galen

Just spent the weekend trawling the car sites, and looking at the options suggested by you all. Thanks a lot for the advice.

I may live to regret this, but there are several Alfa Romeos out there that are catching my eye. I've read a few of the threads here on the TLC required to own one, and tbh I'm pretty happy with having to do this. Would actually make a nice change from the wifes fiesta, which just runs or the 2 company cars I've had recently, (Avensis and A4) which I didn't have to do a thing with as it was all taken care of centrally.

Vertakill

Testament1 wrote: »

An S15 goin for 3 grand is almost guaranteed to be a bucket of sh*t. They may have come down in price in a big way compared to a few years ago but a good clean Spec R still holds its value better than a lot of cars out there.

Was thinking the same thing. I love S15's but the only half decent ones I'm seeing are about 6k-8k.
If they were 3k, I'd definitely have one!