Reasonable sports cars on the market

dantastic · 29-07-2013 09:48AM #1

I'm delighted to be in the market for a weekend car, just for fun.
I've reached an age where the insurance companies find that acceptable. That also means I am looking for something that has actual suspension and not ridiculous low profile tyres.

I've a budget of about €7000 for the purchase so I'm not looking for something new, the first 2 digits on the number plate doesn't bother me. The car will do very little mileage so fuel consumption is not a concern. Keeping the car on the road is though so I don't want something that is 1800 per year in tax then!

Problem is I know very little about the cars in this segment, haven't driven any of the suggestions below so I'm really looking for a starting point.

My first thought was a Mazda MX-5. Been described by many as an excellent car, there are plenty of them around, this seems like a sound call. My only gripe is it's a convertible, I think I'd prefer a coupe. I do believe this is the one to beat though.

Honda S2000, slightly better looking, a bit more power but apparently the MX-5 is more fun. Again, this is a convertible.

Mazda RX-8, good looking car, interesting engine. Very practical, with the 4 doors and all, is it too heavy? will it be fun enough?

Nissan 350Z good bit more power, coupe, but will it be too expensive to own with that big engine? Is it too big & heavy?

I'm looking for thoughts on the above and any other suggestions are very welcome. As I said, I know very little about the cars in this segment so I'm more looking for a starting point than anything else.

Victor Meldrew · 29-07-2013 10:04AM

dantastic wrote: »

Mazda RX-8, good looking car, interesting engine. Very practical, with the 4 doors and all, is it too heavy? will it be fun enough?

Interesting is one word for the Rotary engine. needs to have been owned by someone with an Obsessive approach to maintenance, and they give a lot of trouble, consume a lot of very expensive oil, drink petrol, are prone to "warm start" problems, and are on borrowed time when most motors are just "run in".

I've seen a number of Rx-8 owners leave their cars running at petrol stations because they are afraid to switch them off and then restart a minute later. ditto, the bloke idling his Rx-8 while herself does the shopping.

A real pity, because one of those with a dumb-ass, unburstible 4 pot Mazda motor would be sweet, and would have been a Toybaru 10 years before they thought of it.

Get an Mx-5 or a Honda 2000. If it is a weekend car, you might as well have something impractical and special. You can get a clip on hard top for the Mx-5.

Anan1 · 29-07-2013 10:06AM

dantastic wrote: »

As I said, I know very little about the cars in this segment so I'm more looking for a starting point than anything else.

You need to get out there and start driving as wide a selection as possible. A sports car is an emotional purchase - nobody else can tell you what will work for you.

biko · 29-07-2013 10:09AM

Yeah the MX5 is the one I'd go for too.
If it's only for weekends why not get a convertible? It'll sit in a garage the rest of the time.

Don't go for anything that will require a lot of work like the rx8

listermint · 29-07-2013 10:10AM

Focus ST would pretty much fit your criteria tbh.

166man · 29-07-2013 10:12AM

Anan1 wrote: »

You need to get out there and start driving as wide a selection as possible. A sports car is an emotional purchase - nobody else can tell you what will work for you.

Not everyone has all the time in the world to spend test driving each and every car though, hence the OP has listed his criteria and is looking for suggestions as to what a wide variety of people suggest. With a short list he can go out and begin testing those cars.

Simples

d1234 · 29-07-2013 10:12AM

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/*1.6-2DR/36613682001527900/advert?channel=CARS

listermint · 29-07-2013 10:13AM

d1234 wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/*1.6-2DR/36613682001527900/advert?channel=CARS

How Dare you!

The door is that way >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anan1 · 29-07-2013 10:16AM

166man wrote: »

Not everyone has all the time in the world to spend test driving each and every car though, hence the OP has listed his criteria and is looking for suggestions as to what a wide variety of people suggest. With a short list he can go out and begin testing those cars.

Simples

It's a weekend, fun car - half the fun is in going out, looking at different cars, driving them, researching them, etc etc !

thecomedian · 29-07-2013 10:24AM

Op what about a BMW Z4?

It might be just on the edge of your budget though.

For Forks Sake · 29-07-2013 10:24AM

d1234 wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/*1.6-2DR/36613682001527900/advert?channel=CARS

Nowhere in the OP does it say 'I am a trainee hairdresser'

dantastic · 29-07-2013 10:28AM

Wow, this got going fast

thanks for the responses.

I will go out and look at cars and test drive but I really need a bit better of a starting point.
Good call re the RX-8, It's one of them cars that need a loving touch indeed. I do like the look of it but I'm not looking for practicality at all. It's a car to go and pick up a 99, not shopping.

Hyundai couple, simply is not cutting it at all, way too underpowered.

Focus, that car is really not doing it for me at all. I could never feel for that thing, I actually feel pretty strongly against it.

I should probably mention as well that our other cars are a big 4x4 and and alfa 159 so we're looking for something significantly faster and nippier than the alfa...

dantastic · 29-07-2013 10:29AM

The Z4 would need a bigger budget or you are looking at cars with high mileage or questionable repairs etc. Good call but I think a good one is outside of my current budget.

Tefral · 29-07-2013 10:32AM

How about a Honda Integra DC5? youd get an 04 for 7k

tossy · 29-07-2013 10:33AM

d1234 wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hyundai/Coupe/*1.6-2DR/36613682001527900/advert?channel=CARS

The words reasonable,sports or car are not the first words that pop into my head when i think about those balls of dung.

pred racer · 29-07-2013 10:34AM

@Op, in your position I'd go for the S2000 100%

(come to the next motors meet and get TT to take you for a spin in his;) )

Supergurrier · 29-07-2013 10:44AM

S2000 all day long

Wouldn't describe an ST as a sports car personally more a practical car with a wookie living under the bonnet that gets angry over 5000rpm

ShadowHearth · 29-07-2013 10:44AM

Well few options:

Mazda mx5 - all around fantastic car and not just fore weekends. Our one is being used as daily driver for 4 years now. You will find one under the budget and you will be able to put a few mods and touches on it with all left over cash.
Honda s2000 - same as Mazda with more power and little bit bigger price tag and running costs. Lovely car too.
Subaru impreza 2 door coupe type-r - a boxer engine in coupe body. Fantastic car, but you should be able to find one for your budget. Just be careful, a lot of them are crashed repaired. If you can't find type r, then get yourself a clean classic sti impreza.

I can't really suggest any of the Ford ST or golf gti as those are more of a daily cars with fun attached to them, then a full nuts fun weekend car.
Other option would be to look for something rare and fun like old American muscle cars. There was one sold by a member on boards here. A lovely Trans am. Keep in mind, that these cars use cheap classic insurance and 50eu road tax per year. You could save fortune on tax and insurance and put more towards car it self.

listermint · 29-07-2013 10:49AM

dantastic wrote: »

Wow, this got going fast thanks for the responses.

I will go out and look at cars and test drive but I really need a bit better of a starting point.
Good call re the RX-8, It's one of them cars that need a loving touch indeed. I do like the look of it but I'm not looking for practicality at all. It's a car to go and pick up a 99, not shopping.

Hyundai couple, simply is not cutting it at all, way too underpowered.

Focus, that car is really not doing it for me at all. I could never feel for that thing, I actually feel pretty strongly against it.

I should probably mention as well that our other cars are a big 4x4 and and alfa 159 so we're looking for something significantly faster and nippier than the alfa...

Have you actually driven one, genuine question.

Because they are superb. (Seriously superb)

dantastic · 29-07-2013 10:55AM

listermint wrote: »

Have you actually driven one, genuine question.

Because they are superb. (Seriously superb)

I haven't, but to me it just screams boy racer. Same goes with a few other cars suggested. They may be good cars but I would find it difficult to get over the stigma attached.

bmstuff · 29-07-2013 10:57AM

Rx 8? Will you man up a bit and get a proper one ;-)
Bmw e39 m5 for that matter. Plenty out there you can bring home for 7k.

Wibbs · 29-07-2013 11:02AM

Another s2000 lover here. Very nice car. Bomb proof mechanically and you can get a hard top for them too. No hint of boy racer from them either.

HandsomeDan · 29-07-2013 11:02AM

cronin_j wrote: »

How about a Honda Integra DC5? youd get an 04 for 7k

the skang is strong in this one.

dantastic · 29-07-2013 11:05AM

bmstuff wrote: »

Rx 8? Will you man up a bit and get a proper one ;-)
Bmw e39 m5 for that matter. Plenty out there you can bring home for 7k.

Sure, it's probably a mighty car but where's the magic? It's just a 5 series. Too big of a car as well.

I really think the starting point is the mx5 and the s2000. Still looking for other suggestions too but those two come well recommended so far anyway.

Wibbs · 29-07-2013 11:06AM

HandsomeDan wrote: »

the skang is strong in this one.

Whatever about that the skangers will want to steal it so security will be a real headache. Chances of having it for a year without some scumbag mouthbreather attempting to steal it will be low. Plus IMH anyway that was the start of the dilution of the pure Type R concept(that and the breadvan Civic).

Wibbs · 29-07-2013 11:08AM

listermint wrote: »

Have you actually driven one, genuine question.

Because they are superb. (Seriously superb)

Yep. It was nice, but I found it somehow uninvolving for me. I know I know most would disagree, but that's how I found it. The boy racer aspect wouldn't worry me. Hell I drive such a car as is, but then again I'm so damned sexy I get away with it. YMMV.:D

Victor Meldrew · 29-07-2013 11:19AM

dantastic wrote: »

Sure, it's probably a mighty car but where's the magic? It's just a 5 series. Too big of a car as well.

I really think the starting point is the mx5 and the s2000. Still looking for other suggestions too but those two come well recommended so far anyway.

I was going to call you out on calling a m5 "just a 5 series". It is anything but.

However, it is not a sports car, and it is a big car. I ditched my (humble diesel) E60 because it was just too big, fat and heavy.

Small is always more fun, even if it is a bit less comfortable.

Viper_JB · 29-07-2013 11:23AM

The tax would be....harsh but you could get one of these within your budget.

listermint · 29-07-2013 11:29AM

dantastic wrote: »

Sure, it's probably a mighty car but where's the magic? It's just a 5 series. Too big of a car as well.

I really think the starting point is the mx5 and the s2000. Still looking for other suggestions too but those two come well recommended so far anyway.

Have to call you on that specific part,

If you are asking where the Magic is in an M5, well then tbh i think you need to go out and actually drive some of the cars suggested. Because if you truly want a weekend car, Id be going on test drives of most of the suggestions. no one can tell you what the differing feelings are from driving the models. Everyones different. The biggest thrill ive ever had was in a skyline because it was gut wrenchingly insane.

just as much i disagree that the ST is typically boy racer either. Comment seems quite the clarkson. Styling is farely sedate

Supergurrier · 29-07-2013 11:31AM

That ST needs moar black wheels !

MOAR

thecomedian · 29-07-2013 11:38AM

Op the M5 will blow you away.
It does not feel like a big car, once you put your foot down it feels a lot different.

It in a different class to the other cars here.

Reasonable sports cars on the market

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