dilemma time, what do I buy

[jayw13702]

I am shortly going to buying a 'toy', something to buzz about in on the weekends, play about with under the bonnet and generally haven some fun with.

My budget is about 6K and i am looking at:

Mk1 MX5's, well within budget, if I were to get one of these then I doubt I would spend more than 3-4K
Early Boxster S, would prefer a manual over a Tip and I know ay 6K it may need some TLC and money spending on it
Alfa Romeo 916 Spider/GTV, it would have to be the V6 engine though, whilst the 2.0 twinny is a great engine the noise from a V6 is to die for with a ragazzoni on it
RX8, however it would have to be a really good one, my experience of rotaries is nil and I would rather learn on a good one than a baptism of fire
350Z nissan, good ones are just coming into my price range but it would leave me with little cash to play with.


I'm quite handy with the spanners having rebuilt a few cars in the past, that said I want a car that I can drive for a while and then put the spanner time in rather than having to trailer a car home and fix it straight away.

The Alfa is the exception to my general rule of RWD because of the V6 it has, however I would really like a 6 cylinder RWD car that is fun to drive, can be fixed/serviced without needing very specialised equipment and maybe a convertible.


Past drivers include a whole brace of 3 series BMW's, coupe. 'verts saloons and tourers, 5cyl Audi coupe and Audi 100 avant, a couple of Saab 9-3's, again 'Verts and sportwagons, lots of Alfas of differing ages and conditions and a few Toyota Corolla (ae86's) and Nissan (zx twin cam sunny, and a couple of S12's)

Don't fancy the German cars, not offence to those who drive them, ive had a few and just want something different. Looking to keep it for a few years and don't mind spending money on it so long as its not like a bottomless pit.

are there any others that may fit that bill that people can think of.

Thanks in advance



 

[gettingold]

out of what you have said as the options i was really impressed with the mx5's because my expectations were very low of a hairdressers car but turned out to be surprisingly fun but the winner for me would be the 350z love these driven a few and more power than i thought they would have.

[moggyman]

How about an Alfa 75? Get the V6 and satisfy your 6-cylinder/rwd criteria. They've got a rear-mounted gearbox for good weight distribution as well

[paulmakin]

Think the 75 in V6 form would be over budget ?

biased as i always have at least a couple of old italian thingies lying around but a GTV V6 at that price will be quite a reasonable one. i bought my current one cheap knowing that i'd have to spend and it now owes me approx 5k but all the necessaries have been attended to. mind you, buying cheap served me well as i've spread that additional 3.5k over the 5 years that i've owned it. Genuinely quick car, even by today's standards.

Fiat Coupe 20VT a hoot as well but no soundtrack to mitigate against the FWD. again, i bought cheap and "invested" as i went along. Bit scary finding that the only documented belts service was 14 years before i did them (as soon as i got it home !!) and i wouldn't take that risk again.

Forgetting the RWD for just a moment longer , what about a Mk1 TT 225?. lots of money in your budget for a very decent one with cash left over for "tinkering". V6's are in budget as well

I've just noticed that all the above are firming up on price - off to ebay to look for a fixer-upper TT myself this evening !

Paul

[deano123]

MX5 turbo with a diff or some sort of kit car

[60six]

People keep saying that rotaries are fragile - I had an rx7 on a Y plate that I used daily for a year. Only changed a water pump and always drove it hard - 12B with carb. SO much FUN!

[jayw13702]

thanks for the replies.

The 75 would be nice but I can't find one in my budget that I can just get in and drive, most of the ones I have seen for sale are ones that need work, some of it extensive.

Hadn't considered the Fiat coupe TBH, the 20v does make a nice noise if the right exhaust is fitted.

TT? I have never really like the look of them so sadly they haven't been considered

rotaries, never thought of them as fragile, I just know that at the age I'm looking at there are some proper ropey ones out there in amongst the good ones and rotaries noobs like me can be easily caught out.

[Littlepixel]

boxter is german. just sayin

[jayw13702]

Aug 11, 2019 21:46:55 GMT Littlepixel said:

boxter is german. just sayin

Fair point, well made 😉

[MkX]

MX5 have an excellent reputation but (i.m.o.) they're not that interesting. Boxster is a good call, I think the electrics are a weak point. I've always liked the Alfa but the engineering quality isn't up where it should be. The RX8 is a very interesting car but that engine has a HUGE reputation for unreliability and expensive fixes, (the recalls nearly bankrupted Mazda).

More to consider:
Toyota Celica or MR2 or Soarer. Nissan Silvia. Audi GT Coupé. Vauxhall Calibra. VW Corrado VR6. Merc CL600 or CL500 or CL55. Mitsubishi GTO. Peugeot 406 V6 Coupé. (Sorry, there's plenty of German's in that lot).

If you want something outstanding and the servicing doesn't deter you I think the V12 Merc is top value, as depreciated as it's going to get and a magnificent machine that cost the original owner as much as a modest house:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-CL600-V12-Auto-2d-Coupe-62k-Miles/123865838702?hash=item1cd6fab46e:g:JjcAAOSwM-hdSXAP



(With this example you'd even have £1K+ surplus for a personalised plate).

[SmokeEm]

Agree with above. Once you have driven a V8 Merc, you'll never want anything else!

[alx]

Aug 12, 2019 7:32:02 GMT SmokeEm said:

Agree with above. Once you have driven a V8 Merc, you'll never want anything else!

I like 'em...



But some of the ones you've listed or people have mentioned would also flick my switch.

AL.

[MkX]

Aug 12, 2019 7:32:02 GMT SmokeEm said:

Agree with above. Once you have driven a V8 Merc, you'll never want anything else!

Yes the V8 is a mightily impressive car but the V12 is an awesome car with an extra 74hp & nearly 1 second off the 0-60 speed, (a 12.3% improvement), at a cost of 2mpg.

V8 Specs

V12 Specs



I understand there are chips / remaps for the CL600 which would push the hp well above the 400 mark, bring the 0-60 time down nearer to 6 seconds whilst improving fuel economy. 

[alx]

Those links point to the W140

W215 CL600

0-60 in 6.4 and 367 bhp 21mpg

link

W215 CL500

0-60 7.1 and 306bhp 21mpg

link


Your point is still valid though :-)

AL.

[absolutepony]

Supercharged or turbocharged Mk1 MX5, 1.8. Or mint E36 328i.

You’ll have plenty of money left over to personalise to your spec.

[theholty]

Aug 11, 2019 14:42:22 GMT jayw13702 said:

350Z nissan...

...I I would really like a 6 cylinder RWD car that is fun to drive, can be fixed/serviced without needing very specialised equipment and maybe a convertible.

Surely if thats your criteria you should be just looking for a convertible z33? Ticks every one of your boxes. Theres loads about within your budget too.

[madmog]

Fiat Barchetta as a left field (and LHD) MX5 alternative?

[Rob M]

£6k will buy you a tidy 3rd or 4th gen Firebird/ Camaro, certainly a model with the potent LS1 lump under the bonnet. That money would also open doors to a whole plethora of US V8 vehicles, some in great condition and some good but future work required etc.
The choice really is a 'wow' car or a 'so what? car. I bought my first yank over 3 years ago and would never go back to anything else retro that was not US built ( apart from Aus Falcons and Holdens) but, ultimately, you will pick the car that you will be most comfortable with.
Sometimes you have to be a bit daring 😊

[Ritchie]

An old ford? Should get a tidy XR4x4 or suchlike for that money.

One here..

www.carcavescotland.co.uk/classic-cars-stock/ford-sierra-xr4x4

[OGDB]

How funny, I was finding myself looking at that CL600 about a week ago, prior to finding this thread.

Hell of a car for the money.