Cars?

Benz3ne said:
At least someone's saved you some money? :D

The only issue with Mx5's is their susceptibility to rust. Fortunately mine's pretty clean but even the 3rd Generation ones (as is mine) are showing issues with front subframes and rusting. The earlier ones are even more prone.
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On the other hand you can largely get away with ignoring age and mileage and if you find a clean one it should be good. I had a mk II (facelift) for nearly five years, it was fantastic. Unfortunately now there's three of us it wouldn't be practical as my main car but we're planning to move house in a couple of years at which point I'm thinking of getting an old mk I as a summer toy.

I miss blatting home down the coast road on a summer's evening with the roof down.
 
chris.hale said:
On the other hand you can largely get away with ignoring age and mileage and if you find a clean one it should be good. I had a mk II (facelift) for nearly five years, it was fantastic. Unfortunately now there's three of us it wouldn't be practical as my main car but we're planning to move house in a couple of years at which point I'm thinking of getting an old mk I as a summer toy.

I miss blatting home down the coast road on a summer's evening with the roof down.
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Precisely! Mine's at 73k, not missed a beat in 16k of driving it. There are some Mk I's with 250k and going strong. Keep up with maintenance and you'll have a bulletproof little motor.

I was tempted by the MkI (love the flip-up headlights) but decided the MkIII was far more practical and, ultimately, safe.
 
What's your budget? I would recommend Hondas is you have a bit more cash to spend. The S2000 is bombproof, revs to a screaming 9000 rpm, 240 hp, lots of tail wagging (I fancy one) The Integra type R is fantastic too. I love the recent Fiesta ST: quick and handles beautifully, Mini Cooper S (turbo not early supecharged), Subaru Impreza WRX seriously quick, hangs to the road like a limpet and cheap. Skoda Fabis VRS Diesel: bloody rapid in gear poke, re-map it and it goes like stink and 55 mpg (get a rear anti roll bar for it to handle though), bigger Octavia VRS lovely too. If you have a few more quid a Toyota GT86: feels a bit gutless but fun. Renault Clio RS: brilliant little car (not the new one though). If you can find an original Peugeot 106 Rallye: fast and frenetic, Abarth 500 a laugh, early Porsche Boxters (2.7) for about 12 -15 k for a goodie. Vauxhall Monaro: big 5.7 V8. Loads out there that are fun and fairly practical. BMW X3 with a six lovely, early Merc SLK...
 
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Budget is 7k tops. Looking at less than 30,000 miles and ideally economic to run. Why I was thinking the Mito or the Copen (MX5 a possibility). They kind of tick the right boxes for me.

I have done all the fast the furious and the stupid I can't afford this but what luxury to own a Bentley thing. Mentally fast and mental to ride bikes.

In this case i am wanting a smaller car to drive around 1000 a month and use every day. I would love to go for the mad and the bad but don't want all my wages going in to fuel costs and keeping it on the road.

Small, different and impractical space wise

I do like the Fabia VRS idea though
 
Budget is 7k tops. Looking at less than 30,000 miles and ideally economic to run. Why I was thinking the Mito or the Copen (MX5 a possibility). They kind of tick the right boxes for me.

I have done all the fast the furious and the stupid I can't afford this but what luxury to own a Bentley thing. Mentally fast and mental to ride bikes.

In this case i am wanting a smaller car to drive around 1000 a month and use every day. I would love to go for the mad and the bad but don't want all my wages going in to fuel costs and keeping it on the road.

Small, different and impractical space wise

I do like the Fabia VRS idea though. Considering all the hassle my friend has had with his X3 definitely not in the list
 
Satanfriendly said:
Budget is 7k tops. Looking at less than 30,000 miles and ideally economic to run. Why I was thinking the Mito or the Copen (MX5 a possibility). They kind of tick the right boxes for me.

I have done all the fast the furious and the stupid I can't afford this but what luxury to own a Bentley thing. Mentally fast and mental to ride bikes.

In this case i am wanting a smaller car to drive around 1000 a month and use every day. I would love to go for the mad and the bad but don't want all my wages going in to fuel costs and keeping it on the road.

Small, different and impractical space wise

I do like the Fabia VRS idea though. Considering all the hassle my friend has had with his X3 definitely not in the list
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I daily drive my Mx5 and have put circa 16k miles on it in 15 months. It's not the most economical to run with a fairly rich-running 2.0L 4-pot engine but drives really nicely. Enough poke to keep it fun but not enough to light your hair/pants/otherwise on fire. £7k would get you a really nice example - mine was considerably less than that.

If you did consider the mk3, an ECU remap apparently goes a long way - not so much for hp gained, but it removes the restriction of throttle in 1st and 2nd. Will be looking to have this done myself in due course. :) Also, the standard ride height is a little on the 'soft' side - a set of springs and a few hours' work sorts that out for about £180 for the set, new. I picked mine up 2nd hand with between 5-10k on them for £80. :)
 
Far Cry Toff said:
ladies' hairdressers a nd bald-headed 50-somethings wearing baseball caps .
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And if I happen to be a bald headed baseball hat wearing ladies hairdresser? As I am

To be honest the 1.4 Mito is heading my list at the moment. Reviews read crap but owners appear to love them. Between that and a 28000 Copen I know of but limited storage space does worry.
 
Satanfriendly said:
And if I happen to be a bald headed baseball hat wearing ladies hairdresser? As I am

To be honest the 1.4 Mito is heading my list at the moment. Reviews read crap but owners appear to love them. Between that and a 28000 Copen I know of but limited storage space does worry.
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Then it is the perfect option! :D

The Mito is apparently a great little car given the Alfa powertrains - used in Fiat amongst others from what I remember. The 1.4T is meant to be a good little number as is the 1.6jtdm (diesel), though for a little runaround I doubt that suits!

I like the look of the 'Quadrifolgio' (aka. Cloverleaf) Mito - 170bhp (or near enough) in a little hatchback.
 
Benz3ne said:
I like the look of the 'Quadrifolgio' (aka. Cloverleaf) Mito - 170bhp (or near enough) in a little hatchback.
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Hard to find one in my budget but would be nice should one crop up.

Think my Kawasaki ZZR1400 threw around 184 at the back wheel. An exilerhating experience if ever.
 
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