Ok folks, let's have some sensible suggestions please

First of all, the scenario........ I have just been offered a ridiculous price to part with my mint Triumph Tiger 1050 (Ridiculously good that is) and I am thinking of taking them up on the offer. I am then thinking of spending some of the money on a good second hand KTM 640LC4 (I know mint one I could lay hands to) or an RRV Blade / bandit 1200.

That should leave me around £3 - £3.5k left for a fun car. Here lies the dilemna...... I am just over 6ft and 18stone, I have been offered a straight swap for a couple of S1 Elises, but I don't think I will fit in them, I have also been offered a deal to exchange my bike for a Grinnall Scorpion, which I like the idea of, but it would leave me bikeless.

If you where spending up to £3.5k, what would you go for?

Criteria are

Convertible / Open Cockpit

2 Seats

Cheap to run (no V8 Monsters)

What about an MR2 Roadster, I know a couple on here have them? MX-5's? I know people on here have them.

Just for info, I am going to look at a Grinnall Scorpion next week (reverse trike with BMW K1100 Engine) and am not sure what to do. I may decide to take a break from Bikes for a while and get a "better" 2 Seater...

Open to suggestions, especially from the MR2 boys / girls and the MX-5 Owners.

Cheers

Any other criteria? Classics? Rolling project?, etc.

For under 3.5k

A few classic cars that come to mind are;

Triumph TR7's

Triumph Spitfires

MGB's & Midgets

Fiat X1/9 (Not keen on these myself)

Non Classics;

MGF or TF

er....

Edited 7 July, 201015 yr by Rhoobarb

No Classics, modern and reliable. I am only at home at the weekend's and want to spend some of that time buzzing along with one of the kids around North Wales, not with my head stuck under the bonnet. No MGF's either, next door neighbour used to have one and it was the most unreliable pile of carp I have ever seen

Smart City Cabrio - Ticks all your boxes :p

BMW Z3

Pug 206 cc

Apart from the MR2 and MX-5 youve already stated, not sure what else youll get that ticks you boxes.

Seen a few others, but their either too expensive, 4+ seater or too big an engine.

Edited 7 July, 201015 yr by Rhoobarb

Ok folks, let's have some sensible suggestions please

First of all, the scenario........ I am just over 6ft and 18stone

Lose some weight !

Is that sensible ?

Ticking only the boxes for fun, £3.5k and cheap-running, how about a Clio 182?

It'll be fun on winter weekends too...

Ticking only the boxes for fun, £3.5k and cheap-running, how about a Clio 182?

It'll be fun on winter weekends too...

A clio 182 is the only non-convertable I have a hankering towards

It's a little above your budget at around £5-5½k but then again it's an awesome car by all accounts. Honda S2000.

MR2 will be a squeeze as well.

I think MX5 ticks all your boxes Tony.

Certainly and MX5 fits the bill and with your budget you might get an early Mk1 and if you are good with the spanners and you might just about enough to give it some FI... Other than that you'd get a really good car and no FI but some cash to m,odify it/play with.

If you do look at MX5's the Mk1's tend to be a bit more roomy inside than the Mk2's or 2.5's which will be an issue with your height and size. They are still not that roomy though.

Don't expect outright speed though - they are more to do with the feedback and handling than speed. Having had one for 12 years now (the large majority of which it was my main car) there's not much I'd change it for - maybe an elise yes but not a lot else and certainly not an MR2 (no offence to MR2 owners by the way!)

There are a few known issues with them but nothing really serious and they tend to be pretty bullet proof. I've had very little trouble with mine outside of normal wear and tear and age related things.

Grinnal Scorpion sounds cool though

Or how about a Smart roadster?

Stop faffing about and buy an mx 5 , i did it and dont regret a second of it mate , seriously just get a big grin on my face everytime i drive mate.

Deb will never give it you back tho , its a no brainer dude

Withoubt any doubt an MX5

solid cars

a lot of fun and are they not the ultimate 2 seater sportscar?

I am off to look at this next week, a bit more than I wanted to pay, but could be a lot of fun and they are really well engineered. I have a mate who has one and he loves his having had it for 5 years (Along with a TVR Griffith and a couple of bikes)

What about a 'Seven' style kitcar?

Not sure about reliability/spaciousness though.

Just a thought...

Sounds like a classic MX-5 scenario to me

The weight of evidence suggests it, so do it!

Enjoy

Steve

You've all forgotten one fantastic mid engined option....

MG TF 160

Also, wild Card....

Mid engined

An MG TF

You can not be serious? Not being funny, but as posted above, my next door neighbour had one and it was the most rattly unreliable peice of junk I have ever seen on the road. I lost count of the times it came back on an AA truck.

Edited 8 July, 201015 yr by fluffmeister

The mx option is the most workable Tony , the grinnal is fun for a few hrs the mx just ticks allthe boxes , the roof is a couple of seconds up or down, if its a bit cloudy you can still go out and drive away from it , the spares are everywhere , its reasonable insurance , has a boot and serious reliability , the whole world agrees mate .

3.5k will get a nice tidy turbo or supercharged MX5

I had an X1/9 and loved it, but by today’s standards it is pitifully slow and noisy and the rust bug will be attacking even the best ones out there. Your budget is about right for a late model in good nick though

Can I vote Grinnall though please

Open to suggestions, especially from the MR2 boys / girls and the MX-5 Owners.

All MX5 owners are girls btw

All MX5 owners are girls btw

Can't wait for Col's response on this one

It will probably be "would you like me to feather it in at the back love"

Oi mrs , less of it , mx5 owners are a very select bunch thank you, not sure what were a bunch of tho , Cols a bit hairdressy tho to be honest