Cabriolets

[DCLane]

Whilst on cabriolets has anyone on here had experience of an MGTF? I'd like a Fiat 124 Spider or similar but there's no chance the budget would stretch that far.

I'll have a budget of £3k max, needs to be small but not tiny.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Squeeze it just a bit because properly Italian?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-de...022&include-delivery-option=on&sort=relevance

Or maybe a Z3?

I just sold my minty Volvo C70 or I'd be punting it at you!

 

[DCLane]

@Bonefish Blues - I'd have a Barchetta but SWMBO wouldn't as it's left-hand drive unfortunately.

A C70 would be too big if my old 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero vert is anything to go by. She struggled driving it.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Would you be looking at an F or a TF, UK or Chinese? I think the K series is a great engine but if does have to be looked after. The drive is a bit barge like, to me they don't handle much better than a normal saloon car, they do as all cars do have their following who think they are the best thing since sliced bread, but they do have a whiff of old man flat cap cars.

Think I'd be looking at MK3 MR2's get as late one as you can as the early ones had oval bore syndrome.

 

[Gunk]

IMO MX5 is the best cheap sports car, loads of choice, reliable, great to drive and plenty of parts availability.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

IMO MX5 is the best cheap sports car, loads of choice, reliable, great to drive and plenty of parts availability.

It is but the engine is in the wrong place

 

[Ming the Merciless]

It is but the engine is in the wrong place

50:50 weight distribution, it’s the perfect car to throw around

 

[Deleted member 26715]

50:50 weight distribution, it’s the perfect car to throw around

But they are soulless, they lack character, not like an MR2

 

[sevenfourate]

50:50 weight distribution, it’s the perfect car to throw around

Quite. My 5 with a few suspension upgrades, lowered, uprated ARB’s, properly set up and on quality rubber is frighteningly good in the twisty stuff. Wet or dry.

I had this and really well set up Porsche Cayman at the same time. With the same and more suspension work. Eventually came to the realisation I was having 80% of the fun in the Mazda at much more sensible speeds and 1/5th the price / running costs. So the Porsche went.

Never believed with the hairdresser reputation, rust issues (Earlier ones than mine mainly), smallish engines etc - you’d have seen me own one. Let alone sell an amazing other car in favour of keeping the 5 as a daily runner. But I really do love and enjoy it that much on a daily basis. I literally enjoy every single spell behind the wheel.

The fact it’s been faultless in 18 months and is utterly dependable and costs pennies to tax / insure is just a bonus.

 

[mistyoptic]

Another vote for MR2. I had a Y reg and it was a lovely little car. Enough space for a weekend bag and a couple of pairs of walking boots. Lots of fun

 

[Ming the Merciless]

But they are soulless, they lack character, not like an MR2

What year MX5 did you own and for how long?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

What year MX5 did you own and for how long?

1993, 1998, 2004, 2005, sorry if you're taking offence but I felt the same about the Subaru Impreza, Honda Type-R, Mercedes SLK V6 we've owned, completely adequate cars, just didn't didn't do it for me.

 

[mustang1]

So did I, 52-plate, same model. Got out of it in time before it rusted for fun, as many did, especially the silver ones, (un)amusingly!

Ah, I did not know about the rust problem. Anyway, it wasn't my car. And now that I think about it, I know it was a 2004. A light blue one.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

1993, 1998, 2004, 2005, sorry if you're taking offence but I felt the same about the Subaru Impreza, Honda Type-R, Mercedes SLK V6 we've owned, completely adequate cars, just didn't didn't do it for me.

So you bought 4 different MX5 , owned them over a period of about 15 years, despite calling them soulless 😂

 

[mustang1]

1993, 1998, 2004, 2005, sorry if you're taking offence but I felt the same about the Subaru Impreza, Honda Type-R, Mercedes SLK V6 we've owned, completely adequate cars, just didn't didn't do it for me.

I drove an MX5 in circa 1995. It was a mk1 where you could unzip the rear screen and fold it flat (in fact it was quieter in that configuration on the motorways) and it had screw-in antenna if you wanted to listen to the radio. Cracking car in the twisties.