Help on a few choices

mike-payne · Post by **mike-payne** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:00 pm

Hi guys,
Been a long time since i posted, despite popping in from time to time....
well my everyday car has taken a major shunt up the rear and i'm now looking to replace...
I've decided i would like somehting that will offer a little fun, that i could take omn track, but still offers some enjoyment and comfort traveling every day...

Well my choices are:-

S2000
RX8
Cooper S

And a little left field from a certian Neil Kay... MX5 Enos, but to be supercharged..(not my choice, want to avoid the modding route at this time)

I would like some opinions on there capabilities without modifications (except decent pads or braided hoses) and the sort of service/running costs.. any advice or exepriences really....
cheers!!

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:20 pm

How about a 350z?, I love mine to bits but I am selling it to fund more motorsport!

mike-payne · Post by **mike-payne** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:23 pm

blacky wrote:How about a 350z?, I love mine to bits but I am selling it to fund more motorsport!

I guess i shoudl have put my budget, which sadly would put your car outside mine... lol

I'm looking around 6.5k max but ideally i'm looking in the 5.5k mark....

Rob S · Post by **Rob S** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:30 pm

Gerry can speak from personal experience on the RX8- not too positively I think.
An S2000 recieves good reviews, with benefit of Honda reliability, and is RWD:)
The Mini's are bloody good cars, and often have the servicing pack from new so have plenty of stamps in the book. All I would say from experience is lots and lots of Coopers get stolen, dependant on where you live, that may be an issue.

blacky · Post by **blacky** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:20 pm

mike-payne wrote:I guess i shoudl have put my budget, which sadly would put your car outside mine... lol

I'm looking around 6.5k max but ideally i'm looking in the 5.5k mark....

Fair enough, surely with 5.5k you'll struggle to get a decent Cooper S?? It's a car I'm considering for a replacement for the Zed, and even 52 regs with decent milage seem to be upwards of 7k

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:23 pm

Rob S wrote:Gerry can speak from personal experience on the RX8- not too positively I think.

In all fairness Gerry bought a cheap secondhand RX8, they arent all bad.
What about a Civic Type R, the last model should be about that price. Or an older Integra Type R.

Mazda mx5 would be good out the box but I think I'd be more likely to just buy a cheap 1st gen and enjoy as is.

I think the Civic Type R or the S2000 would be my choice though.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:57 pm

Go for an Accord Type R over the Civic Type R. Better all round and faster too.

For your budget though, an E36 M3

Seriously though, they cost a lot to get to an acceptable standard or you have to search long and hard and pay a premium for a sorted one. Also cost lots to keep on the road.

Post by **Stuart** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:57 pm

Hi Mike

Welcome back

Cooper S's are nice little cars and I know my Mrs loved hers, they're just a bit........slow and understeery. Damned heavy too.
RX-8's are OK but I see no point in buying one of those when you have an S2000 on your list. Your budget will only stretch to an early one before they amended the 'lively' suspension but your no mug behind the wheel, so that shouldn't be an issue for you.

I would just make your mind up what you want to spend. There is a big difference between a 5k S2000 and a 2k MX-5 in both day to day costs and the initial wack. Performance differences will be huge. Fun differences less so. As for supercharged ones, the only guy I know that has run one for track stuff kept blowing them up.

Good luck. When are you looking to get something? Some of the guys on here are becoming particularly good at finding cars for other people

russ979 · Post by **russ979** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:24 pm

RX7 wrote:In all fairness Gerry bought a cheap secondhand RX8, they arent all bad.

I quite agree! Every model will suffer from a bad egg or two.
As a curve ball- if you are looking at S2000`s then what about boxster? a 2.5 will fall well within your limit.

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:24 pm

tommySTI wrote:Go for an Accord Type R over the Civic Type R. Better all round and faster too.

Are you sure about this Tommy ? The last model of Civic Type R (EP3) must have been quicker than the Accord one. Its only 10bhp less using a similar engine and its got to be lighter.

Yeah I didnt think of a 3 series BM, maybe not the M3 for that money but a 330 or 328 should be good enough for some fun.