A few months ago i bought the missus a new shape Corsa 1.4 SXi, but Ive been driving it since then as she hadnt passed her test. She has now passed and needs the car as a day-to-day driver and Ive gone back to my old V-reg Punto, which is poop to say the least.

As a result, and as I dont need any boot space Ive been considering a 2 seater sports car (if the bank let me) but I dont know what to get. Heres the list scrubbed off so far:

Elise / VX220 (too tall and too fat - cant get in and out and I hit my head on the roll bar when seated)
MX-5 (too girly)
RX-7 (too much like an MX-5)
RX-8 (too much of a dad car)
Z3 (too hairdresser)
Z4 (too expensive)
TT (too hairdresser)
Impreza (too chav)
Evo (too immigrant)
[Edit: No MR-2 (too old) ]
[Edit: No TVR (Id like to live through Winter, thanks) ]

So that leave me with a Honda 2000 which I drove the other day and liked, but it wasnt a wow drive at all. Ive been suggested an S3, but Id rather not get a hatch. I did consider an A4 / 330 but Id rather not get that big a car.

So - any suggestions of alternatives? Anyone who suggests anything bigger than a 3-series (approx. 52 plate, before the styling went wonky), anything FWD or anything slower than an MX-5 will be laughed out of the thread.

[Edit: Perhaps a Supra? ]
[Edit: £10k - £15k ]

200sx 15a?


Mustang?

Integra Type-R?


Skyline of some description?

Mitsubishi FTO GPX or GP Version R?  

Porsche Boxster S?

Rover 45 Turbo Diesel?

What is your budget to run it or the intended use? Thats the important thing.

A skyline will do 12-15mpg - 18 at an absolute stretch. My R32 GTR will do 14-16 on a run on average. If you horse it on, you can get 6-9mpg. Insurance will also be extremely high. Parts prices are also very high - and unless youre going to work on it yourself, youll get ripped off by so called specialist garages (Staffed by 18 year old fitters). Many (If not all) of the imports have a few faults that are hidden by rip off importers - usually they take the bulb out of the warning light for the 4WD system or the like - thats why its best to import yourself. It will be the *best* car you will get for that money, but it is by no means an every day car for commuting etc. Even I would have to admit that you soon get sick of the stiff suspension.

A supra is a great car too, but suffers from woeful fuel economy, massive running costs (It is originally a 50/60k supercar after all) big insurance etc etc. 7 out of 10 supras have been thrashed, and poorly maintained as people cant afford to maintain them properly (Common with all turbo jap imports)

Tyres will last you maybe 5-6000 miles a set, and you CANNOT go cheap on those - the wheels on the liner require rubber at £200 a corner - the supra would be similar I think.

Age is also more or less irrelevant with jap imports - if theyve been looked after well there there will be no problem with them. Id definately self import though.



Id go for a 200SX, and spend some money on modifications

Or - An Integra Type-R DC5

Or - an E36 BMW M3

Importers also strip off all the parts worth anything too.

The amount of Delicas that get their Aiba worx crates, lights, parking poles and auto steps removed is a joke.

Get a delorean and have something thats pretty unique.

May fall under the too old bracket, but what about an NSX.

The more obvious choice, which I am quite surprised hasnt already been mentioned is the 350z.

BMW 330Ci?    One of the guys at work just picked one up for a song, and he says hes getting mid-20s to the gallon.  The obvious minus is that it makes you "That Cock in the BMW Coupe".  I can actually get in a VX220, and Im 62"/63", though the Elise I had a play in was more problematic.  Boxter-S is a probably good choice if you want 2-seater fun.  Not cheap to fix, but they do seem to last well, On of my mates is on his 3rd, and he had a 911 at one point.  He recons the Boxer is MUCH nicer to live with, even if they arent as fast.

yeah the 350z is a very nice looking car. Dont know about running costs however... I wouldnt get a Beemer. I know only 2 beemer drivers that I like. 1 of them uses this forum (well he doesnt drive it anymore) and one doesnt.

QuoteMy dads nissan skyline r33 vspec this is a proper vspec note pic of diff,

Motd till March 2009
Tax till December 2008

Aprox 400hp

Sensible Mods by a Skyline expert
R34 wheels with good tyres
HKS Induction kits
Nismo exhuast cat back, de cat
Boost is at 0.9 bar
New Uprated clutch 2000milies ago
Bigger fuel regulator
New brake pads
All turbo, exhuast and inlet gaskets uprated with metal ones
COBRA CAT 1 ALARM
Alpine Head unit

May part ex with something which so go in it




£10 995
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Could do with some fur in that thing




Oooh, Does it have to be 2 seats? you could get yourself an Audi A4 Coupe. 4 seats, wide variety of engines and convertible.

And the winner is...

RX-8. Its the only sports coupe that i can comfortably fit in (so long as i buy one without a sun roof). Not bought one yet, gonna get the cash in place, then Ill post a  thread with pics 8]