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Owing to my 'buy the best, make it last' philosophy, I have owned very few cars since I passed my driving test in 1967. The one that was most like a thrilling on-and-off love affair was my Triumph Dolomite Sprint, bought used at around 40,000 miles but in a very few years became a victim of the dreaded tin worm. Great powertrain, luxurious cabin and very quick for its time. Marred by a propensity for incontinence via the water pump. Also weak rear suspension causing axle tramp and a tendency to change direction during hard acceleration.
The Honda S2000 was a good car, but old rusty ones are asking prices considerably more than my Audi W12 sport quattro, a much rarer and far superior piece of engineering, is worth. Perhaps they are transitioning to collectors items. As a piece of modern art and cultural achievement, a polished W12 crankshaft displayed on a pedestal would take some beating.
For a bit of joy, a 'toy' car to tinker with fits the bill. I am very fond of my trusty Triumph TR7 and after years of watching the coolant level sensor light flash at me have decided to try to repair it. Possibly the most advanced bit of electrical stuff in this 40yr old car is the sensor level control unit, a sealed cylindrical tube next to the steering column containing a small printed circuit board with the usual collection of tiny electronic items soldered to it - about which I know little. I have obtained a replacement transistor, resistor and an integrated circuit chip and, with a far-to-big soldering iron, installing them one by one, trying not to get them too hot as the internet tells me I could damage it. If I don't succeed it doesn't matter as replacement units are still available and the temperature gauge still works fine, and it provides me with some amusement. It is not mentioned in my old TR7 Haynes manual and I only learned of its existence recently.
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I'm more into waft than whizz these days, and my E Class estate manages to tick just about all my boxes from practicality to cossetery.
However, I digress. A friend and neighbour confessed to a similar itch to yours SLO, about a year ago. He's an architect and has dogs, kids and kit to shift on a daily basis. His main car is a worthy but ( in his own words, "dull" ) Peugeot 508 SW.
He has, over the years, also had a number of sports cars on his drive as well, some of them really quite special ones, including a couple of Boxsters.
Anyway, having got a bit frustrated by having cars that were fun, but in grave danger of encouraging him to drive in such a way as to immolate his licence, he went in a different direction this time and bought a little Peugeot 108 with a roll back canvas roof. Says he's not had so much joy and fun from a car in years. Apparently it feels like you're pressing on, when in fact you're still legal, on open roads, and of course it's great in cities and towns. Costs buttons to run too.
Have to say, I completely get it.
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Have to say, I completely get it.
I get it, sometimes less is more.
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I'm more into waft than whizz these days, and my E Class estate manages to tick just about all my boxes from practicality to cossetery.
However, I digress. A friend and neighbour confessed to a similar itch to yours SLO, about a year ago. He's an architect and has dogs, kids and kit to shift on a daily basis. His main car is a worthy but ( in his own words, "dull" ) Peugeot 508 SW.
He has, over the years, also had a number of sports cars on his drive as well, some of them really quite special ones, including a couple of Boxsters.
Anyway, having got a bit frustrated by having cars that were fun, but in grave danger of encouraging him to drive in such a way as to immolate his licence, he went in a different direction this time and bought a little Peugeot 108 with a roll back canvas roof. Says he's not had so much joy and fun from a car in years. Apparently it feels like you're pressing on, when in fact you're still legal, on open roads, and of course it's great in cities and towns. Costs buttons to run too.
Have to say, I completely get it.
I get it too. I’ve had more fun at the wheel of a small fwd hatch of modest power than behind the wheel of many a fancy sports car. But I do want something interesting and a bit different. I’d love a nice 80’s or 90’s hot hatch but good examples are rare and very overpriced. Maybe if I could catch a good naughties fast Ford before it starts to soar in price. A Fiesta ST150, Mondeo ST200, Focus ST170 or Mk II ST 2.5T. All getting rare in standard spec and good condition.
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Fiat 500 Abarth. There's one near here that you hear before you see. Not sure if it has been interfered with in some way or if they're all like that. The driver always seems to be grinning anyway.
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Fiat 500 Abarth. There's one near here that you hear before you see. Not sure if it has been interfered with in some way or if they're all like that. The driver always seems to be grinning anyway.
That is their teeth falling out.
Friend had one. Seriously stiff ride.. terrible.
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Just musing, but I guess if you live in Ayrshire then you're not too far from one end of the "Lang Whang" ( A70 ) ?
I used to live at the other end of it, more or less, and it was always one of "those" roads. Probably festooned with cameras now I shouldn't wonder?
My favourite section was always the bit from the A74 to Harperigg reservoir. May have occasionally and of course, inadvertently, gone a little bit too fast there back in the dim and distant...
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Fiat 500 Abarth. There's one near here that you hear before you see. Not sure if it has been interfered with in some way or if they're all like that. The driver always seems to be grinning anyway.
Neighbour has one, I’m quite a fan and so it seems is he, with not a bad word to say.
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Fiat 500 Abarth. There's one near here that you hear before you see. Not sure if it has been interfered with in some way or if they're all like that. The driver always seems to be grinning anyway.
Neighbour has one, I’m quite a fan and so it seems is he, with not a bad word to say.
Well, Madf thinks it's too hard a ride. I don't mind a hard ride, not every day now of course, but, y'know, Sundays and so on...
;-)
Edited by Alby Back on 08/01/2021 at 19:41
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I do like the ST170, perhaps prefer to a Swift Sport, still available less than £3,000. If you buy one make sure you thoroughly waxoyl it. A couple of alternatives, given you like Mazdas - an MPS 3 or MPS 5 or even an RX-7. If you go for a C70 folding hardtop, as opposed to the soft top version, remember depending on the model & year road tax can be around £500.
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How about a Suzuki Swift Sport (1.6) SLO?. Granted it isn't the kind of thing you'd stand admiring with a drink in hand, but I think it ticks pretty much all the other boxes.
Much has been mentioned about 'old' hot hatches, well the 1.6 Swift Sport is the closest modern equivalent. £8k is enough to get a 2015/6 example with low miles and full history.
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How about a Suzuki Swift Sport (1.6) SLO?. Granted it isn't the kind of thing you'd stand admiring with a drink in hand, but I think it ticks pretty much all the other boxes.
Much has been mentioned about 'old' hot hatches, well the 1.6 Swift Sport is the closest modern equivalent. £8k is enough to get a 2015/6 example with low miles and full history.
Great suggestion, bbd, one is on my radar for a fun car if I don't buy a Puma or 156. The MK2 Swift Sport is supposed to have more feedback through the steering than the MK1, and its regarded as being the best modern day hatch closest to the feel of those which were best in the 1980s.
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I am one of the many lurkers here. Back in 2015 I posted a very similar question. Here’s the link if anybody is interested https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=108781
The only car I have ever really loved was my smart roadster. I had a love hate relationship with it. Most unreliable heap of rubbish I’ve ever owned. It leaked constantly and because i live in Glasgow was very problematic. But it drove and looked amazing. Yes the gear box was crap but it’s the only car I’ve loved
The post from 2015 was to help me get something I loved again. I am sorry to say that I failed miserably. I imported a Japanese 1998 mx5. Still after all these years it has no rust at all but if I’m honest I hate the car. Part of me wants it to die but everyone I start the thing it works fine. I can’t justify getting rid out ir
hope you find something your love
newguy
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I have never regretted getting rid of a car as they have all been changed in the expectation of having something better, newer, faster, more spacious etc etc.
Mostly my expectations have been fulfilled - partly as I have tended to change infrequently and thus any replacement is likely to be 5-8 years newer than the outgoing.
Sadly from a motoring fun point of view I have tended to place head above heart and most purchases have been "rational" choices. For many years I ran cheap convertible weekend cars for that reason.
Even now with a newish Peugeot 308 auto (more than adequate) I frequently contemplate that attractions of an older S Class, 7 Series etc. Advancing years, waistline and knee joints make low slung cars a bit problematic.
However I did come to the conclusion one can have as much driving fun with a low powered, skinny tyred, small car as in a 300+ bhp supercharged sportsmobile.
It's more about how it feels, not absolute speed. In a supercar, floor it and it runs out of road very quickly - but you can drive flat out in 1000cc of well sorted shopping trolley with more limited risk to limb or licence.
Edited by Terry W on 08/01/2021 at 13:30
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Throughout my motoring history there has only been two cars that have really brought me joy.
Firstly my mark one Honda Accord. It was so ahead of its time and introduced a boringly reliable Japanese car which had style , speed, refinement and lack of noise vibration etc.I loved the command post driving position and the centre bonnet emblem which gave a sense of direction. Now all we see is a dashboard .
Secondly my Audi 80 Tdi , mk2 such a beautiful well built car which went to the scrapyard with not a hint of rust unlike the Accord.
Like SLO the only open top car that bought me joy was the MX5 driven round the alpine circuit at Millbrook. How could a humble Mazda bring more joy than the S2000 that I drove round the same circuit that day.
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Yes, the point made by Alby and Terry among others has got to be right. In restricted, over-populated Britain, maximum speed isn't going to be a major factor in finding the 'joy' of the thread title.
For me at least, an immediate, lively step-off from rest is half the fun. I never really enjoyed the series of Mini Coopers that SWMBO had, where all the action seemed to be at the top end of the rev range. Instant torque is another great feature of the BMW straight-six, especially the ones with no turbo to lag.
SLO, I'd imagine that something like an Aygo or Suzuki Swift would have steering that's lighter than you want - but worth trying these anyway. But also see if you can find a 125i (or 6-cyl 330i / 335i, though they'll cost more) and have a go in it.
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The only car I have ever really loved was my smart roadster. I had a love hate relationship with it. Most unreliable heap of rubbish I’ve ever owned. It leaked constantly and because i live in Glasgow was very problematic. But it drove and looked amazing. Yes the gear box was crap but it’s the only car I’ve loved
I can absolutely relate to this, though I think it is more to do with character than, necessarily, what SLO is looking for!.
Cars I have owned in the past and think about wistfully have not been 'good' cars, or indeed even 'competent', but they got under my skin and that is what counts.
The 'car' which these days I am most drawn towards is a 4x4 Russian van which has been on sale with virtually no major changes since the mid 60's and which you can still buy new. The UAZ 452 or Bukhanka (pan loaf, because it looks a bit like a loaf of bread!) is available as a van, minibus, Combi, pickup, or a variety of specialist bodywork on the rear depending on application. One engine choice, a 2.7 4 cyl petrol making 112bhp, and the only nod to safety is ABS. Don't know exactly what it is which appeals to me, but I'd really like one!.
The post from 2015 was to help me get something I loved again. I am sorry to say that I failed miserably. I imported a Japanese 1998 mx5. Still after all these years it has no rust at all but if I’m honest I hate the car. Part of me wants it to die but everyone I start the thing it works fine. I can’t justify getting rid out ir
Going back to your dilemma, given how much you liked the Smart Roadster, maybe a Japanese sports car which fits within the Kei car regulations like the Honda Beat or Suzuki Cappuccino?. There is also the Daihatsu Copen (which was officially available in the UK), this started life as a kei car (under 660cc) but then gained a 1.3. Youngest will be about 2009, but (assuming the retractable roof works) there shouldn't be any reliability worries, just check thoroughly for rust!.
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Maybe a little bit left field.
But if i were in your situation, I would go for something like this:-
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012237364109
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Maybe a little bit left field.
But if i were in your situation, I would go for something like this:-
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012237364109
And £2,000 over budget with potential excessive costs too.
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But it's the kind of car I would develop an emotive attachment to. And it could very well become a classic and appreciate.
If I had unlimited funds, the car I would be would be a Bentley Speed 6
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Yes l know where you're coming from. Thinking back, by far the majority of car purchases have been head over heart. However, as most people, there were pressures from work, children, budget, parking & multiple other reasons that influenced that decision.
As others have commented, l'm definitely a two car person, one for the head & one for the heart. Also, as my wife doesn't drive, it's harder to justify a car purely for joy. But over the years the "head cars" have been joined by a couple of "heart cars" l recall being keen on the Fiat X19 which with a 1.5 engine & a propensity to rust away, along with the usual Fiat reliability issues wasn't anything special; but it just (l thought) had something. l joined the X19 club & met some owners at meetings who were very accommodating in letting me have a drive or two. With the top removed, driving the thing only made me more keen, sitting low, bit of understeer, it was great fun. Even then my head took over to a certain extent, when l started to look at Toyota MR2's (MK 1) better built, reliability & go cart steering led me to buying a bright red example.
The more recent "heart car" was a BMW Z4 2.5 straight 6. Great engine with lots of torque, but as SLO has mentioned, the rest of the car had that made in the USA poor build quality.
SIL had a 3 series convertible with the same engine. Better build quality & for a second car four seats & the option to drop the top down does give you more options.
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Going back to your dilemma, given how much you liked the Smart Roadster, maybe a Japanese sports car which fits within the Kei car regulations like the Honda Beat or Suzuki Cappuccino?. There is also the Daihatsu Copen (which was officially available in the UK), this started life as a kei car (under 660cc) but then gained a 1.3. Youngest will be about 2009, but (assuming the retractable roof works) there shouldn't be any reliability worries, just check thoroughly for rust!.
Or even a Perodua Kelisa, highly rated by Hammond and May.
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Badbusdriver
I think you are probably right about a cars character. I regularly search for smart roadsters for sale. I suspect if I bought one I would be very disappointed now. They say you should’nt meet your hero’s. So maybe driving a roadster now would be disappointing
I will be honest with you, I don’t do the mileage now to justify buying another car. My 23 year old mx5 will probably outlast SLO! I’ll probably replace it when petrol cars are banned!
I do have a thing for the Honda s660 and the new daihatsu copen but importing from Japan is now too expensive, given the exchange rate
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